English Premiere fans in The Gambia got the news they’ve all been waiting for on Thursday as the English football Association announced that England’ top flight competition would be making its return on June 17.
The Premiere League has been on hold since mid-March owing to the coronavirus crisis, leaving many concerned that the 2019-20 season would be null and voided as a result of health implications linked with a return.
However, following the successful return of teams to training, the world’s most followed football competition will resume in just under three weeks, to the delight of many of its Gambian followers.
“I felt really excited and hoping to be entertained with good football again, ‘says Ensa Sonko, a Manchester United fan. Life without the premiere league was so boring.”
Meanwhile, with a large number of fans elated by the return of the EPL, the resumption may not be a happy one for Arsenal fans, as their side face the daunting prospect of facing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium first up. But for fans like Lamin Darboe, there’s optimism for a win against Man city. “I just can’t wait to watch that mouthwatering match with my darling boys fully ready to dismantle the citizens, “Darboe tells The Chronicle. “Arsenal is my second wife and watching them meant a lot to me. I’m very optimistic that we will finish top four and qualify for next champion leagues.”
For Manchester City fan Abubakarr Ben Bass, he’s expecting a double against Arsenal come 17 June. They two sides met at the Emirates in the reverse fixture with City winning 3-0. “We’ll continue from where we stopped in the first leg, “he said. “I am however elated with the return of the premiere league. Life was distasteful to me without the EPL. Football gives me joy and it means everything to me.”
Before the coronavirus pandemic brought the Premier League season to an abrupt pause, Liverpool were just two wins away from winning English football’s top prize — their first league title in 30 years.
Boubacarr Marong, a Liverpool fan told The Chronicle that now is the time or never. “We either win it this season or never, “he laughs. “Honestly, we’ve worked so hard this season and I don’t think anything can stop us from winning the title this season. Overall, I am so impressed that I can now watch my super stars in action.”
What about the Gambian League? I like the EPL but we Africans should also try to support our own no matter how little.