THE REGION’S NO.1 SPORT&FITNESS MAGAZINE
Sport&Fitness Middle East In association with
Middle East
ISBN 978-9948-15-428-0
9 789948 154280
Issue 12 Dh10; BD1; RO1; QR10; KD1; SR10; £1.95
Play it. Follow it. Read it
WORLD SPORT COMES TO THE UAE
W
ITH summer done and dusted it’s time to get back into action and shed some of those pounds we all piled on over the holidays. It was fun while it lasted but now is the time to get back in the gym before the flab starts getting out of hand. We’ve all been down that road before and it’s a long and painful journey back! To help you on your way we’ve got a bumper fitness and nutrition section in this issue with some great tips and advice from the experts at Fitness First. There’s a wonderful few months to look forward to on the sporting front. I was sad, like all fans of F1 were, that the Bahrain GP was cancelled earlier this year but the Abu Dhabi GP at the Yas Marina Circuit has become one of the most eagerly anticipated races on the schedule so Middle East motorsport nuts will finally get the chance to see Sebastian Vettel and Co when the Formula 1 gang roll into the emirate in November. The European Tour golf season also reaches a climax at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai with the Dubai World Championship. The event carries a whopping $7.5 million purse with $1.25 million for the winner so it could be a deciding factor in who wins the prestigious Race to Dubai providing World No. 1 Luke ‘Rock Steady’ Donald hasn’t already got the whole thing sewn up by the time the showcase event tees off in early December. One contender who still feels he can catch Donald is 22-year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy. We had a little chin wag with Rory and foolishly intimated that the Englishman already had The Race pretty much in the bag…not a good move. The young upstart positively bristled at the suggestion and declared his intention to use every ounce of energy hunting down his Ryder Cup team mate and winning the Dubai finale. Confident sort is our Rors – anyone would think he was a Major champion…oh, hang on, he is! Rory came firing out the blocks this season, almost winning the Masters but imploding in the final round with an attack of the ‘help I’m about to win a Major’ jitters, before getting the job done in emphatic fashion at the US Open. He’s not done too badly for himself in the romance stakes this year either after hooking up with the delectable ladies tennis player Caroline Wozniacki who we interviewed, for SFME last year. The boy has become a man and he’s looking mighty buff right now. The person credited with adding muscle to his magical talent is Dr Stephen McGregor – the same guy who transformed Lee Westwood from podger to lean mean winning machine – so we tracked him down and asked how he did it. Imagine spending all day working Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez into a sweat. Sounds like a dream job doesn’t it? Well for Gunnar Peterson it’s a reality. The Beverly Hills based personal trainer is the fitness guru to the stars but it’s not just the pretty ladies he has to put through their paces, he also credits Mike Tyson as a previous client. We caught up with him and can report he still has both of his ears intact so he must have done a good job with Iron Mike. Despite all of the fantastic sporting occasions we’re privileged enough to host in the Middle East one sport that hasn’t yet found a home here is boxing. That strikes me as strange considering how many boxing fans there are in the region and the fact that there’s certainly enough money around to put on a show to rival any of the humdingers they stage in Las Vegas. Features Editor Richard Bevan spoke exclusively to two-time Light Welterweight World Champion Amir Khan and the Englishman revealed he’d jump at the chance to fight here if someone coughed up the dough to stage it properly. Any takers? With the World Cup currently in full swing we thought it was a good time to renew our acquaintance with New Zealand superstar Dan Carter so his old buddy Mike Gallemore jumped at the chance of chewing the fat with him again. He’s such a card is old Danny Boy but Mike just may have put the kiss of death on the famous No. 10 as his tournament ended early after he injured in groin in training. Sorry Dan! The exclusives just keep on coming with our feature on former FIFA World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro, who retired from playing football recently and took a new role as Technical Director of Dubai’s Al Ahli Club. Our Italian isn’t great and neither is Fabio’s English but with the Club’s trusty translator on hand, we got there in the end. Bellissimo! Last but certainly not least, we hear from Turkish windsurfing beauty Lena Erdil. Down boys! We hope you have as much fun reading the magazine as we’ve had creating it.
Alex Gallemore Editor
Page 1
Contents
30
Features 22
The Greatest Show on Earth: Everything
30
COVER STORY: Rory McIlory
you need to know about the hottest golfing ticket in town.
The young Northern Irishman is golf’s latest sensation and the US Open champion has his sights set on the big prize in Dubai.
37
The Man Behind The Muscle
42
Celebrity Big Guns
48
Patience is a Virtue
54
Get Carter
72
Fabio Cannavaro
42
Dr Steve McGregor, the man responsible for turning many of today’s professional golfers into primed athletes reveals all.
Beverly Hills based personal trainer Gunnar Peterson makes a living working the likes of Jennifer Lopez into a sweat. No wonder he smiles a lot.
Light Welterweight boxing World Champion Amir Khan explains how trainer Freddie Roach has turned him into the ultimate fighter.
The world’s most famous rugby player, Dan Carter, talks exclusively to his fav Middle East sports mag as the World Cup reaches its climax.
The former FIFA World Player of the Year and World Cup winning Italian Captain talks about his new challenge with Dubai’s Al Ahli Club.
32
46
Sport&Fitness Middle East Partners
Regulars 12
Sports News
16
Sports Calendar
63
ASK Hisem
64
Fitness & Nutrition
78
Candy Shop
48
A concise look at recent happenings in the Middle East and around the sporting globe.
A look ahead at what’s happening over the summer on the local and international sports scene.
Fitness First’s Corporate Wellness Manager answers your questions on how to use weight lifting to fight the flab.
Our guide to beating the bulge and keeping your body and lifestyle in tip-top shape.
Turkish windsurfing champion Lena Erdil spills the beans about life on the ocean waves.
64
54
earth Ryan Doyle sees the world from a different view as he performs a Side Flip during a freerunning contest in Turkey.
Page 5
Photocredit: Damea Dorsey
air Alain Kohl of Luxemborg cliff dives from a 27.5 metre platform in Rochelle, France.
Page 7
Photocredit: JJ Marroquin
water Raphael Oritz braves the Big Banana Waterfall during a kayaking expedition in Mexico.
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Photocredit: Mike Arzt
FEATURING: LIVE MUSIC / LEFT BANK ON THE 17TH / BIG SCREEN APRES AT THE 18TH GREEN / FRIENDS OF JACK GRILL / CHILDREN’S
IN THE VILLAGE / FREE GOLF LESSONS ENTERTAINENT
TICKETS ONLINE
ONLY AVAILABLE
Sixty of the world’s greatest golfers will go head-to-head for a share of the European Tour’s richest prize, as the Race to Dubai culminates at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ spectacular Earth course. But not all of the action will be played out on the greens. Visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com for more information.
Visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com for your free tickets.
NEWS
Saudi legend encourages young talent to move abroad FORMER Saudi Arabian football captain Sami Al Jaber has urged emerging talent from the Gulf nations to ply their trade abroad or risk their national teams falling further behind their Asian contemporaries such as South Korea, Japan and Australia. “In this region, we are just looking down at our feet; we are not looking ahead,” Al Jaber said. “We need vision if we need to catch up with the countries of the Far East. If you look at Australia, maybe 90 per cent of their players are playing in the European leagues. “If you talk about Japan and South Korea, they are also doing the same. Their players are venturing out, going to different leagues in Europe. This has certainly helped in developing their football. The players learn new things and most importantly, they learn the value of being true professionals.” Al Jaber had a spell with then English
Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2001 and was a key member of the Saudi’s 2006 World Cup team, scoring once in a 2-2 draw with Tunisia (pictured). Gulf countries – such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait – once dominated the Asian football landscape with the Saudis having the honour of qualifying for four consecutive World Cup finals between 1994 and 2006. However not a single Gulf nation featured in the World Cup in South Africa last summer for the first time since the 1978 finals in Argentina. “We need to identify our best talents and send them abroad to the best leagues,” continued Al Jaber. “That experience will be invaluable in the development of those players because in football, you need to keep learning, keep improving and you cannot without going to the higher leagues and competing with the best players.”
Asamoah Gyan Joins Al Ain GHANIAN international Asamoah Gyan has become the latest big name player to switch to the United Arab Emirates after securing a shock loan move from English Premier League club Sunderland to Al Ain. The African, one of the stars of last year’s World Cup after helping Ghana reach the quarter finals for the first time in their history, said: “I’m really happy to be here. Al-Ain is an important club and this is a big challenge for me. There will be a lot of expectations on me, but not pressure. Everybody who has seen me in the World Cup and at Sunderland knows what I am capable of, but this is a new challenge for me as I’m a new player here. “We have quality players in the club to win games and do well in the Championships. We will try to build a winning team.”
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Toseland forced to retire from racing TWO-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland has been forced to retire from racing due to permanent damage to his wrist, sustained in a testing crash earlier this year. “I’ve had a tough time since injuring my right wrist during a testing crash at Aragon in Spain earlier this year,” said Toseland in a statement. “At the time of first seeing my consultant, he warned that the damage to my wrist could be career-threatening, but we both committed to doing everything we could to ensure that I could continue racing. “Having struggled through a couple of races and then crashing out in the terrible conditions at Nurburgring in Germany, I went back to see the consultant, Mike Hayton, this week and the diagnosis was the worst I could have prepared myself for.” Toseland was back racing in the World Superbikes this season after a two-year spell in MotoGP and had been part of the BMW Motorrad Italia Team. His title triumphs came in 2004 with Ducati and 2007 on a Ten Kate Honda.
