HPC calls for embracing sports science
The College of Medicine High Performance Centre (HPC) stepped up its call for domestic sports to embrace sports science by hosting a high-level seminar on Friday at the Blantyre facility.
A report from the HPC’s Sports Complex general manager Augustine ‘Gus’ Banda Junior indicates that the seminar’s main focus was on the importance of sports science for national sports teams across the board.
This was a follow-up to the first seminar held in conjunction with the University of Pretoria whose focus was on long-term athlete development plan.
“Our guest of honour and speaker was Mr. Kobus van der Walt, director of the sports campus at the University of Pretoria. He emphasised implementation of sports science and how best Malawi can catch up with other countries and how the HPC can assist our players, coaches and sports officials to improve our performance as a sporting nation,” Banda explained.
Sports Council executive secretary George Jana and director of sports at Ministry of Youth and Sports, Jameson Ndalama, were key local figures at the seminar.
The seminar attracted physiotherapists and officials from Netball Association of Malawi, FAM, Malawi Olympic Committee, Hockey Association of Malawi, Rugby Football Union of Malawi, Athletics Association of Malawi, among others.
“The majority concern in which all five groups presented was that in Malawi we do not fully utilise the natural material that has been given to us as well as the professionals in terms of sports and science to its full potential and that there is abuse of sponsorships,” said Banda about the seminar which had participants split into five groups.
HPC offers fitness testing, flexibility testing, strength and conditioning, advice on nutrition, advice on supplementation, pre-event preparation and injury rehabilitation.
