Young sports medical assistant, Sihle Luthuli, has already experienced exciting moments in his three years as a sports physiotherapist.
A sports medical assistant is a person who deals with fitness and treatment and prevention of injuries in sport in general.
The 24-year-old medical assistant has worked for three separate football teams in the past three years.
Speaking to Express, Luthuli said he grew up around sport.
“I started this as a water boy. At the time, I had to attend to an injured player in the sports ground in Lusikisiki and I developed a love for it and I am a person who likes to take care of people,” Luthuli said.
He started falling in love with this career at the age of 10.
Luthuli said the most exciting part of being a sports medical assistant is to see a player recovering from injury through his assistance.
His responsibility is to make sure each player is ready to play and to ensure that those who complain of injury are recovering.
He mentioned that it is not possible for a player to play with an injury but emphasised that if the injury is not severe they assess the player’s ability to continue.
“We check the player. If the injury is minor, we use some medications, such as pain relief spray, freezer spray, diclofenac tabs and pain tablets.”
Luthuli previously worked for Seven Stars FC and Citizen City FC, doing the same duties as a sports medical assistant.
The professional nurse, who is now studying medicine at Walter Sisulu University’s NMD campus, said even though the job is exciting there are challenges.
“One challenge I am facing is a lack of working resources. Secondly, most of the players say they have recovered from injury because they are eager to play, while others are faking injuries.”
In July this year, Luthuli applied for a job at Chippa United and he received a call for an interview in August, this year.
“After the interview, I got a response from them saying they were offering me this space, but I couldn’t join them due to my academic studies because it’s difficult for them to relocate me to another university because we were already in the middle of the year.
“I got the offer and the offer was good,” Luthuli said.
“I still need to pursue my studies, that’s what’s important for now, but if a team is going to relocate me in terms of academics to complete my degree in another university, I am available,” he concluded.
Luthuli is currently working for Ayakha Stars FC in Mthatha.
