The Return of Bundesliga, The Thrill Within A Pandemic

Three weeks ago, there was an intense conversation on the comparison between Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski. The duo are among the leading scorers in the German premier league and players for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively.

The major phenomenon fueling this discussion is the bold decision by the German government to allow sporting action back, specifically the football league, Bundesliga.

The return of football action in German has however raised mixed concerns in the light of the growing complexity and evolving situation presented by coronavirus pandemic. However, a lot of people view it as a step in the right direction.

The Bundesliga example is likely to be followed by most European leagues with most sporting giants already discussing a return to action. A number of clubs have allowed individual training of players in this regard.

One of the earlier spectacles was Belarus FA who decided to carry out normal sporting activities despite growing concerns from WHO. The country has since registered 39,858 cases and 219 deaths, mostly attributed to citizens moving on with normal life.

Football is a key economic contributor to the economic basket of most European countries.  According to Deloitte, the European football market is now worth more than USD 31.25 billion driven by the French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English premier leagues. Germany being the largest economy in Europe, estimated at about USD 4.0 trillion, benefits from the growth and operation of football extravaganza.

Germany’s healthcare system is not only advanced but also well organized. The country has been able to contain the growth of the COVID-19 pandemic and did not experience the enormous statistics like her neighbors Spain and Italy.

The country has also been at the forefront of medical research supported by government commitment in terms of financing. In fact, in the early stages of the pandemic, news in mainstream media projected a plan by the US government to buy CureVac, one of the companies involved in advanced stages of a coronavirus vaccine.

While a number of countries have tried continuous operation in different sectors of their economy, the German example is viewed as not only bold, inspiring but also well calculated. Brazil has been criticized for its casual approach to the pandemic, a claim enhanced by the subsequent growth of the rate of infections and deaths.

Tanzania has received a fair share of opinion in that regard due to the lack of transparency in carrying out tests and available information on the status of infections. Further, Dar Es Salam has allowed continuous movement of goods and people within the republic as well as sustained social gatherings against warnings from several quarters. While Brazil and Tanzania have received outright condemnation, the return of Bundesliga has been highly approved due to the perceived due care by the German government.

Besides football, other sectors likely to be inspired by this decision are tourism and airline industries which currently are on the verge of collapse despite being key drivers of economic sustainability. However, precautionary measures will be key.

As each weekend beckons, we await the goals and the thrill occasioned by football made in German.