Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) public awareness campaign on the COVID-19 epidemic – #BreakTheChain – continues today with a new video featuring former Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal talisman Yasser Al Qahtani, Hong Kong’s history-making coach Chan Yuen Ting, as well as Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Australia forward Adam Taggart.
The #BreakTheChain campaign, which was launched by the AFC earlier this week and was applauded by Member Associations, carries the message of solidarity in these challenging times and promotes the guidelines put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO) to practice good personal hygiene, social distancing and where enforced, respecting the #StayAtHome rules.
Asian icon Al Qahtani, who made 112 appearances for the Green Falcons, scoring on 42 occasions including the equaliser against Tunisia in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, said: “The AFC’s #BreakTheChain campaign sends a powerful and united message of hope and civic responsibility and I am pleased to be able to show my support in reminding everyone that not only are we in this together, but we will overcome this COVID-19 epidemic together.
“It is the accumulation of the little things that we do such as practice good hygiene habits, and keeping our distances for the time being that can make the difference, and help all of us to break the chain in stopping the spread of the virus.”
Meanwhile, Chan, who became the first woman coach to lead a men’s team in the 2017 AFC Champions League edition with Eastern SC after being named the AFC Women’s Coach of the Year in 2016, added: “The COVID-19 epidemic has affected so many lives but all of us, just as in football, must continue to display great courage in the fight against this virus by sticking together, and I am honoured to play my part through the AFC’s #BreakTheChain campaign.
“Now more than ever, we need to remain calm and rational, and most importantly ensure that the true spirit of humanity shines through in our actions by maintaining our social distances and personal hygiene. All of us can break the chain by complying with the preventive measures put in place by the health agencies.”
The #BreakTheChain campaign features some of Asia’s finest from all across the Continent, such as 2018 AFC Women’s Player of the Year, Wang Shuang from China PR, Indian legend Bhaichung Bhutia and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ and 2016 AFC Champions League winner Lee Dong-gook with several more big names poised to join the series in the upcoming instalments.