For eight years, Alexandre Coppolani has been crisscrossing the African continent from Gabon, via Nigeria, the DRC, Morocco and Mali, where he has been the physical trainer for the national team for three years and with whom he has notably competed in the Olympic Games. For a few months now, the Franco-Romanian has also been responsible for the athletic preparation of the Horoya Athletic Club and is discovering yet another culture: "It's fascinating to see the physical specificities of each country! In Guinea, for example, the players have impressive aerobic capacities", appreciates the man who grew up in Corsica. An island where he finds comparable characteristics in Africa: "The mentalities, values and solidarity are very similar. Here, the work of the physical trainer is respected by the managers and coaches, to whom you are considered an assistant". And by the players, with whom the prep team establishes a personal relationship that is essential to his work: "I continue my work outside of training by visiting families, for example. If a player has problems in his life, this affects his performance. The mental aspect is very closely linked to the physical aspect."
Brief
Alexandre Coppolani is the fitness trainer for the Mali national team and Guinean club Horoya AC / ©DR