Don’t play, heed call or you will lose

Test the system and you would end up a loserthat’s the ultimatum. In fact, enough warning has been made but still people refuse to heed the call.

We are proud to be very much part of an educated society, but as always the case, a troublesome few always want to do things differently and end up on the wrong side of the law.

Maritino Nemani has again fired a timely reminder and should serve as a warning that no sports should be played until further notice.

The Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports warned people who wanted to test the system that the Ministry of Health directive that all sporting events in the country remain temporarily suspended remains in place and nothing has changed.

Many people are misinterpreting the lifting of restrictions on social gathering as the green light to play in parks, roads or beaches.

The relaxing of social gathering of 20 people or less does not mean people are allowed to play sports. There are more ways than one to be involved in physical activity to get fit and stay healthy.

Nemani said: “It is common knowledge that sportspeople, competitive or social are eager to get out there but common sense, safety, prevention and care is our best guard.

“COVID-19 has impacted us in a bad way economically, socially and physically and to some extent psychologically, it has altered our behaviours and the way we do things but we must remain vigilant under this current situation.”

The Fiji Police Force has been in the frontline since the invasion of the coronavirus.

And they have been stretched to the limit on a daily basis due to the laxity of a few people who thought they could commit the crime and do away with it. Past Friday, 40 arrests were made regarding sports, which include the 39 arrested in Lami while one arrest was made in Samabula.

Past Saturday, six were arrested for breach of sporting activities involved four students aged between 11 and 16-year-old who was found playing touch rugby with two adults aged 19 and 21-year-old in Vesida. A Police team on mobile patrol saw a group of people playing touch rugby along Hedstrom Road in Samabula and managed to arrest a 20-year-old who was found with the rugby ball while others ran away from the area.

Parents and guardians should play key roles in keeping their children in check.

Already we are going through tough times and children should not add extra burden for their parents who are forced to pay their fines for playing touch rugby when they should be more involved in more meaningful activities.

Heed the call, it’s not over yet. Again you have been warned.