South Africa u23 team quarantined after positive Covid-19 results

Two South Africa u23 footballers have become the Olympic Village’s first athlete citizens to test positive for Covid-19 at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Two South Africa u23 players identified

The two South Africa u23 players who tested positive for Covid-19 have been identified as Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Monyane and Swallows FC forward Kamohelo Mahlatsi. The two were joined by the team’s video analyst Mario Masha.

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The trio reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday and now the whole of the South African u23 set up has been placed under quarantine with more test results set to follow.

Official word from the camp

Speaking to the SAFA official website, the South African team manager Mxolisi Sibam confirmed the positive Covid-19 results.

“We have three positive cases of Covid-19 in the camp here, two players and an official,” Sibam said.

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“There is daily screening which included taking temperature and saliva testing, Masha and Monyane reported high temperatures and positive saliva tests and were then taken to do the nasal test, which we all had initially taken and they unfortunately tested positive for Covid-19 through that test. Mahlatsi is the latest player to go through the same process,” added Sibam.

Monyane was pictured at the airport before positive Covid-19 result

Right back Monyane was a late call up to the South Africa u23 camp and was visibly excited about the opportunity to join up with the side, when he posted a picture of himself in his full team tracksuit at the airport en-route to Tokyo for the these Olympics.

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He as well as Mahlatsi will now be hoping for a speedy recovery so that they can also stake a claim for a place in the South Africa u23 side and be claim the “Olympian” tag.

Australian athletes also quarantined

The South Africa u23 side are not the only team quarantined at the Olympic Village at the moment, with the whole Australian Athletics team also isolated after it received a Covid-19 scare at their pre-games training base in Cairns.

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On Saturday the Tokyo Olympic Games Chief Seiko Hashimoto addressed the possible concerns of the athletes, and tried to quell them.

Olympic Games Chief speaks

“Athletes who are coming to Japan are probably very worried. I understand that.

“We are doing everything to prevent any Covid outbreaks. If we end up with an outbreak we will make sure we have a plan in place to respond.”

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South Africa u23 are in Group A where they’re scheduled to play hosts Japan on the 22 of July. It remains to be seen if the remaining results will allow for that particular fixture to go ahead.