Former Santosh Trophy footballer Hamza Koya dies of COVID-19 in Kerala
Malappuram: Former Santosh Trophy Footballer, E Hamza Koya, who had tested positive for COVID-19, succumbed to the virus early Saturday at a hospital here, taking the toll due to the infection in the state to 15.
Hamsakoya (61), who had settled in Mumbai and had represented Maharashtra in SantoshTrophy matches, had returned to his home town at parappanangad here by road on May21 along with his wife,son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren aged three months and three years.
His five family members have also tested positive for the virus and are under treatment at the Manjeri medical college hospital, sources said.
Hamza Koya was also suffering from pneumonia, had acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiac problems, and underwent Plasma Therapy on the direction of the medical board as his condition worsened,a medical bulletin said.
Malappuram District Medical Officer Dr K Sakeena said Hamsakoya's wife and son showed symptoms of Covid-19 first and were admitted to the hospital.
All possible medical care was given to the deceased, but he breathed his last early this morning, she said.
"His wife and son tested positive for the virus first in his family. Later, Hamza Koya also tested positive for the virus and had been under treatment at the medical college. His daughter-in-law and two of his grandchildren have also tested positive and are under medical observation", Dr Sakeena said.
A veteran footballer of the Malabar region, Hamsakoya had played for Maharashtra state in Santosh Trophy matches besides playing for popular football clubs, the Mohan Bagan and Mohammedan Sports Club.
The mortal remains of the deceased will be buried as per the Covid protocol, sources added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
8 dead, dozens wounded in Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa port
Kyiv (AP): Eight people were killed and 27 wounded in a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine, late on Friday, Ukraine's Emergency Service said on Saturday morning.
Some of the wounded were on a bus at the epicentre of the overnight strike, the service said in a Telegram post. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot, and cars were also damaged.
The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region.
ALSO READ: 'Have not received complaint yet': Delhi Police on assault by off-duty Air India Express pilot
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces hit a Russian warship and other facilities with drones, Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement on Saturday.
The nighttime attack on Friday hit the Russian warship “Okhotnik,” according to the statement posted to the Telegram messaging app.
The ship was patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage is still being clarified, the statement added.
A drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea was also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
