South African Cricketer Solo Nqweni Contracts COVID-19
Updated - 07 May 2020, 11:28 PM
South African allrounder Solo Nqweni has tested positive for Covid-19. The cricketer himself took to Twitter to share the news. Solo Nqweni has been suffering with health issues since last year.
In July last year, the 26-year-old was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal auto-immune condition that weakens muscles and damages the peripheral nervous system. At that time he was playing in Scotland, where he was put into an induced coma for four weeks and spent five months in intensive care before returning home in January.
South Africa’s men’s team pledged the equivalent of USD 3,300 towards his care and rehabilitation, and GBP 76,875 came from an anonymous donor. And even before things could get better for him, he has suffered yet another setback. In a heartbreaking tweet, Solo Nqweni tweeted about his conditions, writing:
“So last year I got GBS, and have been battling this disease for the past 10 months and I’m only half way through my recovery. I got TB, my liver failed and my kidney failed. Now today I tested positive for corona virus. I don’t understand why all of this is happening to me.”
So last year I got GBS, and have been battling this disease for the past 10 months and I’m only half way through my recovery. I got TB, my liver failed and my kidney failed. Now today I tested positive for corona virus. I don’t understand why all of this is happening to me.
— Solo Nicholas Nqweni (@SoloNqweni) May 7, 2020
He is the third cricketer known to have contracted the disease after Pakistan’s Zafar Sarfraz and Scotland’s Majid Haq.
Solo Nqweni played for South Africa U19s in 2012 and has been contracted to Eastern Province and the Warriors franchise since. In his most recent game for Eastern Province, the three-day provincial cup final, in April, he scored 95 while batting at No.7. So far, Solo Nqweni has taken 60 wickets in 36 first-class matches.
