EFA USED ACCIDENTS MRI TEST - RADIOLOGIST

MBABANE – Did the EFA use the wrong MRI test to evade hefty costs?

This question begs to be answered following claims by the country’s radiologist, Dr Mbongeni Dlamini, that huge costs prompted the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) to use the improper MRI test.

The age determination MRI test is called the Wrist MRI and costs E10 043.11 per individual, according to the medical specialist.

The Swaziland Radiology Services (Pty) Ltd owner, based at Philani Clinic, alleged he was approached by an EFA employee who sought a quotation for conducting the Wrist MRI test before the Under-17 national team travelled to Port Elizabeth for the 2020 COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship.

He said there were two MRIs in the kingdom, the one owned by him and that of a reputable company whose name has been deliberately withheld as the company had not responded to a questionnaire sent to it at the time of compiling this report.

dropped

Following the article published yesterday that nine players were dropped after failing the MRI test before the trip to South Africa, the radiologist said due to the fact that there were two MRIs, somehow he felt implicated in the matter so he wanted to clear his name.

This, he said, was because he had been receiving calls from concerned doctors who wanted to know if he was the one who conducted the tests.

“They have their own MRI which is used for clients who have been involved in accidents. How are they involved in MRI age determination scans because they deal with injured clients?” wondered the doctor.

Dlamini did not claim the EFA used the wrong MRI test but questioned the credibility of the people involved in the whole process.

He added that it was easier to negotiate for reduced prices with the company yet they (Swaziland Radiology Services) charged higher fees because of the quality work they produced.

specialised

Dr Dlamini claimed he specialised in South Africa and their MRI test was the same as that used by his former colleagues (some of which trained him while others trained with him) in that country, which was conducted on the local players who were disqualified from taking part in the Under-17 COSAFA Championship for alleged over-age cheating.

“We do the scans here and interpret them while they would do the scans and send the pictures to India for interpretation. I’m sure you are aware that the service quality of India and South Africa is probably not the same,” he said.

EFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone rang unanswered when called several times.

Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe maintained that they had nothing more to add after the statement the association released on Friday giving the position of the EFA on the Under-17 saga.

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