Upbeat on beating coronavirus
Faizal determined to see through quarantine and play in the MHL
PETALING JAYA: Faizal Saari hopes to beat Covid-19 to play in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL).
The Terengganu striker was tested positive for Covid-19 on Feb 23 and is undergoing house quarantine.
He has to wait until March 4 to know whether he gets to play in the league. He has to be cleared from the virus before he enters the sports bubble on March 9 in order to compete in the league starting on March 11.
Faizal is not the only player with Covid-19 but two other Terengganu players Shello Silverius (pic) and Khalid Hamrin have also contracted the virus.
The 30-year-old national player Faizal was shocked as he did not show any symptoms.
“When I found out I was Covid-19 positive, I immediately got my family members checked first,” said Faizal.
On Friday, his wife Syaidatul Afyna Badrul Hamidi and son Faleeq Jafran and daughter Lenora Latisya were found negative.
“I find the whole incident weird as I did not exhibit any symptoms at all,” he said.
“I do not know where I got it from. I do not go out of the house often. I only go out to get essential items. I’ve been indoors most of the times.
“I will do another test on March 4. If it turns out negative, I will then join the team for training to prepare for the league.
“If it turns out positive, I have to quarantine myself again, and that means, my participation in the league will be in jeopardy.
“I shall leave it to God to decide on my fate. Right now, my mind is fixed on the league. I am doing cardio and core exercises in my room. That’s my mindset right now.”
Except for Faizal, Shello and Khalid, the others in the team are fine.
“I’m glad other Terengganu players are okay. I hope the three of us will be out of this and will be able to train with the boys soon,” added Faizal.
Meanwhile, a few Tenaga Nasional players who have had close contact with Shello were also tested and their results have turned out to be negative.
But as a matter of precaution, Tenaga Nasional’s head of hockey development Nor Saiful Zaini, said the players would go through a 10-day mandatory quarantine before joining the rest of the team.