All 18 Covid-19 positive national team footballers of the practice camp for the World Cup-Asian Cup joint qualifiers, including latest seven Friday whose reports came out negative two days ago, are set for another test along with coach Masud Parvez Kaiser Monday.
Until Thursday night, 11 booters out of a total of 24 from the first two days of the Covid-19 check-up tested positive according to the information provided by the Bangladesh Football Federation, but Friday eight additional names from Wednesday’s check-ups were announced as positive.
The seven new Covid-19 positive players are Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Manik Hossain, Monjurur Rahman, Yeasin Arafat, Biplo Ahmed, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil and Mohammad Abdullah while Kaiser, national team assistant coach, also heard about his report changing to positive from negative from the camp at Sarah Resort in Gazipur.
“It came to our attention from the reports we received yesterday from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University that additional seven players and one official who tested Wednesday reported Covid-19 positive. That is, a total of 18 players and one official resulted positive till date and they are at isolation now,” stated a media release from BFF Friday night.
The statement added, “BFF medical committee is in touch with them and taking care. All the Covid-19 positive players and official will follow another test Monday."
A total of 36 footballers were called up for the preliminary camp that started with Covid-19 check-up in three phases.
As it were, all 12 players except goalkeeper Pappu Hossain of Saif Sporting Club tested positive on the opening day, followed by seven the following day.
In the third and final phase, seven senior players and team manager Satyajit Das Rupu were previously scheduled for Friday's check-up.
They are now rescheduled to give their sample for Covid-19 test at BSMMU Saturday.
Covid-19 positive footballers: Bishwanath Ghosh, Nazmul Islam Rasel, Mathews Bablu, Sumon Reza, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Manik Hossain, Monjurur Rahman, Mohammad Abdullah, Yeasin Arafat, Biplo Ahmed, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Anisur Rahman Zico, Sushanta Tripura, Rabiul Hasan, Shahidul Alam, Sohel, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ibrahim, Tutul Hossain Badshah, Masud Parvez (coach)