New sports rehab center in the city

While most of sports-persons travel abroad seeking aid for their injuries, the Ranbir Kapoor co-owned team will have their doctors next door and will partner with Nanavati Hopital for the third consecutive year.

The hospital has opened a sports rehab clinic. It is different from the general physiotherapy clinics. The purpose of these clinics is to take complete care of an athlete till full fitness is attained. The usual trend for players is to go abroad for rehab since the facilities are not available here.

According to research, 65% of adolescents are engaged in cricket or football and the statistics show that 49.2% of injuries are sustained in football. The players see their careers end owing to injuries and improper treatment. “This is the best prevention that we can offer our sportsmen. The thought of sports medicine should occur first to prevent injuries,” said Yajuvendra Gawai who is a senior consultant orthopaedic.

MFC midfielder Sehnaj Singh who has had the fortune of not suffering a long-term injury in his career stated the need for having a facility in the country for injury recoveries. “Most of us have to go outside of India for treatment of injuries. It is good that we have a facility in our own city,” he said at the hospital at the hospital.

Sehnaj has been a part of the team for the one season after his transfer from Mohun Bagan AC. He renewed his contract this year with the Islanders for another season. The 25-year old midfielder played most of the games for Mumbai and managed to score one goal.

The Nanavati hospital has not revealed the figures but they have invested a sufficient amount in the facility. Apart from athletes, they will cater to regular fitness freaks and marathoners. It remains understandable that the former will require it more. “These efforts will certainly help the help the athletes across the city and the country,” said winger Sanju Pradhan.

“Even though we have a top class medical staff at our disposal, players like us need the knowledge of injuries, prevention and rehabilitation,” he added.

Pre-season underway this week

Last week, the club announced the arrival of Portuguese coach Jorge Costa who will take over the training. He will arrive in a couple of days and the training will begin in the coming week. The season will begin in almost a month from now.

A source confirms that the team will have a couple of pre-season training abroad and about four foreign players will be transferred in.

Mumbai City FC will come back after a miserable season where they finished on the seventh position at the points table under former coach Alexandre Guimaraes. Costa has the experience of coaching first division Portuguese team SC Braga.