Fitness coach defends 'fat' Proteas.

Fitness fine: Proteas trainer

2008-10-24 12:12


I bet some women are jealous of his tits.


Not fat... (Gallo Images)


Rob Houwing

Cape Town - The South African cricket team assembles for a camp in Kimberley early next week, with their fitness trainer having defended them against “overweight” jibes.

The Proteas will have net and middle sessions in the unforgiving Northern Cape heat on Tuesday and Wednesday, before switching to Bloemfontein to prepare for the first home match of the season, game one on Friday of two ODIs against Kenya.

Certain players were often criticized on the tour of England over perceived “conditioning” shortcomings, although there has been some sympathy since their return over the fact that they had come off an unusually long treadmill of international activity, seldom allowing for decent periods of what is termed “core fitness” work.

And fitness coach Grant Compton has leapt to the defence of the players who toured England, in an article in The Wisden Cricketer (UK).
The magazine had been among British organs often playfully lampooning the Proteas for fielding a few “portly” customers during the mid-year tour.

Compton said there was not always a direct correlation between physical fitness and performance.

“With an international rugby team you can directly equate performance on the field to the type of fitness work you do off it, but some cricketers can still perform at the top level without being in peak physical condition or preparing for matches in an ideal way,” he was quoted as saying.

“I have also known players who are able to perform well after staying out late or have spent sleepless nights worrying about games, but equally there are others who need to be in bed early to do their best. Each player must be professional about what is best for them.”

Compton said modern players had hectic schedules and it could be a challenge to maintain fitness. “Someone like Jacques Kallis who bowls, bats and fields in a specialist position puts a lot of stress on his body, so rest is important between games to avoid injury.”

Responding to claims that an alleged drinking culture -- which led to his predecessor Adrian le Roux resigning -- might still be going on, Compton said: “It’s down to each individual to control what they do when I’m not around.”

Red wrote:The magazine had been among British organs often playfully lampooning the Proteas for fielding a few “portly” customers during the mid-year tour.

Compton said there was not always a direct correlation between physical fitness and performance.

“With an international rugby team you can directly equate performance on the field to the type of fitness work you do off it, but some cricketers can still perform at the top level without being in peak physical condition or preparing for matches in an ideal way,” he was quoted as saying.

Where's Finky?!