Robert Duverne is making an impact in week one of camp
Four days into training camp, the players are certainly getting to know Robert Duverne, the fitness coach, a lot better. We could already tell it’s going to be one of those love-hate relationships.
“He’s an intense guy for sure, but at the same time he’s very personable and he jokes around,” said Evan Bush. “You need that as a fitness coach because 90% of the time the guys want to kill you, so you need to be able to resonate within the group and joke with the guys and laugh about stuff. So far so good with Robert.”
“It’s hard,” said James Pantemis. “But at the end of the day it’s going to benefit the team during the season and especially near the end, and we’re going to think about this week and thank Robert.”
Robert Duverne is not a fitness coach in the strictest definition of the word. With over 20 years of experience working in the highest levels of football, he was hand-picked by head coach Rémi Garde to come and join him with the Montreal Impact.
“One thing for me that differentiates Robert from other fitness coaches is that he’s tailored his methods purely to the service of football,” explained Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “That means that players are placed in exercises that reproduce game-like situations a maximum amount of times. It’s not just fitness for the sake of fitness. It’s completely tied to football. It pleases the players, they understand why they’re doing certain things, and in general when you understand something you’re doing, it helps in doing it.”
The understanding part right now is realizing that fitness is the rule, not the exception, with this coaching staff. Although it may be difficult now, the players know it’ll benefit them during a MLS season that can be very physically trying.
“I think it’ll pay off for sure,” said Bush. “I think if you can find the ultimate equalizer in sport, it’s fitness. Fitness is going to be a very important part of what we’re going to be about this year. Hopefully as the season goes on we’ll continue to stay fit, and it’ll start paying dividends.”
