It remains to be seen what decisions will be put in place by the football powers post the lock-down. Whilst admitting she is not a fan of playing behind closed doors, Wade urges the game leaders to thread carefully when implementing whatever decisions they will settle on.

The victory earned Bantwana a spot in the final round of the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be staged in India, as they joined four other teams – Cameroon, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana. Wade says her club, Janine Van Wyk (JVW) FC has put together a series of online training regimes and activities for them to keep fit as the country goes through a lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

Wade concedes the break could not have come at a bad time for Bantwana as it has now disrupted their momentum following their recent exploits. They beat Zambia 3-2 on aggregate a fortnight ago to progress to the next round of the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and their next assignment was meant to be the Under 17 COSAFA Cup in Mauritius from the 17th to 26th of April, which has since been postponed. Wade nevertheless trusts they will pick up where they left off.

The South African U-17 Women’s National Team captain Jessica Wade says the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic is a double challenge for her and her young peers, adding it will take concerted hard work and discipline from them to juggle between school and the national team once everything is back to normality. A Grade 11 learner at Waterstone College on the South of Johannesburg, Wade says she is using the break to study rigorously whilst working hard to maintain fitness too.

Midfielder Tiyani Mabunda also added his voice in a fight against the pandemic.

Sundowns Captain Hlompho Kekana also thanked the authorities and appealed to the public to wash their hands often and sanitize.

Zambian international and Sundowns reserve goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene had this to say.

PSL has been suspended until further notice due to the pandemic affecting the whole world. Sundowns were currently in second position behind Kaizer Chiefs. Defender Wayne Arendse appealed to the public to sanitize and wash hands regularly.

There are more than 1200 infections and two deaths in SA. Sundowns team manager Peter Ndlovu has also thanked the authorities in a fight against the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club has also appealed to the public to obey the rules and stay home. Sundowns Coach Pitso Mosimane also thanked personnel who are at the forefront of dealing with the virus such as medical practitioners and law enforcement authorities.