Sports medicine experts and representatives from the 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gathered in the ancient city of Cairo for 3 days to discuss the theme of the 5th CAF Medical Congress for 2016 ''Healthy and Clean Football''. The Congress which takes place every four years aims to bring experts from within and outside the African continent to discuss current trends in practice and standards of care regarding the health of soccer players. The next congress is scheduled to take place in 2020 but a host city is yet to be announced.

The intensive 3-day football medicine centred congress under the auspices of the CAF President Issa Hayatou and the CAF Medical Committee had collaborating facilitators from the FIFA- Medical Assessment and Research Centre (FMARC), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), ASPETAR Orthopaedic Hospital Qatar, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Union of African Sports Medicine (UAMS) was hosted at the magnificent Aida Hall of the Marriott Hotel, Zamelek in Cairo. 

Here is a review of what happened in Cairo:

DAY 1 I 14th October, 2016

 

Participants were warmly welcomed by the CAF Secretary General Hicham El Amrani who highlighted in his key note address that plans are advanced towards the establishment of a Health Map for African Footballers by CAF in the quest to establish a medical database across the continent and beyond. He further emphasised that the Health Map is a big step towards the development of a software that allows to gather medical data of all players who participate in competitions under the umbrella of the continent's football governing body. The session for the day kicked off in earnest and focus of discourse included Application of PCMA and Injury Statistics, Clinical Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Role of athlete's cardiac screening to prevent SCD, Screening for cardiac diseases or predictors of sudden cardiac death, MRI for Age determination from the AFC experience and Gender Verification.

DAY 2 I 15th October, 2016

Robert Grisdale (UEFA) gives updates on doping issues.

Team Nigeria with Prof Jan Eskrand at the Gala.

Bakare Ummukulthoum with the stunning Egyptian architecture. 

   

The day's activity kicked off with Football and Health morning session which included FIFA 11+, FIFA 11+: African Experience, FIFA 11 for Health , Physiological, Physical, Psychological and Nutritional Strategies for Improving Performance. Management of concussion, Injury Prevention: UEFA Model, FIFA 11 Against Ebola and management of football activities during Ebola/Yellow Fever Outbreaks as well as Children in Sports: Growth and trauma cartilage were also among the issues discussed. Abuse of Medication, CAF , FIFA and UEFA strategies in the fight against doping were deliberated on. Set up for poster presentations wrapped up the session for the day. The organizing committee of the Congress later in the evening treated delegates to a sumptuous dinner and gala night overlooking the Nile from the terrace of the Almaz Hall.

DAY 3 I 16th October, 2016

Team Aspetar: left to right; Dr Zarko Vuckovic, Dr Peter Dzendrowskyj, Dr Maria Carmen,Dr Hakim Chalabi and Dr Andreas Serner.

The last day of the Congress had a morning session on trauma which included discussions on injury prevention, acute groin injuries , physiotherapy and rehabilitation , injuries and disease. There was a free communication session which included incidence of injuries and artificial grass, health of referees, one year balance of arthroscopy in Cameroon, musculoskeletal system examination, making a good start to an acute traumatic knee as well as Dilemma of Interpretation of ECGs and ECHOs of African players.

There were three workshops for the last session of the day which ran simultaneously. Dr Peter Dzendrowskyj of ASPETAR conducted the Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation /use of Automated External Defibrillator in Sudden Cardiac Arrest while Dr Monika Keller of FIFA facilitated the session on the FIFA Doping Control procedure. Miss Bakare Ummukulthoum, FIFA Instructor and her team from NIGERIA conducted the workshop on the FIFA 11+. The workshops were keenly attended and participation was hands on.

The congress came to an end on a lofty note. All participants came away with key take home messages. Prof Hosny Abdel Rahman acknowledged the dynamic LOC team who made things seamless for delegates in Cairo and were appreciated with a resounding applause. Certificates of participation was presented to delegates by members of the CAF Medical Committee which drew the congress to its eventual close.

END NOTE

After a very productive time spent at the Congress, what better to do but to take a trip to the historical pyramids of Giza. With very little time left , I had to take the time to make the quick trip before my departure from Cairo. With the help of my friends Tarek Hussein and Abdel Rahaman Aref who are locals as well as physios, I was able to experience visiting the pyramids the local way. I took the metro to Giza, a camel ride after much ado, took the tour on a carriage horse as well as had the traditional Arabian turban to complete my look. All in all, it was a memorable trip and I still made good time to catch my flight back to base. Thanks Cairo for the memories!



Special thanks to Dr Boubakary Sidiki, Mr Sherif Ahmed, Mrs Hend Thabet, Mrs Aya Gheriany, Anjorin Abiodun, Dosa Bukayo, Tolulope Obe, Mr Dayo Ogunkunle, Dr Abdulkadir Muazu, National Sports Medicine Center, NIGERIA, The 11+ Advocacy TEAM NG, Prof Jiri Dvorak , Dr Mario Bizzini , Prof Astrid Junge and the entire FMARC team for the opportunity.