Kontouri on call

Is there such a thing as the typical sports medicine consultant's romance? Well, if there is, Alex Kontouri's meeting with his wife Sonali is most definitely it. His smile is almost bashful as he describes their first meeting. "We met at the Taj Samudra (in the gym, naturally). She was on one treadmill. I was on the next..." They met in 1997 - a few glossed over details - and they were married on November 3, last year back in his home city of Melbourne. 

Born in Cyprus, to Greek parents, the Kontouri family moved to Melbourne, Australia when he was just a kid of five. Interestingly, Alex Kontouri's contract as the physiotherapist for the national cricket team was originally only for their ten-week Australian tour in 1995, which was then extended to a six-month contract. 

Today, seven years later, aged 33, he is very much a part of the team and for every cricket enthusiast he is a familiar and reassuring sight in the dressing room at every cricket match. "The days we play are my best days," says Kontouri with a laugh, "They play, and I just sit back and watch the match."

Each day, in the life of Kontouri, is different. At the moment, with a relatively quiet spell his day starts in - yes, you guessed it - the gym. The team's work out in the morning is followed by treatment for the players. In the afternoon the injured players come in for some special treatment, which requires individual attention. Finally the day ends with a session of fitness training.

Although the training takes place in a group, each person's individual needs must be seen to. No two players are alike and even in fitness training it's a fact that must be taken into consideration. 

"I am lucky enough to know the players well," says Kontouri, thus within the same basic programme he makes a few adjustments according to specific physical conditions. "If you treat everyone the same, you're in for trouble. Some players are more vulnerable to injuries than others and that must be kept in mind."

Interestingly, Kontouri is currently working on a report he hopes to present to the Cricket Board, which takes the form of an annual report and is mainly about the injuries sustained by the players within the last thirteen months. 

In the report he notes possible reasons for the injuries and makes recommendations on various methods of preventing such injuries in future. "The eight top players sustain 60 percent of the injuries. Our fast bowlers sustain relatively more injuries than the other players. These are issues that need to be identified and dealt with."

In addition to the cricket team's needs, Kontouri is also dedicated to seeing the development of his area of specialization - sports medicine - an area where there's already been progress. 

For starters the sportsman's attitude to fitness and strength training has improved. Finally, people understand and accept the fundamental role such training plays in the making of a sportsman, notes a somewhat satisfied Kontouri. 

The fully equipped gym at the Cricket Board is now constantly in use and arrangements are being made to enable cricketers from both clubs and schools to receive an opportunity to use the gym. Kontouri's plans also include the training of two more Sri Lankan physiotherapists who will work at the gym seeing to the needs of all the cricketers who come in to use the gym.

His plans don't end there. The ultimate aim would be to train and set up physiotherapists in the 17 cricket-playing districts in Sri Lanka, their task being to improve the conditions for school and club cricketers within their district. Through this type of strategic training and structural development Sri Lanka can reach a standard higher than any other cricket-playing nation: That is Kontouri's dream. 

But - it's going to take a lot of hard work. Sitting back, at this point, could be disastrous and a sure step on the road that will take us downhill. "We must constantly change, adapt, improve; that is the very essence of development." 

Hmmm...seems like a pretty demanding job. "Well, if you want to make a difference - then yes it is," comes the prompt reply. "I want to bring us up to or above the international standards. With the team getting okay, my area of interest is the development of the field." Interest? This was more like fascination.

"I really loved cricket," says Kontouri (that explains the fascination), "it was one of my favourite sports, although it was soccer that I played. This was the best job for me - as a sports fanatic - I could watch sport and get paid for it." His choice was between becoming a doctor or a physiotherapist. And physiotherapy, for Kontouri, spelled out a lot more fun though at the time he never considered the studying aspect of it, which meant nearly eight years of hard work. "But it was worth it."

Being with the Sri Lankan team is an experience although travelling with them is a lot of hard work. Waving an arm around his office he remarks that most of the equipment in the room he has lugged around the world. His office is not the stereotype setting; it's chockfull of cricket cases (which look more like trunks) sports bags and the huge bed he is perched on. Okay I'm convinced, it's hard work. 

Away from home, what is it he misses? 

"The people back home; my parents, sisters and my little nephews and nieces. But I get an opportunity to go back home every year on training so I see them every year. So it's not too bad. Besides this is a nice country, the people are friendly and I'm enjoying the good things at the moment."

Just married, Kontouri is a happy man. Professionally he has a good relationship with the team; that is important to him. Life, for him, is just hunky dory. 

"I was never made to feel an outsider, although I am a foreigner, and in return I will do my best for Sri Lanka. When I leave, my intention is to leave things in a better state than I found it. That is my way of giving something back."