Kolkata: In a big setback just before the I-League qualifiers, two Bhawanipore FC players from their 26-member squad have tested positive for Coronavirus. 20-year-old goalkeeper Akash Mondal and winger Sudipto Malakar, aged 23, have tested positive during the routine COVID-19 check-up organized by the club on Saturday (September 19).
This testing was for the I-League qualification which will begin next month. The other 24 members from the squad and the support staffs have been tested negative. As the matches will be held under strict pandemic standards that has been set by the government, due to the outbreak of coronavirus. As it states, every player and staff should be tested before the tournament and will be allowed with the team only if the person tested negative.
Bhawanipore coach Sankarlal Chakraborty said, “These two players are talented and promising players. They were training well and showed no sign of any symptoms. It is surely a big blow for us. They have been sent back home. But all others tested negative.”
He further added, “We will again take the second round of COVID-19 test on Wednesday. I hope they (Akash, Sudipto) will be allowed to take the test. If they are not allowed then I think we will miss them in the first couple of games.”
The I-League qualifiers will begin from October 8. The matches to be played in Kalyani Stadium and Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.
