Impact training camp officially underway in Florida
It was all smiles on Monday, when the Montreal Impact met at the airport to head to training camp, in Florida, leaving the horrid weather in the Canadian metropolis behind them. That being said, it didn’t take long for those smiles to fade away.
Week one of training camp can only mean one thing: some quality time spent with fitness trainer Robert Duverne, whose job is to get these professional soccer players to the peak of their abilities before the season opener comes along in March.
“Robert, he smiles when we’re running, unlike us,” joked Saphir Taïder. “When we hear the words “preparation” or “fitness”, it’s not our favourite. It isn’t what we prefer but it’s something we need to do to progress.”
“It’s always hard at the beginning,” said Micheal Azira, taking part in his first Impact training camp. “We have to run no matter what, our bodies just need to get used to it. We know we have to push right now to be ready for the season.”
The schedule is simple in the first few days: the first thing on the agenda, before breakfast, is a long bike ride, an activation to get their bodies warmed up. Two hours later is the hard part: the running. And lots of it. After a lunch, one more training session is scheduled in the afternoon, where the players can touch the ball and take part in a more traditional practice.
Not a day made for the faint of heart. For Duverne, being able to get the best out of yourself physically is one of the most important components in making it as a professional player.
“The hardest thing for a player is to know what he’s capable of doing and how far he can push himself,” added Duverne. “If you can do what’s hardest, then you must reach that point. This is the time to figure that out. More experienced players know what they can do. Now it’s time for the younger ones behind them to come and rattle the hierarchy.”
With so many years working in this business under his belt, Duverne has turned physical preparation into an art. It’s allowed him to gain the respect of the squad, despite the pain that comes with working with the French trainer.
“He’s someone with so much experience,” added Taïder. “He had the opportunity to have a very stellar career and we listen to him, because we know his advice will be beneficial to us and our game at the end of the day.”