No plans to change false-start rule ahead of London 2012
Al Masaood gives UAE motorsport a boost HUMAID Al Masaood picked up his maiden win for the UAE-based Oryx Racing team in the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in Baltimore in September. A true landmark for Emirati racers, Masaood became the first ever winner on the Series to come from the UAE. “I am thrilled with the success and extremely proud to be the first victorious Emirati in the American Le Mans Series,” said Al Masaood. Race partner, Irishman Steven Kane, was equally pleased: “I would like to start off by thanking everyone at Baltimore for putting on such a great race,” he said in the post-race press conference. “The crowd was amazing and this was definitely my favourite race of the Series so far. It has been fantastic to come into this Series and to win a race in only our fifth attempt. It shows how much talent Humaid has. He has come so far since I met him at the 24 hours of Dubai and told him then he has what it takes to go all of the way.” The win cemented Oryx Racing’s arrival in the ALMS and saw them move up into third place in the LMP1 Team Championship standings. Page 13
THE IAAF, the governing body of Athletics, has confirmed that the false-start rule will not be changed before the 2012 London Olympics. The rule – which sees any athlete making a false start immediately disqualified – saw world record holder Usian Bolt omitted from the 100m final in the World Athletics Championship in South Korea. IAAF president Lamine Diack said no one at a council meeting after Bolt’s disqualification had asked for the rule to be changed. “We will not come back to the issue” said Diack. “Bolt had a false start but that is not going to make us change.” Some officials had called for the IAAF to reconsider the rule to avoid having a star like Bolt disqualified in similar circumstances in London but IAAF vice-president Bob Hersh had earlier said no action should be taken until further talks and also pointed out that Bolt backed the new rule when it was proposed in 2009. “It’s not on any current agenda but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were reviewed,” said Hersh. London 2012 chief Lord Coe, an IAAF vice-president, added: “The issue is very simple for me. You have to be consistent. You have a rule and you don’t suddenly revisit it because a high-profile athlete has fallen foul. “I’d rather not have Usain false start in London. But the start is not separate from the race; it is part of the race. It’s not a technical nicety. It’s part of the sport like a knockout punch in boxing.”
NEWS Fitness First Launches Fitness First Swimming Academy THE new Fitness First Swimming Academy offers a programme based on the coursework of Desert Sports Services. Catering to adults and children, the programme includes four stages of learning – Beginners, Learn to Swim, Stroke Development and Competitive Squads. The Academy also runs bonding classes for parents and toddlers. All course instructors are STA qualified. Registration for membership to the Fitness First Swimming Academy is now open and courses started running from October 1. Upon registering online at www.desertsportservices.com, individuals will be assessed to determine their level of familiarity with the sport by qualified instructors who will then allocate groups. Members of Fitness First Swimming Academy will be required to pay a course fee. Swimming as a sport demands and develops a degree of discipline that is useful in all aspects of life. In addition, many experts agree that swimming is the very best form of physical exercise. These swimming programmes aim to provide a nurturing environment to enable each swimmer to achieve their potential by pushing the parameters of their comfort zone and stimulating continuous progress and achievement.
Fitness First Marks Presence in Abu Dhabi Part of Club’s Expansion Strategy to Launch Nine Outlets across Middle East by January 2012
Haile Gebrselassie striving for success at London 2012 Former marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie insists he is not going to retire and is targeting success at the 2012 Games in London. The 38-year-old Ethiopian dropped out of his second successive marathon in Berlin on Sunday and saw his record time broken by Kenyan Patrick Makau. He recently commented “I don’t want to miss the Olympics. “It is London and to win here is something very special. I want to go down in history.” As well as a brace of Olympic 10,000m gold medals, coming in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney four years later, Gebrselassie has won four World Championship 10,000m golds and four World Indoor Championship golds (three at 3,000m, one at 1500m) and has nine marathon victories to his name during a glittering 20-year career.
FITNESS First, the world’s number one health and fitness club chain and a part of the Landmark Group in the MENA region, has announced plans to launch nine clubs across the Middle East by January 2012, as part of its aim in ‘making the world a fitter place’. In line with this objective, Fitness First is set to open two new clubs at the Marina Mall and Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi. The branch at Marina Mall will open doors on October 15. The club’s Ladies-only section will cover a 1,157sqm area. The venue will feature best-in-class fitness equipment in addition to offering personal training by highly qualified fitness instructors and free group exercise classes including body pump, body combat, , yoga and Zumba. The Dalma Mall branch will be operational from December 1. The sprawling club covering a total area of 1,999sqm will host a Ladies-only (983sqm) and a Men’s-only (1019sqm) section extending state-of-theart facilities and services to members. Fitness First has also pencilled in three new branches for Dubai that will bring the total number of outlets in the Middle East to 23 and the UAE to 17. Dubai Motor City and Deira City Centre are the venues that will feature the new fitness clubs. These will complement Fitness First’s recent acquisition of the Apollo Club in Dubai Knowledge Village. All three outlets will be operational by the end of the year. Fitness First’s expansion strategy validates its aim to provide a network of branches that are accessible by a 10-minute drive from home or office, thereby encouraging the community to adopt a regular exercise routine.
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Great Britain to bid for Road Race Championships after Cavendish Masterclass GREAT Britain have confirmed they will bid to host the World Road Race Championship within the next ten years after topping the medal tables at September’s tournament in Copenhagen. Russ Langley of British Cycling said: “Bidding is in the early stages and is definitely on the radar. “It’s a medium to long-term process but it’s too early to pin down a location because the UCI plan about six-to-eight years in advance and they are involved in choosing a suitable city. “We are in the early discussion stages but there is a lot of momentum behind cycling in this country so we are coming from a good starting point.” The last time Britain hosted the event was in 1982 at Goodwood in West Sussex. Manx rider Mark Cavendish was the star of the championships as he won gold in the Men’s road race. Lucy Garner took the other gold for GB in the Women’s Junior road race while Bradley Wiggins and Elinor Barker took silver in the Men’s and Women’s Junior time trials respectively. Emma Pooley took bronze in the Women’s time trial and Andrew Fenn also claimed bronze in the Men’s U-23 road race to take GB’s tally of medals to six for the championship. Next year’s Championships will take place in Limburg, Holland and will move to Florence in 2013, Ponferrada in Spain in 2014 and Richmond, Virginia in the USA in 2015.
England confirm Pakistan series in UAE THE newly crowned No.1 Test team in World Cricket, England, have announced a Series against Pakistan in the UAE in January and February next year. The itinerary was finalised recently with three Tests confirmed, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches. All matches will be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with Sharjah missing out.
UAE FA appoint Abdullah Misfir as new head coach ABDULLAH Misfir will take control of the UAE’s remaining fixtures in their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign after previous coach Srecko Katanec was sacked following their 3-1 defeat to Lebanon. “We had three Emirati coaches for the job, and Abdullah was the one who was keen on the job,” said the FA President Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi. “He is vastly experienced and has worked with the FA on numerous occasions. He has been coaching for more than 15 years at different levels and age-group teams. “We have also given him two assistants, Khalifa Mubarak and Hassan Ibrahim. Abdullah and his two assistants are all pro license holders, the highest qualification of a coach.” The UAE are bottom of Group B after two defeats in as many matches and they next play South Korea in Seoul on October 11, before the return leg one month later. “Katanec did a good job for us but he couldn’t motivate the players anymore,” Al Rumaithi continued. “The 3-1 defeat to Lebanon was unexpected and cannot be accepted as we have never been beaten by them.”
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OCTOBER
OCTOBER 23rd RUGBY World Cup Final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand The biggest game on the international rugby calendar will take place in front of 60,000 enthusiasts at Eden Park in Auckland with host nation New Zealand hoping to win on home soil again after their triumph in the inaugural World Cup at the same stadium in 1987. Since then the All Blacks have been runners-up once and third twice but with fanatical home backing they are favourites this year to win for a second time. South Africa are the defending champions, having won their second World Cup in France in 2007 following victory on home soil in 1995. Australia are also two-time winners while England famously won in Australia in 2003 to clinch their first World Cup.
best of the rest in October 6 – 9 Oct Badminton: Jordan International Series 2011, Amman, Jordan
16 – 21 Oct SQUASH: Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar 9 Oct FORMULA 1: Japanese GP, Suzuka
9 – 16 Oct TENNIS: Men’s ATP Tour: Shanghai Rolex Masters, Shanghai, China
9 – 15 Oct CYCLING: UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championship, Manchester, England 18 – 19 Oct GOLF: PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Southampton Parish, Bermuda
14 – 16 Oct MOTO GP: Round 16, Phillip Island, Australia 16 Oct FORMULA 1: Korean GP, Yeongam, South Korea
The annual PGA Grand Slam of Golf takes place every year in Bermuda as a straight two-round shoot out between the year’s four Major winners. Scheduled to take part are Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, US Open winner Rory McIlroy, his compatriot Darren Clarke who won The Open and US PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.
