Locked down in France
Samuels facing uncertainty as coronavirus brings Europe to a halt
JAMAICA’S BASKETBALL star Samardo Samuels said he has been doing everything to protect himself as he awaits clearance from the Government of France to return home amid the outbreak of the coronavirus in that country.
France, which is one of the worst-hit European countries, has recorded 9,134 confirmed cases of the virus and over 260 deaths up to early yesterday afternoon. This has led to the postponement of France’s top-tier basketball league, LNB Pro A.
The 31-year-old Samuels, who has been plying his trade for Chorale Roanne Basket since last month, told The Gleaner that the entire country is under lockdown and the government is urging everyone to stay inside until further notice.
“We are under lockdown because the government here in France has locked down everything, so I can’t fly out, and so they are going to do that for one month,” said Samuels.
“This has affected me tremendously because now we are under lockdown, we can’t really leave France, and in order for us to get paid, we have to stay here,” he said. “It is very difficult because when you are at home, there is very little that you can do, and then you don’t know when the league is going to start back”. The league was scheduled to finish in May. The coronavirus pandemic has also forced the suspension of Europe’s top league as well as the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States.
“It is affecting everywhere, and so it doesn’t make sense I say I want to leave France and come to Jamaica because the virus is also there as well,” said Samuels, who has also represented the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA.
“I have food and everything to stay inside, and so I am just going by what they tell (me) to do because it is serious times for everybody, and so you just have to be safe.”
Samuels has played one game for the Choir this season, scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds in a losing effort against Orleans on March 10.
He had a successful stint in the Greek Basketball League in January, where he averaged 18 points per game as a centre.