XOLILE MPISANE
ASHABALELE amathemba okuvikela isicoco se-Australian Open kumdlali ohamba phambili emhlabeni kwi-tennis, uNovak Djokovic, ngesikhathi ehluleka ukuthola imvume yokungena kuleliya lizwe.
Izinkinga zika-Djokovic zaqala ngoJanuwari 6 ngesikhathi evinjwa esikhumulweni sezindiza eMelbourne ngemuva kokudalula ukuthi akakayigomeli i-Covid-19.
Imithetho yase-Australia ayibavumeli abantu bangaphandle ukuthi bangene uma bengakawuthathi umgomo we-Covid.
Isizathu esabekwa nguDjokovic ukuthi usanda kutholwa enegciwane le-Covid ngoDisemba 16. Ijaji u-Anthony Kelly lasamukela lesi sizathu ngoMsombuluko odlule, lakhipha isinqumo sokuthi lo mdlali anikezwe imvume yokungena e-Australia.
Kuphinde kwambhedela uDjokovic ngoLwesihlanu ngesikhathi uNgqongqoshe wezokuFika e-Australia, u-Alex Hawke, esebenzisa amandla akhethekile ukuchitha isinqumo sejaji uKelly.
Uphinde wafaka isicelo sokuphikisa lesi sinqumo eNkantolo yoMbuso kodwa sachithwa amajaji amathathu ngeSonto ekuseni.
“Ngidumele kakhulu ngesinqumo sokuchitha isicelo sami sokubuyekezwa kwesinqumo sikaNgqongqoshe sokungiphuca amaphepha okungena e-Australia. Lokhu kusho ukuthi ngeke ngikwazi ukuvikela isicoco se-Australian Open," kusho isitatimende esikhishwe nguDjokovic.
"Angiphathekile kahle ngokuthi emasontweni edlule bekugxilwe kimina futhi ngiyethemba ukuthi manje sekuzokhulunywa ngomdlalo nangomqhudelwano engiwuthandayo.
"Ngithanda ukufisela abadlali, izikhulu, abasebenzi, amavolontiya nabalandeli okuhle kulo mqhudelwano."
I-Australian Open izoqala ngoMsombuluko ekuseni kanti isikhala sika-Djokovic sesivalwe ngumdlali wase-Italy, u-Salvatore Caruso.