Bishwanath Ghosh could have been with his national teammates in Gazipur, but the right-back was instead heard cooking lunch with his newly-wed wife in Dhaka when this correspondent called him.
The husband and wife both tested Covid-19 positive two days ago on the eve of the national team’s residential training camp, and like the three other footballers whose results were similar, there has been no symptoms.
“Nothing much to be worried. I worked really hard in the last few months, spent 2-2.5 hours in gym and sometimes went to the field and stayed fit all the time till now,” said Bishwanath, Bashundhara Kings defender, to Dhaka Tribune.
“What I realized during these tough corona times is how to stay mentally fit. Now I’m looking forward to quick recovery and return to the camp as soon as possible,” the 22-year old added.
Bishwanath was first called up to the national team during the reign of former Australian coach Andrew Ord, and made his senior debut under Jamie Day during the Saff Championship 2018 against Bhutan.
Like Bishwanath, Police FC midfielder Nazmul Islam Rasel and Uttar Baridhara striker Sumon Reza also hail from Tangail and both tested Covid-19 positive after being called up to the national team for the first time.
Police forward Mathews Bablu, the other new face from Dinajpur, also tested positive on the same day.
Interestingly, Rasel, Sumon and Bablu all had their previous Covid-19 tests negative only two-three days before the reports altered when tests were carried out at a different place.
Rasel, Bablu and Bishwanath did the tests at Apollo Hospital in Dhaka and only the latter’s report was positive, while Sumon underwent his test at Tangail Sadar Hospital Monday.
“Interesting thing is that none of us (Rasel and Bablu) is showing any symptoms. No fever, no cough, no cold. Everything seems normal. We now just have to stay in isolation for a week,” said Rasel, 24, who played for Bangladesh Muktijoddha SKC, Brothers Union, Farashganj SC before joining Police during the postponed football season.
Rasel recalled a memory of staying in Intensive Care Unit after suffering severe dengue fever before making his comeback for Chittagong Abahani Ltd for the last four matches of the 2018-19 season.
“To be honest, I have not lost my strength. There is nothing much to do, as there is no symptoms, the only wait is for a negative report, return soon and perform better than before,” he added.
Bablu, who comes from a Santal family in Dinajpur, joined Police in 2017 after spending two seasons at Team Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation.
He scored a spectacular goal against Saif Sporting Club in the Federation Cup, and netted two more in five matches in the premier league before it was called off.
“I practiced at home during the pandemic days and was 100% ready to join the camp. Now only target is how to get next Covid-19 report negative,” said Bablu.
Bablu and Rasel are staying in the same building of Police club in Uttara, but isolated from each other.
Sumon, who also has a similar reaction after his Covid-19 report matched the previous three, is one of six players from Tangail who got called up for the latest squad.
He has been playing for Uttar Baridhara for four years and is now currently staying at cantonment area.
“I felt a little bit down at first but not anymore. We have to wait for seven days in isolation, then beat the corona and move forward with greater goal,” said Sumon.
