COVID-19: 28 Football Club Members Tests Positive In Zambia

– 28 Football Players and Staff have tested positive to COVID-19

– The result has caused the delay in resumption of Zambian season

– Out of the 58 players and staff at Rangers, only 30 were negative

No fewer than twenty-eight players and staff from league leaders ‘Forest Rangers’ have tested positive for COVID-19.

This confirmation led to the delayed to 24 hours of the restart of the Zambian season, scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2020.

Rangers had been scheduled to play Zanaco in central city Ndola in the first Super League match since the season was halted in early March due to COVID-19 lockdown.

The football association said all 18 league clubs had to undergo the COVID-19 tests earlier in the week and of the 58 players and staff at Rangers, only 30 were negative.

Following this result, the general secretary to the football federation, Adrian Kashala warned clubs against relaxation of adherence to COVID-19 safety guidelines, stressing that the resumption of the league can be suspended.

“We should not forget that the league resumption can always be suspended if clubs do not adhere to the prescribed guidelines.

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“Clubs will face stiff penalties for breaching COVID-19 guidelines, including losing points or matches being cancelled,” Kashala said.

He added that the football association is greatly worried that some clubs have relaxed their adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.

The 2019/2020 season will now restart this week in Ndola with a double-header featuring Zesco United against Kansanshi Dynamos, followed by Buildcon versus Power Dynamos.

Zambia are the second country in Africa after Tanzania, where spectators are permitted, to restart their season.