Federation and players lead the 'Committed, my nation' campaign

The president of the UAE and Arab basketball federations, Ismail Al Qarqawi, has called on everyone in the game — in a campaign he is leading with the board and the players — to follow the government's instructions on staying at home under the “Committed, my nation” initiative.

“In these difficult circumstances the world is facing in confronting coronavirus, I hope every one of our citizens and residents will follow the instructions of our leaders, may God protect them from all harm, until this ordeal passes from our country and the world,” he said.

Board member and technical committee chairman Osama Qarqash also took part in the initiative: “The United Arab Emirates, and the world with it, is living through a difficult period because of the spread of coronavirus, a virus that has moved rapidly across the whole world in recent times.”

Qarqash added: “Our wise government has taken a number of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of this virus, among them the suspension of sporting activity in the country. Difficult though that decision is, it is in the interests of the athletes, and so we all find ourselves committed to a decision that protects us and protects everyone.”

National team player Talal Salem responded to the campaign with an appeal to observe it: “With our sport suspended, we must all abide by the decisions taken by our wise government to limit and prevent the spread of the disease.”

Player Jasim Abdulridha said: “We are living through difficult days with sport suspended because of coronavirus, and we must all abide by every decision taken by our wise government, which is putting precautionary measures in place to prevent the disease.”

National team player Mohammed Abdullatif also took part: “With sport suspended and our country facing this crisis, we must stand together and follow all the instructions of our government and our wise leadership, and ask God to protect us and keep all harm away from us.”

National team player Ali Mohammed Hattawi likewise sent a message urging people to observe the measures the government is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus.