Football

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese striker Hà Đức Chinh and midfielder Đỗ Hùng Dũng have joined the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) #BreakTheChain campaign to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent video clips, Chinh of V.League side SHB Đà Nẵng teams up with United Arab Emirates icon Ali Mabkhout and Bangladesh women’s football prodigy Maria Manda to spread their messages.

In his appearance, Chinh, who won the 2018 AFF Cup and 2019 SEA Games titles as a member of the national and U22 squads, said: “Let’s improve your health to avoid the coronavirus and we should be united together to beat the pandemic with the spirit of Việt Nam.”

Meanwhile, Mabkhout, who holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in the history of the AFC Asian Cup and was the top scorer at the 2015 Australia edition, was quoted as saying: “Through this #BreakTheChain campaign, I want everyone to know that you are not alone. We may not be able to entertain you on the pitch, but we remain committed in this journey with you to fight the spread of this outbreak.”

Manda, who skippered the Bangladesh U-15 side to the South Asian Football Federation Cup crown in 2017, said: “We must take all the precautions needed to protect our loved ones and especially, the elderly. Our future, our destiny is in our hands. I urge everyone, both young and old, to put our best foot forward together to break the chain and stop the spread of this outbreak.”

Midfielder Dũng of V.League reigning champion Hà Nội FC was featured in an earlier video together with Al Hilal’s winger Hattan Bahebri and Vissel Kobe’s Hiroki Iikura to raise people’s awareness.

Dũng, captain of the 30th SEA Games winner, called on people to fully acknowledge the pandemic, take responsibility for the whole community, and believe in the government’s strategies to tackle the outbreak.

He said on the-afc.com: “As part of the Asian football family, I am grateful to offer my support and encouragement through the AFC’s #BreakTheChain campaign.

“These are challenging times for everybody around the world. Please follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and local medical authorities. While staying at home, don’t allow the days to pass by. Use the opportunity to keep yourself healthy, both physically and mentally. I encourage you to spend your time wisely and break the chain.”

The #BreakTheChain campaign has received overwhelming support from more than 100 Asian stars and officials who reveal their determination through nearly 30 video clips. It asks people to follow health and personal hygiene guidelines and raise awareness to stop the spread of the coronavirus. — VNS