RP appeals for 4-day quarantine on booters

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping yesterday requested the Singapore Health Ministry to shorten the mandatory seven-day quarantine period to four days to allow the Philippine football team to play its last two elimination round games in the First Asian Youth Games in Singapore.

Angping, who flew to Singapore Sunday evening to attend to the RP football team, said he is still awaiting official decision at presstime although he remained confident the host country would grant his appeal.

“We don’t know the exact time they will make the final decision, it could be now, tomorrow or two days from now. We really don’t know,” said Angping.

“But I remain confident they will shorten the period and might allow our team to play,” he added.

As this developed, there were reports that the Hong Kong team also had three A(H1N1) cases and might eventually end up forfeiting all their remaining games in football competition.

“Even the organizers are cooperating, we’re all waiting and I’m in constant contact with the organizers,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mari Martinez, also deputy chef de mission of the RP delegation to the youth meet.

Meanwhile, Angping said that the 14-year-old booter, who was earlier identified as Claudio Lopa, is now in good condition.

“The boy’s condition has improved a lot,” said Angping.

The player left with 17 other teammates and two coaches Thursday, and showed signs of fever after practicing the following day.

“They took very good care of our boys,” the PSC chief said.

Another member of the RP football team was tested due to colds but was found “negative” of the dreaded virus.

Just hours after learning of the incident, Angping appealed before the organizers to reduce the days of quarantine from seven days to four.

“I had a long meeting among the members of the organizing committee and the Ministry of Health here and the Olympic Council of Asia,” said Angping through text.

Dr. Alejandro Pineda, head of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine, said only half of the 61 athletes bound for Singapore took flu vaccines from the PCSM.

Lopa was among those who did not, but Pineda said he was not required especially if he had taken the shot previously.

“It was voluntary,” Pineda said, adding that there’s no use taking the vaccine twice.

Angping said if allowed to play on Thursday, there’s still a chance for the young RP booters, aged 14-17 years, to win two matches and advance to the next round.

“But if it’s Friday, then they only have one match left and there’s no chance to advance,” said Angping.

The Philippines already missed the games against Taipei and Iran, and is scheduled to face Kuwait tomorrow.

“I know several guys around so I made an appeal to reduce the number of days of quarantine from seven to four. If they accommodate us there’s a big possibility the boys can play on Wednesday,” said Angping.