Diriangén are unhappy games continue in a nation where sport represents stability for strongman president Ortega
On Wednesday night the players of Diriangén, the oldest club in Nicaragua, will put on their face masks before they line up for kick-off and hope for the best. They are third in the country’s Liga Primera and a home match against fourth-placed Walter Ferretti offers a chance to put the heat on those ahead while widening the six-point gap between the sides.
It is tight at the top but Diriangén have little appetite to compete and will do so from obligation alone. Nicaragua’s league is one of only three competitions in the world – with Belarus and Burundi – continuing to operate during the coronavirus crisis and the decision to press on has sparked fear and disbelief.