Power 2 Zesco 2
…as more Copperbelt clubs record Covid-19 positive cases
FOUR local football players in the Copperbelt Province have tested positive for Covid19, Minister of Sports Youth and Child Development, Emmanuel Mulenga has said.
Mulenga said two players from FAZ Super Division defending champions Zesco United and two from Power Dynamos FC had tested positive for Covid-19 following the tests conducted on Saturday night.
Speaking during a media briefing at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola after a consultative meeting with FAZ officials,
Mulenga said the players that had tested positive were in isolation at Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
The four join the 28 players and club officials who tested positive for Covid-19 from Forest Rangers who were set to take on ZANACO FC on Saturday in a league opener which was eventually cancelled.
However Mulenga who is also a Ndola lawmaker indicated that the league was going to proceed as planned despite the recorded cases.
Mulenga said the matches would go ahead because the immediate contacts had tested negative for Covid19.
He further stated that tests for Covid-19 would be conducted 72 hours before any game for all the players.
Mulenga said Division one teams would also go through the same process as it was the government’s goal to protect citizens. On Saturday, Forest Rangers became the first team to record Covid-19 cases concerning 28 of their players including boy boys.
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Zambia has disclosed that all Buildcon FC players have tested negative for Covid-19.
FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala said the association would proceed with the league as guided by Mulenga who chaired the Consultative meeting on Saturday.
“Following a consultative meeting among stakeholders chaired by Minister of Youth Sport and Child Development, Emmanuel Mulenga the Football Association of Zambia will proceed with the scheduled matches,” Mungala said.