Every job, no doubt has its own hazards, sports, is no exception as sportsmen and women have over the years been victims of various types of injuries at one point or the other in their careers.
In sports, there are several factors that could cause injuries to players depending on the peculiarity of the various sporting games they are engaged in.
Such factors include weather, head-to-head collision, and fatigue, just to mention a few.
Most of these sportsmen and women, in a bid to impress their employers, overwork themselves to the extent of launching into dangerous challenges during a game.
Some sportsmen and women have even had their career cut short due to persistent, severe or life-threatening injuries.
There have been situations where players were taken off the pitch on medical support after sustaining an injury.
A very vivid example is that of former Chelsea Football Club goalkeeper, Petr Cech who sustained a head injury in the match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 14 October 2006 when he collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt inside penalty area.
Also, the deaths of Nigeria’s Samuel Okwaraji and the Marc-Vivien Foé of Cameroon following injuries sustained while in action on the football pitch show the impact that injuries can have on sportsmen and women.
Perhaps, people have gotten accustomed to seeing players get injured often, the reason much is not being talked about the impact these injuries has had in the sporting world.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria, some sports lovers had advised federal government to proffer lasting solutions to the healthcare of the sports professionals for better performances.
Also, National Chairman of Sport Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Honour Sirawoo, who said, though, it was not the responsibility of the government to take care of the players, but, it can provide facilities that would help them keep fit.
Mr Sirawoo however urged the stakeholders to provide full rehabilitation after injuries, use of protective equipment, appropriate exercises, and warm ups, for better motivation in future.
Taiwo Akinola
