Despite finishing third in the Tercera Division, Group 12, CD Marino were declared champions after the season was ended early due to the Coronavirus lockdown. Up there with the infamous Duckworth Lewis method of deciding cricket matches, this decision was based on results between leaders SD Tenisca of La Palma and the blues from the border of Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas. Any champagne being spilled would have been soured by a decision that would upset all football purists, and certainly had the Tenisca club spitting feathers.
Marino had a game in hand and had recently beaten Tenisca 3-1 at home to establish a better coeficient but it must have been hard for the La Palma side to take, they brought a small army of 200 plus fans over for the February game, wonderful support at that level. The top four teams now go into promotion play offs for progress from Spain´s fourth tier to a vastly reorganised Segunda B Division (third tier) next season. Atletico Paso, also of La Palma, also felt badly treated as they had a game in hand on fourth spot and in theory could have crashed the play off party.
Even those climax games are subject to clearance from the health authorities and may well be played behind closed doors on the neautral Canary Island of La Gomera. CD Bahia Santiago in Playa Santiago is the proposed venue for the two semi finals and a grand final with the victor getting promoted, if the climax games cant be played, CD Marino will automatically be promoted.There should be plenty of addesd spice to the play offs after the unusual end to the season. The play offs are a much sought after economic boost to the semi pro clubs, even without fans this year, coverage from TV Canaria could offer them the payout that is so vital to the clubs involved. The other two teams for the games are Tamaraceite of Gran Canaria and San Fernando of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.
CD Tenerife are back in training to hopefully complete the 2019-2020 Second Division, if the governing bodies and players union can hammer out a working plan for the outstanding 11 games. Five players tested positive in the top two divisions of La Liga just before teams restarted training, Tenerife came through their first round of coronavirus testing all clear but there are many worries to be addressed. La Liga wants to play the concluding games at a frantic pace of a amtch every 72 hours and with an option of four water breaks a game as summer turns up the heat.
Tenerife started with individual players training in small separated zones with masked coaches on hand, the idea being to increase the groups through three and then eight players before full open training. The remainder of the season would be followed with a short breat of around two weeks before launching into the 2020-2021 season. the situation would create lots of extra pressure on players, and fans would be kicking their heels away from the stadiums but at least the TV monster would get fed and we could get our beloved sport back. Fingers crossed, its been far too long without any live action.
Slow and gentle were not on my agenda as I raced into the calm blue twinkling sea at Playa de Los Cristianos. After over two months denied my swim by the coronavirus lockdown in Spain, it felt so relaxing and uplifting to take an 8.30 am dip at one of Arona councils newly established four aquatic sport zones in the south of Tenerife.
Leaving Kirby Towers, daybreak treated me to a bright full moon pinned against a radiant blue sky. Our nearest neighbour island, La Gomera, was already bathed in sunshine, and Roque del Conde was sporting a Donald Trump wig of wispy cloud. The slowly unfolding coronavirus recovery programme had full beach openings reserved for two further steps, around four weeks, down the line, Thankfully the well organised sport excercise programme was just starting up, so I headed for the selected part of the beach via the entrance by the sailing school. This led me directly to a narrow strip of shoreline that already had attracted a well spaced out bunch of swimmers.
Once in lapping distance of the gentle waves, people were discarding clothes to leave the beach looking like a mass homage to Reggie Perrin. Sun beds remained stacked, secured, and out of use. This was swimming unplugged, no sun bathing or castle building and no showers afterwards. The usual wash areas were among the sealed sectors and receiving a daily blitz of disenfectant as part of the fight against the virus. Life guards were on hand though to ensure safety, but the old beach is much calmer and gently shelving into the water thanks to the embracing arm of the ferry port and harbour wall. Once refreshed by my swim, I headed to the exit point by the small quayside where the boat excursions depart.
