Yemen’s national soccer coach dies from COVID-19
SMA NEWS – ADEN
Sami al-Naash, the coach of Yemen’s national soccer team, died on Sunday from COVID-19 in the country’s southern port city of Aden, a government official told Xinhua.
“Captain Sami al-Naash died at the coronavirus quarantine center based in Aden’s district of Al Buraiqeh, approximately a month after he was infected with COVID-19,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Al-Naash, 64, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and transferred to the city’s quarantine center, suffered a sudden health setback that led to his death, the official said.
Yemen’s Football Association confirmed that al-Naash’s death will affect the country’s national soccer team that is gearing up for three games in the coming weeks in the hopes of qualifying for the Asian Cup and the Qatar 2022 World Cup finals.
Last month, Ibrahim Yousef, the coach of the Falcon Soccer Club in Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz, died from coronavirus about two weeks after his transfer to city’s main hospital.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Yemen’s provinces that are controlled by the country’s internationally-recognized government reached 6,543 cases, including 1,289 deaths and 3,023 recoveries.
