"United Towns Team Nucleic Acid Suspicion" in the second round of the tournament against Uzbekistan.
During the long wait in Uzbekistan, the operators of Beijing Guoan's AFC Champions League delegation repeatedly traced the source of the accident, and finally decided that the "hidden problems" had already been laid.
According to the arrangement of the tournament organizing committee, Guoan and Philippine United City stayed at the Wyndham Hotel. The epidemic in Uzbekistan was not as severe as expected, the hotel did not take closed management, and the two teams were not divided into zones to stay. Han Tao, director of youth training and development at Guoan, who traveled with the team, revealed that the Tashkent tournament hotel prepared two floors for the two teams, but the two teams actually lived on two mixed floors. For the first time, the Guoan delegation raised the issue and hoped that the hotel would be divided into separate areas.
"The Union City team arrived before us and had already checked in, so there were no adjustments on the hotel side. Not only that, but the dining areas for both teams were together." Han Tao said. In order to reduce the risk, the team purchased a large amount of alcohol and disinfectant in the local area, and everyone strictly adhered to the rules of epidemic prevention, such as "must wear a mask when leaving the room, and don't take the elevator if you can take the stairs".
After the fourth round of group matches, a Guoan player overheard United City players discussing "COVID-19 positivity" in the hotel corridor. After receiving the player's report, the Guoan delegation immediately contacted the organizing committee of the tournament and the hotel, but "whether anyone from the United Towns team tested positive for COVID-19" was not confirmed, and the only change was that the hotel agreed to set up a separate dining area for Guoan after the team made serious representations.
"We immediately found out about the physical condition of the players and added a nucleic acid test. The team had no problems with the results of that test." Han Tao admitted that the team was indeed nervous at the time. The reason for this concern was that the United City players did not come to Tashkent from the Philippines in a uniform manner, but arrived one after another from the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Europe, which was a greater risk.
Guoan's group stage second leg match against United Township of the Philippines took place on July 8, and the buses in which both teams were traveling failed to depart on time in order to wait for the results of the routine pre-match nucleic acid test that morning. Guoan players noticed that a number of players from the United City team left the bus when signaled by AFC officials. Only half of the opponent's original 40-member AFC Champions League team ended up coming to the stadium, with only 14 players enrolled in the match list.
"There must be something wrong with the opponent's nucleic acid results" was the internal judgment of the Guoan delegation, and despite an immediate protest, the AFC replied that "the match will go on as usual". In the opinion of the AFC, the results of the nucleic acid tests of the players and staff who came to the stadium were all negative, and the conditions for the match were met. The result of the match was not ideal, with a two-goal lead, Guoan Youth Army was overturned 3-2.
"We usually pay great attention to epidemic prevention, but the game will inevitably have physical contact." Han Tao believes that this competition was the node where the team later developed infections, and the team's failure to get its first win in the AFC Champions League was all the more regrettable, "Thinking of the price we paid for this competition later on, it was indeed too hard not to win."
Leng Jixuan, who scored the second goal for the team, was in tears, and he was haunted by the shot he took in the second half that hit the post. 4 months later, everything that happened in that game is still clear in front of his eyes, "I also scored a goal in the first half, which was ruled offside. But then we looked at it and that ball was actually not offside ......"
Leng Jixuan gains goals and valuable experience in AFC Champions League. Picture/IC photo
unforeseen
Pre-return tests, some positive for nucleic acid
On July 11, before the final group stage match against Kawasaki Frontale, the results of the nucleic acid test of the national security personnel were negative, which made the delegation feel a little bit relieved. According to the schedule, the delegation should take the July 15 flight from Tashkent back to China after the AFC Champions League group stage, but the results of the nucleic acid test and serum antibody test (hereinafter referred to as the "double test") on July 13 came as a bolt from the blue. Some of the personnel tested positive, and the delegation could not return home as scheduled.
In a sudden situation, the National Security Delegation was re-operated under a new program. Based on the screening of test results, the 34 members of the delegation were categorized as infected, suspected infected, to be observed and confirmed uninfected. To prevent cross-infection, the 15 confirmed non-infected were moved to the Lotte Hotel.
"The situation was not serious as we were vaccinated against the new crown in the country and even most of the players who tested positive had insignificant symptoms, only two players were hospitalized due to high fever. The Uzbekistan Football Association assisted us in contacting specialists, and after a consultation and examination, they did not have infected lungs and were soon discharged from the hospital." Han Tao revealed that after the initial period of panic, the players began to face reality positively.
Leng Jixuan had a low fever for a few days, "at first not particularly afraid" is his feelings, just after the inevitable some suspicion, "always feel a little uncomfortable, they can not tell if it is psychological." This is an extremely common phenomenon, everyone is always concerned about the state of the body, Han Tao will get up early every day in the room around the "smell", to confirm that the odor can be smelled to rest assured.
