Executive awareness in Sports Medicine is vital
Recently appointed into the CAF Sports Exercise Medicine Committee, Dr. Lone Bogwasi speaks to BG Sports reporter Isaac on various aspects in the field. He discusses the latest development in his field and the importance of the recently launched Universit
BG SPORT: Kindly share with us how you landed in the sports medicine discipline?
Dr Bogwasi: I have been in sports since yester years. Having played in BISA games, Table tennis, Badminton I went on to join the Uniao Flamingo Santos development under Coach Luke Ramaeba and Saxton Kowa aka ‘ Bra Tshedi.’ I graduated to Flamingo Desportos in the GRFA Division 1 and was eventually loaned to UB Hawks during my undergraduate Medical Studies in the University of Botswana.
It was during the Botswana Africa youth games 2014 where I met the then only sports physician in Botswana, Dr Lesedinyana Odiseng who gave a talk to medical volunteers for the games.
It was after the eventual engagement with the BFA that I decided to selfsponsor for an MSc in Sports Medicine with the University of Pretoria, which has led me this far.
BG SPORT: What has been your experience with sports medicine locally?
Dr Bogwasi: I’ve had the privilege of working with the BFA and BRU as a member and as chairman of their respective medical committees. I’ve served as team doctor for the senior men football national team and BISA/ BOPSSA team doctor amongst other events that I’ve volunteered in.
BG SPORT: What has been your greatest contribution in the field of sport medicine?
Dr Bogwasi: Conducting a Football medicine workshop for the Francistown Regional Football Association ( FRAFA) on 13th December 2019, just before Covid- 19 struck us.
Another recent contribution has been leading both BFA and BRU in their return to sporting activities in the midst of the Covid- 19 pandemic as well as contributing to public awareness through sports medicine column in the
Kindly give us a glimpse of what your recent appointment at CAF entails?
Botswana Guardian. BG SPORT:
Dr Bogwasi: The CAF medical committee appointment is by far the biggest milestone in my SEM development. It entails guiding the continent on sports medicine issues and development in an evidence based manner.
It is a privilege, a huge task and an opportunity for Botswana to benefit from trainings through CAF/ FIFA. This is an accomplishment credited to the BFA President Mr McLean Letshwiti, as one of his major achievements in his tenure.
BG SPORT: Is sports medicine a growing area of interest for local medical professionals?
Dr Bogwasi: The field is still fertile with a few medical professionals showing interest locally. We need more of these professionals to further do a postgraduate qualification in sports and exercise medicine so we are better equipped to advance the necessary skill set.
BG SPORT: In your view, what has been lacking in Botswana as far as sports medicine is concerned?
Dr Bogwasi: Sports and Exercise Medicine requires trained professionals from multi- disciplinary background ( physicians, physiotherapists, scien
tists, nutritionists and psychologists), sport and exercise medicine centres ( dedicated clinical sports medicine and High performance centers) and most importantly, an awareness from an executive level.
All these to a certain extent are lacking locally e. g. Without executive awareness and buy- in, even a well crafted policy would not materialise or without a dedicated HPC and sports medicine center there isn’t a place conducive enough to condition and treat the elite athletes.
BG SPORT: Have you seen any improvement from local athletes across different sport codes since sports medicine was recently prioritized in the country?
Dr Bogwasi: If sports and exercise medicine ( SEM) is prioritised locally, we would get the most out of the technical training the coaches put in. Elite sports has developed to a level where the slightest margin of advantage puts your competitor at the forefront and SEM is one of those crucial areas.
Talent identification, development of athletes would effect earlier and injuries would be well managed and best prevented as part of the best practices put in place so that the developing athletes is optimized to compete once they reach international level.
BG SPORT: Kindly give us your views on the recently launched High Performance Centre ( HPC) at the University of Botswana?
Dr Bogwasi: The UB HPC is a great milestone in achieving our development of SEM locally. Tradition has it that a university is the driving force behind research which ultimately leads to improvement in practice. We expect to see this improvement along with the use of the latest technology in advancing the field.
The various Sporting codes individually or through BNSC need to partner with UB and see how the HPC can be of benefit to them.
BG SPORT: In your view, do you see the launch of the HPC getting more medical professionals into sports medicine?
Dr Bogwasi: The HPC needs a whole complement of multi- disciplinary professionals ( physicians, sports scientists dieticians, physios, biokineticist etc) to work hand in hand in delivering the high performance out of our elite athletes.
This will guide the best practice in preparing for major competitions and also enable research to understand the profile and genetical demands of a Motswana athlete which would influence our trainings and technical development of an elite athlete.
BG SPORT: What are some of your future aspirations and goals in the field of sports medicine?
Dr Bogwasi: International exposure is key in establishing professional relationships and being up to date with current trends in SEM world.
I have been a South African Sports Medicine Association ( SASMA) member and the recent CAF medical committee appointment is a stepping stone to greater heights.
I am part of a group of profession
als currently working on a policy document on Cardiac screening in Netball for the International Netball Federation ( INF) which awaits board approval.
With regards to research, I recently collaborated on an international paper titled: Training During the COVID- 19 Lockdown: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of 12,526 Athletes from 142 Countries and Six Continents, which looked at how Covid- 19 has affected training in the various categories of athletes from recreational to elite in order to guide policy makers during the pandemic.
More research collaboration are envisioned in future as part of professional development as we strive to build a strong sports and exercise medicine community locally.
Current Positions:
Senior Medical Officer_ Nyangabgwe Hospital
• CAF Medical committee member • BFA Medical committee Vice chair
person
• BRU Medical committee chair
person