THIMPU (Bhutan): Football associations around the world including the Himalayan nations Bhutan and Nepal are sharing lifesaving measures and rolling out their own ideas and initiatives to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
Bhutan has only registered a few coronavirus cases so far, but it has immediately reacted by closing its borders. While the number of cases there is still low, Bhutan has also entered a state of emergency, with its citizens abiding by recommended rules that will undoubtedly result in many cases of financial hardship across the country.
After reflecting on the situation, officials at the Bhutan Football Federation decided to donate Nu. 5 million (approximately USD 66,000) to the royal Kidu Foundation.
“If corona spreads in Bhutan, we must face up to the fact that we have very few financial resources with which to tackle it,” Ugyen Wangchhuk, general secretary of the Bhutan Football Federation, told FIFA.com. “We wanted to make a donation to the Kidu Foundation to help fight this virus.”
Of course, all footballing activities and mass gatherings are currently suspended in Bhutan. The Kidu Foundation will use the donation to purchase medical instruments and support those who find themselves in financial distress as a result of closed borders and other restrictions.
Another Himalayan nation that finds itself in a similar situation is Nepal, home to the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest. Again, while only a handful of COVID-19 cases have been registered here, the country has closed its borders and called a halt to international flights.
“We are blessed that there have been no deaths here so far,” said Karma Tsering Sherpa, president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
The ANFA has offered the government the use of its buildings for potential illness or quarantine cases.
“The government can make use of these buildings,” Sherpa added. “We are not currently playing any football. We are planning to financially support a COVID-19 government foundation in the near future. The government can also use our two ambulances, which were also funded by FIFA Forward,” Sherpa added.