With the release of the two infected players from the hospital, the atmosphere in the delegation became a little better. Judging by the players' subsequent recovery, this "Tashkent episode" will not leave any residual effects on their sporting careers.
On and off the field, the national boys get a double workout. Photo/IC photo
journey
Repatriation in groups, with some operators volunteering to stay behind
On July 21, the CAAC issued an immediate meltdown order to Uzbekistan Airways flight HY501 (Tashkent-Xi'an), suspending its operation for four weeks from July 21 onwards, compared to the "virus crisis" that was quickly overcome.
That's exactly the flight that Guoan's AFC Champions League delegation took back home.
The good news in the waiting was that after active treatment, the nucleic acid test results of the infected persons turned negative, but when they were tested in the last week of the flight meltdown, there were still some people in the delegation who had high serum antibody test results and were unable to apply for a health code from the Embassy, which meant that we could only return to the country in batches based on the results of the double test. The National Security Salon decided at that time that all members of the delegation who passed the double test results would return home first when the flights resumed.
Due to the tight airfare, even the members who met the specifications could not all take the August 19th flight back home. As the deputy director of Sharon's youth training and the head of Guoan's AFC Champions League delegation, Yang Pu was the first to state that he wanted to stay. His decision was opposed by Han Tao, the second person in charge of the delegation, who has been dealing with external contacts, "You first lead the team back to the country to specifically report the situation here, which is also an important task. You don't speak good English, so you won't be able to help with external communications." Also taking the initiative to stay was Wang Qiwen, the U17 team manager of the Youth Training Department, who has been responsible for the delegation's food, accommodation, transportation, procurement, financial management and other security work.
As the delegation's operational staff, Han Tao and Wang Qiwen's double check results from beginning to end are in line with the norms, but their concern is that "we go first, leaving the children how to do"? Recalling the time, Han Tao's mood is a bit emotional, he said with a sob: "Wang Qiwen is not the head of the delegation, just ordinary staff, he insisted on staying, in order to give the team a hand in times of difficulty, to be able to return to the country first to give the opportunity to the coaches, players. Although that period of time is really difficult, but our group is very united, no one wanted to escape, everyone has their own duties."
On August 19, the first batch of 15 members of the Guoan AFC Champions League delegation returned home. A week later, the second batch of four people returned home successfully.
The remaining 11 players and 4 operators continued to wait to return home.On September 3, the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan announced a temporary solution to stop issuing health codes for those with a history of infection and those with a long positive IgM (antibody test) with immediate effect.The Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan also announced that it would not issue health codes for those with a history of infection and those with a long positive IgM (antibody test) with immediate effect. Flight HY501 then melted down again.
In order to return the delegation's stayers to their home country as soon as possible, Zhou Jinhui, chairman of Beijing Guoan Salon, agreed to request a chartered flight. However, the conditions at the time were not yet ripe and the request for a chartered flight on September 7 was not approved.
Closed life is boring, Guoan players insist on physical training. Video Screenshot
wait for
Seeing the distance through the AFC Championship, no regrets even if we do it again
The period at the beginning of September was regarded as the "hardest time" for the delegation's stay. "After the previous two groups returned home, we were all very excited, waiting for the test results to meet the specifications and then we could go home, but then we didn't get the news that we could return home for a long time." Leng Jixuan recalled the situation.
Han Tao and other operators to withstand greater psychological pressure, "that time always sleep well, two or three o'clock at night to fall asleep, six or seven o'clock in the morning and woke up, our food, housing security are not a problem, the biggest difficulties in the psychological. early September after the news, we generally depressed for a period of time, in a week gradually adjusted to. "
In order to reduce the psychological burden of the players, the operators find ways to order food from the local Chinese restaurants, two or three times a week to eat Chinese food has become our hope; from the domestic news or policy adjustments, will be the first time to convey to us, to prevent the players because they do not know the occurrence of panic; through the video of the "parents' meeting" to report to the parents of the children's status. We also hold "parent-teacher conferences" via video to report to parents on the status of their children.
"The kids have grown up" is Han Tao's exclamation, "sometimes feel that we are in an irritable mood, the players will also comfort us. We have a talk group called 'Uzi Power Plant', and the kids sometimes even liven up the atmosphere in the group." The stay in Tashkent has made the young players grow up on another level, they still insist on simple physical training every day, so that Leng Jixuan and his teammates are no longer worried about when they will go home, but rather, "so long time no way to systematic training, the state can't keep up with it."
The reason why Leng was depressed for a while later had nothing to do with the stay, and during the days in Tashkent, they followed the news of the competition in the U20 category of the men's soccer team of the National Games through the APP, and watched with mixed feelings as the Zhejiang team beat the Xinjiang team to win the champion of the category in the extremely jerky screen.
