Local soccer players will have to wait a little bit longer before they can get on the field in 2020, after Capital Football confirmed last week that it would postpone the season further until May 31.
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Originally, community soccer was delayed until mid-April. But Capital Football, in keeping with a decision made by all governing bodies of the sport, confirmed on April 1 that the suspension was extended.
This is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has not improved since the initial postponement was announced.
Conditions will be reassessed at the end of May, Capital Football confirmed.
FFA CEO James Johnson asked the football community to continue showing patience and understanding.
""We recognise that our participants across the country are eager to understand what all of this means for them so we hope that the announcement today can give them some peace of mind and we ask that they remain positive during these difficult times," Johnson said in a statement.
"Football people are resilient, have a strong moral compass and, consequently, I am sure our community will understand this position.
"These are unprecedented times and at this moment, it is very difficult to predict what further measures will be introduced, or for how much longer current measures will be in place."
Johnson pledged to keep all local football organisations updated as soon as any further news was released.
"As we have done with all our decisions to date, we will remain agile and responsive to the prevailing circumstances and still remain optimistic that our Member Federations, which are already considering what adjusted competitions will look like, will be able to complete the grassroots season this year," he said.
"We will continue to stay in close communications with our Member Federations in the lead up to 31 May 2020, to ensure that the individual circumstances of each state and territory in relation to the status of COVID-19 and the measures or restrictions imposed by individual State and Territory Governments are being considered."
When the original postponement was announced, STFA president Craig Norris said the association had plans which included a start as late as July if necessary.
"That's one good thing about Cookbundoon for us is there's no summer sports other than summer soccer," Norris said.
"So we can roll into November with the soccer season if we need to."
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