Players not keen on medicals

Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday August 18, 2015 10:28

Health matters: A Nico player is assisted off the field by medics in a previous game. First Division players have been urged to undergo medical check ups. PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG

League committee chairperson Eatlametse Olopeng strongly recommended the medicals as he said they were vital and not complex as perceived by those reluctant to undertake them.

At the weekend meeting for first division clubs held here, it emerged that some players were not keen to do medicals citing privacy reasons. Clubs stated that players were not keen to undertake medical check-ups as they felt they (medicals) covered other ailments, which they do not want to be tested for.

“The medicals will only include testing for mostly heart diseases, as they are the ones that have caused the death of many footballers,” he said. He said the league committee would do its best to sensitise players about the nature and importance of medicals.

“There have been instances (around the world) where players died playing on the field because some of their ailments, especially those that are heart related, were not detected. “Having medicals can help detect an anomaly in the body thus avoiding instances were players collapse and die on the field of play.

“As the league committee, we will do our best to encourage players to go for medicals,” Olopeng told the meeting.

He said clubs should use government hospitals to carry out medicals, as it is less expensive.

The First Division has followed in the be MOBILE Premiership’s footsteps by introducing electronic registration and Olopeng said all players should be registered by the end of the first round.

At the same time, Olopeng urged clubs to invest heavily on marketing themselves in order to boost their revenue.

Olopeng said this during a meeting for First Division teams over the weekend.

“Teams cannot solely depend on the sponsor for funding. They should also market themselves and improve their support base in order to boost their revenues. The teams should also work hard to market their teams to sponsors in order to increase their income,” he said

He said if clubs manage to generate money it would improve their competitiveness.

Meanwhile, Olopeng said the start of the league might be postponed to pave way for the Zebras’ inaugural match in Francistown. “The national team may play here on the first weekend of September provided CAF approve the (new) stadium for use,” he said.

Zebras play Burkina Faso on September 5. The match was initially scheduled for the New Lobatse stadium.