Al Hilal star Bafetimbi Gomis calls on Saudi residents to battle coronavirus like 'one final game'

The French striker spoke to Saudi residents on Saturday night through Hilal’s social media accounts

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , Feb 10 – 2020 :- Bafetimbi Gomis (no 18 blue) of Al Hilal club and Milad Sarlak (no 15 maroon) in action during the Asian Champions League football match between Al Hilal v Shahr Khodro held at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National) For Sports. Story by John

Bafetimbi Gomis (no 18 blue) of Al Hilal club and Milad Sarlak (no 15 maroon) in action during the Asian Champions League football match between Al Hilal v Shahr Khodro held at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

John McAuley

Apr 05, 2020

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 French Lion @BafGomis :
“We are all responsible, and we will kill this virus”.. #StayingHome 🏠#AlHilal_Video
pic.twitter.com/UQc9izoCbF
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) April 4, 2020

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.

Al-Hilal's Salman al-Faraj (top) falls after a challenge by Urawa's Takuya Iwanami (R) during the second leg of the AFC Champions League final football match between Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and Saudi’s Al-Hilal at Saitama Stadium in Saitama on November 24, 2019. / AFP / Behrouz MEHRI

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal win Asian Champions League with victory over Urawa Red Diamonds

“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.