Football continues in Belarus despite coronavirus pandemic

The football season in Belarus continues at pave despite the corona virus pandemic.

Three games, Bgu Minsk versus FC Minsk, FK Vitebsk versus FC Smolevichi and Isloch versus FK Slutsk are scheduled to hold on Sunday, April 5 as the top division, the Vysheyshaya Liga sees the final games for match day three completed.

The football schedule in Europe has generally ground to a halt with the Belgian league organizers cancelling its 2019/20 campaign on April 2 and announcing Club Brugge as champions.

The situation in Belarus is however different as the domestic competition continues at pace prompting Isloch Minsk Raion defender to declare that footballers in Belarus are in “another planet”.

“Now, we are like another planet,” Tsveiba said.

“In the world, something has happened, but, here, life is going on. We keep training and days are as normal, so nothing changes.

“The only thing that is different is we don’t shake hands in the dressing room.

“We don’t shake hands with the opposition players either,” he said.

Thye 26-year-old Tsveiba has previously played professionally in Kazakhstan, Russia, Croatia and Hungary for clubs such asSaint Petersburg, SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk, Újpest, Osijek, Aktobe, Krylia Sovetov Samara, Dynamo St. Petersburg and Fakel Voronezh.

His young family is however based in Russia and the defender revealed that his Wife has expressed worry over his safety in Belarus.

“I grew up in Moscow and my family and my wife are in Russia, where people are quarantined and the football leagues have closed,” he added.

“My wife is very, very worried and she is also very sad because she cannot come and visit me. My father told me I should stay at home when we have a free day.

“For the players, it’s like we have two sides. One side, we are happy to do our jobs, to play football and to train. But on the other side, we can’t ignore the rest of the world and what is happening everywhere else.

“It’s terrible when we watch the news and the most important thing is people’s health. Our health as well.

“Some of the players, they have family,” he said. “One guy, he told his family he doesn’t understand why we are playing and they are scared for him. They ask ‘Why are we playing? Why don’t we stop?’

“I don’t think too much about the decision of the federation (to keep playing). I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but we must play if they say we can. Ok, sometimes I think ‘maybe it’s dangerous’, ‘maybe something might happen, why don’t we stop?’ But it’s just quick thoughts. Maybe it’s bad, but what can we do?” he queried.

Tsveiba and his teammates will be in action for Isloch when they face Slutsk at the 3,000 capacity FC Minsk Stadium.