by Dinglinga75 » Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:40 am
From Adelaide Now:
Football South Australia will investigate whether a western suburbs soccer team breached COVID-19 restrictions by holding a training session on Tuesday afternoon, which the club says was simply a “boot camp”.
A Woodville West resident contacted The Messenger and after witnessing what they believed to be a training session held by White City Soccer Club at Frank Mitchell Reserve.
Under current State Government restrictions, community sport competitions and trainings are suspended until December 1.
White City has claimed the alleged training was a boot camp session, which were permitted from Sunday, and was ticked off through SA Health’s COVID-19 hotline beforehand.
The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were stunned to see what they believed to be an organised soccer training on Tuesday.
White City secretary Sasha Lalic said the session was not a club organised event and was simply members of the its leadership group of players who wanted to exercise.
“There’s nothing stopping people exercising. This was simply a group of 18 men who wanted to maintain their fitness,” Mr Lalic said.
Mr Lalic said he contacted the SA Health COVID-19 hotline before the session went forward, to ensure the club was sticking to the rules.
“I was advised we could have a boot camp session, as long as the four square metre (distancing) rule was adhered to,” he said.
The State League One club’s home at Frank Mitchell Reserve is just 2km from the Woodville Pizza Bar involved in Adelaide’s recent coronavirus cluster.
The Messenger understands White City coach Damian Mori and several players were present at the time in question.
Football SA chief executive Michael Carter said the organisation advised all stakeholders on numerous occasions that training was not permitted under current directions for community sport.
“We are concerned that there are allegations that White City conducted a training session last night and we are investigating the matter as a high priority,” Mr Carter said.
“If it is found the club have breached directions they will be sanctioned accordingly.”
SAPOL reinforced that community sport, whether it be indoor or outdoor, contact or non-contact, is not permitted under the current COVID-19 restrictions but did not comment on whether the incident would be investigated.
White City president Andrew Popovich said Frank Mitchell Park was a community space used by many people for exercise and all physical distancing rules were maintained by the players.
He said it was frustrating to hear of people complaining about the club’s action, at the same time hundreds were heading out and going for a run at Henley Beach to keep up their fitness.
“We get a lot of people come to the ground – you can have 15 people out there with their dogs,” he said.
Mr Popovich said players were using the session to maintain their fitness ahead of the finals season.
White City was due to play South Adelaide in the State League One preliminary final on November 20 before the match was postponed due to the Parafield cluster.
Football SA has yet to reschedule its NPL and State League men’s preliminary finals.