It was one quote, buried deep in a story about Atlanta United signee Kenwyne Jones getting his loan to Trinidadian side Central FC finalized, clearing him to play in Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League match against Sporting Kansas City in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.
Jones, who did not play in the Sharks' CCL-opening 1-0 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 2 because his paperwork had not yet been sorted, was talking to a club media official about his impressions of that match.
One of Jones' impressions, as reported Friday by socawarrior.net:
"I was also impressed with Sean de Silva, who played despite suffering from Zika. That kind of determination impresses me, and I believe we can get a result against Kansas and get some points on the road."
Zika, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, generally causes mild symptoms in healthy adults, according to the Center for Disease Control. The virus can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child, however, and can cause serious birth defects.
Where US women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo made headlines – and made herself the target of Brazilian fans' boos and "Zika" chants – with her comments about the illness ahead of the Rio Olympics, the take from Sporting manage Peter Vermes was matter-of fact.
Sporting were aware of Jones' comment, Vermes told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Monday, but he's not overly concerned about the viral illness or the prospect that de Silva, a midfielder who played collegiately at the College of Charleston and was with NASL side Minnesota United in 2013 – had played while afflicted with Zika.
"We've been told that if that was the case, and that game was when it was, it wouldn't be an issue in the game," he said. "The other thing is that any time we go on trips like this, we don't really leave the hotel all that much. It's not like the guys are going out and laying by the swamp where the mosquitoes are festering.
"It's like anything else. It's common sense. I don't think anybody's really thinking about it at this time."