Arona aquatic sport zones cater for surfing, kayaks, and padel surfing and are also at Playa de Las Americas (2) and Las Galletas, Granadilla council have a similar scheme. Hopefully it wont be long until we can return to normal sea freedom but in the meantime its a pleasure that reminds us of what we are striving for.
One of the first lockdown restrictions here in Tenerife was the suspension of coin payments on the public service Titsa bus service. Big changes are on the cards for bars and restaurants everywhere, not just limits to seating and time allowances. We will have to adapt to tight rules and regulations that will change our social habits. One of the big issues is the handling of frequently palmed coins and notes. Of course our flexible friends, credit and debit cards, as well as phone swipes, will eliminate much of the interaction but wont cover all situations.
Small purchases like a small drink or a coffee are usually paid for in loose change, also many low paid bar and restaurant workers rely on on coin tips to make up their wages. Another popular use for shrapnel is the charity collection boxes you see on many a counter. Spain hasnt gone down the road of plastic, washable notes, maybe coins could be run through a beer glass like cleansing machine, but its all more detail to slow the slick process of business.
There are already more radical alternatives to filthy lucre. Crypto Currency has a lot of supporters. A dinosaur like me can just about cope with Paypal, a crypto bar opened in Los Cristianos a couple of years ago and a friendly waitress shocked me by revealing a crammed page of the menu just devoted to crypto currency, as well as normal money, but she looked blankly at me when I offered Esso World Cup coins.The bar didnt last long which maybe tells its own tale. It makes my mind creak to think I have witnessed two changes of currency, in 1972 decimalisation shook up my UK piggy bank, and in 2002 the euro replacement of pesetas put my brain to the test once more. Amazingly pesetas can still be redeemed through the Bank Of Spain until the end of 2020, some estimates say there are millions of coins and notes tucked away out there.
All changes are met with pockets of resistance but we soon learn to live with them. Maybe the aftermath of the Coronavirus will inspire new easier and safer ways of trading and if all else fails we can take a quantum leap back to the days of barter and skill swaps. Imagine topping up your phone by handing a chicken or some other poultry over the counter. At least it would bring a more humane ring to the term battery hens.
Colour coded like a long forgotten school timetable, Spain´s latest stage of coronavirus lockdown liberation saw me heading down to Los Cristianos beach front as dawn turned into daybreak on Sundy 3 May. This was the new daily sport and excercise innovation, I chose the early bird option in the 6 am to 10 am slot rather than the 8 pm to 11 pm late shift. Under 14´s accompanied by adults had tested the let out ground a week before and would now slot in before a short OAP stint ahead of the late spot.
Walking through the quiet town centre, I was ressured by the looming sight of Roque del Conde beyond the central car park.Both beaches were still taped out of bounds but attracted longing glances from the steady flow of runners and strollers. Santiago del Teide (Los Gigantes and Playa del Arena) had opened their beaches to excercise but the sea was still off limits. Here in Los Cristianos, Las Vistas was being raked and graded as part of its cleaning routine. Los Cristianos port and harbour were busy with inter island ferries, and fishermen landing their catch. On the old beach, the swimmers showers and surrounding areas were getting their daily disinfection. With the public out of the way, seagulls sunbathed on the beach as the sun started cranking up for a near 30 degrees day.
Normally both beaches would be surveyed from busy bars and restaurants but not even a coffee kiosk stirred. The next stage of recovery includes a planned gradual re-opening from Monday 11 May for eateries with outside terrazas, but with only 50% of seating in use – even that was a late update from a 30% limit after angry owners across Spain complained that it would have been unviable to open. There´s still a long way to go in the struggle against coronavirus, Arona and Guia de Isora councils have cancelled all fiesta celebrations until October. There´s a precaroius balancing act between allowing people some release from pent up boredom and frustration, and opening the flood gates to the risk of losing the hard fought ground gained in the battle against the virus. In the meantime we will enjoy the glimpses of freedom we get and keep plodding on.