Kenya’s Wanyama could be in action once Major Soccer League resumes

Once MLS returns, it will see Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama in action for his new club Montreal Impact of Canada having signed for the side in March from Tottenham.

“It’s important that the leagues realise that even in a ‘bubble’, there is still risk to all players and staff for contracting Covid-19,” said Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

“It’s impossible to completely mitigate the risk even when players and staff practice social distancing and wear masks.”

That point was underscored by Monday’s news that 11 members of Dallas FC’s organization -- 10 players and a technical assistant -- had tested positive for Covid-19. Dallas FC were later withdrawn from the MLS is Back tournament altogether, less than 48 hours before it kicks off on Wednesday.

Nashville SC, another team taking part, have also reportedly suffered multiple coronavirus cases since arriving in Florida.

Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Oxford College of Emory University in Atlanta, believes the two MLS outbreaks have exposed the single biggest flaw in the “bubble” models.

“The most difficult part is getting everyone into the bubble safely without introducing the virus right at the start,” Binney told AFP.

“This was always something I was worried about but it has been shown to be a much bigger deal than I thought.

“I still believe that bubbles can work -- it’s just that nobody has mastered getting into the bubble safely.” Binney believes the answer may be to introduce an “airlock” system, where teams spend a period of up to seven days in isolation in their home market before they travel.

For athletes on the ground, meanwhile, news of the positive cases has fuelled a sense of anxiety.

“It’s certainly something that we’ve abruptly been faced with,” said Inter Miami midfielder Wil Trapp.

“We’re players who want to play, that’s one part of it, but we’re also human beings and this is bigger at times than sports.”

For others, the risk of traveling to Florida has proved too much.

Los Angeles FC’s star striker and reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela on Monday said he would miss the tournament, citing concerns for his family’s health. The Mexico international’s wife is pregnant.

Baseball superstar Mike Trout is wrestling with an identical dilemma.

The Los Angeles Angels slugger revealed at the weekend he is contemplating skipping Major League Baseball’s abbreviated season to remain with his wife, who is expecting the couple’s first child next month.

“I love baseball, but I have to do what’s right for my family,” said Trout, widely regarded as baseball’s biggest star. 

While basketball and soccer have opted to base all their teams in one location, Major League Baseball will start their shortened season this month with teams playing at their home stadiums.

Public health experts believe it is a riskier proposition than the bubble plans put in place by the NBA and MLS.

Unlike the NBA and MLS comebacks, where all games will be played in empty arenas, baseball has been more circumspect about whether or not to allow fans in ballparks.