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.