UNPACKING INJURIES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

EZULWINI – Footballers go into the field hoping to last the mile but sadly career threatening injuries hamper not just their progress, but that of their respective teams.

Elite league teams have been hit hard by injuries on their players since the start of the season in the various stadia.
It is a challenge to the local game.

A study carried out by Hauron Mbithi and presented during the 3rd National Health Researchers Conference at the Convention Centre last week,  reflected that the game of football has the highest rate of injuries compared to other team sports. He had interviewed 263 soccer players and the findings were that the injuries have physical and psychological repercussions on the players and to the team they were not only a financial burden but lead to poor results in matches.

It also showed that the overall injury prevalence was 75.3 per cent during the 2012/13 season and was for both male and female soccer players.
Male soccer had 67.7 per cent injury rate with women soccer at a higher 83.1 per cent.

The ankle joint was the most injured part with male and female players reporting it at 23.2 per cent and 13. 6 respectively.
Mbithi’s study largely blamed the injuries on use of inappropriate soccer boots, or shoes, shin guards and uncomfortable training surface.

“The report recommended that there must be use of physiotherapists in the treatment and management of sports injuries, to reduce the current injuries due to inadequate treatment. It was also suggested that there has to be the analysis of injuries so that coaches, FA Medical Committee can work together to develop effective injury preventive strategies,” Mbithi said.
As if to support this research, the Premier League has already had a few players being sidelined due to serious injuries suffered in the field of play and some whilst warming up for a game.

Young Buffaloes and Sihlangu defender Sifiso ‘Tjovitjo’ Maseko will be out of action for at least four months. His has suffered knee injury. He joins a long list of layers that have in recent times, sustained horrific and ghastly injuries while turning up for their respective teams.
Most of these players are rushed straight to hospital from the stadiums.

They include Mbabane Swallows and Castle Premier Challenge Player of the Series and Top Goalscorer Felix Badenhorst, his teammate Zimbabwean goalkeeper Nicho Francis, Red Lions’ attacking midfielder Sibusiso Mabelesa, Green Mamba’s exciting attacker Phumlani Ngwenya, Young Buffaloes’ skipper Mphile ‘Nyandoro’ Tsabedze amongst others.

Young Buffaloes PRO Sandile Gwebu said Maseko suffered a crucial knee injury with torn knee ligaments and has been to operation.  He said while he was not an expert in the field of medicine, he felt that teams do contribute by allowing players to play without having fully recovered which aggravate that specific.

“We have just acquired a specialist provided by the army to help in sports injuries and also assist in nutrition; he has opened our eyes regarding the issue. We are benefitting a lot from his expertise,” he said.

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