Ha Duc Chinh joins force in latest #BreakTheChain episode
Kuala Lumpur: United Arab Emirates icon Ali Mabkhout, the 100th Asian star to join the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) #BreakTheChain series, teams up with Vietnam and SHB Da Nang’s Ha Duc Chinh as well as Bangladesh women’s football prodigy Maria Manda in the latest public awareness video.
Mabkhout, who holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in the history of the AFC Asian Cup and was the top scorer at the 2015 Australia edition, said: “There is no doubt that we are now facing our biggest opponent and this virus is a true test of our character as a global community. It is an unprecedented challenge, not only on our physical health but also on our mental resilience.
“All across the world, we have lost precious lives, and our medical workers – our true heroes – continue to battle on the frontlines every day. We have a responsibility to them to remain vigilant and we must continue to be a pillar of strength for each other.
“Through this #BreakTheChain campaign, I want everyone to know that you are not alone. We may not be able to entertain you on the pitch, but we remain committed in this journey with you to fight the spread of this outbreak.”
Meanwhile, Manda, who skippered the Bangladesh U-15 side to the South Asian Football Federation Cup crown in 2017, rallied the Continent’s younger generation to heed the advice of medical experts: “We must never take our youth for granted. One misjudgement is all it takes to affect thousands of people so we must take all the precautions needed to protect our loved ones and especially, the elderly.
“Our future, our destiny is in our hands and it is up to all of us to be the difference we want to see. I urge everyone, both young and old, to put our best foot forward together to break the chain and stop the spread of this outbreak.
“I know many of us are finding it a challenge to adapt to the new restrictions. Many of us miss football, some of us miss school and spending time with our friends but no inconvenience can match the sacrifices of our medical workers – let’s stay strong and positive and continue to support them.”
Vietnam’s dynamic forward Duc Chinh also features in the latest episode with numerous other icons set to appear in the upcoming videos including Espanyol and China PR phenomenon Wu Lei who is set to headline tomorrow’s episode.
