AfricaPress-Kenya: The coronavirus outbreak has led to an almost complete shutdown of professional sports in the world.
The virus, having originated from Wuhan in China in December last year, continues to wreak havoc in the sporting world.
Football has been at the epicentre of this deadly virus that continues to destroy people irrespective of their race, colour, and creed or where they come from.
Despite footballers being incredibly fit athletes, they are susceptible to contracting Covid-19 like anyone else.
Bloggers and other websites have capitalised on the unfortunate happenings around the world to spread fake news by naming football stars that have not been infected by the virus to cause panic among fans and loved ones.
Game Yetu has compiled the latest list of popular stars who have been CONFIRMED to have the disease.
This story is developing and will be updated through the course of the coronavirus outbreak.
According to official numbers on Saturday (21/03/2020), there are currently 303,055 coronavirus cases in the world with 12,955 succumbing to the deadly virus. 94,625 have recovered from Covid-19.
NOTE – Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has NOT tested positive for coronavirus as was been reported by various media outlets.
Juventus – Paulo Dybala (Saturday, 21/03/2020)
Juventus superstar Paulo Dybala tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.
“Paulo Dybala has undergone medical tests that revealed a positive result for Coronavirus-COVID19.
“He has been in voluntary home isolation since Wednesday 11 March.
“He will continue to be monitored, following the usual regime.
“He is well and is asymptomatic,” Juve said in a statement seen by Game Yetu.
Dybala is the third Juve star to test positive for Covid-19, after centre back Daniele Rugani and World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi.
AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini – (Saturday 21/03/2020)
AC Milan revealed on Saturday Paolo Maldini, the club’s technical director and legendary captain, tested positive for coronavirus. Maldini received the results of a swab test on Saturday.
His son Daniel, a forward in Milan’s youth team who had previously been training with the first team, also tested positive.
“Paolo and Daniel are both well and have already completed two weeks at home without contact with others.
“They will now remain in quarantine until clinically recovered, as per the medical protocols outlined by the health authorities,” Milan said in a statement.
Juventus – Blaise Matuidi (Tuesday, 17/03/2020)
Juventus confirmed on Tuesday Matuidi was the second Juve player to be diagnosed with coronavirus after Daniele Rugani was confirmed as their first case last week.
A statement released by the Italian club read: “Blaise Matuidi has undergone medical tests that have revealed his positivity to the coronavirus-COVID-19.
“The player, as of Wednesday, March 11, has been in voluntary home isolation. He will continue to be monitored and will follow the same regime. He is well and is asymptomatic.”
World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic last week.
Football coach Francisco Garcia dies from coronavirus (Monday 16/03/2020)
The 21-year-old Spanish football was killed by coronavirus while also battling leukemia.
Francisco Garcia, a youth team coach at Malaga club Atletico Portada Alta, only received his cancer diagnosis after going to the hospital with symptoms of the virus, the Independent reported.
The coach had been advised to seek medical help after he began experiencing trouble breathing.
Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus (Monday, 16/03/2020)
Jesus said on he was feeling fine after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Brazilian Serie A champions announced Jesus tested positive on Monday.
In a message posted on Instagram, Jesus said he was well despite the positive test.
“Hello. Good afternoon in Brazil, good night in Portugal. True, my test was positive,” he said.
“It is also true that I feel normal, I am feeling exactly as I felt a month ago, a year ago, two, three, four … I am normal. I don’t feel any symptoms.
“But I had a positive test. I’ll be in reclusion. I want to thank the affection of my friends and the fans of Flamengo for sharing this situation with me.
“I think that in a few days everything will be back to normal, God willing. A big kiss to everyone. I am very confident.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation announced suspension of all national football competitions for an indefinite period on Sunday.
Valencia – Eliaquim Mangala (Sunday, 15/03/2020)
Defender Eliaquim Mangala confirmed he contracted coronavirus on Sunday, but said he was feeling fine.
“I knew today that I am #Coronavirus positive,” Mangala, who has only made four LaLiga appearances this season, said in a Twitter post.
“I’m feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family.
“I learned that we can carry the virus without having symptoms, that’s why I recommend everyone to follow the confinement measures and avoid contact with other people, as much as possible, even if you feel well.
“If everyone respect these instructions, together we will avoid the propagation as much as possible and fight to avoid transmitting it to people, who may have aggravating symptoms.
“Many thanks for your support message, take care of yourself and your loved ones and respect the confinement instructions to avoid the spreading.”
Mangala spent five years at City before moving to Valencia in 2019.
Valencia – Ezequiel Garay (Sunday, 15/03/2020)
Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, becoming the first La Liga player to confirm he has the virus.
“It’s clear that I have got off to the wrong start in 2020. I’ve tested positive for the coronavirus, I feel very good and now I just have to listen to the health authorities and for now, remain isolated,” Garay wrote on his official Instagram account.
Garay was ruled out of the season after suffering a knee injury in February.
A statement from the Spanish club added that more cases at the club had been confirmed.
“Valencia CF confirm that five positive cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been detected from first-team players and staff.
“They are all in their homes in good health and with isolation measures.