Andy Murray defends his title in the Shanghai Masters this year in what is usually one of the strongest fields on the ATP Tour. The Scot defeated Roger Federer 6-3, 6-2 in last year’s final to pick up his sixth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. Top seed Rafa Nadal was knocked out during the third round last year while second seed Novak Djokovic was defeated by Federer in the semis as the world’s best went head-to-head in Shanghai.
21 – 23 Oct MOTO GP: Round 17, Sepang, Malaysia 22 – 23 Oct ROWING: Head of the Charles Regatta, Massachusetts, USA 28 Oct RUGBY LEAGUE: Four Nations Australia Vs New Zealand
28 Oct - 6 Nov Badminton: BWF World Junior Team and Individual Championship, Chinese Taipei
tHE nEw MEn’s fRAgRAnCE
AREYOUAREALCHAMP.COM
Official Outfitter: Official Outfitter: Official Outfitter:
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NOVEMBER
November 12th BOXING WBO Welterweight Title: Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez, Las Vegas, USA After two previously epic duels, Pacquiao and Marquez will meet for a third time amidst the glamorous hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. Their first meeting in 2004 was deemed a draw after 12 rounds which saw Marquez retain his WBA/IBF Featherweight titles. Four years later they fought again and Pacquiao triumphed, dealing the Mexican just his fourth loss in his professional career. Pacquiao, who has 38 KOs in his 50 career, was named Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America for the period 2000 – 2009 and is favourite to defeat Marquez again this time around.
best of the rest in November 3 – 6 Nov GOLF: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Shanghai, China
4- 6 Nov MOTO GP: Round 18, Valencia, Spain 4 – 6 Nov CYCLING: 2011 UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships, Kagoshima, Japan
10 – 17 Nov WEIGHT LIFTING: World Championships, Paris, France
11-12 Nov FOOTBALL: Euro 2012 Qualifying play-offs 1st leg 15 Nov FOOTBALL: Euro 2012 Qualifying play-offs 2nd leg
13 Nov FORMUla 1: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi The Yas Marina Circuit hosts the penultimate race in the 2011 Formula1 season with Sebastian Vettel in prime position to defend his title. After winning his seventh title in 12 races in Belgium recently the German is in pole position to win the Driver’s Championship for the second season in succession as he leads from Fernando Alonso by almost 100 points. 27 Nov FORMULA 1: Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil
6 Nov ATHLETICS: New York Marathon, New York, USA
20 – 27 Nov TENNIS: ATP Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England 22 – 29 Nov SQUASH: Kuwait Open, Kuwait 10 – 14 Nov MOTOR SPORTS: Dubai International Motor Show, Dubai
24 – 27 Nov GOLF: Omega Mission Hills World Cup, Hainan, China
26 Nov ATHLETICS: ADNIC Yas Run, Yas Marina Circui, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) bring you the ADNIC Yas Run on Yas Island. Races ranging from 1km to 10km will be held on the day and all ages and levels of fitness are welcome to take part while spectators can enjoy entertainment throughout the day. Get ready to shape up under the floodlights of the Yas Marina Circuit Formula 1 Grand Prix track. Medical and health care will also be onsite for assistance should it be required.
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Come anD watch
The Greatest Show on T
Earth
HE stage is set for another thrilling climax to The European Tour season with Dubai and Jumeirah Golf Estates taking centre stage for what promises to be a golfing spectacle. After an almost year-long battle, the cream of The European Tour has risen to the top and all eyes will be on Greg Norman’s acclaimed Earth course to see who will win the prestigious Dubai World Championship and who will take the honour of winning The Race to Dubai to be crowned European No.1. The European Tour has moved through Australia, South Africa, the Middle East, America and all around Europe before culminating with the top 60 players on the money list battling it out for a $7.5m purse in the Pearl of the Gulf at the Dubai World Championship.
Free Tickets If you are into golf you will know this is the 2011 season showdown. If you’re not a golfer this is a great event that showcases the best in the game in a relaxed environment. There’s entertainment for the whole family and if you fancy giving golf a try there are professional instructors on hand to get you going for FREE.
rt&Fitn es
s
o Sp
There aren’t many events in the world that put on the best for no charge or even give you the opportunity to have a go! Which is why we’ve given it our first Gold Event status.
To register for two free tickets visit
www.dubaiworldchampionship.com
Dubai World Championship presented by DP World Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates December 8-11, 2011
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PLAYERS TO WATCH Luke Donald
ough Donald is going thr World No.1 Luke purple patch. ss dle en an be what seems to the biggest has won three of The Englishman this season ur To n The Europea tournaments on a play-off in Lee Westwood and since downing orth in May tw en W at hip pions of top at the BMW Cham wn cro the y bestowed he has been rightl al top 10s ion dit ad ss tle un . Co player in the world yers teeing it e of the hottest pla make Donald on present. up in the world at
Rory McIlroy Rory McIlroy made Major winning look easy as he cruised to a record-breaking victory at the US Open at Congressional CC in the summer. The youngster romped to a 16-under-par total (lowest ever in the US Open) for an eight-shot victory over the shell-shocked field. His aggressive, daring, game and outgoing demeanour have set him on his way to becoming a global superstar.
Rober t Karlss
on Swedis h Ryder Cu prevaile d in last p star Robert Karl ye with a p lay-off v ar’s Dubai Worl sson ictory o d Cham Poulter ve pionship for his 1 1th Euro r Englishman Ia 3” pow n pean To erhouse u r has bee year wit n in exc title. The 6’ h three elle to includin g a fourt p tens on The E nt form this h place u Champio finish at ropean Tour nship. the US PGA
Lee westw ood
Lee Westwoo d continues to be one of the consistently br most illiant golfers on the planet winning the in . Since augural Dubai World Champi in 2009 he ha onship s been a pilla r of strength victories acro with ss the globe an d boundless to 10 finishes. O p ne of the stro ngest players driver in his ha with a nd, Westwoo d is again on the Ea bound to cont end rth course this year.
Charl Schwartzel Charl Schwartzel came to the fore in sensational fashion earlier this year with a memorable four-birdie finish at Augusta National to slip into the Green Jacket and join some of the biggest names in the game as Masters Tournament winners – including his hero, legendary South African Gary Player.
SIMON
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SON Simo n Dys on ha and t ss he victor world ran hot up Th e ies on k by the Tour s ing with tw Race to Du o far r e n o this s o superb bai wned prest ea ig P KLM ious Irish O ete Cowe son. Coac n, he O p got w pen in Ho en and in Dyson wo d lland. hat it S n e p t e The E ta World mber the ngli w Cham kes to win pions a big shman ha on the hip is o s as big ne and the clearly as it g Duba i ets.
The tournament is played over four days starting on Thursday December 8th and finishing on Sunday December 11th.
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Pro-Am The Pro-Am is a light-hearted concept that allows budding amateurs to play a round of golf with one of the top professionals one or two days before the tournament on the same course that the pros will play.
martin kaymer Germany’s Martin Kaymer became a Major player last year with victory at the US PGA Championship before going on to pip Graeme McDowell – another of 2010’s Major champions – to the Race to Dubai trophy to become European No.1. Kaymer won four times last year and added to his trophy haul this season with a commanding victory in Abu Dhabi.
Professionals use the Pro-Am as a relaxed form of practice ahead of the tournament proper and will interact with both their playing partners – and the galleries – far more than they would during the four days of the tournament. Participants in the Pro-Am are often representatives of the tournament sponsors and it’s a great chance to get up close and personal with some truly world
class athletes in a friendly atmosphere. The practie days and the Pro-Am are the ideal opportunity to get your photo taken with some of the sport’s biggest stars. Last year three-time Major winner and Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington teamed up with three amateurs and led
On-Course at the Hospitality Pavilion:
THOMAS BJöRN Evergreen Ryder Cup star Thomas Björn has been on a bit of a renaissance of late, culminating in two astonishing recent victories in Scotland and Switzerland and a victory in Qatar earlier this season. When he’s enjoying his golf he’s a danger man and the Great Dane is clearly in the form of his life at present.
Overlooking the 18th green is the optimum location for watching 60 of the world’s top golfers tackle the challenging last hole of Earth in their quest for victory in the Dubai World Championship. Enjoy gourmet refreshments in the luxurious surroundings of a climate controlled environment. It’s the perfect place to network and entertain VIP guests while enjoying the action. The cost of the Hospitality Pavilion package per person per day ranges from AED 2,600 (Thursday 8 December) to AED 2,800 (Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December) and AED 3,000 (Sunday 11 December) with a weekend package
of both Friday and Saturday (9 and 10) costing AED 5,200. The package includes course and Hospitality Pavilion admission, access to contemporary lounge and dining facilities overlooking the 18th green, premium food and drinks served throughout the day, large TV screens to watch the action from around the course, priority car parking, official tournament programme and daily drawsheet and the services of a dedicated Guest Management Event Team. Availability is limited. To secure your place or for more information, please email Hospitality@DubaiWorldChampionship.com
4 Page 25
STARRING: LUKE DONALD / CHARL SCHWARTZEL / DARREN CLARKE MARTIN KAYMER / MIGUEL ANGEL JIMÉNEZ / LEE WESTWOOD ALVARO QUIROS / IAN POULTER / RORY MCILROY / SERGIO GARCIA
TICKETS ONLINE
ONLY AVAILABLE
Sixty of the world’s greatest golfers will go head-to-head for a share of the European Tour’s richest prize, as the Race to Dubai culminates at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ spectacular Earth course. Don’t miss your chance to witness sporting history being written. For more information visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com.
Visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com for your free tickets.
FUN FOR ALL
Live music is put on each day for those wishing to kick back relax.
If you’ve always wanted to give golf a go – now is your chance. A team of PGA golf instructors are available to give FREE lessons to all ages.
Children and autograph hunters have the opportunity to meet their favourite players after they’ve finished their round .
Face painting is just one way to stand out from the crowd.
A wide variety of food and refreshments are avaiable to the spectators in the tented village
Stay until the final ball is sunk to see who walks away with more than $1 million as the 2011 Dubai World Champion.
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HOSPITALITY
The Hospitality Pavilion, overlooking the 18th hole, offers superb viewing and premium dining in luxurious, climate-controlled surroundings. For more hospitality details call +971 56 789 3865 or email: Hospitality@DubaiWorldChampionship.com.
Visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com for more information.
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Marshals wanted: To experience the Dubai World Championship from an entirely different point of view, why not sign up to become a marshal during the tournament? The 2011 Dubai World Championship has appointed Jenni Hoskins as Chief Marshal – a role that will see her co-ordinate a team of volunteers to work alongside the very cream of The European Tour. “I am excited to be heading the Volunteer Marshal operation for 2011,” said Hoskins. “Attendance figures have been high for
the past two years so we will need at least the same number of marshals again in 2011. We look forward to welcoming back last year’s volunteers as well as new volunteers who want to enjoy the tournament from a perspective that is very fun and rewarding.” Anybody keen on being a part of the Volunteer Marshal operation during the tournament – as well as the curtain-raising Pro-Am on December 6 – should contact Jenni Hoskins on jennih51@yahoo.com.
HOW to get there: BY CAR From Dubai:
Follow Al Khail Road towards Abu Dhabi/ Jebel Ali until you reach the Al Khail/Sports City roundabout. Drive straight over the roundabout onto the newly constructed Al Khail extension. Follow the signs for Jumeirah Golf Estates and enter to the right approximately 1 km after joining the Al Khail extension.
Follow the signs into Jumeirah Golf Estates and enter to the right approximately 1 km after turning onto the Al Khail extension.
Public Transportation:
Buses will be departing Jumeirah Golf Estates at regular intervals throughout the tournament from early afternoon to several of the more popular spots around Dubai.
From Jebel Ali:
Heading to Dubai from Jebel Ali / Abu Dhabi, take Exit 22 from the Sheikh Zayed Road. After approximately 10km turn left at the Green Community roundabout onto Emirates Road heading towards Dubai. After 5 km you will reach the Al Khail/Sports City roundabout. Stay in the right hand lane and turn right on the Al Khail extension road.
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Exclusive Interview
RORY’S FIT FOR GLORY Reigning US Open champion Rory McIlroy talks exclusively to Richard Bevan about his newfound love of the gym and his determination to hunt down Luke Donald at the top of The Race to Dubai and end the season with victory at the Dubai World Championship.
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RORY’S FIT FOR GLORY
W
HEN the Dubai World Championship gets underway on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates this December one of the star attractions will undoubtedly be Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. The 22-year-old’s fame has rocketed all over the world in the past year after some bewitching performances in golf’s Grand Slam events which saw him claim his first Major with a sensational eight-shot victory at the US Open after also coming close to winning the Masters earlier in the season. Rory has a great connection with Dubai. He’s sponsored by Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts and has a great record in the region, winning his first European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic two years ago and finishing in the top five at the Dubai World Championship for each of the previous two seasons. He’s also performed well in Abu Dhabi with a runner-up finish in this year’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship following on from two top fives in the previous two seasons. He’s the man many tip to fill the throne that Tiger Woods has left vacant as the undisputed King of Golf and, like most golfers of his generation, he’s fully switched on to the importance of fitness in the modern game. Woods was the first player in recent times to really embrace the concept of training like an athlete and his achievements have forced his fellow professionals to do the same. The courses are getting longer, meaning the more power a player has the more likely they are to do well. The huge financial gains on offer also means that staying injury free has never been more crucial. Having seen the wonders renowned sports science and fitness expert Dr Steve McGregor worked with Lee Westwood in helping the Englishman become first European and then World No.1, McIlroy decided to enlist his help towards the end of last year. While the overriding factor in his Major championship victory this year was undoubtedly McIlroy’s unerring talent, the new strengthened, more flexible, better balanced, physical framework McGregor has helped him create also played its part. McIlroy was denied the chance of securing another Major when he injured his wrist in the opening round of the USPGA Championship in August but McGregor has helped him make a speedy recovery and the hotshot now has his sights set on a final assault on The Race to Dubai and Dubai World Championship glory.
SFME: To many people fitness might not seem like something that should be too important in a sport like golf – explain why, in the modern game, it is? RM: The modern game is a power game so strength and fitness plays a big part. Also, the correct training can help to improve your swing and prevent injury. SFME: What role did Tiger Woods play in increasing the importance of fitness in golf? RM: Tiger came out looking like an Olympic athlete and dominated the game so I think everything he did had a huge influence but especially his strength and power. SFME: You still see a good number of players out on Tour who aren’t exactly in great shape physically – how come they still manage to do OK and are they a dying breed? RM: At the end of the day you don’t have to run round a golf course. It’s about putting a score on the card and being fit only plays a small part but I believe there are less and less guys out here that don’t spend time in the gym. SFME: : You’ve been working with Steve McGregor who has done great things with Lee Westwood – you’re a young guy, what made you decide you needed expert guidance on the fitness side of things and when did you start working with him?
RM: I started with Steve at the end of 2010 mainly because I had been suffering with an injury. I had become friends with Steve throughout last year when he was at tournaments with Lee and believed he was the best man for the job. It’s proved to be a great decision. SFME: He also helped you get back playing quickly after your recent wrist injury at the USPGA Championship how important was his role? RM: It was very important. Steve has a great working relationship with Doug Campbell (wrist specialist) and Phil O’Connor (top sports radiologist) and along with the guys in the physio trailer on the Tour I have had the best possible advice so they have been working on my shoulder and arm in order to take the strain away from my wrist. SFME: Can you outline the main things that you’ve been working on with Steve on the general fitness side? RM: We have been looking to increase the strength in my lower back and glutes. We’ve also been strengthening my legs in order to protect my back. SFME: Lee Westwood calls the gym in his house ‘the room of necessary evil’ – are you someone who naturally enjoys working out
and testing your physical boundaries? RM: I do really enjoy the gym work now but at the start it was hard. But when you see yourself improve and can feel the benefit it really spurs you on. SFME: Do you have your own gym in your house and do you use it every day when you’re there? RM: I do have a gym but Steve has always stressed the importance of rest and recovery so I don’t use it every day. SFME: Do you tend to keep your fitness regime going throughout the small periods of time off you get or do you take your foot off the pedal like someone like the boxer Ricky Hatton used to do? RM: I try to stick to my routine throughout the year and would rarely go more than 10 days without going in the gym. SFME: What’s your least favourite exercise to do in the gym and why? RM: Single leg lateral lunge because it’s hard!
SFME: Take us through what you might do during an average visit to the gym? RM: I would do around two hours and work from balance and stability through to lifting heavy weights to increase my power.
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Rory McIlroy and girlfriend World No.1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki celebrate with members of the Yale American Football team after her win over Francesca Shiavone at the New Haven Open at Yale in August.
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SFME: Do you eat quite healthily or are you a sucker for junk food/ takeaways etc? RM: I eat healthily, especially this year, but the odd day I allow myself lapses. SFME: Is it harder to maintain a healthy diet when you’re constantly touring around the world? RM: Not really, if you pick the right food off the menu. Nearly all restaurants have good healthy food and will generally cook to your liking. SFME: What’s your favourite thing to eat when you can eat what you like? RM: Indian.
On Course SFME: How much did your experience in the Masters this year help you in the US Open and what did you learn from Augusta? RM: It helped enormously. I learnt to focus my attention on the process of hitting shots and not the outcome.
you do could this make you lose a bit of what makes you so watchable? RM: Playing the way I do is what makes me tick so I have learnt to try and pick the right shots at the right time. The challenge of the shots is what I love and why I enjoy the game so much, so I don’t want to lose that.
SFME: How have you found the extra attention you get every time you tee it up now that you’re a Major champion – did it take some getting used to and is it distracting? RM: I don’t mind the extra attention. It means you’re playing well and you’re popular, which are both good things. It’s not distracting, I just have to manage my time well.
SFME: How successful has the Dubai World Championship and The Race to Dubai been at creating an end-of-season spectacle for both the fans and the players? RM: It think it’s been great for The European Tour. It’s a very fair reflection of how you’ve played throughout the season.
SFME: Your natural tenacity on the golf course and willingness to take on shots has gained you many fans – much like the late Seve Ballesteros – but sometimes incidents like on the third hole in the first round of the USPGA can happen (when Rory injured his wrist hitting the ball when it was lodged behind a tree root) – are you trying to reign in your natural instinct to attempt daring shots and if
SFME: You’ve finished in the top five both times the Dubai World Chamionship has run so far – what are your thoughts on the tournament and the Earth course? RM: I really enjoy the tournament and the course. I believe the proof is in the quality of the winners and they’ve all been great. With a bit of luck I will be joining them.
