"Numerous Players and Staff Members of Vancouver Whitecaps Down with Illness Following Game in Mexico"
Vancouver Whitecaps players and staff are dealing with a gut-wrenching ordeal, a gastrointestinal illness, after their trip to Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Axel Schuster, the sporting director and CEO, disclosed that approximately half of the 75 people who returned to Vancouver on the team's charter plane after the game have shown symptoms. He stated, "Not only have we lost the game, we've also picked up some sort of virus, and we're dealing with that right now."
The team jetted off to Mexico City last Friday to face off against Cruz Azul in the final. Unfortunately, Cruz Azul crushed the 'Caps 5-0, bringing home the Champions Cup and putting an end to Vancouver's impressive 15-game (7-0-8) unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Schuster mentioned that it's "unlikely" any of Vancouver's players experienced symptoms during the game. However, some individuals who left Mexico to report to their national teams and didn't take the charter flight back to Vancouver were "absolutely fine." This might hint at the illness originating post-game.
On Wednesday, the Whitecaps cancelled a planned training session, instead opting for a closed, modified individual session for cleared players on Thursday. The team is collaborating with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert to address the illness.
The club has ensured the media that they've been transparent right from the get-go, saying, "We wanted to make it very clear from the very beginning to the league that we are not making anything up, that this is a real problem we're dealing with."
Despite the illness, the Whitecaps' upcoming duel with regional rivals, the Seattle Sounders, remains scheduled. However, with several players potentially unavailable due to illness and international duty, the team is in discussions with MLS about potential alternatives.
As always, the safety of the players is paramount. If the illness puts their health at risk, the league may decide to cancel the game. The Whitecaps are eager to take the field if they've got a fit and ready squad, Schuster said, "If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course. No one ever wants to miss a game if he thinks he has a group together that's ready to compete."
The gastrointestinal illness affecting Vancouver Whitecaps players and staff could potentially have origins traced back to the post-game period, as some individuals who left Mexico to report to their national teams and didn't take the charter flight back to Vancouver were unaffected. To combat the health-and-wellness issues, the club is working closely with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert.
