The inauguration of the first FIFA medical centre of excellence on African soil on Monday means football players on the continent will now know whom to turn to for expert care in football medicine.
The Centre for Exercise, Science and Sports Medicine (CESSM) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg was officially inaugurated in the presence of South African Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
The CESSM has been identified as the centre of specialisation for football by the SA Football Association (SAFA) and the SA Confederation of Sports and the Olympic Committee.
“The body of knowledge in football medicine accumulated by FIFA needs to be practically implemented so that African players can fully benefit from state-of-the-art prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,” said Professor Diri Dvorak who will run the clinic.
“We are particularly pleased the CESSM ensured this in the host country of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“They created a legacy far beyond this event by educating the next generation of African clinical specialists committed to football medicine.”
Creating a network of expert centres across the world is part of the strategy of the FIFA Sports Medical Committee to protect players’health and improve the standard of care at all levels of play. Panapress.
