Football players need to be physically fit and possess excellent technical and coordination skills. To maximally achieve those goals, the NWU Eagles fitness coach Dino Rangaka, recently got to understudy DStv Premiership outfit Stellenbosch FC Physical trainer Ruan Rust to hone his skills in physical training in preparation for the NWU Varsity Football program.
Rangaka says he went to Stellenbosch to further learn how a Strength and Conditioning coach (S&C) operates at the elite level of South African football – with both institutions held in high regard for their facilities that hold world-class High-Performance Centres (HPC).
“I had the opportunity to be taught a few tricks by Ruan Rust who is the best in the game when coming to using players’ data to avoid injuries and help improve players holistically, hence you will notice we are one of the few universities that use GPS VESTS for our soccer team,” he said.
“I also went there to learn more about their tactical periodisation, their training loads, and how they do their analysis. We have a limited squad that competes in four major tournaments every year so is very important to be on top of the game with no room for errors.
During his training, Dino also assisted Stellies’ head of performance, Ruan Rust, and Head of Medical, Fanie de Klerk for two league games played during that time.
NWU has endured a hectic program before taking part in this year’s competition. They participated in the ABC Motsepe league, USSA Football, ABC Motsepe playoffs, and now Varsity Football.
“With all the major tournaments we have played thus far and the one we are busy with now; the trick is to have everyone on board. I work very closely with the team Doctor and Physio Thabiso Ramakgolo who has been in the game for a long time.
“He fully understands players’ workload and fatigue levels, so it’s easy for me to have all the players refreshed and ready for each game. We have a well-executed program every week and a good periodisation plan.”
Dino says as a strength and conditioning coach, he trains the team to improve their overall fitness.
“Most player’s goals revolve around improving or developing a particular skill or improving sports performance. The expertise that a strength and conditioning coach provides can help improve mental skills, improve performance, and reduce injury,” he continued.
“I also develop programs that can be a combination of strength training, speed and agility training, power training, skill-related drills, flexibility training, and balance training. Although performance training is a huge component of my knowledge base, my duty as a strength and conditioning coach is to have an extensive understanding of how the body adapts to stress and recovers to be able to implement appropriate periodization.
“My pride comes from knowing that the coach always has a pool of injury-free players so it makes his job easy knowing he can select any player he deems fit and ready to start. I plan to learn more and keep implementing quality workloads for the team so we can keep raising the NWU flag high.
NWU captain Tshepiso Mahlangu waxed lyrical about the influence of Rangaka who’s been touted to reach greater heights, as several players have used the Varsity Football platform as a stepping-stone to bigger challenges.
“Coach Dino helps us a lot, not only with regards to our fitness and physical conditioning but he’s someone that the players feel close to,” Mahlangu explained.
“His pre-match talks are so vital to how we start our matches. He is the one who sets the tone for us. A good pep talk and warm-up leave us feeling confident which is very important to start any match.
“We are one of the fittest teams in our ranks and it showed in the ABC Motsepe national playoffs. We have tried to carry that into the Varsity Football tournament. His ability as a fitness and conditioning coach is essential to our counter-pressing style of play.
About Dino Rangaka
Dino Rangaka has been with the NWU’s Soccer Institute on the Mafikeng Campus for seven years. He holds a Netherlands certificate of introduction to coaching, and an advanced periodisation certificate from the World Football Coaching Academy and is currently busy with an advanced sports conditioning course at Trifocus Fitness Academy.
Dino started doing PT at a school called St Conrads Brothers College, now called Curro Klerksdorp, where he was the Head of Soccer for both Primary and High School. He was later elected Chairperson for the Klerksdorp town schools league.
Thereafter he was selected by the World Football Academy South Africa to do Basic and Advanced Periodisation in Football instructed by Mr. Raymond Verheijen.
By Phenyo Mokgothu.
