By IANS,
New Delhi : Raymond Verheijen, renowned fitness instructor, said here Thursday that the biggest challenge before India’s football team was to catch up with the bigger teams in tactical and technical areas.
Verheijen, who is is here to conduct a three-day Conditioning Conference for Football Coaches, said that coaches needed to pay more emphasis on a player’s technical and tactical ability rather than just fitness part.
“The biggest challenge for India is to catch up with the big names in tactical and technical areas. Players need to play more football and not just concentrate on fitness,” Verhaijen told reporters during a conference.
Verhaijen also criticised the pre-warm up exercise of static stretching saying that it was counter productive in football.
“Static stretching is quite fruitless. It is a ritual from the 1980’s from the US but in football it is counter productive,” he said.
“After a game Saturday, the next day should be kept for recovery followed by a day-off Monday. Now ideally recovery after a game is spending time in the swimming pool. It relaxes your muscles and at the same time keeps your blood circulation going,” said Verheijen, who has coached at seven consecutive major championships – from Euro 2000 with Holland to Euro 2012 with Russia.