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SFME: Luke Donald looks to have The Race to Dubai pretty much sewn up – does this affect your mindset heading into the tournament at all or do the Bonus Pool and the ranking points etc mean there’s still a lot to play for? RM: I believe I can still catch Luke. There is still plenty of money to play for. I will have to play some great golf and win again, I’m sure, but it is still very much in my sights. SFME: You’ve got great memories of Dubai from your win at the Desert Classic in 09 and a great connection with the place through your link up with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts – what do you like about the region and what are its merits as a golf destination? RM: I love Dubai. I have been going there since 2006. From the new courses like the Earth course to the older more established ones like the Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek they are all in great condition and fun to play. I’ve made many friends in Dubai and I’m very lucky to have such a great sponsor. The experience Jumeirah provide in their hotels is second to none and plays a huge part in my love for Dubai.
MEN For strong and resilient skin.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSCLE
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Renowned Sports Science expert Dr Stephen McGregor talks exclusively to Iain Richardson about how he’s helping the world’s top golfers power their way to glory.
Exclusive Interview
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THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSCLE
I
N the modern world, sport is big business. Huge sums of money are often at stake for those who compete at the highest level and everyone is looking for an edge over their opponents. Dr Stephen McGregor is one of the world’s leading practitioners in the field of Sports Science, an area which has grown in prominence massively over the past decade dealing with the physiology of athletes and how to get the best out of their bodies while avoiding injury. With Masters Degrees in Sports Science and Physiotherapy and a doctorate in Physiology, McGregor is someone who understands the human body better than most. Having made his name working in football, his services were sought out by golfer Lee Westwood’s manager, Chubby Chandler, in 2006 at a time when Lee was desperately trying to find his way back to the form that had seen him end Colin Montgomerie’s seven-year reign at the top of the Order of Merit in 2000. Golfers had only relatively recently begun to wake up to the importance of physical fitness in the sport when Tiger Woods – a renowned gym nut – had started winning everything in sight. Fast forward five years and golf is quite literally a different ball game. Gone is the image of portly gentleman in plaid trousers smoking their way around the course and, at the top level, it is now a sport played by athletes who hit the ball a mile and are more likely to be found in the gym than the bar. Steve’s work with Westwood gained him respect throughout the game as the Englishman was transformed into a lean, mean winning machine, who topped The Race to Dubai money table in 2009 before becoming World No.1 last year. Now more and more golfers, including this year’s US Open Champion Rory McIlroy, are enlisting his services as they look to power their way to the game’s top honours.
Steve McGregor (right) works with Lee Westwood during this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
My first client was Lee Westwood and we started by scientifically analysing what was happening in the game and then for a month I followed Lee. I studied his swing analysis, his physiology, the training he was doing, his nutrition, his body composition and all of these various different elements so I could gain a greater understanding of what he was doing. I then developed a programme to help him achieve what he wanted to achieve with his golf swing and help him get to where he wanted to get to. SFME: In days gone by golfers weren’t exactly what you’d call athletic physical specimens. Even today you see some smoking cigars etc. Why is physical fitness important in the modern game? SM: Physical fitness in all sports is becoming more and more important nowadays. Everybody’s looking at ways in which they can improve. It might not seem important in golf to people outside the game but ultimately golf is possibly one of the most demanding sports in terms of the stresses that it places on your body. To have flexion and rotation of your spine – bent forwards and then turned – is one of the biggest demands on your back and puts huge loads through there. The golf courses are expanding all the time so players are looking at how they can gain an advantage. If they’re hitting a shorter iron into a green rather than a long club then that’s an advantage to them. But it’s also about the longevity of players in the sport. Financially now there are huge sums of money involved therefore if you can play that sport for longer it gives you career longevity. Also, if you can increase your range of movement or increase your body control that can hopefully then translate into you being able to make the swing changes that you want to make a lot easier. SFME: How does the work you do with
golfers differ from, say, footballers? SM: It’s the same basic approach whatever the sport, we just apply it differently. We scientifically quantify what the sport involves. For example in football we study the Pro Zone stats where it tracks the distances players cover, the amount of sprints they do and all that kind of stuff. We monitor a person’s sweat rate, their nutritional intake, what sort of training they’re doing, what limitations they have with their range of movement and so on. It’s the same with golf. My first client was Lee Westwood and we started by scientifically analysing what was happening in the game and then for a month I followed Lee. I studied his swing analysis, his physiology, the training he was doing, his nutrition, his body composition and all of these various different elements so I could gain a greater understanding of what he was doing. I then developed a programme to help him achieve what he wanted to achieve with his golf swing and help him get to where he wanted to get to. SFME: How much has the importance of fitness in golf grown in the time you’ve be involved in the sport? SM: Over the last five years that I’ve been involved in golf the emphasis on fitness has increased greatly. Now we’re seeing lots of
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young players – the likes of Rory McIlroy and Chris Wood, David Horsey – even younger players like Tom Lewis, the young amateur who came to prominence in this year’s Open Championship. These guys have come into the arena with the knowledge that this in an important aspect of the sport and something which they incorporate into their weekly programme in addition to working on the golf swing. Five years ago when I started looking at it there were less people in the gym, there were less people talking about the importance of physical conditioning. That’s a relatively short period of time. I’ve heard players – the likes of Rory and Lee – speak about how Tiger Woods was the one who really took it to the next level. He was World No.1 and people noticed how much emphasis he placed on fitness. Before him Gary Player was always speaking about the importance of physical condition. I think what you can say is that if you have the best golf swing in the world and the only thing you change is that you add more muscle and don’t change anything else then you’re going to be able to generate more power and distance. The most important thing is an individual’s talent but I think people are realising that there are various different important aspects that can help give them that little extra advantage.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSCLE Rory injured his wrist at the USPGA Championship earlier this year and we worked with him to get him back to full fitness. The first thing we did was to identify from the diagnosis where the initial problem was and in his case it less around his wrist and more further up his arm. So he was having some compensatory issues with some pain in his shoulder and his upper arm. The main thing is to make sure that the whole body is addressed rather than just the immediate area where the injury occurred. What is fortunate is that there is a European Tour physio truck that travels round all the events. After Rory McIlroy injures his wrist during this year’s USPGA Championship the on-site medical staff do their best to limit the damage. SFME: Explain how your link up with Rory McIlroy began? SM: In Rory’s case, he’s been swinging a golf club since he was two years old. The phone call came to me because around 12-18 months ago he was having problems with reoccurring injuries and that’s because he’s been repetitively swinging a golf club for a long period of time. It was a case of looking at his body and making sure he got more shock absorbance without restricting his ability to always repeat his golf swing. It actually gave him more muscle to support his golf swing more effectively and make him a bit more robust. We also looked at him from a performance enhancing perspective to give him more power, more distance and longevity in the game but first and foremost it was about injury prevention. SFME: You must be doing something right after his performances this season! SM: He’s made significant changes to his body in the time that we’ve been working with him but Rory’s a very committed individual – he’s really committed to the work that he does both on the course and off the course and he’s been reaping his rewards for that this season. SFME: Rory injured his wrist earlier this year, what role do you play in his recovery? SM: The first thing we did was to identify from the diagnosis where the initial problem was and in his case it less around his wrist and more further up his arm. So he was having some compensatory issues with some pain in his shoulder and his upper arm. The main thing is to make sure that the whole body is addressed rather than just the immediate area where the injury occurred. What is fortunate is that there is a European Tour physio truck that travels round all the events. I have a really good relationship with them and I’m on the European
Tour Advisory Board with them. I don’t travel to all of the events so I speak to them and we get a treatment plan together which they help implement. For example Rory’s first event back was at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and the guys on the physio van were great at making sure he maintained his range of movement and didn’t get any niggles etc. It’s really Important to make sure that the diagnosis is right. We’ve got a team of people at our head office and at Leeds and Chapel Allerton Hospitals who I liaise with. There are also consultants in the area that I work with, for instance wrist specialist Doug Campbell in Rory’s case. So it’s very much a collaboration and my job, along with the players’ management company, is to make sure everything is coordinated properly. We looked at Rory collectively and hopefully now he’ll continue to strengthen going forwards. SFME: With the amount of money top sportsmen earn these days, do you feel an added pressure to make sure you get it right when you’re working with them? SM: When you’re working in the sporting environment there is a certain amount of added pressure because of the added publicity – 24 hour news services, social networking etc. Everybody has an opinion on individuals because they’re so high profile. When Lee Westwood injured his calf last year it was constantly all over the media because everybody wanted to know if he’d be back in time for the Ryder Cup. But I’m more concerned with the individual and making sure that they’re right and hopefully the training that every medical professional goes through will make sure that they point the individual in the right direction. SFME: Does your job vary greatly day to day depending on which player you’re working with?
