The 2020 AFC Champions League Local Organisation Committee’s (LOC) COVID safety and testing protocols during the centralized East Zone matches in Qatar have received glowing praise from both the finalists – Japanese and South Korean clubs Vissel Kobe and Ulsan Hyundai respectively. Addressing media on Saturday ahead of the East Zone Final at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at Al Sadd SC, Vissel Kobe’s former Japan national team full-back Gotoku Sakai attributed his personal and his team’s collective sense of satisfaction during their stay in Qatar to the thorough implementation of the bio-bubble for the competition. Sakai’s words have come as a shot in the arm for the LOC-AFC combine, who had introduced a slew of additional measures, including additional testing, for the East Zone competitions from the West Zone tournament held in Qatar in September. Limiting players’ interactions with others, including their own team-mates, in the hotels and encouraging technical meetings to be held virtually or outdoors are two other significant additions during the East Zone leg of the tournament to the systems that were in already place during the West Zone matches in September under the supervision of a team of experts from Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, LOC’s Health and Safety department and the AFC. The testimonial of Sakai, a right-back who has represented the Japanese national team in 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2015 AFC Asian Cup, to Qatar’s bio-bubble adds further gravitas because he himself recovered from COVID, which he had contracted in March this year, by meticulously adhering to medical protocol. “We knew before we came here about the situation [bio-bubble] – that we would not be able to go out and that it was very important to stay in the hotel as per the rules and sometimes even be restricted to the room,” said Sakai, who had plied his trade previously with two Bundesliga clubs – VFB Stuggart and Hamburg. “The situation [being in the bio-bubble] was even helpful in that we were able to focus completely on the game and not be bothered about other things.” The 29-year-old born to a Japanese father and German mother even gave a statement of appreciation about the hospitality provided in the hotel. “Everything was good in the hotel including the food. We were also served a lot of Japanese items. I am happy with the stay. That is the reason why we got good results,” he signed off. Vissel Kobe’s opponent in East Zone final, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, also had complemented the implementation of the bio-bubble during the competition. Addressing media ahead of their East Zone Semifinal against Beijing Guoan, Ulsan coach Kim Do-hoon also spoke at length about the COVID safety protocols in vogue during the competition. “We were tested for Coronavirus every time we played a game on the previous day – this made us feel safe and I thank the LOC and the AFC,” said the 50-year-old former South Korean striker who represented his nation in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. “The bubble system was implemented right through and we could not meet anyone from outside. Good quarantine infrastructure was also provided [for the three players who had joined the squad in Qatar after the national team friendlies in Austria where there was a COVID outbreak among six players]” Kim also wowed Qatari football lovers when he revealed that the three national team returnees had voluntarily undergone self-quarantine for 10 days despite testing negative upon their arrival in Doha though the set of tournament safety protocols recom