Unavailability of the Medical monitoring for Championship League

Last weekend, the professional championship was overwhelmed by the death of Dynamo de Douala player, Leopold Oben Angong, during the 31st day of Ligue 2 against the Colombe of Dja and Lobo, at the Douala Reunification stadium.

He was quickly treated after collapsing at the 33rd minute of the game, the player collapsed again, but this time he could not be revived.

According to the Professional Football League of Cameroon (LFPC), it was due to "complications after surgery." Other actors spoke on the sudden death mysteries at the end of the championship. This incident came after that of Olivier David Njock of Njalla Quan in Ligue 1.

The player lost his life on 27th day of play against Apejes, a game he did not take part in. "It was during an interaction with his teammates at the stadium when Njock collapsed," recalled David Kemmogne, Njalla Quan Coach.

The doctor's report stated "heart failure" as the cause of death. The LFPC evokes "a physical effort without discomfort." Thus, during the day 29 match between Colombe and DAC, were it not for the rapid intervention of the medical team of the League at Municipal Stadium in Sangmélima and promptness in the reaction of his insurer, Victor Emmanuel Mohh of DAC would have died after he went into a coma after a violent shock.

These are some of the many unfortunate incidents that leads to question of the monitoring and medical supervision of players and professional players in the league championships. "We must first, bow to the memory of the young men who died practicing their chosen profession. These are accidents that happen in the world of sports. These are accidents at work. Teams in the various championships are required to send medical files of their players containing the results of various examinations requested by the referring physicians of the Federation. We cannot question the reliability of that medical record, "said Pauline Manguele, Sg of LFPC. If the league is aware of the health status of players earlier in the season, there is less reflectivity during the course of the competition.

"The problem of medical monitoring of the players is real and very delicate. The clubs are also required to have in their coaching staff; medical team which should be on the bench at all matches of the competition. Moreover, the League has a medical team to cover meetings in every stage, which is intended to compensate for a possible failure by the clubs,” said Pauline Manguele.

However, in a context of competitions where the clubs are struggling to balance their budgets and complain about financial difficulties, the medical component is not necessarily a priority. "The caregivers of equipment are really basic. They are mostly massage balms, ice, bandages and some tablets. Radiographs and specific examinations fall within the exception. Besides, I do not remember doing it since the season started,” said one player.

All these incidents will make the LFPC go back to the drawing board. "The professional league is under construction and this applies to all aspects of its evolution. With the number of deaths observed in this end of season, the league will multiply controls in clubs next season. The League will in a short term establish medical centers with a technical platform which is capable of meeting the requirements of high in the four major regions of the country competition,” said Pauline Manguele.