IT could be a longer wait for the International Soccer Club to begin its A Grade premiership defence, with the outcome of the 2020 Limestone Coast Football Association season still shrouded in mystery.
Currently there has been no update on the return of the sport, outside the initial postponement put in place until May 31.
While clubs of all codes around the Limestone Coast play the waiting game, International sports director Linda McRobert said Casadio Park has been put on full lockdown.
“We had guidance from our Limestone Coast federation and we stopped all of our trainings which is clearly very frustrating because they cannot get together to kick around at any park,” she said.
“We have had to unfortunately kick some people off the pitch who have climbed the fence – and not even our players.”
With players unable to catch up and train in groups, Inter was quick to jump on the social media bandwagon, which has been the case for many sporting clubs both in the Limestone Coast and beyond.
“We are putting up coaching sessions and stuff on our individual team Facebook pages to keep them up to date with what the coaches want them to be doing,” McRobert said.
“Some are still doing their own personal fitness at home and things like that, but coaches are obviously putting up positive feed to keep them interested and looking forward to the season when and if it starts.”
McRobert gave credit to the “proactive” work by coaches which has allowed a smooth transition onto the digital platform.
From a financial point of view Inter can be expected to make it out the other side of the pandemic, but McRobert said it is no better off than any other club.
“Our soccer side of it actually works financially independent to the (Italo Australian) club,” she said.
“But obviously if we were in trouble or anything like that we can call on the club – our excess money goes to the club anyway.”
She said one of the big downfalls of the pandemic is sponsors who have paid their fees, but will miss out on the sponsorship benefits should there be no season played.
That is one of the many strains on sporting organisations during this time, but regardless of the situation, McRobert remains confident sport will make it through the rough patch.
“Nothing is going to stop any form of sport, nothing is going to stop the world going around, it is just going to be different,” she said.
“It is going to be harder for parents to pay their fees this year and it may be a case of having to reduce fees across the board.
“People will not be working and even those who are, sport will probably be down on the list of things they need to pay for.
“We will need to look at that I guess.”