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SM: Each individual is different therefore the first thing you have to identify each person’s restrictions are. There may be a restriction in the shoulder or joint range of movement so they may need more physiotherapy type treatment and manual therapy. For others it may a strength problem – so if they’re not strong enough in a particular body part it might mean they’re overactive in another part which may lead to them not hitting the ball how they want to or an injury restriction. For others it could be an endurance thing where they just can’t repeatedly swing the golf club as often as they’d like because they just haven’t got the endurance. Around that a conditional programme is put together based on those individual weaknesses. We then need to monitor it over the course of a year. If you just work on the same area of fitness all the time it can lead to an overuse injury or it can lead to staleness and no progression. So we divide the year into various different phases to hopefully get adaptation at each particular point. At this time of year it’s really about maintaining the gains that the guys on Tour have made and understanding that golf can be an all year round sport so we have to link in with the swing coaches and what they’re trying to do, the player’s travelling schedule, their press engagements and all these different elements. SFME: You’re working more in golf these days but do you still operate within other sports? SM: I do still work across a whole range of different sports – I’ve been doing some work with the New York Knicks basketball team recently and last year I was out in Dubai working with Al Ahli Football Club, helping them restructure their medical department and appoint some staff as well as helping them redesign their medical and sports science facilities. n
Exclusive Interview
CELEBRITY
BIG GUNS Richard Bevan talks exclusively to celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson about his fascinating life shedding the flab of the rich and famous. GUNNAR Peterson is the man credited with getting 65-year-old Sly Stallone into such great shape for his role in last year’s The Expendables. As well as Stallone the Beverly Hills-based personal trainer has worked with other movie icons such as Bruce Willis, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez as well as top athletes such as Pete Sampras and Mike Tyson. And in true Beverly Hills style, he’s even put his years of experience in the personal fitness field to use putting Hollywood’s pets through their paces!
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Above: Gunnar Peterson and actress Minka Kelly attend at Gatorade Launch Event in Beverly Hills, California. Right: Slyvester Stallone looks in pretty good shape for a 65-year-old at the premier of last year’s blockbuster hit movie The Expendables.
SFME: Tell us how you made the jump from regular personal trainer to celebrity personal trainer? GP: I’m in the right zip code “90210” and it’s only a matter of time before someone in the industry crosses your path. SFME: Beverly Hills is known to be one of the most image conscious places in the world, which is a good thing in your line of work. Is that what attracted you to the area? GP: No. I happened to live there anyway so it’s a match made in heaven’s gym!
a different feeling when you see someone in person that you’ve seen for years only on television or at the movies. Star struck? Not star stuck, but it definitely gives you a different perspective. SFME: Who is the most famous celebrity you’ve worked with? GP: It would be a toss up between Jenifer Lopez, Mike Tyson, Sly Stallone, Bruce Willis, Kim Kardashian, and Angelina Jolie.
SFME: Tell us the story of how you first became interested in fitness – I believe you had your own struggles with weight as a child? GP: I was a fat kid and as I learned about fitness, not just sports, and saw that I could control how I looked, I slowly became passionate about it.
SFME: Which celebrity has been the most difficult to work with and do you find it a challenge having to get people who are probably used to getting their own way to respond to what might be quite strict fitness regimes? GP: I’ve never had any celebrity that has been difficult….On the set, it’s their world and in the gym, it’s my world!
SFME: Do you ever get star struck or did you when you first started? GP: I think it would be unnatural not to have
SFME: Imagine I’m a famous movie star – I’ve let myself go a little as the trappings of fame and fortune start to show on my stomach,
man boobs, butt etc – but I need to get buff for my latest role, quickly. What would you advise to maximise a transformation in my body shape as quickly as possible? GP: Daily exercise, a meal delivery service to eliminate the guess work, adequate sleep, no booze, and a good attitude! SFME: You’ve also worked with famous sports stars – is there a difference in the work you do with them rather than the stuff you do for movie stars, which only really requires them to ‘look’ good rather than have any real strength or fitness? GP: I like to work with everybody as though they were athletes. The body is meant to move and you are meant to move it. Sometimes it involves walking before running, but they are patient, and eventually we get there! SFME: Do you have any special philosophies or techniques when it comes to your approach to your work that you find gets you results and keeps people interested rather than them jumping ship because they get bored?
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Nutrition Training Tips Equipment Style News / Calendar Events Adventure Features
SFME: You’ve worked with Mike Tyson – was that in any way an intimidating experience? I can’t imagine Iron Mike taking too kindly to being ordered around! GP: Don’t forget he hired me! I never order anybody around. I make “suggestions with conviction” to help them reach their goals. GP: As far as philosophies or techniques go, we might have to write a book together! I use different techniques and protocols for every client and the philosophy is ‘hard work pays off.’
GP: The Davidoff Champion Energy fragrance was launched and it just made sense to try to be affiliated with something so dynamic that had its roots in sport.
SFME: What advice would you give to somebody who is overweight, out of shape – depressed about their body image and feels that obtaining a body like the stars you work with is just never going to happen? GP: Studies show that people in their 80s can generate new lean muscle. What that means to me is that it’s never too late.
SFME: What is special about the new launch Champion Energy, how has it grown from its predecessor Champion? GP: Champion Energy is modern, it’s powerful and it speaks to self-confidence. Just like the sport of boxing that it is based on.
SFME: I believe you also work with pets, tell us about that? GP: I was affiliated with Hill’s Science diet and created a programme to combat pet obesity. It was a lot of fun and it ended up doing a lot of good. SFME: Tell us about your collaboration with Davidoff?
SFME: Tell us about boxing in relation to fitness. Do you use boxing as a method to train your clients? GP: Boxing is grueling sport whether you are in the offensive or defensive. Strength to precision, to durability, it’s been one way to measure a man for centuries. Yes, I use boxing from focus mitts and the heavy bag to bob and weave drills – all from a conditioning standpoint.
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Exclusive Interview
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Richard Bevan talks exclusively to two-time Light Welterweight World Champion Amir Khan who, with the help of renowned trainer Freddie Roach, has learned to reign in some of his youthful exuberance in the ring to become the complete fighter.
T
HEY say the best things come to those who wait. It’s a mantra that England’s Amir Khan now repeats to himself before every fight and it’s helped him become one of the most feared boxers in the sport. Since he burst onto to the scene with a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Khan’s explosive hand speed and lightning quick movement have never been in doubt. But there was a gung ho element to his style that while exhilarating to watch, left some questioning his ability to last at the highest level. Those doubts seemed to be confirmed when he was knocked out by Beidis Prescott in the first round during what was expected to be a routine defence of his Inter-Continental Lightweight title in the autumn of 2008. But it was that experience which prompted a switch in trainer from Jorge Rubio to the legendary Freddie Roach. He subsequently left the UK to train in the US and since then the boy has very much become a man who now looks every inch the world beater. His last fight, in July, against the respected five-time World Champion Zab Judah, a dangerous and awkward southpaw, was a boxing master-class, as he unified the IBF and WBA Light Welterweight titles in Las Vegas with a fifth round KO after showcasing the mature, considered approach and wonderful use of the jab which now accompanies his raw talent. “I’ve totally changed my style from when I was in England,” says Khan. “Since I’ve been in America I’ve become a totally different fighter. “Freddie has brought me patience – seeing things instead of just jumping in. Making your game plan and slowly stepping it up during a fight instead of jumping to the top straight away and trying to knock people out right away. Build things up and be perfect and precise.” Roach, who also trains 10-time World Champion Manny Pacquiao, has repaid the compliment calling Khan “the best listener” he’s ever worked with. “If you do everything perfect according to the game plan in the fight, Freddie’s happy with
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PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE that,” says the 24-year-old. “You have to listen in this sport, there are a lot of fighters out there who, when they get caught with a good shot, their game plan goes out the window and they try to knock their opponent out. “But he’s taught me to be patient, see things, calm myself down. In boxing if you try too hard you can make a lot of mistakes. I’ve now started to try and chill out a lot more and see more. So I do things a lot differently.” The Judah fight was particularly satisfying for Khan as the buildup had created plenty of bad blood between
the fight. As much as I hated him I still stayed back, worked him out and kept hitting him with my jab whereas in the early days, before I was with Freddie, I probably would have jumped on him and tried to knock him out straight away and rushed it.” While Roach’s genius in harnessing the Bolton-born fighter’s natural ability has played a huge part in turning him into the World Champion he is today, Khan, a practicing Muslim, also believes his faith has helped him both inside the ring and in his preparation for fights. He recently returned from a now
what watch is he wearing.’ Nobody looks down on anyone else. That’s the way it should be. “Faith is a big thing for me – it helps me in my boxing big time. It keeps me very calm before I go into a fight because when you’re in that ring it’s a very lonely place and your belief and faith are what take you far.” Unlike his Light Welterweight predecessor, fellow Englishman Ricky Hatton, who was famous for ballooning way above the 140lb weight limit in between fights due to a love of fast food and booze, Khan’s religion means
“To be honest my diet is a little bit different. We eat a lot of curries and stuff like that but my metabolism is very quick and it burns calories fast. I’m also a lot younger than Ricky was when he was at this stage which could be on my side as well. But I am quite strict on what I eat and the times I eat, even when I’m out of training.” the pair with a war of words breaking out on social networking site Twitter. Rather than letting Judah’s taunting force him to lose his cool, Khan stayed composed and sharp, dominating every round with his jab and landing a crunching right to the body to finish his 33-year-old opponent in the fifth. Despite claims from the Judah camp that the decisive blow was low, replays showed it had in fact landed on the belt line and was therefore legitimate. “I wanted to knock him out. Honestly I did,” smiles Khan. “I wanted to beat him up and just get rid of him. But I knew that the guy needed to be shown in a really good way. Because a lot of people had fought him and they’d not really given him the beating that he deserves. “When he promotes fights I think he promotes them in a bad way – he’s the bad guy in the fight. But he got a good beating and I think it really made him realise that sometimes talking too much can get you into trouble. Our gameplan was brilliant. I said in the press conference that I would fight him toe-to-toe but that was just promoting
annual pilgrimage to Mecca with his family, having first visited the Saudi holy city when he became a World Champion for the first time by beating Andreas Kotelnik with a unanimous points decision in Manchester in July 2009. “When I go there I go to thank God for when I won my World title because I made a promise that when I became a World Champion I would go to do a pilgrimage,” explains Khan. “I’ve won another title now and I’m a two-time World Champion so I wanted to go and do a pilgrimage again to say thanks for what he’s given me. I’m very fortunate for what I’ve got in this sport. “I think Mecca is the best place you can go on a holiday. I worship and pray and get treated like a normal person. When you go to Mecca everyone’s dressed the same. No-one’s wearing bling jewellery – no-one is seen differently. Everyone’s treated the same way – we all look the same, we all eat at the same places – and that’s what I love about the place. Nobody is looking at each other thinking, ‘Look at that top he’s got on, what shoes is he wearing,
he has a healthier lifestyle away from the ring, making it easier to make the weight as a bout approaches. “I don’t drink alcohol which is a massive help,” he says. “Ricky used to love his drinks and that puts a lot of weight on you. That’s one of the reasons he used to blow up a lot. With me I don’t do that between fights. I just chill out, if I do go out with friends I’m on orange juice or Coca Cola or something. “To be honest my diet is a little bit different. We eat a lot of curries and stuff like that but my metabolism is very quick and it burns calories fast. I’m also a lot younger than Ricky was when he was at this stage, which could be on my side as well. But I am quite strict on what I eat and the times I eat, even when I’m out of training. “When I’m in training I’m so disciplined and when I’m out of training I don’t want to let myself go so I’m still disciplined. But it makes it so much easier when you go into a fight training camp. You’re only 10 pounds above the weight whereas Ricky used to be sometimes 25 pounds above the weight which is too much.”
