Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise http://dergipark.gov.tr/tsed Year: 2019 - Volume: 21 - Issue: 2 - Pages: 244-251 DOI: 10.15314/tsed.547467 ISSN: 2147-5652 Anthropometric and Hematological Profile of Some Selected Ethiopian Premier League Male Soccer Players in the Final Competitive Season Wondiye Aychiluhim1 Aychew Abay2 1 Hawassa University Department of Sport science, Hawassa, Ethiopia 2 Arba Minch University Department of Sport Science, Arba Minch, Ethiopia Address Correspondence to W. Aychiluhim e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The purpose of the study to determine anthropometric and hematological profile of some selected Ethiopian premier league male soccer players according to playing position. Descriptive cross-sectional study was employed on purposely selected twenty eighty premier league soccer players from (14) Sidama Coffee and from (14) Hawassa Town soccer club from all positions (GK, DF, MD, SK). Anthropometric, speed, agility and seventeen hematological parameters (WBC, RBC, Lymph, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, RDW-CV, RDW-SD, PLT, MPV, PDW, PCT, P-LCC, and P-LCR) were measured. The obtained quantitative data was analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p<0.05) with the help of SPSS version 20.00 software. The study found mean scores of anthropometric, performance and hematological parameter among soccer players. Further a statistically significant change was observed is only WBC, RBC and MCH hematological variables were observed when compared among the different playing positions (goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers). It was concluded that no significant difference in anthropometric and hematological variables except (WBC, RBC and MCH) soccer players between playing position, although the values of the measured hematological parameters fell within the reference range (P>0.05). It could be considered that regular monitoring of the anthropometric and hematological parameters is fundamental for the identification of a health status and related optimal performances by sport medicine specialist, nutritionist, trainers and selection of adequate training intensity by trainers. From a practical point of view, the clinician has to take into account not only age, but also training status of individuals when evaluating their blood tests. Key words: Ethiopian premier league, Hawassa Town, Hematological profile, , Sidama Coffee INTRODUCTION footballers, anthropometric indicators and body composition play an important role in successful Soccer is a multiple sport that requires high performance (24). Anthropometry is the study of intensity, intermittent activity, to be undertaken the measurement of the human body in terms of the over an extended period of time. In addition to dimensions of bone, muscle, and adipose (fat) tissue. intensive daily training session players are involved Anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics additional commitment such as national cup and provide important information about normality of other matches. In most research studies, soccer body size, health condition, and body shape (5). players are classified into four groups: forwards or attackers, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers. Hematological parameters may also play a Players of different positions have a very different crucial role in predicting optimal physical workload during a game: midfielders run the performance. But, unfortunately, very little attention longest distances (up to 11–11.5 km) compared to has been given to the assessment and monitoring of forwards or defenders whereas goalkeepers run hematological parameters in professional soccer around 4 km (10). Previous studies have reported players. It is possible that the stability of the players’ that each specific playing position may have unique hematologic status that associates with good health physical and physiological requirements (29). may be considered as key determinants of athletic Morphological characteristics, tactical, physical and performance. The competitive demand of soccer technical skills successfully discriminate soccer game may impose strain various physiological players by competitive level and position (15). systems including the musculoskeletal, nervous and Besides fitness and the technical skills of the immune and metabolic, which may be reflected in Aychiluhim and Abay, 2019 changes in biochemical and hematological these Towns include: Yirgalem (1776m) in and parameters (3). Soccer is an endurance-based sport Hawassa (1708m), Arba Minch (1285), Wolaita Sodo during which athletes require large amounts of (1600m) Addis Ababa (2,355), Bahir Dar (1800m) oxygen within the different systems of the body in above sea level. order for them to function (20). Endurance training, Hematological profile of athlete especially like in soccer, may bring about a decrease in Ethiopian Premier League soccer players are no erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron and system of reference values for players or a lack of ferritin concentration, and may lead to changes in data in this field. There are few studies on the health status of athletes (2). The measurement of hematological values in football players and modern hematological and biochemical data provides many reference values for biochemical and hematological answers about how training is being interpreted by parameters are available (9, 17) the various systems. In addition endurance-trained athlete’s also hematological parameters such as Objectives hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red The aim of the present study was to determine blood cell count are reduced, mainly due to exercise- anthropometric and hematological profile of some induced plasma volume expansion, which sets in selected Ethiopian premier league male soccer within a few days of exercise training. players and to compare the values of seventeen Hematological parameters and biochemical hematological parameters between playing position. characteristics which can be crucial for predicting optimal physical performance have been scarcely MATERIAL AND METHODS examined in elite soccer players, who are involved Subjects in very demanding competitive seasons. Knowing the biochemical and hematological parameters of the Twenty eight male soccer players purposely athletes; assist the coaches and sports scientists in selected from Southern part of Ethiopian premier identifying energy needs and preparing training league male soccer club players (Hawassa Town and programs in this direction (25). The reference values Sidama coffee) to participate in this study. The in hematological laboratory reports have been selection criteria included: (1) they have been calculated on sedentary people and may not be members of the club and best players (from all useful for sports people. Athletes are by definition, position, GK, DF, MD, SK) (2) all players healthy and “normal” subjects, but they often show participated in at least 75% training sessions per – owing to physical exercise, training, week. (3). the participants were instructed to abstain psychophysical stress, and peculiar environmental from vitamin and mineral supplementation, conditions – some biochemical, hormonal, and ergogenic aid or any medications in general. hematological values that are out of range. This Subjects were also advised not to make any drastic particular behavior of laboratory values must be changes in their diet during the study period. The properly interpreted to avoid incorrect treatment, physicians of the outpatient hospitals evaluated the expensive examinations, and possible cessation of physical performance of all participants, and sport training and competition (6). However the effect of injury rates and incidence were recorded. The soccer different level of physical fitness variable on the players were instructed not to change their normal levels of many routinely measured variables seems eating habits and to refrain from drinking beverages to be not clear. It is also unclear whether age and containing caffeine or alcohol and from consuming playing position of players affect the hematological food 24 h before testing. profile of elite Soccer players. Since there is limited The study was undertaken in compliance with studies have been done comparing different playing the Arba Minch University Medical School and position(22). Hematological parameters are approved by Arba Minch University Ethical influenced by several factors within the apparently Committee (No, RCP/1234/09 and date 2/23/2018). healthy population. These factors include training, The soccer players gave written informed consent age, sex, ethnicity, nutrition, and altitude. Any one after having been explained the procedures, benefits or all of these factors can have a positive or negative and possible risks of participation in the study. We influence on hematological variable (26). As a result, followed the club soccer players during a in Ethiopian, professional soccer club players are competitive final season, over a three-month period practiced in various towns important towns are (March, April and May). During the study, the located in low and moderate altitude zones. Some of Turk J Sport Exe 2019; 21(2): 244-251 245 © 2019 Faculty of Sport Sciences, Selcuk University Aychiluhim and Abay, 2019 soccer players were engaged in their designed Blood Collection and Analysis training programme that consisted of 7–8 training Blood samples were collected in to plain sessions per week and a weekly match. There was evacuated tubes from a forearm vain after an no training program