How a virus destroyed Indian women’s footballers’ ambitions and broke their hearts
Dalima Chibber was expressing her feelings, but the typically upbeat right-back; could have been speaking for the entire Indian team, whose matches; at the AFC Asian Cup were canceled by the continental body; on Monday due to a Covid-19 outbreak among the squad. How a virus destroyed Indian women’s footballers’ ambitions and broke their hearts.
Two more Indian players have tested positive, bringing the total number of affected players; to 14 a day after the hosts were forced to withdraw from the competition; when they were unable to form a team for their group stage match against Chinese Taipei on Sunday.
Players and support staff have been isolated at the team hotel in Navi Mumbai while seven other teams and event organizers have been placed; in a bubble and are on ‘high alert.’ The Indian squad isn’t the only one whose bubble has burst. At least five other teams have reported cases of Covid, but unlike India; where more than half of the squad was infected, the incidents in other teams are isolated. Five South Korean players and officials have been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to officials; and cases have also been reported from Vietnam, Japan; and China on the eve of the event, which began on January 20.
After the 0-4 misfortune against Australia, Philippines coach Alen Stajcic uncovered that ‘a modest bunch of players and a staff member’ in his side had tried positive as well.
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While Stajcic did not title the players who tried positive, he did say that the Philippines; were constrained to play without one of their vital players; and utilized their “number three goalie” against Australia in their Bunch B experience at the Mumbai Football Field.
“See, we’re continuing with extraordinary caution. “Within our group, we’re on tall alarm and doing everything ready to,” Stajcic said. “Last night, I was fantastically grief stricken for the Indian group; seeing how much exertion they put in to get ready for the competition and the reality that they’re hosting it I was really heartbroken.” From a football angle, usually a tremendous missed opportunity to exhibit their capacities.”
For India, this is a ‘missed opportunity.’ After years of training and friendly matches in several countries the Asian Cup provided an opportunity to assess their position on the continent. The team had shown promise in their tournament opener against Iran; and the encounter versus Taipei; who is ranked 16 places ahead of India at world number 39; would have served as a solid barometer of their growth.
Now, while other teams compete for continental glory, the hosts are cooped up in their hotel rooms.
The travel is almost to begin. Kushal Das, common secretary of the All India Football League (AIFF); claimed there were a number of positive cases among the inn staff who had interaction with the players. It’s sad, Das said, but it may have happened to any group, anywhere. He went on to say that the Asian Container; was as it were “the primary arrange” for Indian women’s football.
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In the interim, the squad’s coach, Thomas Dennerby, will return to the under-17 women’s group; where he relegate before being promote to the senior group; for their World Container, which is able be held in India in October. Meanwhile, the competitors will compete within the Hangzhou Asian Diversions in September.
“Thomas is going to the U-17 World Cup.” “At least for this year; he will be a vital part of women’s football coaching at all levels,” Das added. “This was only the beginning for the senior team. This women’s squad has shown promise, and we have a number of competitions coming up; including the Asian Games,” said the coach.
They will most likely compete in the domestic league first. However, the epidemic has had an impact on that as well. The Indian Women’s League (IWL), which are last held in 2019-20, was scheduled to begin in April; but states have been unable to complete their own leagues due to the third wave of the pandemic; according to Das.
“The states were expecting to finish by February 15; but we don’t know when they’ll be able to do it.” As a result, the IWL may have to be postponed; while Das stated that “we will still strive to hold it in April.”
For the time being, he is hopeful that the Asian Cup goes through without a hitch; a sentiment shared by many including Ji So-yun of South Korea; who are awarded Player of the Match in her team’s 1-0 triumph over Myanmar on Monday.
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“Due to the situation, this tournament is not like a regular tournament,” the Chelsea midfielder stated after the match. “All of the teams are also having difficulty. What matters is that we finish the tournament safely.”