THE COVID-19 pandemic has failed to dampen the spirits of the North Companions playing group.
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This season's Premier League action was slated to begin on May 4, but remains up in the air due to the coronaviurs crisis.
However, Northies coach Jackson Zifodya is hopeful a start to the season may be on the horizon.
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"We recently had an email from Northern NSW Football about potentially starting up again in July some time," Zifodya told the Leader.
"We've been running a WhatsApp group to help keep everyone up to date with what's happening as well.
"All I hope is, everyone has been doing what they can in isolation, so that when we do get the go ahead we will be good to go."
Northies' lineup in 2020 is set to be very different than last year, after several players moved clubs due to the Premier League remodeling.
"We have had quite a few guys, who came to our club because their initial club wasn't in Premier League, return to their original clubs," Zifodya said.
"It's a tough decision for people to make and at the end of the day, I don't hold it against them for returning.
"In saying that, I am still quite confident we will be competitive this season."
Zifodya said he was confident his code would return to action this season, at some point.
"I know our governing bodies have had conversations with cricket and things like that about going later into the year," he said.
"Personally, I think it is really good they are having those conversations about ground and player availabilty with the other codes.
"I think it is really important that everyone pulls together to ensure we all get through to the other side of this pandemic.
"In the meantime, as a healthcare professional, I just hope everyone keeps doing the right thing until we get the green light."
As for his players fitness levels, Zifodya said he was hopeful his charges would be "good to go" when the time comes for play to resume.
"At this level of the game, it is very difficult to give players their own individual training programs," he said.
"I understand it is difficult to find motivation when you can only really work out on your own, but hopefully our guys have been doing what they can.
"Hopefully, once we get a start date set, everyone can really knuckle down and be ready to go."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
