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Three Members of South African Olympic Football Team Contract COVID-19

Two players and a support staff member of South Africa's men's Olympic football team have tested positive for the coronavirus in Tokyo, Team South Africa said Sunday.


A file photo of South Africa’s Olympic team. Credit: SAFA
A file photo of South Africa’s Olympic team

 

Two players and a support staff member of South Africa’s men’s Olympic football team have tested positive for the coronavirus in Tokyo, Team South Africa said Sunday.

The three — players Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi and video analyst Mario Masha — are in isolation.

“The rest of the team has already tested negative twice and is following closely all the recommendations of the local health authorities,” the team said in a statement.

All members of the South African delegation have been tested daily on arrival at the Olympic Village in the Japanese capital, the team said.

A fourth member of South Africa’s Olympic delegation, sevens rugby coach Neil Powell, has also produced a positive result and is in an isolation facility in the Japanese town where the Sevens squad are in a training camp.

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The Olympic Rings are pictured in front of the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne on March 21, 2020, as doubts increase over whether Tokyo can safely host the summer Games amid the spread of the COVID-19. Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP.

 

Earlier Sunday, Tokyo Olympics organisers said two competitors had tested positive for the coronavirus in the Athletes’ Village after a team colleague was also infected, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.

Organisers did not identify the team involved.

AFP