This specialist, from Bogotá, specializing in Sports Medicine, is the nutritionist and official physician of the Colombian women's national team from January 2, 2014, to the present. She joined the team because she met the profile of a sports doctor needed for the women's team: "there were two candidates and fortunately they chose me," recalls Cifuentes.
AS Colombia spoke with this specialist, who, amidst confidences of sports medicine and considering that women, for the most part, take care of their figure without overeating, revealed the type of nutrition behind a good sports performance when entering and playing on the field.
Impressions of being the first woman in history to belong to the coaching staff of the Colombian national team
"As a person, it is an honor and it is very gratifying as a professional to see that soccer has evolved hand in hand with the Colombian Football Federation. This has allowed breaking the paradigm that soccer is only for men and allowing people who are qualified to do this work regardless of whether we are men or women. In this case, the Women's team, it is much easier for me as a woman to work with the athletes."
What does the dietary regimen that the players of the national team undergo consist of?
"The menu consists of providing them with five meals a day that meet their caloric needs. This diet is based on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to provide them with the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Similarly, a good portion of carbohydrates and proteins so that they can recover after training sessions and matches, it is a completely balanced diet."
Do all the players tolerate the same type of diet?
"No. Not all of them eat exactly the same, it simply depends on the needs of each one after a medical evaluation that I do and I indicate to them what portion of one thing or another they should eat more or less. If there is a need for supplementation, I prescribe it to them."
What are the most common injuries in women's soccer?
"Muscular injuries; fatigue, contractures in the lower limbs. The most serious is the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, which is a bit more common in women due to our body type, but in general, they are very similar to men's soccer."
Free time and recreation outside of soccer
"They spend time in groups. There are the moviegoers, who like to watch movies all the time; there are the music lovers, who share their different genres among themselves; there is another group of girls who like to challenge each other in board games and sometimes we all do relaxation activities like karaoke, which helps to unite the team. I spoil them a lot (laughs)."