Jamie Day tests positive for Covid-19
The Englishman has mild symptoms and it has been informed from the team management that he will undergo Covid-19 screening again.
Bangladesh returned to international football in the most emphatic of ways by defeating Nepal 2-0 in the first of the two Fifa frendlies on Friday. They are scheduled to face the same side on November 17. But their head coach Jamie Day won't be able to be at the dugout as he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Khaled Mahmud Naomi, one of the officials of the media department of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed the news to The Business Standard (TBS). According to him, Day is doing well despite being tested positive for Covid-19. He has isolated himself.
"It was a routine screening and everyone underwent the test. Jamie Day has tested positive. But he doesn't have any symptoms and his movements and diet are normal right now," said Khalid Mahmud.
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It's a great setback for Bangladesh football team ahead of the second friendly match against Nepal. The booters have to train without Day. There was a practice session scheduled in the Sunday morning but it has been shifted to the evening.
Regarding this, Bangladesh football team manager Amer Khan said, "Jamie testing positive for Covid-19 was unexpected. We were in a good shape. He was encouraging the boys really well. We are looking forward to the second match and the boys want to win. Still we believe that we can win. The booters were supposed to train in the morning but the session has been deferred."
The former Arsenal player was in Bangladesh during the earlier period of Covid-19 outbreak. The Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan got postponed due to dire Covid-19 situation. With no matches ahead, Day went back to England. He returned to Bangladesh after a long hiatus on October 29.
Bangladesh performed brilliantly in the first friendly match and a pleased BFF chairman Kazi Salahuddin announced a prize money of BDT 10 lakh to encourage the players. But the news of the head coach's testing Covid-19 positive within a couple of days can be a huge setback for the booters.
