Rajinikanth. —
After conceding a last-minute equaliser to Bengal after holding on with ten men for almost the entire match and losing 1-0 to Punjab despite creating countless chances, it took a team of considerable mental and physical endurance to beat Manipur by the requisite two-goal margin and enter the semifinals.
“A strong body makes a strong mind, as they often say,” says Sivagnanam Rajinikanth, the team’s fitness trainer, whose contribution to Tamil Nadu’s progress cannot be underestimated.
“This is my seventh Santosh Trophy, and the first time we underwent a proper conditioning camp,” says veteran midfielder Jestes Anthony.
“Earlier, we used to have a week-long physical and skills camp, and then play a practice match or two. Our fitness this time has definitely been a major factor in getting us through tough matches.”
Rajinikanth, a former high jumper and bronze medallist at the 1999 National Games at Manipur, completed fitness coaching programmes with Victoria University, the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association and the Australian Track and Field Coaching Association last year. Thanks to a decade-long acquaintance with Tamil Nadu coach P. Thulasi through common employer ICF, it was natural that the search for a fitness trainer ahead of the Santosh Trophy would zero in on the beefy 29-year-old. The importance Thulasi has placed on fitness can be gauged by the time allotted to physical conditioning during the pre-tournament preparatory camp.
Says Rajinikanth: “The training camp was divided into three stages — the first stage at ICF was devoted entirely to strength and conditioning. Football work began only in the second phase, at St. Joseph’s College.”
Pleasing progress The progress of the players, after a slow start at the camp, has pleased Rajinikanth.
“The I-League players caught on quickly, because they were used to the kind of methods I use,” he says.
“It took the local players a little longer, but once they picked up, there has been massive improvement in their fitness levels. Earlier, the local players had been doing bicep curls, leg-extensions, and a lot of static training. I focus on movements, not muscle; we are not bodybuilders, right?”
Most of my programmes, except weight training, are with the ball, and football-specific — with a lot of focus on elastic strength, and ankle and hip flexibility.”
He adds, “I also use plyometric exercises to help develop elastic strength, and to help players achieve quick, powerful movements. For example, Riju is quite short, but he’s scored a lot of headed goals here because he’s explosive and can out-jump taller defenders.”
In addition, Rajinikanth says that he tries to ensure that training doesn’t become tedious.