The conference was the first step in a bid to define the role of sports medicine in AFC's revolutionary Vision Asia program, a brainchild of Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured) -AP

LAHORE President, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Faisal Saleh Hayat has said that world renowned expert scientists in the field of sports science and medicine will deliver latest update in their respective specialties during the 4th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Conference on Science & Football Medicine conference early next year.

“It is an important part of AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammams vision to develop football medicine infrastructure in Asia in such that players have access to standard professional medical facilities”, he said here on Monday.

It was the first step in a bid to define the role of sports medicine in the bodys revolutionary Vision Asia program, a brainchild of Hammam that aims to raise the standards of Asian football at all levels, be it on the field of play, administration or sports science, he added.

AFC, in collaboration with FIFA, will hold the 4th edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from March 18-20 2011. All previous conferences at Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Muscat - had witnessed great success with the participation of over 350 professionals.

The third edition, hosted by Oman Football Association in Muscat from 19-22 May 2005, witnessed the leaders from the world of the sport and medicine come together to share the latest on the scientific trends in football as well as the physical and mental health of the players.

The four-day Muscat conclave saw eighty-two presentations delivered to nearly 300 medical professionals from member nations of the AFC and shed light on vital issues like importance of screening to minimize injuries, the methods to modify training to maximize fitness, the strategy to fight against doping, the importance of nutrition and hydration for players, the impact of Ramadan on biochemical and performance indices for football players, the innovation in radiology for imaging of injuries and age determination and the latest rehabilitation techniques for players.

Faisal, the current Chairman of AFC Disciplinary Committee, is confident that the turnout in Kuala Lumpurs Conference will be equally, if not more encouraging than previous conferences.

“A football player has the right to good medical care. AFC is committed towards ensuring that all football players in Asia have access to the best health facilities and medical expertise. Today, health care for players is both complex and very demanding. It must be acknowledged that those medical professionals responsible for its deliverance are regularly up dated and kept abreast with modern scientific developments in medicine and sport,” he concluded. -APP