Don't force Waris into quicker return - Dr. Pambo

Member of the Medical Committee of the Ghana Football Association, Dr. Prince Pambo says it might be suicidal to play unfit striker Abdul Majeed Waris in Ghana’s opening 2014 FIFA World Cup encounter against the USA on Monday.

The striker saw an unlikely early substitute in Ghana’s 4-0 pre-World Cup friendly victory over South Korea last Tuesday, following a clumsy challenge from Korea’s Ki Sung-yueng five minutes into the game which resulted in a tear in the quadriceps muscle.


With just four days to Ghana’s opening fixture, the Ghana Football Association has allayed fears of Waris missing the tournament, but stated that the striker has until Sunday to undergo a final fitness test to justify his fitness for the tournament.


Speaking to 103.5 FM, Dr. Pambo, who doubles as the Medical Officer in charge of the National Sports Authority, says selecting the Valenciennes striker on Monday could prove a major set-back in the striker’s recovery.


“A striker as he is, he does a lot of runs and shooting and the power would come from the quadriceps muscle,” he told the Accra-based station.

“By the 16th (when Ghana plays the USA), he might have had quite some healing but it would be a fresh healing.


“Any force you apply to this would be quite antagonistic to whatever we want from the player,” added the physician.


After Monday’s encounter, the Black Stars are set to face Germany and Portugal on June 21, and 26 respectively and the striker would be hoping to be back just in time for the remaining fixtures should he miss Ghana’s opening tie.