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Mohamed El-Fiki, MBBCh, MS, DNCh
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of AlexandriaPresident, The Egyptian Society of Neurological Surgeons
Assistant Secretary of the African Federation of Neurosurgical Societies
outh Africa World Cup and WORLD NEUROSURGERY
ohamed El-FikiEnesUnpbooGsWiShip
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RAP UP
n nearly every home or gathering in most countries over 6continents, people were hooked to TV sets and large screenswatching the breath-taking event, the World Cup. For the first
ime, after nearly a century since the start of this great event heldvery four years, Africa hosted the international competition. Out ofhree European teams and Uruguay from South America who quali-ed for the semifinals, Spain made history by winning, for the first
ime, the World Cup. The Spanish “La Furia Roja” has engraved inolden letters its name in world soccer history as the eighth greatestoccer national team to win the golden cup, beating an equallyxcellent team, the Orange Netherlanders, in spite of losing theirrst match to Switzerland. Two years ago, La Furia Roja became theuropean champions for the first time since 1964. Likewise, if a
alented neurosurgeon from anywhere working in a team environ-ent—persistent enough, armed with proper guidance and train-
ng, enthusiastic, hard working, and eager for success—learns fromis mistakes and those of others, he will attain recognition in the
nternational world of neurosurgery.
XPERIENCE, TALENT, AND TEAMWORK
his success is directly related to administrative success and objec-ive selection criteria of players as well as national head coaches forhese great teams. Quite remarkably, all outstandingly performingeams were led by experienced national coaches. The Spanish coachicente Del Bosque had played in Real Madrid as five-time Spanish
eague winner and four-time Royal Spanish Cup winner. He alsoucceeded as a Royal team coach to win the Spanish league twice, the
ey wordsFIFASoccerWorld CupWorld Neurosurgery
bbreviations and AcronymsIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association
From the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alexandria,Alexandria, Egypt
26 www.SCIENCEDIRECT.com WO
uropean Cup twice, the European Super Cup once, and the Conti-ental Cup once. The expert, Del Bosque, has beaten both the less-xperienced Bert Van Marwijk and Joachim Loew in the final andemifinal rounds, although Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, andruguay exhibited excellent tactics and great soccer. Tactics domi-ated over personal talent, however. All four teams deserved theirosts. Similarly, the charismatic Marwijk of the Netherlands haseaten the less-experienced coach but great player Dunga. Anotherf the greatest players ever, yet less experience as a coach, Maradonaf Argentina lost to Loew of Germany. In spite of the fact thatermany eliminated both the powerful England and Argentina,
coring four goals in each game, they marginally lost to the Spanishorld Cup winner. The high-scoring young German team’s future
s undoubtedly bright. Diego Forlan as the best player and Luisuarez were enough power for La Celeste of Uruguay to be the darkorse of the South African World Soccer Tournament when it qual-
fied for the semifinal. Forlan of Uruguay was chosen as the bestlayer, although his country came in fourth place.
The role of advanced tactics and studying your opponent—hether in soccer or neurosurgery—makes the difference, irrespec-
ive of whether you lose or win. As an African and soccer fan togetherith many others, I believe that Ghana’s Black Stars were brutally
liminated from the golden semifinal with a strike of bad luck. Youtill need some luck in neurosurgery and a lot of luck in soccer. Theres a question of whether the final game was rough and worth theension of one red and 14 yellow cards, the highest in history. Can weive colored cards to neurosurgeons who handle tissues roughly?
The balanced Spanish team was notorious for its collective teambilities as well as individual outstandingly talented soccer players.hey have beaten the battalion of the Netherlands offensive group
o whom correspondence should be addressed: Mohamed El-Fiki, MBBCh, MS, DNChE-mail: [email protected]]
itation: World Neurosurg. (2010) 74, 2/3:226-228.OI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.07.028
ournal homepage: www.WORLDNEUROSURGERY.org
vailable online: www.sciencedirect.com
878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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ncluding players such as such as Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie,erek Boateng, and Wesley Sneijder, thanks to the great Spanishoal keeper Eiker Casias. Spanish experience has beaten Germanouth in the semifinal. Winning the World Cup is like performing auccessful neurosurgical operation. Experience counts, and team-ork is essential for a successful desirable outcome. Decision mak-
ng in each step for each particular patient is the hallmark for auccessful operative outcome.
