Uncertainty grips women team after symptoms of deadly virus

Thursday, March 26th, 2020 00:00 | By

A member of the Harambee Starlets technical bench Bruce Juma enjoys a light moment with a friend in Istanbul, Turkey three weeks ago during the Turkish Cup. RIGHT: FKF vice president Dorris Petra. Photo/PD/COURTESY

Fear yesterday gripped staffers of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) after it emerged that a member of the Harambee Starlets technical bench could be have contacted the deadly coronavirus during the team’s tour of Turkey where they took part in the eight-team annual Turkish Cup that took place in Instabul between March 4 and 10.

According to inside sources the official who returned with the rest of the team players and officials on March 12, went into self quarantine but took himself to Mbagathi Hospital on Friday after noticing some symptoms of the Covid-19.

He was detained at the hospital before being transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital on Tuesday.

“ He checked in at the Mbagathi infectious disease wing with Covid-19 symptoms on Friday as he had diarrhoea, fatigues muscles and mild headache.

I have, however, learned that comprehensive tests will be undertaken tomorrow morning (yesterday) since kits had run out,” the source told People Sport.

According to FKF president, the entire Starlets traveling squad was taken to Mbagathi Hospital for thorough tests directly from the airport when they returned to the country from Turkey on March 12. They all tested negative and were advised to go into self quarantine.

If it turns out that technical bench member tests positive, it would be alarming since he had been in contact with all the team members including FKF vice president Dorris Petra who was part of the traveling party.

Petra who has been in self quarantine since returning from the trip, however, briefly broke the rules on March 17, when he joined FKF president Nick Mwendwa and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno in a press conference at the Safari Park Hotel to react on the ruling made by the Sports Disputes Tribunal earlier on that day.

Dorris could not be reached for comment yesterday, but she had written in her facebook page: “This quarantine is necessary but it’s killing me before the virus. I thank all those who have called or sent SMS to check on me.

I don’t take it for granted. Am praying for all my friends, relatives and enemies.”