COVID-19: Santa Clara forced to train and play games miles away from home

Portuguese based club Santa Clara has been directed under strict rules to play and train away from their home ground  892 miles due to the global pandemic spread.

With this restriction, the Primera Liga side will play their home matches at the Portuguese Football Federation headquarters.

According to the statement released via the club website, saying ” Irrespective of where we play, we will always have the Azorean people at heart and keep the Azorean flag flying for the good of the game of football.”

The reason behind this decision is to protect the health and safety of the Azoreans, and the temporal venue [FA Headquarters], which is ser to be the new home for Santa Clara, is a two-hour journey by plane.

The Primera Liga is set to resume footballing action on the 4th of June as Santa Clara sits on the ninth position with ten games left to play.

The remainder of the season is set to be played behind closed doors after it was suspended on the 12th of March due to the global pandemic spread.

Looking at these directives and new developments given by the Football Association in Portugal. It seems more like a kind gesture to Santa Clara for the headquarters to grant the club permission to use as their home ground.

Several clubs are gradually planning a come back as Bundesliga will be the first club to start its league this weekend.

Written by: Olumide Akiinifesi