Footballer Qusai Khawaldeh lives on through namesake initiative

AMMAN — The “shocking” death of young football player Qusai Khawaldeh on the field last year has prompted the launch of an initiative to prevent, recognise and treat sports injuries.

Members of the “Qusai Initiative”, which was founded by HRH Crown Prince Hussein in January, have taken it upon themselves to minimise injuries and deaths associated with athletic activities in Jordan.

“The unfortunate death of the player [Qusai] has brought attention to the need to improve the performance of sports therapy staff,” said Khalid Zeidan, the initiative’s adviser.

Currently, 31 people, including nurses and physical therapists, are receiving a one-month intensive training course that covers basic life support and first aid skills, under the initiative.

“The course offers participants practical experience on the way they should handle athletes’ injuries, in addition to other skills, such as Japanese massage, which can be performed to restore sportspeople’s flexibility,” Zeidan told The Jordan Times.

Tanaka Hiroaki, the initiative’s sports therapy adviser, noted that the training programme, although relatively short, provides a focused, hands-on training that will remain with the trainees throughout their careers.

“They are learning what to do when touching an injured body,” Hiroaki said, expressing “surprise” over the advanced level the trainees have reached so far in less than one month of training.

For Saja Abazeed, her six years of working as a therapist for the women’s football team equals the experience she is getting from the training.

“I was amazed at the quality of the course and the technical skills I’ve gained, especially the Japanese massage, which will certainly make a difference when dealing with athletes in terms of flexibility and preventing injuries,” she told The Jordan Times.

Abazeed noted that sports allied health services and on-site emergency plans were somewhat overlooked in Jordan in the past.

“Now I am sure that every physical therapist is aware of the dangers associated with poor health intervention on the field,” she said.

A total of 80 physical therapy teachers have also been trained under the initiative, implemented in cooperation with several partners including the Prince Hussein Academy for Civil Protection, Royal Medical Services, Civil Defence Department, Jordan Olympic Committee, Higher Youth Council, Military Sport Federation and the Hashemite University.

Upon graduation, the trainees receive international certificates from the American Heart Association, according to Zeidan.