By Gasper Crasto
Kuwait - August 2006
Throughout life and to a greater extent in sports, we are faced with injuries of every kind -- whether wounds, cuts and scrapes, ankle twist, dislocation of the knee or a ligament or muscle tear.
Every injury must be dealt with in the right way.
One person who is immediately at hand in any eventuality among expatriate Indian footballers in the injury-prone zone is Goa born -- Hipolito Fernandes, popularly known in Kuwait as "Dotor."
HIPOLITO FRANCISCO FERNANDES
Born at Mobor - Cavelosim, Salcete - Goa, Hipolito has been a 'miracle' healer right from his young days with his natural, inborn ability of understanding and diagnosing treatment of every kind of muscle injuries and even bone fractures.
He arrived in Kuwait on 16th Dec 1977 and worked with Habchi & Chalhub Co. as Head Store-keeper since 26th Jan 1978.
Hipolito proudly spoke about his memories during Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait. Unlike other expatriates, he did not flee at that time, but stayed back till Kuwait was freed.
He was associated with Indian football since 1978 after joining the mighty Goan Sporting Club of those days which won 3 tournaments in a row that year.
Member of United Friends Club since 1993, Hipolito held positions of Team Manager, Team Doctor and Asst. Treasurer, etc, on different occasions.
Happily married to Christine, Hipolito has 3 children - Melisa, Watson and Elrida.
Melisa, the eldest daughter has been a renowned National basketball player and has captained Goa; won best player (Herald dated 17.08.2006).
Hipolito thanks the Almighty for showering his grace upon him. He has prospered over the years in many ways. Back home at Mobor, Cavelossim - Goa, he runs his own HIPPOCOOL GUEST HOUSE.
He left Kuwait for Abu Dhabi at the end of August 2006 to work for his employers in a new assignment.
Kuwait Indian Football Federation recognized the contribution of this humble and ever helpful volunteer by presenting him with an award for yeomen services done towards Indian football over the years.
:::AN ARCHIVED INTERVIEW WITH A HEALER, A HELPER, AND AN ADVISOR TO YOUNG PLAYERS:::
"God makes me see the pain in others as my own; God has given me a 'talent' to use it for a cause..." -Hipolito
Hipolito Fernandes projects an air of calm – a level gaze and a steady baritone voice that candidly assesses his patient’s pain.
With his formidable presence – he is a former player himself – and greying hair, glasses, military mustache, (usually in a track-suit on the grounds), he has a look of a true sports physio befitting his nickname "Dotor."
Mr. Hipolito with his family
Hipolito has inborn qualities for diagnosing muscle sprains, muscular aches and ligament injuries through his natural and own magical therapy. He stimulates natural healing usually by massage ensuring the patient/player is not hurt.
What are the major injuries you have healed?
Hipolito: I feel proud to say that I have cured even knee injuries.
How do you recognize if the injury is serious? Do you immediately recommend injured players to a specialist or do you diagnose injuries yourself?
Hipolito: I provide basic medical treatment and immediate aid to the injured. I am not a qualified doctor nor do I have any medical education. But I know from experience that ascertains how a player feels after an injury which is far from exact science.
I can read if the injury is minor, or if it is going to be fatal if the player continues play.
Every player is distinctly unique when it comes to recovery requirements -- much depends on age too; some recover quickly from even the most intense physical demands, while others need substantial rest to be ready to go 100% capacity back again. Most are somewhere in-between this broad area. I advise appropriately.
What are the main causes of players’ injuries?
Hipolito: Injuries arise from long-term player fatigue (wear & tear) and lack of practice.
Fatigue is hard to recognize by even the most minute of eyes. One thing I have observed in Kuwait among our players is that they aggravate injuries when they don't want to be taken out of a game (this goes for practices as well). Moreover, playing on hard surface like the Sour ground has aggravated injuries.
Regardless of circumstances, be it rough tackles or match toughness, dedicated players want to be on the field and in action all the time.
Who are prone to serious injuries -- the aggressive players or the weaker ones?
Hipolito: Anyone can get injured during games. Sometimes the ground conditions are major causes of injuries. A hard surface can cause knee injuries and ankle twists; an awkward fall can cause shoulder dislocation or arm fractures.
Not paying attention to any type of physical discomfort is a mistake, one that can lead to some unnecessary wear and tear, and allow a full blown injury to materialize.
How can a player avoid injuries?
Hipolito: The importance of warming up and stretching should not be underestimated and should always be a part of any session -- practice or competition.
What have you liked about Indian football and players? What about the standard of football then and now?
Hipolito: United Goans and G.O.A Maroons were top-most teams at the beginning when expatriate football started in Kuwait.
Players at that time were eager to be on the ground -- sometimes playing two games in a day and travelling as far as Ahmadi (45kms) by bus, all by themselves.
Nowadays, players are given all facilities by their clubs and the standard of the game has increased too but the commitment is not seen much. Earlier teams like Incredible (Goa), Rising Stars (Mangalore), Ahmadi Boys, Diocese, etc, were fearsome and unbeatable.
By and large, I have seen that spectators appreciate and respect disciplined teams and players. Sometimes the best of teams become notorious because of one rowdy player in the team. Team management should do their best to isolate such players.
One player worth mentioning for his discipline over the years in Kuwait is Cajetan Godinho. He has played top football given our standards for almost 3 decades and as far as I can remember, he has seldom hurt an opponent or received a card.
What's your advice to young sportsmen?
Hipolito: To maintain absolute discipline on and off the field, to keep practicing...and to build friendship through football as we all do.
File photo: Dotor Hipolito with the writer Gasper Crasto - 2005 (Kuwait)