HIBS ACE: MY FAILED TEST NIGHTMARE
SAYS HIBS ACE ALEX GOGIC
happen to me? I had looked after myself. I hadn’t been out to the pub or anything like that.
“I had been to the training ground, the matches and the only other place had been the supermarket.
“It just shows it can happen everywhere. I was thinking why me? I am just relieved it’s come back negative.”
Gogic was living in hope he might have been given the all-clear to play for Hibs against Aberdeen on Sunday and then for Cyprus against Montenegro and Azerbaijan but protocols have put paid to that.
He said: “I went straight into a room to isolate. I went and did the test and an NHS test on Saturday and returned to isolate until the tests came back.
“We didn’t have any word from the SFA and I hoped I might have been able to play against Aberdeen if the next test had come back negative but then I was told I wasn’t allowed.
“I was gutted I couldn’t help the boys against Aberdeen and I had to watch it on the TV from home and the result made things even worse.
“The only good thing was that my following tests were negative and I was able to watch the game on the television with the rest of the family. I was then hoping there would still be good news and I could still go away with Cyprus but the guidelines mean I can’t because I need to self-isolate for 10 days.
“I was told it doesn’t matter that it was a false-positive, I still need to self-isolate.”
Gogic had to break the bad news to national coach Johan Walem but he has been assured the door will remain open.
He said: “I made him aware of the situation before the Aberdeen game and then I called him on Monday to let him know there was no chance of me being involved. He told me to keep my chin up, to keep doing what I have been doing on the pitch and if I do that then it is more than likely he would see me for next month’s international matches.
“He was very understanding, which was nice.”
The only silver lining for Gogic is that he’ll be fit for Hibs’ next game against St Mirren on August 12.
He said: “I am glad that the international break means I should be fit for Hibernian’s next match. They remain my priority and I just want to get back and then we’ll see if I can get back into the Cyprus squad.”