PSL players to go for medicals

before they are registered ahead of the 2012 season.
Despite the dangers that threaten the health of players, most local clubs have in the past been registering players without even taking them for a medical check-up before they offer them contracts.
But with the Zifa Football Medicine committee taking a tougher stance on the issue, the PSL chiefs have acceded and told their member clubs that no player would be registered this year unless he has been examined by a qualified doctor.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said yesterday they had already warned the clubs about the new requirement which he said was mandatory.
Ndebele said they had so far also rejected some of the registration forms where certain clubs had tried to indicate that their players had been examined by physiotherapists.
The PSL chief executive said the new player registration system at Zifa which is in line with Fifa’s Transfer Matching System also required certification of a player’s medical status by a certified doctor and clubs simply had to adhere to that.
Ndebele said they had last month been reminded by the Zifa Football Medicine committee of the need to enforce the requirement to have players undergo medicals as in the norm in all professional leagues.
“We received a letter from Dr Munyonga on the issue of having players checked before they are registered and we have since made it mandatory for clubs to adhere to that.
“The new player registration form from Zifa also compels clubs to have doctors examine their players because there is a section on that form that has to be signed and certified by a doctor after he has examined each player.
“The doctor would also have to fill in information about his qualifications so no bogus doctors can complete those forms.
“Without the medical examination the registration will not be regularised. There were some clubs who were trying to send us forms that were signed by a physiotherapist but we rejected that,’’ Ndebele.
Zifa Football Medicine committee secretary-general Nicholas Munyonga also told the PSL to implore on their member clubs the need to have only qualified doctors and physiotherapists sitting on the teams’ technical benches. Munyonga who is also a member of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission and the World Anti-Doping Agency urged the league to conduct regular dope tests on the local players as is the norm whenever they take part in the international competitions.
The Warriors team doctor believes that regular tests would also help keep the players aware of the drugs they would need to avoid in order to ensure they are in line with the WADA requirements.
Munyonga reckoned that the levels of awareness on issues related to anti-doping and football medicine could be raised by holding a refresher course for the top-flight body if the PSL is to cast away some of its amateurish tendencies.
“As we approach the opening of the Castle Premier Soccer League may I bring to all attention on the following issues pertaining to the medical personnel for the Premier Soccer League.
l A refresher course/ course on Football Medicine and Anti-doping must be held before the season starts
l A course on Football Emergency Medicine must be done and must include your Ambulance Service Providers and Medical Assistants
l All teams must carry out pre-participation medical examinations and copies of medical certificates must be made available to the PSL offices when required. Due dates for registration are the same the completion of the mandatory medical examinations
l Medical personnel must be qualified physiotherapists and medical doctors. NO other qualification should be registered as the medical authority for a team. Other medics can only be registered as assistants who should always be working under supervision by the physiotherapist or doctor who is then liable for any medico-legal hazards befalling players and officials of a Premier League team
l Medical Assistants should not be on the bench without supervision
l Licences must be given to physiotherapists and doctors upon production of their practicing certificates
l Accredited team doctors and physiotherapists MUST assist as Crowd doctors when our national teams are playing at home and the necessary Zifa accreditation must be facilitated through the Zifa Football Medicine Committee
l The Castle Premier League MUST set aside a budget to carry out Doping Control Tests in selected matches during the course of the season. (Selected matches may include league matches and cup finals.)
l Premier League physiotherapists and doctors must form a Premier League Football Medicine Committee that facilitates continued Medical Education and other issues related to the execution of their duties,’’ wrote Munyonga.
Although some clubs may be reluctant to implement the recommendations of the medicine committee there are genuine fears that the local game could suffer from on-field disasters should mishaps like those that befell the late Cameroonian international Marc Vivien foe occur here.
Only last Saturday Bolton’s FA Cup quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur was halted after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The match was called off after medical teams worked to resuscitate Muamba on the pitch before he was rushed to a London Chest hospital where is battling to recover.