By Dima Al Jogol, – Doha, Qatar, Jan 9, 2018: Icelandic national football team striker, Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthórsson, has successfully completed his rehabilitation programme at Qatar’s orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, Aspetar.
The footballer, who scored the winning goal for Iceland against England at the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2016, sustained a left knee injury while on international duty in September 2016. The injury left the striker, who is currently signed with France Ligue 1 club FC Nantes, out-of-action for a year and a half. Following successful treatment at Aspetar, Sigthórsson is hopeful that he’ll return to the game early next year and may even be ready to take part in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
Commenting on his treatment in Aspetar, Sigthórsson said he was impressed with Aspetar’s facilities, adding: “[The services] are really top class. The physiotherapy facilities are great and this is the perfect place for me to be in for rehabilitation.”
In an interview held in Aspetar, Sigthórsson spoke about his nation’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ ambitions, saying: “The ambitions of the national team are always high, and the results over the past few years have shown that we can beat accomplished teams. We will go with the mentality to win every match and go as far as possible. Why not have high goals and try to reach them?”
He added: “It’s my dream to go to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, [as is the case with] all other football players. I came [to Doha] with that [goal] in mind and hopefully I can be part of [the team]. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m really positive I can make it.”
Sigthórsson also spoke about the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ saying, “It’s interesting. It’s never been held here [the Middle East] and I think it’s going to be a great tournament. I spoke to people who work here and everybody is enthusiastic about it and they want to make this a great World Cup. The stadiums here are also quite impressive, so I think it will be a really good event and it’ll be interesting to see how it goes. You have everything here to make it happen and hopefully I will come here with my team.”
Whilst reminiscing about his stunner against England, the striker said: “Our win against England, especially for a striker from Iceland, is something you don’t think [is possible] as a young kid. It was a great experience for me and a great moment for our country as well. We all watch England and the English Premier League on TV so to win against England is something you never forget.”
Aspetar boasts one of the most advanced rehabilitation departments in the region, which is integral to Aspetar’s multidisciplinary approach to athlete management. The hospital’s method focuses on assessment and treatment of injured athletes by implementing personalised injury treatment programmes, including the hamstring protocol.
Utilising an evidence-based model, Aspetar’s experienced practitioners aim to return patients to their pre-injury lifestyle as quickly and safely as possible with a proven track record of treating international athletes from the PGA, WTA, ATP, World leaders in track and field, as well as weightlifting and professional footballers from all major leagues.
Aspetar has become an ideal treatment and rehabilitation destination for elite athletes from Europe, including South African 400m world record holder, Wayde van Niekerk, who is currently in Aspetar for treatment, fellow Icelandic footballers Eidur Gudjohnsen and Alfreð Finnbogason, AFC Bournemouth Striker, Callum Wilson, Stoke City goalkeeper, Jack Butland, Northern Ireland and Watford FC footballer, Craig Cathcart, former French International and Sunderland’s footballer, Younes Kaboul, and Club Brugge’s footballer, Abdoulay Diaby.
As the official medical partner to French club Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), Aspetar’s experts have also provided surgical treatment for injured players Thomas Meunier and Ivan Kurzawa.
About Aspetar:
Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.
In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.
In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved the obtained on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.
Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.
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