With footballers all over the world self-isolating as the game comes to a standstill, one of South Africa's top scorers will now spend the next two weeks quarantined in China…
Dino Ndlovu, who has been firing in goals in Asia since his move to Zhejiang Greentown, is closing in on 100 club goals for his career, had been back home in Mzansi of late, but has now returned to begin quarantine prior to the possible restart of China's League One.
China appear to have contained the Coronavirus outbreak that is currently ravaging the world and recently had their first day without any new cases, and Ndlovu was impressed with how seriously the COVID-19 pandemic is being taken on his arrival back in China.
Speaking to the Siya crew from Hangzhou, the 30-year-old said, "The situation is pretty amazing to see that China is very strict with regards to the entry enforcement that is being implemented for everyone… They have health quarantine places at the airport where they take tests for individuals, and they test your temperature and make you answer and sign a questionnaire.
"I arrived back in Hangzhou today, and the plan is, starting from tomorrow, I'll be quarantined for 14 days. Every day they will come to my house to take my temperature for 14 days and make sure I don't have any symptoms. Right after my 14 days I have to get back to training strong."
But he wasn't always happy with the club's request for him to return though, admitting that he was prepared to fight them rather than return, though advice from loves ones and the turnaround in China's infection rate – as well as reassurances from the club – led to his return.
He added, "Honestly speaking I wasn't happy to be coming back because this virus is really a pandemic, so I wanted to wait a little bit and I was willing to fight my team since they were the ones who asked me to come back.
"But my family and the people around me advised me that it's not worth it to fight them given the current situation and unnecessary procedures.
"They've also given me reassurances that China is safer than most countries in the world right now, and also in South Africa the rate of contagion is increasing with each day at the moment."
There is talk that the Chinese leagues could return to playing again as early as next month, or in early May.
