Kiwi still playing football in Sweden

It’s business as usual for Sweden-based New Zealand football player Matthew Garbett.

He rode his bike to training on Tuesday, has been using a public gym for weight sessions, is able to dine at cafes and is even scheduled to play a pre-season game for his new club Falkenbergs FF this weekend.

Although the start of the Allsvenskan has been pushed back until May 30, the New Zealand under-17 international said the Covid-19 pandemic has provided little disruption to his daily life in Falkenberg, where he has embarked on his first season a professional.

Sweden has taken a much more relaxed approach to combating the virus even though the death toll has now surpassed 1000. There is a ban on mass gatherings of more than 50 people but no lockdown has been enforced, allowing Garbett to train his with teammates as normal.

"Personally, I think it’s great because I’m still able to go out, train and do things during the day,’’ the 17-year-old said.

‘‘But a lot of things have changed. Trains are empty now, gyms aren’t full anymore, we’re not playing [official] games and people are stocking up at the supermarket so there’s no rice or pasta. You have to get in early. There is a sense of panic but not much because the people in Sweden are quite disciplined in the way they follow rules.’’

A Chatham Cup finalist with Western Suburbs, Garbett was offered a three-year contract with Falkenbergs in January following a standout Under-17 World Cup campaign where he scored two goals in three games.

Although the start of the season has been pushed back by six weeks, the team is scheduled to play BK Hacken in a pre-season game this weekend. Their next competitive game is a cup quarterfinal on May 16.