Mystery illness strikes Haiti

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A mystery illness has struck five members of the Haitian delegation at the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship football qualifying tournament being played in Montego Bay,

The five are now housed at a medical facility in the neighbouring parish of Trelawny.

General secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, confirmed yesterday that the Haitian coach, the team's liaison officer and three players fell sick on Monday and were taken to hospital where they were examined and tests were done on them.

"We are awaiting the results of the lab work to determine the diagnosis. So we are yet to identify what is wrong with them, so we await word from the medical professionals on their condition," the general secretary said.

Game still on

However, Reid indicated that Haiti's game against El Salvador at Jarrett Park will go ahead as scheduled today.

"The game is on as scheduled. They have other players and this will not affect Haiti's ability to field a team, so the game is on."

Reid said despite the earlier glitches, the tournament has got off to a fair start and everything is working well.

"We had a fair start yesterday. Today is even much better and from the standpoint of organisation it has been fairly good," Reid said. "We have had no major issues at this time. I am very happy with the way things have gone, the opening ceremony was an excellent display of Jamaican talent."