Kaizer Chiefs have asked the Premier Soccer League to consider postponing all their games in December following an outbreak of the Covid-19 at the Naturena.

The Glamour Boys confirmed that 31 players and staff have been infected with the coronavirus, which could see them missed out on fixtures against Cape Town City on Saturday as well fixtures against Lamontville Golden Arrows, Sekhukhune FCand Royal AM (December 22).

The outbreak in the Amakhosi camp may result in them only playing again in February to further spread of the virus and allow those infected to recover and complete their quarantine.

Kaizer Chiefs have since released the following statement on the matter, which reads as follows:

As Kaizer Chiefs communicated in the last few days leading up to the game against Swallows FC, the Club has instituted stricter COVID management protocols following several positive Covid cases affecting the team and general personnel. Our protocols are always strict but we have had to be more stringent in the last two weeks given the increasing number of infections in Gauteng and the country.

Players and staff at Kaizer Chiefs Football Club have been closely monitored for symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been tested regularly. More personnel tested positive this week as we were preparing for Saturday’s game.

As a result of this outbreak that has seen no less 31 people test positive for COVID-19, the Kaizer Chiefs Village is temporarily closed until next week.

Given the situation, the medical team have conducted contact tracing of primary contacts of those who tested positive and have instructed all players, members of the technical team and staff, including those who tested negative, who are primary contacts to quarantine as per COVID protocols.

The Club has written to the Premier Soccer League to request for a postponement of the five upcoming games in December against Cape Town City (4 December), Golden Arrows (8 December), Sekhukhune FC (12 December), Royal AM (19 December) and Maritzburg United (22 December) to avoid risk of infection and further spread of the virus and allow those affected to recover and complete their quarantine period before they can play against other teams.

We view this as a case of force majeure as what the Club is experiencing as a consequence of COVID and the protocols it is obliged to implement, is total beyond the control of the Club. The Club does not at the moment have sufficient players nor technical team to constitute a team. We have appealed to the League to seriously consider the matter for the sake of everyone’s health and safety because there are many other people involved in organising a game.

The team will be closely monitored by our medical team, while we continue to maintain COVID risk mitigation protocols.

We urge supporters to take care of themselves and follow all the COVID protocols.

Well wishes and speedy recovery to all those affected.