OYDC ZAMBIA CLOSES DOORS : Covid-19 case forces staff, Olympic boxers

SUN SPORTS writes @SunZambian THE OYDC Zambia – Sports Development Centre has closed it’s doors for two weeks forcing the Olympics bound trio to break camp following a positive Covid-19 case from a frequent facilitiy user. According to a statement issued by OYDC Communications Officer Noah Silomba the boxers who had been in camp for the past few months will leave the OYDC Lodge as the facility gets fumigated. OYDC Zambia Chief Executive Officer Dr Fredrick Chitangala, confirms this stating that even though there are no verified contacts by staff with the user who tested positive, management has decided to send all staff and affiliated coaches on self-isolation as they all seek to test for the virus. “OYDC Zambia wishes to announce that one of the frequent users of OYDC has tested positive for Covid-19,” he said. Dr Chitangala further says the Centre will remain closed for any activities for two weeks and clients who could have booked the facilities are being informed that they cannot be hosted until the Centre re-opens. “I wish to confirm that one of our frequent patrons has tested positive for Covid-19. Due to this news, management has decided to send all staff and affiliated coaches on self-isolation so that they can take advantage of free testing at UTH, Levy and Matero Level one hospitals. I would like to also notify our clients who booked facilities that we can only host them after two weeks when we reopen. During this period, the facilities will be fumigated” he said. Meanwhile, Dr Chitangala has disclosed that Tokyo 2020 Olympic bound boxers have been notified to break camp immediately. The boxers have been camping at the OYDC Zambia Lodge as they prepare for the prestigious games set to be hosted in Japan this year. Dr Chitangala, says all the Olympic bound athletes training at OYDC Zambia have been notified about the suspension of training by National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) president Alfred Foloko through their respective sports federations.