(From left) Mahenderan, Raja Mohammed, Reuben and Herbalife Malaysia corporate communications and public affairs senior manager Subashni Sundarasan at the MASM Football Science Workshop.
WITH the aim of taking Malaysian football to greater heights through sports science, a health and wellness company sponsored a football science workshop series as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.
The initiative, organised by Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM) and UiTM Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation (FSR), serves as an ongoing effort for the betterment of football development in the country.
It forms part of a broader endeavour to elevate the local sports scene by propelling football science to foster the development of Malaysian talent.
Held at UiTM Sports Complex Shah Alam, “MASM Football Science Workshop Series: Fitness Assessment and Evaluation” was attended by coaches and trainers from across Malaysia.
Participants were provided a comprehensive toolbox of assessment-applied knowledge, techniques and strategies to enhance the performance levels of their players.
Coaches from across Malaysia taking part in the workshop at UiTM Sports Complex Shah Alam.
MASM vice-president associate professor Dr Mahenderan Appukutty said, “Football, being a demanding sport, requires athletes to possess exceptional physical abilities.
“To reach peak performance levels, it is essential to understand how to assess and evaluate the fitness of players accurately.
“This workshop is aimed at equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to optimise their teams’ performance through scientific means.”
Expert speakers contributed to the workshop, the highlight of which was a virtual session with Herbalife’s fitness advisory board member and LA Galaxy football team strength and conditioning head Adam Waterson.
He shared his career experience at LA Galaxy, his strength training philosophy and programmes, performance metrics and analytics as well as nutritional strategies for fuelling and recovery for players.
Amid the digital era, Waterson also spoke on the importance of fostering human connections and training players with a personal touch.
“I think it comes down to being a coach who shows empathy and understanding for the players, as well as the methods that would bring the best out of each individual player,” he said.
“This is why, at LA Galaxy, players get individual programmes, ranging from nutrition and strength to power and conditioning programmes on the field.
“Every player is unique and it is important to look after them individually.”
He further emphasised the importance of nutrition to hydrate and fuel players throughout training sessions.
He highlighted that it was vital to ensure players obtained adequate amounts of nutrients to support them in back-to-back matches and rigorous training sessions.
UiTM Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation dean associate professor and Selangor Football Association fitness head Dr Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin said, “The support offered by Herbalife has enabled us to create a platform where experts, practitioners and researchers from diverse backgrounds come together to share insights and exchange ideas, foster advancements in the science of football and promote the overall well-being of our athletes.
“The knowledge shared here will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the way we approach training, injury prevention and overall player development.”
Football Association of Malaysia high performance head and coach Reuben Jude Balraj spoke about the significant role of industry professionals in sharing their insights.
“It is crucial for people from the industry to share their insights as it helps players and coaches prepare for real-world situations and to practise acquired knowledge in the field rather than solely mastering the theory, enabling them to apply their skills and expertise on the field effectively,” he said.
The coach expressed deep appreciation for UiTM FSR’s consistent support in advanced sports science application, noting that their participation in the workshop was a way of giving back to society and fostering a collaborative spirit within the sporting community.
This public-private smart partnership extended beyond the workshop to a range of initiatives, including Herbalife’s recent sponsorship of 12 student cyclists from UiTM, enabling their participation in Le Tour de IPT 2023, the national cycling tour for those in higher education institutions.
