World Cup 2010 Blog

Witwatersrand University has recently been accredited as a FIFA Centre of Medical Excellence to cater for football players in need of medical care, the university said on Tuesday.The Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the university was accredited with a view to ensure that players in the country and on the continent know where to go for expert football medical care.

“This is only one of six centres accredited by FIFA in the world, and the only FIFA accredited medical centre in Africa,� said Director of the centre at Wits University Dr Demitri Constantinou.

The other five Centres are based in Zurich, United States, Japan,New Zealand and Munich.

Constantinou said a letter from FIFA President Joseph Blatter recommended the institution as “an elite centre with a history of commitment to football and the respective expertise when specialized services are required.”

All FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence have been carefully selected, based on a comprehensive application process to prove their clinical, educational and research expertise.

“Their practical involvement in the care of teams and their active commitment to preventing injuries is also considered,” said Constantinou.

Chairman of the FIFA Sports Medical Committee, Michel D’Hooghe said it was committed to protecting and improving the health of football players world-wide. “We consider effective prevention and accurate diagnosis as top priorities and make a strong commitment by offering the football community Centres of Excellence,” said D’Hooghe.

He said the centres would also be generally open to every player looking for therapy or a second opinion on a specific illness or injury.

The centre was already accredited by the South African Football Association. Constantinou said the university was tailoring other programmes from the existing ones in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“Plans have already been developed for a new building to house the Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine on the Wits Education Campus,’ he said. The official inauguration ceremony will be held at the university in 2008.

Source: South Africa: The Good News