The services and expertise provided by
Kovsie Health are
vitally important to the success of Kovsie Soccer and have helped to professionalise the football environment at the University of the Free State (UFS).
This is according to
Godfrey Tenoff, who believes that looking after the UFS’
high-performance players off the pitch is imperative to ensuring “a top-quality product on the field”.
The Head of
Soccer at KovsieSport says his players need to know they are in good hands and will be taken care of from a medical perspective. And these services are
easily accessible and expedient on campus.
Healthy relationship
Tenoff says UFS Soccer and Kovsie Health have a great working relationship.
“Dr Gerhard Jansen and his team, consisting of Paula Anley and Edith Maritz, have managed to help us professionalise our football environment.”
According to him, injury management is of the utmost importance in a contact sport like soccer.
The Kovsie Health team works alongside the likes of soccer athletic trainer, Ntele Mashiloane (MJ), and Yanelisa Nyalambisa, conditioning coach and UFS lecturer, to put preventative measures in place for injuries, better rehabilitation, and to monitor
injuries.
Kovsie Health provides a range of services to the UFS soccer programme. This includes medical screenings (necessary for overall player management, participation, and return to play), injury diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Prevention and injury risks
Maritz, physiotherapist at Kovsie Health, says groin and hamstring injuries are among the most common in soccer – due to the specific requirements, such as changing direction, kicking, running, and acceleration.
It is very important to manage the workload of the players well and to sort out any previous injuries or niggles, because your biggest risk for an injury is a previous injury. – Edith Maritz
According to Jansen, medical practitioner at Kovsie Health, lower limb injuries such as knee and ankle injuries also occur.
Maritz stresses the importance of good collaboration and communication with Mashiloane to manage players returning from injury.
Her advice is that the prevention of injuries is the best route to follow.
“It is very important to manage the workload of the players well and to sort out any previous injuries or niggles, because your biggest risk for an injury is a previous injury.”
Jansen agrees and warns that rest alone is not sufficient to treat injuries. He says a proper diagnosis and treatment is necessary.
“Each type of injury and athlete is unique and must be treated accordingly.”
“If the player does not receive treatment, the risk of a re-injury or another injury (which may be worse) is significantly greater than those who do receive treatment.”