Expert backs Rufaro

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S traditional home of football — Rufaro — has been certified fit for Premiership matches, amid revelations that scientific research has proved that the artificial turf at the Mbare venue is not an injury risk surface as has largely been feared.

There has been an outcry over the last two years by top-flight clubs and coaches that the turf at Rufaro was contributing to many injuries to the players with knees cited as being the most vulnerable parts of the players’ bodies.

Former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa also joined in the chorus of condemning Rufaro during his spell as the senior national team gaffer, while Dynamos midfielder Masimba Mambare indicated that his knee problems were being exacerbated by playing on the artificial turf.

But Fifa and Caf sports medicine instructor Edward Chagonda has come in defence of Rufaro, arguing that research he carried out has shown that there is minimal difference in the injury risks to players who use the artificial turf and those playing on the natural turf at such venues like the National Sports Stadium, Barbourfields, Gwanzura, Luveve, Ascot, Sakubva, Mandava and the Colliery.

Chagonda, who was studying family medicine and primary care with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, carried his research during the 2013 Premiership season in which he sampled 486 top-flight players.

The aim of the research which was lodged with Stellenbosch was “to determine the frequency of injuries on artificial turf and natural turf among Premier Soccer League players in Zimbabwe’’.

Its objectives sought:

To determine the attitudes of players regarding the different football playing surfaces.

To determine the incidence of injuries on artificial turf and natural turf

To determine the severity and injury types.

To describe the medical support personnel available to football teams.

The former Warriors doctor, who is also the head of the ZIFA Sports Medicine Committee, yesterday said the claims that Rufaro was a high-risk surface was merely “a perception that has spread among the local football stakeholders and aided by media reports painting a gloomy picture about the ground’’.

Chagonda noted the mixed feeling among local players and coaches on the turf at Rufaro but said despite all those claims about the artificial turf contributing to injuries, there had previously been no published scientific data about football injuries in Zimbabwe.

Through his research, the Fifa doping officer also uncovered an amateurish approach to issues of sports medicine in domestic football with the majority of Premiership teams still operating without full-time doctors on their books while hiring first aiders.

Chagonda said the only injury that appeared to be more associated with the artificial turf was that of the foot.

The ZIFA Sports medicine chairman noted that Fifa had decided to erect artificial turf in Africa and Asia to assist those countries which had problems with decent fields as part of a development initiative by the world soccer governing body.

“Football is a very popular sport if not the most popular sport in the world. Zimbabwe, like most African countries is a football crazy country with well over 5000 registered players and a much larger amateur and recreational population playing football.

“There is no formal published research information about football injuries in Zimbabwe. There has been a drive by Fifa as part of its Fifa Goal Project, to erect a minimum of one free third generation turf throughout Africa and Asia and in 2006.3As a result, one of Zimbabwe’s homes of football, the Rufaro Stadium, was changed from a NT to an AT.

“Fifa, through their Goal project, renovated Rufaro stadium from natural turf to artificial turf. This was met with mixed feelings especially on injuries amongst football players. There is no published scientific data on football injuries in Zimbabwe.

“The 2013 season’s16 PSL teams were selected to complete questionnaires and injury report forms. Injuries recorded during matches on AT and NT were analysed. Outcome measures were injury incidence (injuries/1000 player hours (Phrs) of exposure) compared for AT and NT using rate ratios (95% confidence intervals),” wrote Chagonda.

Chagonda, a former Black Rhinos administrator, also found out in responses from the players that the majority of the locals preferred playing on natural turf.

“325 players responded and 295 (90.8 percent) preferred playing football on NT. Of these, 250 (76.9 percent) believed that AT was associated with more injuries. A total of 364 injuries occurred during 4 455 phrs of exposure giving an injury incidence of 81.7 injuries/1000phrs.

“A total of 69 games (1138.5phrs) on AT revealed an injury incidence of 85.2 injuries/1000phrs while 201 games (3316.5 phrs) on NT revealed an overall incidence of 80.51 injuries/1000-hrs.

“This analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of injury between the AT and NT surfaces during matches played, [RR= 1.06; 95 percent CI: 0.84 – 1.34].

“As for the severity of the injuries, the highest incidence occurred on the AT (31.62-1000phrs in the mild category) and the lowest incidence was on the NT (1.81-1000 phrs in the severe category) .

“The rate ratios for the severity were however statistically insignificant. Comparison of the injuries according to body part injured largely revealed insignificant rate ratios except for the foot that appeared to be increased on the AT [RR =4.37; 95 percent CI 1.56 – 12.28].

“On the support medical support personnel, the 16 teams had 10 doctors, 2 physiotherapists, 3 state registered nurses, 5 rehabilitation technicians and 16 first aiders.

“Football players believe that the AT is associated with increased risk of injury. There was no significant difference in injury incidence rates between the AT and NT during the 2013 PSL season in Zimbabwe. When comparing the severity of the injuries, there was also no significant difference.

“The injury incidences in the study were much higher than comparable European studies. There is need for further studies to explore the reasons for this,’’ said Chagonda.

But for now those injures have been found to have nothing to with the type of turf and that Rufaro is in the all-clear.

While Chagonda found no problems with Rufaro, the PSL are concerned with the state of preparedness for the venues that are to be used for the 2015 season with Sakubva already having the test conducted by the grounds committee.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said yesterday they would inspect more grounds next week but expressed disappointment with the Mutare authorities who since December last year have reportedly failed to improve Sakubva.

“Sakubva is in a deplorable state, nothing has been done. There are trenches in the dressing rooms, the boundary fence has holes, there are problems with the perimeter fence and a lot really needs to be done there,’’ Ndebele said.

Sakubva is the home of army side Buffaloes.