The team with a nationally experienced coach, the best defense,nd the most shots toward the goal won the competition. Properlanning to avoid complications, together with enough knowledgend wisdom balanced with courage will certainly make a world-classeurosurgeon.
AILED STARS
orld-class players failed to present themselves when they playedor the national teams during the South African tournament foreveral reasons. They have already reached their peaks. They alreadylay for and are sought after by the best world soccer club teams.hey did not have the support that they usually get from their superbolleagues recruited from all over the world; some of them theyonfronted as opponents. That is why a club team may performetter than any national team in soccer. National neurosurgeonsay excel in their own environment if they have the talent and proper
raining applicable to their local circumstances.Teamwork failure for the French, English, and Italian teams led to
heir early defeat. Unexpected failure to circumvent interplayer tensionnd professional jealousy, as well as short-sighted perspectives,rought their coaches to interrogation by national legislators and polit-
cal leadership to explain the national embarrassment. Internationalgures in sport, art, science, and other areas are sources of nationalride and aspiration for future generations. The whole team must suc-eed every time you perform neurosurgery, but you may accept defeat inases of unavoidable complications if you have done your best. In neu-osurgery, each operation is like a World Cup eliminating match, aompetition that you must win. You must be armed with all necessarynformation about your opponent (the neurosurgical problem your pa-ient is confronting) and try to be ready with modern technology inrder to properly evaluate and navigate the situation. Modern technol-gy is not a substitute for experience or talent. FIFA has approved mod-rn technology for the referees in order to reach proper decisions in
orld Cup games. This did not eliminate their mistakes. Individuallyalented experienced neurosurgeons can make decisions to solve a di-gnostic or operative dilemma, but they cannot make it to the top with-ut teamwork and effort of support staff. These members must behosen properly.
OUTH AFRICA SUCCESS
elson Mandela said, “Sport can create hope, where once there wasnly despair” and “the 2010 FIFA World Cup has renewed the spirit ofnity in South Africa and across the world for people to find theirommon humanity (1).” The successful hosting of the event representshe proudest moment in Africa’s sporting history, as was expressed by
he Rainbow Nation president Jacob Zuma. Zuma also believes that his wORLD NEUROSURGERY 74 [2/3]: 226-228, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
ountry “has exceeded expectations and has reaffirmed that FIFA’s trustn Africa was not misplaced (1).” The German chancellor Angela Merkelxpressed her admiration and delight for the FIFA World Cup’s Southfrican performances.For quite some time, the main reason the bid from an African nation
o host a World Cup soccer tournament was turned down was a logisticoncern. These concerns included broadcasting, telecommunication,afety, and security of multibillion dollar renowned talented athletes,oaches, supporting staff, and players. South Africa was chosen aftererce competition. South Africa proved to be up to the challenge anderformed exceedingly well both in organization and actual conduct of
he tournament.South Africa, where integration of different ethnic groups is currently
uccessfully implemented, depicts the tendency of many neurosurgeryditorial offices, especially WORLD NEUROSURGERY, in their choice ofapers from all over the world. All soccer teams condemned and re-
ected any form of discrimination, saying no to racism. Apartheid Southfrica was once banned from international FIFA competitions; nowrranging the FIFA World Cup competition is representative of toler-nce. In spite of its security problems, South Africa has peacefullyosted 31 other national teams and their supporters, in addition tooccer fans from all over the world, with no “untoward side effects oromplications” in neurosurgical terms. South African neurosurgeonsre among the leaders on the continent. Neurosurgical practice in Southfrica is one of the best in the continent.
REDICTABILITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND LIMITATIONS
uring this tournament, it became evident how much football (soc-er) has turned out to be so unpredictable. Some of the most favoriteeams were disqualified during the first round. There are no smallsh to fry now in national soccer competitions. Ghana was an excel-
ent example of the emerging forces and missed the semifinal in aramatic expression of bad luck. The gaps between the favorite
eams and others have nearly disappeared. In spite of the fact thatomplications still occur in neurosurgery, even with the best ofands, Paul the Octopus may predict the soccer game winner but heannot predict postoperative results in neurosurgery. It became evi-ent in national and international neurosurgery that with the impactf high-technology digital revolution, optics, telecommunication,ndoscopy, computerized equipment, nanotechnology, metallurgy,avigation systems, more precise diagnosis, and localization, it isow possible to pinpoint the potential limitations and means tovercome these hurdles. The performance of newcomers from non-
raditional soccer powers at the South Africa World Cup tournamentas surprisingly good, with elimination of classic soccer superpow-
rs exclusive of the German team before the semifinals. Talent inoccer or neurosurgery is sought for by superpowers, industry offi-ials, and fans or patients alike.
EW WORLD SOCCER AND NEUROSURGERY
espite the fact that the French, Italian (Serie A), British (Premiereague), Spanish (Soccer-Spain), French (Ligue 1), and GermanBundesliga ) soccer leagues recruit the best players in the world, they,
ith the exception of Spain, were disqualified before the quarterfinals.2010 www.WORLDNEUROSURGERY.org 227
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MOHAMED EL-FIKI SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP AND WORLD NEUROSURGERY
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ost of these leagues recruit class A players from African or Southmerican countries. Likewise there are many renowned internationaleurosurgeons from African, South American, and other less devel-ped countries who are talented international neurosurgeons whoractice at “Neurosurgery superpower” centers in the United States,anada, or Europe. Japan, China, Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Turkey
ogether with Egypt have high-level neurosurgeons. Soccer is rather aew sport in Japan, Korea, and most Asian countries. The nationalpanish team, the emerging soccer superpower that has endorsed itslace as the 2008 European Champion beating Germany, qualified for
he final match of the World Cup championship for the first time inistory. Talent is sought everywhere. Underdeveloped countries stillrovide most of its distinguished neurosurgeons to superpower re-earch institutes that attract neurosurgeons with research and opera-ion or diagnostic facilities not available in their homelands. However,
any recent publications in WORLD NEUROSURGERY from developingountries are available. National neurosurgeons became more able torovide a better standard of neurosurgical care and publications, thanks
o training opportunities provided by the high flow rates of patients inverpopulated nations or areas deprived of enough neurosurgeons perapita.
NDUSTRY IMPACT
he soccer industry (soccer equipment and clothing manufacturersr international club stock holders) was highly concerned about theuccess of the tournament. The new Jabulani ball, meant to deceiveoth players and goal keepers to increase the excitement of soccerans, failed to increase scores. Industry and FIFA were the maininners. Soccer fans, especially from the host country South Africa,ere more than sporting, especially after the South African Team
afana Bafana left the tournament early. The successful organizer 128 www.SCIENCEDIRECT.com WO
outh Africa itself may be a financial loser, with about 50% of seatsacant, which FIFA will have to take responsibility for. This, togetherith the maintenance expenses of 11 stadiums, may turn Southfrica into the main financial loser. However, South Africa andfrica as a whole have gained much respect and international repu-
ation both socially and politically. Industry has driven a lot of im-rovement and development in world neurosurgery, especially in
nstrumentation, navigation, endovascular and computerized diag-ostics, with consequent increased operative precision and patientafety due to fewer complications.
One must operate and play according to one’s own circum-tances, unlike the Brazilians, who played European soccer ratherhan South American soccer, as was suggested by Franz Becken-ower as the main reason for their early disqualification. With glob-lization, the world has turned into one village, with neurosurgeonsnd soccer players alike recruited from all over the world. When itomes to World Cup national competitions, local facilities and cir-umstances must be taken into consideration.
EFERENCE
. FIFA World Cup. www.fifa.com. Accessed October 5, 2010.
onflict of interest statement: The author declares that this article was composed in thebsence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potentialonflict of interest.
itation: World Neurosurg. (2010) 74, 2/3:226-228.OI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.07.028
ournal homepage: www.WORLDNEUROSURGERY.org
vailable online: www.sciencedirect.com
878-8750/$ - see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
RLD NEUROSURGERY, DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2010.07.028
