Malampa Revivors is back to training in Vanuatu

The COVID-19 pandemics affected football worldwide – despite the serious scenario due the new disease, Oceania remains as the less-affected region in the globe. Vanuatu, for example, is still to record officialy their first case of COVID-19, as other Oceanian nations. Countries as Fiji and Papua New Guinea were already directly affected by the disease, but the hit was not so heavy as it is being currently in Europe and America.

Malampa Revivors, the current Vanuatu national champions, had to stop their activities since their succesful campaign at OFC Champions League 2020 held at home, in Luganville at Soccer City Stadium. The blue-and-white club is set to represent their country alongside Galaxy FC at the knock-out stage of the most important club football tournament of Oceania – that is still unsure when will restart.

The compatriot side of Revivors, Galaxy FC from Port Vila, already restarted their trainings recently. The regional and national competitions in Vanuatu are still unsure when they will resume, both LFA Premier League in Luganville and PVFA Premier League in Port Vila are still on hold.

Before being back to the pitch last Monday (11th May), the likes of Edwin Bai and Claude Aru, had to face another very sad issue in Vanuatu: the Tropical Cyclone Harold. The natural disaster caused many problems to the north islands of Vanuatu, including Espíritu Santo, where Luganville – the 2nd biggest city in the country – is located.

Vanuatu is a special case during the pandemics, being not only affected by the current biggest worldwide concern – COVID-19. Cyclones and heavy storms are commom in Vanuatu, but not always the country is hit by them. Luganville football venues even served as shelter for people affected by Harold.

Football is slowly getting back to their feet in Vanuatu, but it seems there is still a long way to go to restart all competitions interrupted before the start of the pandemics.