Rwanda to receive life support kit from CAF

RWANDA Football Association is among beneficiaries of the emergency kit containing various life support items, medical equipment and five laptops which will be given out to all national associations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) this month.

Thursday, April 19, 2012
Boltonu2019s Fabrice Muamba receives treatment after he collapsed on the field. CAF is leaving nothing to chance by providing medical kits to all its members. Net photo.

RWANDA Football Association is among beneficiaries of the emergency kit containing various life support items, medical equipment and five laptops which will be given out to all national associations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) this month.This comes in light of the recent passing of three footballers in the last two months and a near death experience of Fabrice Muamba in England, something which has forced CAF to move fast and equip its national member associations with the all-important life-saving kits.Congolese born English footballer Muamba, who was discharged from hospital just days ago, suffered a cardiac arrest while playing in a league match for Fulham last month.Last Sunday, Livorno’s Piermario Morosini, 25, collapsed and died of cardiac arrest during a Serie B game against Pescara, and in Zambia, 17-year old Bwalya Mukuka collapsed and died while playing for his Kabwe District Amateur Football Association (KADAFA) affiliated team, Super Lions, in a match against Pamodzi.The cause of the death of the teenager who has already been buried was not ascertained, as there was no postmortem. Last month, in Bangladesh, a footballer named Venkatesh playing for Bangalore Mars came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute and collapsed toward the end of the game of cardiac arrest.The programme ‘Contract with Africa’, under which these accessories will be provided, is in line with CAF’s commitment to equip the secretariat of its member associations to help to the discharge of their duties, while providing required support in the medical field, ensuring that footballers are looked after in the best possible and efficient way.The CAF boss Issa Hayatou said in a statement, "CAF is very committed to the programs of our members and we hope the equipment will be vital in carrying out of their administrative and medical responsibilities.”