Briefs

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Medical conference

TAGGED "Nutrition in Africa, myths and beliefs...", a medical conference will be held following a previous one held in Cairo two years ago.

'The objective of the conference is to find answers to issues related to nutritional habits and beliefs of many African players," says Hosni Abdel-Rahman, vice- president of the CAF medical committee.

More than 65 participants will attend, including team physicians of the countries taking part in the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008.

According to Hosni, five highly qualified speakers from Europe and Africa, including CAF medical committee members, will deliver papers. Some of the topics that will features in the conference are contemporary research in football, nutrition and football, sudden cardiac death, practical sessions on basic life support and infectious diseases.

A separate section will deal on specialised topics related to doping and nutrition. This include CAF strategy in the fight against doping; developing a personal plan for players; nutrition in Africa, myths and beliefs; dietary supplements and doping risks; and nutritional supplementation in adolescent soccer players.

Policies and strategies in sport medicine in CAF are formulated by the Sport Medicine Committee, headed by Adoum Djibrine (Tchad), the duties of which are: acting as an advisory body to the CAF Executive Committee in relation to all matters concerning medicine, physiology, health and doping, undertaking studies relating to medical services for football players, preparing reports for trainers and coaches concerning physical preparation of football players and treatment of minor injuries, preparing reports concerning dietary issues for football players, preparing a "Medical Guide" for international matches and tournaments, forming a group of specialists who may be invited to take part in courses and/or meetings organised by the Medical Committee, studying environmental conditions in the different parts of Africa, and introducing appropriate anti-doping control measures in and out of competitions organised by CAF to ensure compliance with the provisions of the World Anti- Doping Agency Code and with FIFA anti-doping guidelines.

2010 World Cup qualifications

ARGENTINA and Uruguay, the two finalists at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, showed their pedigree by seeing off Chile and Bolivia respectively in a brace of comfortable wins as the scramble for places at South Africa 2010 got underway on Saturday.

The neighbours on the banks of the River Plate were not the only ones smiling as the curtain came up on the continental qualifying competition. Traditional makeweight Venezuela made a little bit of history when they beat Ecuador, while the Peru- Paraguay and Colombia-Brazil matches ended in goalless draws.

Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez was a happy man as he made his return to the FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. The man they call El Maestro saw his charges sweep aside Bolivia at the Estadio Centenario with a masterful display of attacking football.

The Celeste were irresistible from the word go, carving out three chances in as many minutes before Luis Suarez put them on the road to a victory that could have been even more comprehensive. Powerless to prevent the sky blue avalanche, the task facing Erwin Sanchez's side became virtually impossible when Ronald Garcia was sent off just before half-time, and after the restart it was merely question of how many goals the goal-hungry Uruguayan frontline could rack up.

After a promising performance at the recent Copa America, where they reached the last eight for the very first time, the Vinotinto had high expectations going into the qualifying tournament. And not even a daunting opening day trip to Ecuador's Atahualpa fortress in Quito could dampen the enthusiasm of the Venezuelans, who rode their luck before grabbing three priceless points when Jose Manuel Rey arrowed home a superb free-kick midway through the second half.

The visitors were grateful for the profligacy of Ecuadorian strike duo Cristian Benitez and Carlos Tenorio, who spurned a string of chances and hit the bar twice before Rey stole the show and the points with his trademark strike.

There was plenty of speculation about the Argentinean playmaker's form and fitness after he had spent a frustrating three months on the sidelines. Despite being surplus to requirements at Villarreal, the elegant Riquelme showed his class is permanent when he inspired the Albiceleste to victory over Chile with two typically spectacular free-kicks. After taking an early lead in the goalscoring charts, the ever-modest midfielder spoke of his satisfaction at being back in the thick of things. "I'm delighted with the goals but even happier we won. This teams knows what it's doing and that's much more important than anything I do."

Not for the first time Juan Roman Riquelme reached the pinnacle of free-kick perfection with his two textbook strikes on Saturday. With 27 minutes on the clock, the Argentinean wrapped his right foot around the ball and sent it curling round the Chilean wall and past the helpless Claudio Bravo. And just to prove it was no fluke, the dead-ball specialist did it again 18 minutes later, leaving Bravo rooted to the spot once more in a carbon-copy display of pure poise and technique.