Participate in the final round of the National Games competition and compete for good results was originally another goal of the young players of the national security, Leng some melancholy to describe our previous vision, "because the National Games men's football competition was delayed, so we thought that after kicking the AFC Championships, back to the country after the isolation is able to catch up with the competition. Although the isolation time can not systematic training, it will be a little difficult, but not impossible to play. We are full of fighting spirit to participate in the National Games, and thought the team has the strength to compete for the title ......"
Did not go to the National Games is regrettable, but Leng Jixuan more important to the experience of the Asian Championship, because "it is completely different". Kawasaki Striker, Daegu FC, the Philippines United City, so that the national youth army truly recognize their own distance, "this distance is not only in age, physical, but all-round. Played with such strong opponents, we know what that height is like, the future goals and direction will not be confused, the heart is more confident."
"If I could turn back time, if I knew before we left that we would not be able to return home for so long, I would still come with my teammates to participate in this AFC Champions League competition." Leng Jixuan said.
The players probably wouldn't have expected the road back home to be so long. Photo/IC photo
return
It took 158 days for the whole team to return home. "We're really homesick."
Leng Jixuan hadn't thought he would be so lucky before.
After surviving the loss of September and dealing with the difficulties of visa expiration in October, the National Security Delegation stayers got the news that they could go home again. The Embassy reopened health code applications and flights resumed on October 14th. However, due to airfare constraints, Sharon was only able to purchase five tickets for October 28th.
There was no Leng Jixuan in the meantime, although he had done everything on October 27th: passed the test results, completed the declaration, went through the review, and even had his luggage packed. Early the next morning, the other five teammates detached from the hotel to the airport, Leng unpacked and went to breakfast as usual, "at that time have accepted reality."
Practice gave him a surprise, from the players arrived at the airport at the same time, keep brushing the air ticket information of the staff for the small cold "snatched" a ticket, and immediately called the small cold: "take the luggage downstairs, and so we go back to the hotel to pick you up to the airport."
"Leng Jixuan, who was a bit bewildered at the time, threw down his half-eaten breakfast and repacked his luggage as fast as he could. Until he followed the staff to the airport and went through the security check, he still felt unreal.
On October 28, the third batch of Guoan AFC Champions League delegation of six people returned home. There are still nine people left in Uzbekistan, namely, operations staff Han Tao and Wang Qiwen, team doctors Zhou Xiaolong and Feng Tao, and players Zhou Wenfeng, Xu Dongdong, Wu Xiaopeng, Ma Yujun and Li Torch.
After October 28, flights melted down again.
Snow falls in Tashkent while state security stayers wait to return home. Screenshot from video
Tashkent under the first snow this winter, Han Tao said: "We really miss home." Miles away from his hometown, Han Tao's father had heart surgery, Wang Qiwen home of the two grandparents passed away one after another.
But first they had to deal with the more practical problem of keeping warm. The Guoan delegation, who came to Tashkent in the summer, certainly didn't have winter clothes in their luggage, and the hotel's central air conditioner didn't turn on the warm air at the beginning of winter, so we had to keep warm to prevent catching a cold. When Han Tao was worried about not being able to buy suitable cotton clothes, the general manager of Ben Yudenko Salon lent a helping hand and introduced a local sports brand distributor to the delegation, which solved the urgent problem.
Because of the tight airfare, no one can ensure that nine people can return home together. Guoan Salon decided to "walk on two legs". Staying personnel continue to insist on doing tests to observe the body data; salon again sent the request for chartered flights were approved, although funds are tight, Chairman Zhou Jinhui still made the decision to spend 700,000 to 800,000 yuan to let the final stay in Tashkent, the nine by chartered flights to return to the United States.
The night before the departure, Han Tao felt no waves in his heart, which is almost the aftermath of several times "the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment". Until the plane took off, the idea of "going home" became real and strong.
At 18:30 on November 22, the official blog of Beijing Guoan Salon released an announcement, announcing that the final nine members of the AFC Champions League delegation had successfully arrived in Beijing to undergo quarantine. Salon thanks the relevant departments and organizations that provided harmony, support and assistance for all members to return to their home countries in the past 158 days; thanks to all members of the delegation to the AFC Champions League for their struggles both inside and outside the stadium, as well as their perseverance and resilience in the process of returning to their home countries; thanks to all members of their families for their support and cooperation, understanding and tolerance in the process; and thanks to the majority of fans and the media for their concern and attachment.
Relying on the efforts of all people is not an empty phrase at this moment.
Leng Jixuan's goal remains unchanged, still trying to "enter the first team, into the national team"; Han Tao and colleagues in the isolation, after a short rest, and then into new work. After a short break from isolation, Han Tao and his colleagues had to get back to work. After traveling home for so long, they had to start again.