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KHAN ON FIGHTING IN THE UAE I’d love to come there. There have been talks. My dad went there with my manager to have a meeting with someone who was interested in putting on a fight over there. We’re still in talks with a few companies but if there’s someone out there who’s very confident that they can put a show on there – I’m a fighter who’d love to go there and fight. You’ve got a huge community of Pakistani people, Indian people, Arabs and ex-pats. There’s a big Muslim community and they’ve not had a boxing match there so to be the first one would be amazing and it would be great for the people to see and experience what it’s all about.
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A MIR KHa n
Khan believes his own move up from the 135lb Lightweight division to the 140lb Light Welterweight ranks has helped his progress in the sport hugely as it’s more suited to his natural weight, allowing him to conserve energy and build up his strength and power properly for his fights. “I think since I’ve been in the 140lb division noone has knocked me down, not even in sparring,” he says. “The reason for me getting dropped in the past was that making 135lb was so hard. I used to kill myself. Now I’m a big believer that if you don’t make your weight you can kill yourself. “At 140 the last two or three pounds are hard but I used to be the same size and make 135 and I had to totally drain myself and kill myself just to make that weight. There was too much sweat suit running and not eating or drinking the right things. “Now it’s the complete opposite. I’m eating more, I’m drinking more and it’s so much easier to make the weight. The last two or three pounds are quite tough but that’s just part of the sport, it’s never going to be easy.” With two of the four Light Welterweight belts now safely in his possession Khan needs the WBC and the WBO titles to fulfil his previously stated aim of unifying the division before stepping up to Welterweight and a shot at fivedivision World Champion Floyd Mayweather. That would have meant a fight with Timothy Bradley, who until July this year held both belts, but the American was stripped of the WBC title for dodging an eagerly anticipated match with the Englishman. With the WBO belt still in Bradley’s possession Khan may have to settle for three belts before moving on to pastures new following
the defence of his Light Welterweight titles against mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson in Washington on December 10. “There’s no one out there who wants to fight me,” he says. “I put the fight to Eric Morales and he turned it down, I put the fight to Bradley and he turned it down. The deals we were offering would have been the biggest paydays of their careers. So I’m going to move up to 147lbs because I’m frustrated I can’t get any fights at this weight.” Providing the Peterson fight goes his way Khan will begin preparing himself for the fight of his life with Mayweather. Universally recognised as one of the greatest boxers of all time, only Khan’s training partner Pacquaio rivals the American for the esteem in which he’s held within the sport today. With both Pacquiaio and Khan having publicly stated that their friendship and close working relationship means they’d never fight each other, Mayweather is the biggest fight out there for Khan and victory would assure his place in boxing history as one of the all-time greats. It will be a fascinating match up, with Mayweather one of the most accomplished defensive, tactical boxers ever seen and Khan, like Pacquaio, a thunderbolt of attacking prowess. The plan from the Khan camp is for that fight to happen within the next 12 months and some may fear that may still be too early for the ambitious Englishman but the man himself believes that with one more fight at Light Welterweight followed by one fight in the heavier Welterweight division, he’ll be ready. “It will be tough to beat him because
“At 140 the last two or three pounds are hard but I used to be the same size and make 135 and I had to totally drain myself and kill myself just to make that weight.”
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Mayweather is a very skilful fighter but I really think I’ve got the style to beat him with the speed and accuracy I’ve got and the game plan Freddie will give me. With Freddie I’ve got the best trainer in the world who will advise me what to do and what not to do in the fight against him (Mayweather). Freddie has been studying Mayweather for years because of Manny Pacquiao so he knows him inside out. “So I think we’ll know exactly how to be him. I don’t think Mayweather’s ever fought anyone as quick as me or as explosive or dangerous as me so that on its own is going to be something else for him. “It’s a big fight, it’ll be massive if we do fight him but we can’t look too far ahead. Because when fighters look too far ahead that’s when they make mistakes and get beat. So I need to take it a step at a time, it’s an ambition. I want to fight him and I think it’ll happen after the next two fights. “My ambition is to become the best and be the biggest name in boxing. I’m getting there slowly and I think that’s all we need to do. Keep on winning fights, keep focused and keep training hard.” Displays like the one against Judah have turned Khan into a box office star on both sides of the Atlantic and learning when to hold back and when to go on the attack has already yielded two World titles. He’s learned how to play the waiting game and with his best years still ahead of him there should be plenty more glory to come. n
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Exclusive Interview
By Mike Gallemore
AS the 2011 Rugby World Cup comes to the crunch knockout stages the rugby world is still lamenting the loss of the tournament’s greatest player. Dan Carter has graced the group matches, orchestrating New Zealand’s smooth, steady progress to the top of their pool. But now the mighty All Blacks must continue their march to the final without the man who makes it all happen for them. The game’s greatest fly-half has directed operations, supplying the vital link between forwards and backs to perfection. All the signs were pointing towards rugby’s most celebrated No.10 and, arguably, the greatest fly-half of all time, prompting the Kiwis to glory in front of their adoring home fans. But we will all be denied the pleasure of watching Carter’s silky skills due to the most bizarre of injuries.
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On the eve of Carter having the honour of Captaining New Zealand in their group match against Canada he suffered a groin injury during a routine kicking practice session. “I’ve never had groin problems. I’ve kicked thousands of balls since I was a youngster and never felt anything go ‘pop’ like that. I knew it was serious because the pain was unusual. I don’t know what happened – it came right out of the blue. “At most Captain’s runs sessions I’d normally kick around twenty balls. This time I decided to kick just four balls – and it happened on the fourth kick.” Being the man he is, Carter took the blow in his stride. “I still have no idea how it happened,” he says. “It was the craziest day of my life. There I was, appointed Captain of New Zealand to face Canada. Then, suddenly, my special day was taken away from me.” Carter is not the sort of character to dwell on his misfortune. His first concern was to making sure the All Blacks continued their victory roll towards the final. “It was tough and pretty challenging,” says Carter, “but I’m really lucky to have some great people around me. I’ll get over the disappointment and start thinking positively so I can help the guys out wherever I can.” When Carter suffered a season-ending injury after playing only five games for Perpignon in France in 2009 most people expected him to return home immediately to New Zealand for treatment. Instead he decided to stay at the club and offer whatever support and advice he could. Carter has broken almost every record in the game – and he was expecting to nail a few more, en route to winning the World Cup. “Everyone likes breaking records,” he says, “but I’ve never been interested in statistics. Obviously, scoring points is what it’s all about – it’s winning games that matters most.”
