Seven more footballers tested Covid-19 positive, all asymptomatic, on the second day of reporting for the residential training camp of the Bangladesh national team, taking the total tally to 11 from 26 tests.
Goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, midfielder Sohel Rana and defender Tutul Hossain Badshah of Abahani Limited, and goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico, winger Mohammad Ibrahim, midfielder Rabiul Hasan and defender Sushanta Tripura of Bashundhara Kings got their reports positive from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Thursday night.
Five other booters – Arifur Rahman, Saad Uddin, Rahmat Mia, Riyadul Hasan Rafi and Rakib Hossain - passed the test and got the green signal to join eight players who tested negative the previous day at Sarah Resort in Gazipur, where the practice camp is taking place ahead of October’s World Cup and Asian Cup joint-qualifiers.
Dr. Ali Imran, deputy chairman of Bangladesh Football Federation medical committee, said, “All of the cases are asymptomatic. It’s a common scenario. There are many like them (asymptomatic) across the country moving here and there. As they are national players, we will observe them closely and follow the best policy before allowing them to join the camp.”
Out of a total of 36 players in the preliminary camp, the last group of seven players including Topu Barman, Mamunul Islam, Ashraful Islam Rana, Rayhan Hasan, Yeasin Khan, Nabib Newaj Jibon and Towhidul Alam Sabuj will go through similar process Friday, and provided they test negative, will move to Gazipur.
Earlier Tuesday, Bishwanath Ghosh became the first national footballer to test Covid-19 positive, while later, three new faces Mathews Bablu, Sumon Reza and Nazmul Islam Rasel received similar reports.
"I think it was expected, we started camp early enough so if this happened we have enough time," said head coach Jamie Day before adding, “No change of plan at the moment, we will assess the situation in seven days.”
Covid-19 positive footballers: Shahidul Alam Sohel (GK), Tutul Hossain Badshah (DF), Sohel Rana (MF) [Abahani], Anisur Rahman Zico (GK), Sushanta Tripura (DF), Bishwanath Ghosh (DF), Mohammad Ibrahim (RW), Rabiul Hasan (MF) [Bashundhara], Nazmul Islam Rasel (DM), Mathews Bablu (ST) [Police] and Sumon Reza (ST) [Baridhara].
