ZCZC
BSP-07
FBL-ENG-PR-CIV-CRYSTALPALACE-ZAHA-BRITAIN-VIRUS-HEALTH
Palace star Zaha offers health staff free accommodation
LONDON, March 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has
offered free accommodation to medical staff in his London properties as they
treat patients with coronavirus.
The 27-year-old Ivory Coast international is the latest football
personality to offer a free bed, following in the footsteps of former
Manchester United star Gary Neville and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Zaha, reported to earn o130,000 ($150,000) a week at the Premier League
club, willingly took up the baton saying he had friends working in the
National Health Service and he could provide accommodation for the hard-
pressed staff who could not return home after their shifts.
He has built up a property portfolio of around 50 properties in London,
including in trendy Notting Hill. The flats are usually used by corporate
clients but with global travel severely restricted there is not much call for
them at the moment.
“If you do good, good will come to you,” said Zaha cited in The Times on
Saturday. “It is clear that my intentions are that all I want to do is help
at every opportunity, especially in the crazy period we are going through.
“Health workers please reach out. We have already had feedback — this is
exactly what we wanted to achieve.”
His business partner Obi Williams said they had already been contacted by
staff at two London hospitals.
“Anyone who can help and do their bit needs to stand up and help,” said
Williams.
Neville, now a TV pundit, has offered free use of 176 rooms in two
Manchester hotels he co-owns — including one opposite Old Trafford Stadium –
– and has called on footballers to follow his lead, while Russian tycoon
Abramovich has invited medical staff to 72 rooms in the hotel at Chelsea’s
Stamford Bridge ground.
The British government on Friday ordered all pubs, cafes and restaurants
to close to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1608 hrs