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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
The first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in Africa has been launched at the University of the Witwatersrand. The facility has been identified as the centre of specialisation for football by the SA Football Association and the SA Olympic Committee. Dr Demitri Constantinou, the Director of the centre is a Wits graduate with extensive experience as a sports physician. Project 2010 asked him...  What is the significance of having a facility of this nature in South Africa? It's quit huge. It is an important tool for all spheres of football medicine, research and educating health professionals to further develop themselves and to give back to football. We are uniquely placed to have the integration of sport science with medicine, which broadens and strengthens our activities. And the importance of integrating sports science with medicine? This is very important because it gives us the opportunity to test and work with players and apply the science of preventative medicine. When players are injured, we will be able to accurately and properly assess them and diagnose them and manage to rehabilitate them so that they can fully recover and return to their sport. Will this centre provide training in sports medicine? It already does. We offer a Masters programme in sports medicine. In addition, we have a certificate of competence in football medicine which is FIFA accredited. Further to that, together with our department of emergency medicine, we've put together a course specifically for health care providers for the World Cup. What role will the centre play during the 2010 World Cup? The fact that Ellis Park and Soccer City are both located in Johannesburg and, of course, Soccer City will host the final, means we will be integrally involved. And will volunteers play any role? I guess there will be a role, but it needs to be qualified. There isn't a specific plan for (medical) volunteers, but we talking to the LOC (the Local Organising Committee) and their medical team. more interviews...
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