Al Hilal star Bafetimbi Gomis has called on the people of Saudi Arabia to follow the government’s advice and stay at home, saying the battle against the coronavirus is like a “final”.
The French striker, who helped fire the club to last season's Asian Champions League crown, spoke to Saudi residents on Saturday night through Hilal's social media accounts.
The kingdom has implemented strict measures since the outbreak of the virus. Earlier on Saturday, the Saudi health ministry announced a further 140 cases in the country, bringing the total to 2,179. There have been 29 deaths, with 420 people having recovered from Covid-19.
In the video, recorded at his home, Gomis said: “As you see, I stay at home, I need you to stay at home. I have a message for you: let’s think we have one final game, a very important game for our country, and our opponent is the virus.
“But we have a very important and big coach: it’s the Ministry of Health. And if we listen to the ministry and follow the rules, we will kill the virus, together as a united country. Let’s do this, guys. We have to follow these rules again. Take care; I love you. We are all responsible.”
One of the most popular players in Gulf football, Gomis has been a huge hit for Hilal since joining in 2018 from Turkey's Galatasaray. He was top scorer in last season’s Champions League, with 11 goals, as the Riyadh side became continental champions for the first time in 19 years.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The years Ramadan fell in May
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
