The equipment is meant to improve the capacity of team doctors to contain cardiac arrest and other heart related complications THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has donated medical equipment meant for the detection of possible cardiac arrest in players to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka Star, FAZ Communications Manager Eric Mwanza said that the equipment was meant to improve the capacity of team doctors to contain cardiac arrest and other heart related complications among players in the country.
“Our team doctors will now be able to resuscitate any player in case of a sudden cardiac arrest while playing football,” Mwanza said.
He said the equipment has already been handed over to FAZ for distribution to football clubs all over the country.
Mwanza explained that the medical kit includes an electrical cardioverter shock machine with an external defibrillator (AED) which is able to reverse sudden cardiac arrest.
He said the equipment is state of the art as it is the same one as that is widely used during FIFA matches all over the world.
The donation is meant to be a measure against any possibility of sudden cardiac arrest as over the years there have been several cases of players collapsing and sometimes dying on the pitch, especially in Europe.
The recent case was that of Congolese born Bolton Wanderers defensive midfielder, Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed during the FA Cup games six months ago while playing against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on March 17 2012.
Zambia also lost its defending midfielder, Chaswe Nsofwa who collapsed and died on the pitch in 2007.
Cameroonian striker Marc Vivien Foe also died on the pitch during the 2009 season FA Cup in Europe.