Sampdoria’s Depaoli, two more Fiorentina players test positive for coronavirus (Saturday, 14/03/2020)
Two more Fiorentina players and another at Sampdoria tested positive coronavirus, bringing the number of infected Serie A players to 10 on Saturday (14/03/2020).
Fiorentina’s Argentine international defender German Pezzella and on-loan forward Patrick Cutrone along with Sampdoria midfielder Fabio Depaoli are the latest to return positive tests for the virus.
Later on Saturday, Depaoli said on his Instagram account that he had also contracted the coronavirus.
“Unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19. I want to reassure you that I’m fine,” the 22-year-old Depaoli wrote.
Sampdoria, Fiorentina players (Friday, 13/03/2020)
Four more players at Sampdoria plus one from Fiorentina also tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, bringing the total number of infected players in Italy’s Serie A to seven.
Sampdoria said the players — Norwegian Morten Thorsby, Swede Albin Ekdal, Gambian Omar Colley and Italian Antonino La Gumina and team doctor Amedeo Baldari — were all doing well.
“They are all in good health and in their homes in Genoa,” said the club in a statement.
“Sampdoria reiterates that it has immediately applied all the procedures stipulated by the regulations: all club premises are closed, the team, managers and employees potentially involved are in voluntary home isolation,” it added.
“Everything will go well. Together we will make it. Stay at home.”
Fiorentina confirmed their Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic had also tested positive.
“He is at home and currently does not have any symptoms,” said the Florence-based club.
Chelsea – Callum Hudson-Odoi (Friday, 13/03/2020)
Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday.
Hudson-Odoi, who is the first Premier League player to test positive for the virus, later said in a video on Twitter that he was following health guidelines and remained in good spirits.
“Thank you for all your good wishes… I’m feeling good and hope to see you all soon,” he said.
Hudson-Odoi stayed away from the training ground with a club statement saying: “Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men’s team building will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines.
“These will include initially the full men’s team squad, coaching staff and a number of backroom staff.
“It is expected that those who did not have close contact with Callum will return to work in the coming days. In the meantime, the men’s team building, one of several separate buildings at our training ground, will remain closed.”
Arsenal – Mikel Arteta (Friday, 13/03/2020)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday sending shockwaves among Arsenal fans and the world at large.
Consequently, the Arsenal Colney Training Centre was closed, with personnel who had had recent close contact with Arteta now in self-isolation.
“Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff,” Arsenal said in a statement.
Arteta said later on Friday he was feeling better after testing positive.
“Thanks for your words and support,” the Spaniard, 37, wrote on Twitter.
“We’re all facing a huge and unprecedented challenge.
“Everyone’s health is all that matters right now. Protect each other by following the guidelines,” he added.
“We’ll come through this together.”
Arsenal’s game at Manchester City on Wednesday was postponed as a number of their players had met Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Greek club Olympiakos Piraeus, who contracted the virus.
Sampdoria’s – Manolo Gabbiadini (Thursday, 12/03/2020)
Sampdoria’s Manolo Gabbiadini became the second Serie A player to test positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.
Verona, the last club that Sampdoria faced, said in a statement that they were “ceasing all activity” in light of Gabbiadni’s positive test for coronavirus.
“He’s got a bit of a fever, but he’s fine. The club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law,” the Genoa-based club said in a statement.
All Serie A matches have been suspended until April 3 due to the pandemic.
Juventus – Daniele Rugani (Wednesday, 11/03/2020)
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani became the first Serie A player to test positive for Covid-19.
Juventus said in a statement that the 26-year-old Italy international, who played in matches against Brescia and SPAL in February had not shown any symptoms of the virus.
The Turin side are one of Europe’s biggest clubs with a squad that includes five-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently in Madeira, Portugal.
“The footballer, Daniele Rugani, has tested positive for Coronavirus-COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic.
“Juventus Football Club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him,” Juve said in a statement.
Four players at third-tier (Italy) Pianese had previously tested positive for the virus.
Rugani said he was fine on Thursday, shortly after his club said he had tested positive.
“You’ve read the news, so I want to reassure everyone worried about me, I’m fine.
“I urge everyone to respect the rules, because this virus makes no distinction! Let’s do it for ourselves, for our loved ones and those around us,” Rugani said on Twitter.
Rugani joined Juventus from Empoli in 2013 although he then returned to Empoli on loan. He has been at Juve since 2015.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message of support Rugani, the sick and to the ‘amazing’ health professionals dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
“I would like to send my thoughts to everyone who has lost someone close to them, my solidarity to those who are fighting the virus, like my team-mate Daniele Rugani, and my continued support to the amazing health professionals putting their own lives at risk to save others,” Ronaldo posted on Social media.
Olympiakos, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis (Tuesday, 10/03/2020)
The owner of Greece’s most successful soccer club Olympiakos and English Championship side Nottingham Forest said on Tuesday he had contracted Covid-19.
The 52-year-old Greek businessman said he was well and receiving treatment.
“The recent virus has “visited” me and I felt obliged to let the public know,” he said in a social media post. “I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and the doctors’ instructions.
“I strongly advise all my fellow citizens to do the same. I wish all a quick recovery.”
He was the first popular football stakeholder to contract the virus.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
