Jun 11, 2014

Expert Aspetar team to provide top-level medical assistance to Ivory Coast and Algeria squads the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

Doha, Qatar, (11 June 2014): Aspetar staff members might not score any goals during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, but a team of world-class doctors and physiotherapists from the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital could end up making plenty of key assists.

As the official medical support providers for both the Algeria and the Ivory Coast national football teams, Aspetar has sent two delegations to the tournament. Headed by Dr Hakim Chalabi, Aspetar’s Executive Director of National Sports Medicine Programme, the professionals will help athletes from both teams reach their full potential.

It means that Aspetar is responsible for treating and assisting world-class players like Manchester City's Yaya Toure, former Chelsea star Didier Drogba and Newcastle's Cheick Tiote from the Ivory Coast, before and during the tournament. Meanwhile, from the Algeria squad, Aspetar will also provide medical support to key players including Valencia star Sofiane Feghouli, Inter Milan midfielder Saphir Taider Tottenham Hotspur player Nabil Bentaleb and Napoli player Faouzi Ghoulam.??It's a challenge that Dr Chalabi is relishing. “With our team of experts on-hand to provide medical support in the lead-up to the competition and during the tournament itself, these top-level athletes from Algeria and the Ivory Coast are in safe hands with Aspetar,” said Dr Chalabi.??He continued, “Over the past few weeks, Aspetar has been able to provide a comprehensive medical screening programme to both squads, in addition to a physiological evaluation of all the athletes. We are now looking forward to monitoring the progress of both teams over the coming weeks and providing both on-and-off the pitch support in Brazil.”?Aspetar has previous World Cup expertise, having already assisted Algeria during the 2010 tournament in South Africa, a great asset.??“After the successful role we played at the last World Cup tournament, our team of doctors and physiotherapists have a wealth of experiences in their kit bags that we look forward to showcasing this summer,” said Dr Chalabi.??With just a few days to go before the World Cup kicks off, the two separate Aspetar delegations are currently in Brazil assisting both teams as they make their final tournament preparations.??Meanwhile, commenting on Aspetar’s partnership agreements with the national football teams of both the Ivory Coast and Algeria, Dr Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, said, “Aspetar strives to support top-tier athletes and help them reach their full sporting potential, and we are confident that our expertise can assist both teams perform at the highest level in one of sport’s greatest events.”?In recent weeks, Aspetar has made full physiological evaluations of both squads and has also treated the injuries of several key players. During this crucial preparation period, footballers from both the Ivory Coast and Algeria teams paid a visit to Aspetar’s facilities in Doha as the footballers sought to reach peak physical condition before the tournament kicks-off on June 12.??One of those who turned to the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital for assistance earlier this year was Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba, who travelled to Doha in April for treatment following an injury. Commenting after his visit, the striker claimed his time at Aspetar had left him feeling “even more sharpened than ever before”, and fully prepared for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile similar praise was also bestowed upon Aspetar by one of Drogba’s fellow countryman, Yaya Toure, who described the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital as “an amazing place” after visiting for treatment in May.??After a bruising end to European football’s domestic season for many players, Aspetar has also assisted with the World Cup preparations of Ivory Coast footballers including Sol Bamba, Mathis Boly and Monaco-owned striker Lacina Traoré. From the Algerian squad, Adlene Guedioura and Hassan Yebda also visited Aspetar in 2013 for treatment. In addition, Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra, a former player for Lekhwiya SC in Qatar.