Davila torn by separation from family
SYDNEY: Ulises Davila feels assured his wife and 3monthold baby are safe in Covid19 hotbed Mexico after rejoining his Phoenix teammates for the ALeague.
While a scattering of import players at other clubs, chose not to travel back to Australia for next week’s competition resumption, Davila and England striker Gary Hooper put themselves through Sydney hotel isolation to rejoin the thirdplaced Phoenix.
Davila, one of the league’s shining lights before its suspension in March, conceded his decision was a wrench, given the circumstances.
Farewelling son Ulises Junior was hard enough, let alone flying out of a country where the infection curve is steepening and the pandemic has inflicted more than 32,000 deaths — the fifthmost for any nation.
‘‘It was hard to say goodbye to my wife and the boy but at the same time I want to come back and play again and try to win the league and go back home as a champion,’’ Davila said.
‘‘For me, it is important to know they are fine. They are safe at home and they are staying at home. I’m confident we will be OK because they are undertaking all the care possible.’’
Davila (29) said he was comforted by a daily video connection with his family. Another important step in his mental wellbeing was joining his teammates last Friday, following two weeks of isolation in a cramped hotel room.
He released social media footage of an improvised training regime which involved practising his trademark dribbling skills in about 2sq m of space next to his bed.
‘‘It was hard to be by myself in only a small room. For sure you lose some fitness but you get by with what you can do,’’ he said.
‘‘To go from 23 months of not training but we will try to get there in time for the first game.’’
The ALeague’s operations team is working on a revised fixture as its three Melbourne clubs prepare to finally depart Victoria.
As the ALeague’s saga to get its three Victorian clubs out of coronavirushit Melbourne nears its conclusion, the competition is working on a revised schedule for the season restart. After two aborted attempts to leave the state earlier this week, the FFA confirmed on Thursday it had received exemptions from the New South Wales government for Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Western United to travel to Sydney.
It is understood about 120 players and staff from the three clubs will be heading to NSW, where they will have to undergo a 14day quarantine period — during which they can train and prepare — before being able to take part in matches. — AAP