The ‘One Team, One Dream’ mantra is well alive amongst the Venoms despite the escalating Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on the global scene.
But as the world temporarily shuts down to allow the medics arrest it, Vipers have opted to do the least they can do – control what they can.
The Venoms had resumed training on March 18 but President Museveni announced the sports lockdown. And as the players signed out on that fateful evening, the club’s Strength & Conditioning coach Ram Nyakana Mpuga preached to the playing staff to continue with their own individual training routines.
The sole purpose is to ensure the players stay fit and resume business on a high, whenever the season’s anticipated resumption happens, having closed shop on March 6 with a barren draw against Wakiso Giants in an heated encounter that was marred by the controversial send off of striker Fahad Bayo by female referee Shamirah Nabadda at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium in Wakisha.
But despite the suspension, the players are religiously undertaking individual drills at their respective homes with the club’s Strength & Conditioning coach Ram Nyakana closely monitoring how they’re responding to the programmes which he handed over to them as they signed off for the ‘forced holiday’.
Unfazed Nyakana
And with almost every player boasting of a clean bill health by the time of the camp termination, Nyakana is sounding optimistic that the lads will keep the discipline and stay fit amid the challenging moments.
”Of course it’s a difficult period for many without the regular vigorous sessions as we all know how those players need to be pushed under guidance but I’m optimistic they are responding to the programmes,” said Nyakana.
Coach Fred Kajoba’s squad and backroom staff have also adhered to the Ministry of Health advice of ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ and remained indoors keeping themselves busy mainly on social media and entertained in isolation after their daily workout sessions.
“The boys are focused and know what is at stake,” revealed Nyakana. “Although some fitness and sharpness will be lost during this recess but our target is for them to be at 85 per cent on return.”
The S&C coach discloses that priority will be on high intensity workouts to pump in the 15 per cent such that by the time the league restarts, the lads will definitely be good to go.
A lapse in the sharpness will be expected but Nyakana expects the recovery of the Venoms to find their groove soonest as they engage the final push with the Kitende-based side sitting atop the log on 54 points, four clear of the chasing pack, with five matches remaining.
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