Hearken to Chelsea and Arsenal legend Petr Cech’s charity single as goalkeeper raises funds to combat dementia

PETR CECH right now tells soccer chiefs: Don’t ban heading.

The Chelsea legend, who’s elevating funds for a dementia charity with a Christmas single of his personal, fears new legal guidelines to restrict heading would damage the sport.

Stamford bridge legend Petr Cech is sort of as proficient with sticks on a drum as he’s between them out on a soccer disciplineCredit score: Getty Photographs – Getty

Petr Cech fractured his cranium 14 years in the past, enjoying for Chelsea at StudyingCredit score: AFP – Getty

Cech, 38, virtually misplaced his life after fracturing his cranium throughout a Premier League match 14 years in the past.

The keeper wore a rugby scrum cap as a security measure for the rest of his profession with the Blues and Arsenal.

So he is aware of all in regards to the risks of head accidents in soccer.

As a eager drummer, he has teamed up with Wycombe boss and vocalist Gareth Ainsworth to make a Christmas file to assist a trigger near their hearts.

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However one factor is obvious — Cech shouldn’t be in favour of banning heading, particularly for youths.

This yr soccer has misplaced England 1966 World Cup winners Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles to dementia.

The FA  not too long ago banned youngsters underneath the age of 11 from heading balls in coaching and there have even been calls to outlaw the follow within the recreation, full cease.

Simply final Sunday, Wolves star Raul Jimenez fractured his skull in a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth does the singing whereas Petr Cech is on drums within the Christmas singleCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

However Cech mentioned: “We will’t take issues like heading out of soccer as a result of it wouldn’t be the identical recreation. That’s not the way in which ahead.

“There must be tips as to what’s an excessive amount of and what isn’t in coaching.

“In soccer, there are gamers who’ve an ideal heading approach however there are some that don’t and that’s additionally dangerous.

“In the event you don’t train a child easy methods to head the ball in coaching, they will make contact with it on the mistaken angle or timing and may get a critical damage from that. A participant can concuss themselves.

“You need to bear in mind youngsters use a smaller and lighter ball — and it’s not flying previous them with as a lot energy.

“In the event that they get into a superb behavior of heading, after they transfer up the age teams and the ball is travelling at 60mph, it received’t damage them as a result of they know easy methods to do it.

“And likewise simply the follow of leaping is essential.

“If a younger footballer doesn’t  good the artwork of heading from the ages of, say, six to 11, after they’re 12 there’s a threat of them seeing a ball prepared to move however they don’t bounce appropriately and there’s a conflict of heads. That’s additionally harmful.”

Cech, who’s now Chelsea’s technical chief, was fortunate after he collided with Studying’s  Stephen Hunt on the Madejski Stadium.

The incident in October 2006 prompted soccer authorities to herald safer protocols to take care of gamers who are suffering head accidents.

And the Czech legend believes that, on account of his personal horror second, gamers equivalent to Jimenez, Fabrice Muamba and Ryan Mason had their lives saved.

Bolton’s Muamba had a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup recreation at Spurs in March 2012, whereas Mason suffered a fractured cranium after a collision with Blues defender Gary Cahill in January 2017.

Cech, 38, mentioned: “One of many traits of us people is we all the time have to attend for a catastrophe to strike earlier than we’re extra attentive to issues.

“After I had my head damage, there have been no paramedics or ambulances as a obligatory a part of soccer.

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez and Arsenal defender David Luiz had a horror conflict of heads within the Premier League final weekendCredit score: Reuters

Gamers from either side had been sickened and alarmed after Jimenez and Luiz had been flooredCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

“It’s all modified since, as now you’ve gotten that and all of the tools contained in the stadium that’s wanted to take care of that kind of second.

“That helped save the lifetime of Muamba, Raul and Mason.

“They’d folks on the stadium who might deal with them straight away.
“With head accidents, we’re stepping into the suitable course.

“We’ve come a good distance since a physician would take one have a look at you and ask, ‘Are you able to see the ball OK?’ and that was it. You performed on.”

Cech is delighted that subsequent month’s FA Cup third spherical will trial concussion subs.

Gamers who are suffering concussion may be changed quickly whereas they’re being correctly checked over by a physician.

Their significance was introduced into sharp focus throughout Arsenal’s recreation with Wolves final weekend. Luiz performed on till half-time earlier than being changed as blood was nonetheless gushing from his head.

Cech mentioned: “It really works brilliantly in ice hockey.

“I do know they’ve rolling subs however for those who get concussed you go off for evaluation and get changed.

“It takes all of the strain off the supervisor and physician.

“The physician can’t correctly assess if a footballer is OK in a number of moments, whereas a supervisor mustn’t should see his staff down to 10 males whereas checks are made.

“There at the moment are concussion exams you are able to do as a participant on a pc and a physician can normally decide inside ten minutes.”

Cech — who began drumming when he was in his late 20s — was invited to play on London Nation, the newest album by Wills & The Keen.

And he performs drums on a jolly file known as Drawing Straws with Ainsworth that they hope can high the Christmas charts.

The tune  is about Santa Claus telling his 9 reindeer that solely 5 of them can head out with  him due to the  coronavirus rule of six.

Cech added: “Our director of soccer operations, David Barnard, loves his music and knew Gareth nicely as a result of he signed him at Wimbledon from Port Vale.

“He confirmed me how he carried out The Wanderer in entrance of the Wycombe followers.

“It was nice to get him on board and make it extra of a soccer theme.

“It’s a very catchy tune. We’ve finished it to place smiles on folks’s faces after a troublesome yr and make some cash for nice causes.”

Ainsworth, who fronts a band known as The Chilly Blooded Hearts, mentioned: “Petr is a severely good drummer.

“We had loads of enjoyable making it and hope it makes folks smile.”

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