By Omulo Okoth in London
They are hardly recognised even after spending donkey hours in small rooms choking with liniment smell throughout their lives.
They are the unsung heroes and heroines of the games. After great performances by athletes, they just fade into oblivion, awaiting another selection for another global competition. The medical staff are, in rallying parlance, the technical crew.
They are ones who fix bolts and nuts. Coaches get recognition because they are more visible,
always clutching stop watches and whistles around the pitch. These poor fellows are far in the background, always in some dingy rooms behind the stadia.
If they are within the pitch, it is usually at an area few people are allowed into, and is fenced off from the general public. The smell that fills the air there can easily turn off casual observers. The weaker ones just throw up.
They ensure athletes are in super medical condition. They do massaging, muscle toning and more specialised treatment like physiotherapy, psychotherapy and neurotherapy.
Dr Julius Ogeto is the head of the medical team here in London Olympic Games. He is leading a team of highly qualified specialists and practitioners with skill and credentials in various areas of medicine.
Dr Ogeto did post graduate diploma course in tropical medicine in Yamanasgi Genko University in Japan and Sports Medicine in University of Lagos. He has worked in various hospitals and currently is in
private practice.
He is the Kenyan representative at the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation Zone Five in Nairobi, which covers some 10 countries.
Dr Daniel Langat did medicine at the University of Nairobi and is currently undertaking Masters degree course in public health. He is a division head at the Ministry headquarters. Dr Victor Bargoria is
doing post-graduate course in orthopaedic surgery at the Moi Referral Hospital.
They are accompanied by physiotherapists with long experience. Kennedy Mogire did neurotherapy (dealing with head injuries) in India while Samwel Samoei is at Moi Referral Hospital. Peter Ndohiu , who is based at Kenyatta National Hospital, has a long experience in sports matters.
Also in the Team Kenya medical staff but not traveling to London are Jessica Shiraku, head of physiotherapy at Nairobi Hospital, former Government Chief Physiotherapy Joan Orenda, Joseph Koli and Walter Mwashigadi, both staffers at Kenyatta National Hospital.
For the first time, there was a nutritionist and psychotherapist, but they are also left behind. Dr Ogeto says they are busy from the selection of the team to the end of the games.
"By nature, doctors are laid-back professionals who don't seen much attention other than satisfying their patients. That is our satisfaction, not to shout for recognition," said Dr Ogeto.
But team officials agree that without a skilled medical staff, coaches would have nobody to take through the intervals or sparring sessions.
One athlete who sought anonymity suggested that instead of taking many busybodies for major games, some who just do shopping for the entire period,it would do the team a lot of good if more doctors and physiotherapists are included.
"These are the engineers and architects who plan the building of medal harvest," said Peter Angwenyi, Team Kenya Media Liaison here. Dr Ogeto was, since coming to Bristol for the pre-Olympics camp, assigned the weightlifting docket while Dr Langat handled boxers. Mogire took charge of swimming and Minoo looked after the athletes. Now with Dr Bargoria and Ndohiu's arrival, a new roster will be drawn.
