Coronavirus: football stands firm in Belarus, Tajikistan, Burundi, Nicaragua
- From footballing presidents to new nicknames via potential Pornhub sponsorships, supporters carry on amid game’s lockdown
- Only three rounds remain in Burundi and four in Nicaragua but Belarus and Tajikistan seasons are newly started
From Central America to Central Asia via East Africa and Eastern Europe in between, there was professional football this weekend for those who wanted to watch it.
Tajikistan joined Belarus, Burundi and Nicaragua as the Central Asian state’s Super Cup kicked off the new season on Saturday.
Played to an empty stadium in the capital Dushanbe, Istiklol retained the Super Cup after coming from behind to beat Khujand 2-1 at Central Republican Stadium, three weeks after they met in the AFC Cup at the same ground when Istiklol won 2-0.
Those tuning in from overseas – either football fans, gambling fans or both – got what they wanted. There was an early goal for the underdogs (as much as the league runners-up in four of the last five seasons can be underdogs) before a comeback win.
The opener was scored after two minutes by Uzbek international Sanjar Rikhsiboev before normal service was resumed by the reigning six-time league champions and last season’s treble winners, with two goals in as many second half minutes.
Tajikistan’s all-time top scorer Manuchehr Jalilov and Muhammadjon Rakhimov turned it around with 10 minutes to go and the champions held on for a third Super Cup win in a row – the third time the club have done that in the last decade.