The Committee Claims Success In Preventing The Spread Of COVID-19 At The Menpora Cup 2021

Medical officers conduct antigen swab tests on match equipment officers before the Menpora Cup match at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, Thursday (25/3/2021). BETWEEN PHOTOS / Mohammad Ayudha / foc. (BETWEEN PHOTOS / MOHAMMAD AYUDHA)

JAKARTA - The 2021 Menpora Cup committee claimed, until Monday (5/4), it had succeeded in preventing the spread of the respiratory disease COVID-19 during the pre-season tournament.

"The health protocol can be implemented properly. Hopefully, this can be maintained from the last eight to the final", said Sudjarno, Head of the COVID-19 Task Force for the Menpora Cup 2021, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, April 6.

The man who is also the Operational Director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) said that not one player, official, or other has suffered from COVID-19 during the Menpora Cup 2021.

However, Sudjarno admitted that before the Menpora Cup began, a player and several officials involved were declared reactive to COVID-19 based on the results of the antigen swab test, which was carried out before entering the hotel, and tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the PCR swab test.

However, this case can be controlled by implementing proper health procedures by the 2021 Menpora Cup health workers so that there is no COVID-19 cluster in the competition.

Those who were sick were isolated and received adequate care until they recovered or were negative for COVID-19 through a PCR swab test.

"After the case before the tournament began, in the process, COVID-19 has never been found again until now. Until now, we have carried out more than 6,000 antigen swab tests in the Menpora Cup", said Sudjarno.

The Menpora Cup 2021 pre-season tournament, which started on March 21, has now entered the last eight. However, only seven teams are confirmed to qualify for this phase because Group C has not completed all of its matches.

The first quarter-final match brought together the winner of Group A PSIS Semarang versus second place in Group B PSM on Friday, April 9. Meanwhile, Persija Group B winners will face Barito Putera's second Group A winner on Saturday, April 10. These two matches were held at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang.

Meanwhile, the other quarter-finals will bring together the unconfirmed Group C winners against second-place Group D Bali United on Sunday, April 11. Then, on Monday, April 12, Group D winners Persib tested the strength of Group C's second rank, which has yet to be determined. All matches are planned to be held at Maguwoharjo Stadium, Sleman, or Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung.

In Group C, only Persebaya has secured a place in the quarter-finals because it has earned seven points. The rank of one or two of this group can only be confirmed on Wednesday, April 7, when Persela meets Persik and PSS to try out Persebaya's strengths.