Zamalek winger Mostafa Fathi said on Saturday he had tested positive for coronavirus, with local reports saying another non-playing member at the club was also infected as total cases among Egyptian Premier League clubs reached 27. Fathi is only the second player to reveal his infection in the country after his Zamalek teammate Mohamed Awad, whose second PCR test turned out to be negative. "You prayers are needed," the 26-year-old Fathi, whose Zamalek career has been marred by repeated injury problems, said on Twitter. Despite initially refusing to run PCR tests for any of their players in protest at the scheduled league resumption on 7 August, Zamalek eventually agreed to return to training and allow their players to undergo the mandatory tests. All clubs are required to run the tests three times before beginning training. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said total coronavirus infections have now reached 27, with Ismaily also confirming two positive cases among their staff. Players and technical staff members of all Premier League clubs would also have to undergo PCR tests before every game when the competition restarts. Anyone who tests positive would be isolated, while those who came in contact with him would be re-examined. The EFA did not clarify whether it could re-suspend the competition should a big number of positive cases is discovered. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
