Ghanaian striker Nii Odartey Lamptey has delayed his return to the Chinese league, due to the outbreak of the Sars virus.

Lamptey told BBC Sport that it was a telephone call from his manager that forced him to take the decision.

"My manager called me and said that I should hang on for a while in Ghana, due to the Sars outbreak," Odartey explains.

"I am due to return soon to sign a new contract with a new side after spending two seasons at Shangdon."

Odartey was already in Ghana when news of the disease broke.

"I first heard about Sars on television.

"But I have spent the last three months in Ghana, so I was not in any danger of being infected.

"I wish to return this time with my family to join a bigger club. Shangdon were a smaller side and playing in a bigger city would be better for me."

Several other Africans play in the Chinese league, but Lamptey was not told by his manager that any of his team mates or other footballers have been infected.

The Chinese outbreak of Sars is believed to have originated in the southern province of Guangdong last November.

Schools and entertainment venues in the capital Beijing have been closed and world health officials have warned people not to travel to the provinces of Guangdong and Shanxi.

The government has cancelled the national May Day public holiday, urging people not to travel for fear of spreading the virus.