Risks of high performance sport : ACAMES President Warns Players and Coaches

Cameroonian football players are subjected to an intense pace of play, with two matches per week in Elite 1 and Elite 2. But what are the risks to their health? The president of the Cameroonian Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACAMES), Josué Bissou Mahop, warns players and coaches about the dangers of high-performance sport.
The president of the Cameroonian Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACAMES), Josué Bissou Mahop
Football players are subjected to an intense pace of play, with two matches per week in Elite 1 and Elite 2. According to Josué Bissou Mahop, president of the Cameroonian Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACAMES), “every 10 minutes, for 90 minutes, you have a player who loses 720 kilocalories. But the body only stores 100 kilocalories in the muscle and 300 kilocalories of glycogen in the liver. So, know that the footballer who goes on the field has 400 kilocalories, while he must play for 90 minutes.”
To compensate for this loss of energy, players need energy supplements. “Who gives him the extra 320 kilocalories? It’s not the pastor or the marabout, it’s the sports doctor, who intervenes with energy bars, high-calorie drinks and sugary water. That’s how we minimize the risk of accidents,” explains Josué Bissou Mahop.
But the risks don’t stop there. Players are also exposed to health problems such as oxidative stress, dehydration and discomfort. “The impact of these matches and these programs on the health of the athlete is at three levels. First level, oxidative stress. You expose the athlete to oxidative stress, that is to say you expose the athlete to the loss of the majority of his electrolytes, to the loss of calcium, magnesium and potassium at the muscle level, which exposes him to muscle contractures,” warns the president of ACAMES.
Players should also be aware of the risks of dehydration and discomfort. “They lose potassium and sodium through their skin, and if they vomit, they lose potassium through vomiting, which can lead to hypokalemia. Finally, you expose them to discomfort, which can occur even in healthy players. Be aware that the heart can stop at any time, because it is very vulnerable and does not tolerate heat and intense physical effort well,” explains Josué Bissou Mahop.
To avoid these risks, players must self-discipline and have a notion of healthy living. “The player himself must self-discipline and have a notion of healthy living. He must sleep before 11pm or midnight and avoid handling his phone for hours, until 1am, before sleeping,” advises the president of ACAMES.
Ultimately, players and coaches must be aware of the risks of high-performance sport and take steps to minimize those risks. Players must be physically and mentally healthy to perform on the field, and coaches must ensure that players are prepared for games and practices. With proper preparation and medical management, players can minimize risks and perform at their best.
Frieda NGO YEM (Journalism student on internship)