Kiongera concerned about players mental health during sports halt

Sofapaka FC forward Paul Kiongera is wary about the mental health state of sportspersons after sporting activities in the country were suspended.

Sports persons incomes are at stake with reports of sponsors failing to channel money to clubs following the directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to suspend all sporting activities in the country.

Kiongera reiterated that the sports industry has a good population depending on it directly and indirectly and the suspension is set to affect the players mentally.

“There are many sportsmen and women in the country who depend on sports, there are also medics and coaches so sports provides a lot of opportunities.Sports should return, we are suffering, when you wake up you have nothing to do, we will see a rise in mental issues,” explained Kiongera in interview with NTV.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa recently revealed that sponsors are holding on to sponsorship funds after the suspension of leagues across the country. 

A number of clubs in the country have also gone for months without settling the dues of players as they struggle to generate revenue with fans banned from stadiums.

Some of the players have been forced to shift their focus on side hustles to stay afloat during the pandemic.

FKF and the government are in talks to draft new guidelines for the resumption of football as a section of Premier League players were vaccinated on Saturday. 

Mwendwa hinted at the resumption of the league after leading players in taking the vaccine on Saturday.