Fotu waits in ‘crazy’ lockdown
Kiwi basketballer Isaac Fotu has been cycling the deserted streets of Treviso in Italy pondering his next move in this rapidly escalating battle with the coronavirus pandemic he has found himself ensconced in.
Fotu, a 26-year-old Aucklander, plays his pro hoops for Universo Treviso in Italy’s Serie A league, which places him fairly and squarely in the path of the virus as it has swept from its outbreak in China to a seeming European epicentre in Italy.
The New Zealander is confined to his home right now with the entirety of Italy in lockdown. The country has closed all businesses, except for pharmacies and grocery stores, as it attempts to halt the disconcerting rise in coronavirus cases.
Just a fortnight ago there had been 322 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus in Italy. In a week that number had risen to 2502 and now it has reached 12,462, while at least 827 people have died from the illness.
Right now sport is the least of anyone’s concern in Italy as the country goes into lockdown to try and halt the tide of this pandemic. All of which leaves a professional basketballer like Fotu, thousands of kilometres from home, stuck in a strange land trying to decipher messages in an unfamiliar language amid a disconcerting health scare, wondering just where this will go next.
‘‘It’s just the uncertainty that’s the biggest worry,’’ Fotu told Stuff from his home in Treviso after confirming his health was good. ‘‘Everything changes every hour, every day, The situation just keeps getting worse and you can see why they’re taking these precautions. These numbers over here are getting crazy.
‘‘You’re just waiting on information and wondering if they’re going to cancel the league. They gave us a piece of paper that allows travel around the city for work. People aren’t even supposed to be out unless they have a reason, like working.
‘‘I’ve been stuck in my house doing homework and watching Netflix while this thing has been going on.’’
Fotu admits right now a return to New Zealand – even with a mandatory fortnight of self-isolation – is an enticing thought, though he remains bound by the terms of his contract.
‘‘If they cancel the season and tell us we can leave, I’ll definitely look to come home,’’ said the Kiwi who is averaging 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds for his Italian club.
‘‘I don’t really think I’d like to be stuck here for the next couple of months under these circumstances.
‘‘Going into that two weeks’ isolation will be weird but that’s for the best. I’ll take all the precautions necessary when I come back.’’