Dubai: The President of the UAE Football Association (UAE FA) has reiterated that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medical and Health Sciences (MBRU) will take the sport to another level. Footballers of UAE national squads will be able to avail of the facilities at the Fifa Medical Centre of Excellence, housed at the HMS-Al Garhoud Private Hospital and Al Shabab Club in Al Mamzar.
Marwan Bin Galita, President, UAE FA on Thursday signed a MoU with Dr Amer Sharif, Vice-Chancellor, MBRU in the presence of Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, Dubai Economy and Chairman of Fifa Medical Centre of Excellence, Dubai.
“This agreement is going to be a huge addition to us as a football entity,” Bin Galita told Gulf News.
“Most of the time we have had to rely on external medical help for treating our players, be it at the club or national teams level. But now, we can have the latest medical treatment facilities right here in Dubai. This move will save us time in getting the treatment, while also helping the players feel more at home rather than be in a foreign land,” he added.
Earlier this year, the Fifa Medical Centre of Excellence Dubai was opened as a joint venture between the medical wing of Al Shabab Club and the HMS-Al Garhoud Private Hospital. A team of specialised doctors provide healthcare to professionals, amateurs and youth athletes with sports injuries, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, prevention and sports prevention optimisation.
The centre also conducts research in a wide range of sport, exercise and health-related areas under the authority of F-Marc (Fifa Medical and Research Centre) and in collaboration with international and local scientific institutions.
“One of the biggest problems before us every time is injuries to our players, and in the past they have had to travel abroad even for the smallest of treatments. Now this agreement will change all that we our players’ injuries can be treated right here,” Bin Galita said.
Dr Michael D’Hooghe, Chairman of the Fifa Medical Committee, has always espoused the cause that education is the key to prevention in football.
“In keeping with this, we have a specialised medical committee in the UAE FA that constantly monitors the health and fitness of our players in various national squads. With a varied data base like this, we are in the best position possible to assist in research at different levels,” Bin Galita observed.
“With this agreement, we are putting in an extra effort in taking care of our players and their injuries. This is one area that may have been neglected in the past, but with this agreement we will be in a better position to address this area,” he added.
“The centre will have the latest machines, top-level expertise and along with the research that is taking place, it will help us enhance the medical field in the UAE. This effort will go a long way in boosting UAE sport.”
