South Africa’s Chief Medical Officer at the South African Football Association (SAFA), Dr Thulani Ngwenya, has received a prestigious double appointment from FIFA, reaffirming the country’s growing influence in international football governance and sports medicine.
Dr Ngwenya will serve as a FIFA Medical Officer at two of the world’s most anticipated football events: the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025™ and the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025™. These high-profile appointments mark a continuation of his long-standing contributions to international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the CAF Champions League.
SAFA praised the appointments as a testament to both Dr Ngwenya’s expertise and the global recognition of South Africa’s growing contribution to football’s medical standards. “These appointments demonstrate the quality and excellence of our football medical teams and their standing within international structures,” SAFA said in a statement released on Thursday.
Dr Ngwenya’s roles at the tournaments will include overseeing health protocols, anti-doping compliance, emergency medical preparedness, and ensuring athlete welfare is prioritized at the highest level. His involvement helps raise the standard of medical support in global competitions, while also flying the South African flag in elite football circles.
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be hosted in the Seychelles from 1–11 May 2025, a first for the island nation. Meanwhile, the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, set to take place in June-July 2025, will feature 32 teams from around the world in a format similar to the men’s FIFA World Cup, with major clubs from all six confederations competing.
Dr Ngwenya is widely regarded for his commitment to advancing sports medicine in Africa and has been instrumental in improving medical protocols at both domestic and international levels. His latest appointments are not only a personal milestone but also a source of national pride for South Africa.
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