FLU BLOW TO PJ CITY’S Q-FINALS HOPE
Five team members hospitalised
PJ CITY FC have been hit hard by influenza B. A total of 12 players, including three foreigners, and their physiotherapist are down with flu.
Five of them have been admitted to the Colombia Asia Hospital in Seremban for influenza B.
The other nine are showing a moderate level of flu-like symptoms.
However, they have not fulfilled the case diagnosis and are currently ‘home quarantined’.
The Malaysia Football League (MFL) have postponed PJ City’s Malaysia Cup Group B match against Perak SEDC at Manjung Stadium today to Friday.
PJ City need a point from the match to join former champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the quarter-finals.
But PJ City are facing a dilemma as those with influenza B and flu-like symptoms might not recover in time for the crucial match.
In an MFL press release, issued yesterday, it was stated that teams can opt for players from their President’s Cup and Youth Cup squads for senior matches as stipulated in the league’s regulations.
The club have submitted an appeal to MFL in the hope that the match will be moved to a later date.
PJ City feel that by not using some of their senior players down with flu, it would affect their hopes of reaching the last eight.
However, if MFL grant PJ City’s appeal and postpone the match from Friday to another day, it might affect the scheduling of the quarter-finals.
PJ City president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said 12 players and one team official have been certified as having flu-like symptoms with four confirmed influenza B cases while the other is classified as ‘suspected case’.
“We have a letter from the state health department certifying this and it will be forwarded to MFL tomorrow (today).
“According to the doctor, it normally takes around 10 days to recover from influenza B.
“I am worried that these players might not recover by Friday.
“It is a chicken and egg situation here. By postponing this match again, it would disrupt the scheduling of the knockout matches.
“But on the other hand, if we do not use our best players against Perak SEDC, we might not get the required result to qualify for the quarter-finals.
“I hope MFL will consider our plight as this is an unavoidable issue. It is an away match and we need our strongest team in Manjung.
“Of course, there is an option to use youth players, but we are talking about the Malaysia Cup, which is a prestigious tournament. I really hope MFL will consider giving us a few more days.”
Those with influenza B are Muhaimin Mohamad (goalkeeper), K. Thivandaran (midfielder), R. Dervan (physiotherapist), Zamri Pin Ramli (defender) while former national player S. Veenod (midfielder) is classified as ‘suspected case’.
Others with flu-like symptoms are Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi (goalkeeper), Thamil Arasu Abu Mamee (striker), Nasriq Baharom (defender), K. Satish (midfielder), R. Barathkumar (midfielder), Pedro Henrique Cortes (striker), Sergio Filho (midfielder) and Elizeu Batista (defender).