Grant adopts hi-tech training in Dubai
Black Stars coach Avram Grant is adopting the use of advance technology as he puts his players in shape for this weekend’s important FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
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The Israeli trainer is putting premium on physical conditioning and cardiorespiratory fitness as he puts his charges through their paces at the team’s training camp in Dubai.
Not only has Grant brought in Jamaican fitness trainer Jamie Lawrence to help condition the players, but also the Stars tactician is adopting the use of AltitudeMask, a resistance training device worn by athletes for very demanding training regimen.
Lawrence helped Grant prepare the Stars for last year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea and is in Dubai to perform a similar exercise at the team’s training camp, with Grant anticipating a physically demanding clash against the Pharaohs in Alexandria on Sunday which requires his players in peak condition.
AltitudeMask is a respiratory muscle training device that has been shown to improve exercise performance by creating pulmonary resistance during physical exertion.
Some of the players in camp, notably Christian Atsu poated a short video in his Instagram page wearing the AltitudeMask while going through the paces with teammate Ebenezer Assifuah under the supervision of the fitness coach, Lawerence.
The Newcastle United forward captioned the video: “Happy to be putting in extra work with the national team using my customised @altitudemask”.
GFA spokesperson, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, touted the benefits of Grant’s new training method for the Stars as they seek to revive their World Cup hopes on Sunday against an Egyptian side whose qualifying campaign got off to a good start with a 2-1 away victory over Congo.
Sunday’s game is very crucial for Ghana’s campaign after dropping vital points at home with a scoreless drawn game against Uganda in Tamale last month, while Egypt are eyeing their first World Cup appearance since the 1990 tournament in Egypt where they failed to go past the group stage.
According to the Sannie Daara, Coach Grant was expected to have a full-house training today with the expected arrival last night of goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey and centre-back John Boye.