Rayyan-Wakrah tie to be completed today
Gulf Times
Al Wakrah’s Malian defender Ousmane Coulibaly is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack during the match against Al Rayyan on Saturday.
The remainder of the QNB Stars League game between Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah will be completed today at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium, the Qatar Stars League announced yesterday. The game was stopped in the 42nd minute on Saturday after Al Wakrah player Ousmane Coulibaly suffered a heart attack on the pitch. The Malian defender was treated by medical professionals on the pitch, before he was taken to hospital for further treatment. The QSL later said in a statement: “The player was in a stable condition after the required medical procedures and was taken to hospital, where he continues to receive care.”Al Wakrah media officer Mohamed al-Sulaiti told Al Kaas channel that Coulibaly’s heart stopped and he was resuscitated on the pitch. Al-Sulaiti said the initial tests show he is fine but will be transferred to the Heart Hospital for further tests.Yesterday, Coulibaly’s wife Aurelie posted a message on social media thanking the medical personnel and Al Wakrah for their support.Today, the match will resume at 5.30 onwards, with Al Rayyan leading 1-0. The QSL said that ticket holders of the match can reuse their tickets today to watch the remaining time of action. While Coulibaly now plies his trade in Qatar, the Mali star has played most of his football in Europe. Coulibaly’s early footballing years were spent at French sides Brest and Guingamp before he moved to Greece to play for Platanias and Panathinaikos. He has played for Al Wakrah since departing the Greek giants for the Qatari side in 2019 and has remained with the club ever since.Coulibaly is the latest in a very concerning trend of footballers suffering from cardiac and heart problems on the pitch. Christen Eriksen’s horrifying ordeal in Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 match against Finland, which resulted in the 29-year-old being fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero was forced to retire from the game after being diagnosed with a Cardiac Arrhythmia last month. The Argentine star went down after suffering chest pains and breathing difficulties while playing for Barcelona against during their 1-1 draw with Alaves on October 31.Al Sadd training suspended until further notice: ClubQNB Stars League reigning champions Al Sadd yesterday announced the continued suspension of the team’s training and the closure of the club’s training centre, as many players are yet to recover after testing positive for Covid-19.Training was suspended last Thursday, and will remain so until further notice, the club said in a statement. “Some players will continue their training remotely, while others train individually or in small groups for recovery only, in co-ordination with the technical and medical staff,” the statement read. Al Sadd are leading the points table, despite having played two games less than their main rivals Al Duhail.