One of the most exciting players in the history of the game, Carter was determined to help the Kiwis win their first Rugby World Cup since the inaugural event played in New Zealand and Australia back in 1987 when the All Blacks beat France in the Final at Eden Park in Auckland 29-9. New Zealand cruised through their first three Group Pool A matches and then avenged their defeat by France in the quarter-final of the World Cup in 2007 in France, won by South Africa. The Kiwis had gone to France on a roll
you suffer setbacks it builds your motivation and gives you more drive to succeed. What a great boost it would be for New Zealand to come back from the horrors of the earthquakes and win the World Cup.” In terms of avenging that defeat by the French back in 2007 the All Blacks were imperious. Carter ran the show as the Kiwis produced five tries in a 37-17 hammering that left no doubt as to who the favourites to lift the Cup were. Carter kicked three conversions and a penalty but he really showed who was in charge when he landed a superb drop goal just at the point when the French were threatening to get back into the game. Certain commentators had suggested that France would be happy with a defeat so they could join the Northern Hemisphere teams in the later stages and avoid meeting the likes of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the knock-outs. From the manner in which France took on the All Blacks that was clearly not an option and as for New Zealand it was out of the question. “All we wanted to do was to win for our home supporters,” says Carter. “We’re totally focused on winning every game and we can’t play any other way. Going forward as top of our Pool is what we aimed for and what we achieved.” Much to the delight of his home nation Carter pledged his future to New Zealand Rugby earlier this year, ending speculation that he was about to embark on another adventure playing for a club in the Northern Hemisphere. Rumours had him en route to a number of leading clubs in France and England. “I enjoyed myself playing for Perpignon in France in 2009, despite being able to play only five games through injury,” he says. “It was a great experience and a different challenge to live a completely new lifestyle. When I was
That exit four years ago made us even more determined to win the World Cup this time in front of our home fans. The country is still rebuilding after the earthquake disasters but the spirit of the Kiwis is as strong as ever. as odds-on favourites and it was the surprise of the tournament when the unpredictable French showed them the door. “I was flying high when we arrived in France,” says Carter. “I’d been voted IRB Player of the Year and been on the winning side in several Internationals, Tri-Nations and Super Rugby games. It was a big disappointment for all of us but It’s how you bounce back that counts. “That exit four years ago made us even more determined to win the World Cup this time in front of our home fans. The country is still rebuilding after the earthquake disasters but the spirit of the Kiwis is as strong as ever. It would be wonderful to win it for the people of New Zealand and give us all something to celebrate. “Personally, I’ve always learned a lot from my defeats. In fact, I’ve learned more from my defeats than I have from my victories. When
considering my future I was flattered with all the offers that came in. It’s always good to know that you’re wanted. But deep down I knew my heart was in New Zealand and it was the obvious decision to make. “It was a great weight off my shoulders when I announced that I had re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Canterbury Crusaders franchise for another four years, and that my future was here in New Zealand and, hopefully, with the All Blacks. It all came down to the fact that I just wanted to keep pulling on that All Blacks jersey. “My family and friends, who had been doing their best not to put pressure on me, were delighted with the news and I was amazed at the fantastic response I got from everyone. I was in great shape to put the icing on the cake and help New Zealand win the World Cup but now I’ll just have to cheer them on from the sidelines.” Carter may be one of the game’s greatest talents but he’s also a fun guy off the pitch. He
still has delusions of becoming an ace DJ and takes every opportunity at trying his hand – and his voice. “I hadn’t been able to do much DJing due to my rugby commitments,” says Dan, “but once the All Blacks squad got together preparing for the World Cup I never missed a beat in giving my room-mates a sample of my DJ style. It’s a bit of fun but, unfortunately, it’s not always that well received!” Dan is also famous for his humour and his off-the-wall love of the ridiculous. He and his team-mates enjoy dressing up as superheroes and touring the local bars. “It’s all good-natured fun,” he says. “I’m a relaxed kind of guy and I try to enjoy life as much as I can. “The fancy dress costumes are a great laugh. It’s become a bit of a ritual for me and my Canterbury team-mates and the All Blacks guys dressing up as Spiderman, Superman, Batman, the Incredible Hulk and many more superheroes and going out for the night. “After a match earlier this season we couldn’t find a bar that was open due to the earthquakes
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“I’ve got so many costumes because I like to collect different ones when I travel around the world – and I also get some given to me or I buy them online. Hong Kong is one of the best places to find them, particularly the more unusual ones.” so we went back to my place – players, coaches, friends. After a few drinks they all raided my wardrobe and dressed up. It was a brilliant night with 40 or 50 of us dressed up as superheroes. “I’ve got so many costumes because I like to collect different ones when I travel around the world – and I also get some given to me or I buy them online. Hong Kong is one of the best places to find them, particularly the more unusual ones.” Back on the field Carter is well aware of the dangers ahead, despite the All Blacks finishing the group stages with the highest points difference of all four pools. “There’s still a long way to go and
anything can happen,” says Carter. “It was good to beat France, who are always a tough team to beat. They’re totally unpredictable and they love beating the All Blacks. At least we’ve avenged our defeat by them four years ago in the World Cup.” Asked whether he was annoyed at England opting for all black jerseys as their changed strip Dan joked: “It doesn’t really matter how they dress against any other teams because when, and if, they play us, we’d be the All Blacks in all black and England will be England in all white. “With emerging countries like Italy, Argentina, Canada and the USA and the strength of teams like Samoa and Tonga this must be the most
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competitive World Cup of all time and there’s not much between so many of the teams. “I guess the best of the Southern Hemisphere teams, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are well matched by the best of the Northern Hemisphere teams, England, Ireland, Wales and France and it will be fascinating to see who makes it through. “My only wish is for us to win the World Cup and put a smile on the face of New Zealanders who have suffered so much from the earthquake disasters. My only regret is that I won’t be in the thick of the action – but I will be cheering on my team-mates as loud as anyone.” n
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Momentum Peaks as ‘Cycle The Seven Emirates’ Nears
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hosted by Gulf for Good and Sponsored by Fitness First nears its start
AN exciting challenge, forming part of the Gulf for Good Series, The other fantastic four are Natalie Birch, Club General Manager will see cyclists explore all seven of the UAE emirates in a 400km of Dubai Media City, Welder Alves, Fitness Manager, Eoin Mullaly, expedition. Club General Manager of Uptwon Mirdiff club – and GX Instructor Starting in Al Ain on November 28, ‘Cycle the Seven Emirates’ will Lou Harris. Between them they’ve all been training hard as a team to see challengers from all over the GCC will explore the mountains and successfully meet the challenge and surpass their fund raising target wadis of the emirates and their exclaves, cycle along the stunning of AED100,000. To help reach their target special club events and Indian Ocean coast, navigate their way activities such as RPM marathons will be through the desert, before a triumphant ride hosted during October and November to into Dubai, marking the occasion of the 40th help with fund raising activities and to raise anniversary of the UAE. awareness of the charity and challenge to With Fitness First sponsoring the event, our 50,000 members. Cycle The Seven Emirates, will raise money The participants will be cycling for several for the Al Manar Charity School in Ajman. The hours per day, so it’s important for them to school provides free education to more than have a suitable training programme at least 2,400 children up to the age of 16, but has no three months prior to the Challenge. The government funding, so is reliant entirely on best training for cycling is actually riding a public donations. bicycle outdoors or going on the cycling The children are of 36 different nationalities machine in the gym. and more then 400 of them are either In response to this, Fitness First will abandoned or orphaned while at least 2000 of be providing free RPM classes for all them are living in very vulnerable conditions. participants in the months leading up to the Showing that Fitness First is fully event to ensure that everyone is ready for committed to supporting the event they have the big day. entered five participants including their Chief To date, 33 Gulf for Good challenges, Operating Officer, George Flooks. with over 720 participants from 41 He said: “The Fitness first staff and I countries, including many GCC nationals, – George Flooks, performing in this event are extremely have raised more than US$1.7 million excited. It enables us to partake in a charitable for schools, hospitals, orphanages, and CEO, Fitness First cause as well as discover the seven emirates medical equipment in 23 countries across in a way that is very unique. It truly is a once the Middle East, South America, Asia and in a lifetime opportunity.” Africa.
“The Fitness first staff and I performing in this event are extremely excited. It enables us to partake in a charitable cause as well as discover the seven emirates in a way that is very unique. It truly is a once in a life time opportunity.”
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the
knowledge
ASK
Brought Brought to you to by you by
HISEM
Hisem Hagras – Fitness First’s Corporate Wellness Manager
Why isn’t Cardio enough?
Dear Hisem, I run on the treadmill for an hour three times a week, but I don’t see the results I look for. Why is that? A: If you think cardio is the key to blasting fat burn keep reading. When Penn State researchers put dieters into three groups – no exercise, aerobic exercise only, or aerobic exercise and weight training – they all lost around 21 pounds, but the lifters shed six more pounds of fat than those who didn’t pump iron. Why? The lifters’ loss was almost pure fat; the others lost fat and muscle.
Weight training is crucial for the following reasons: You’ll lose 40 percent more fat.
Dieters who don’t lift show that, on average, 75 percent of their weight loss is from fat, while 25 percent is from muscle. Muscle loss may drop your scale weight, but it doesn’t improve your reflection in the mirror and it makes you more likely to gain back the flab you lost. However, if you weight train as you diet, you’ll protect your hard-earned muscle and burn more fat.
Your clothes will fit better.
Research shows that between the ages of 30 and 50, you’ll likely lose 10 percent of your body’s total muscle. Worse yet, it’s likely to be replaced by fat over time. And that increases your waist size, because one pound of fat takes up 18 percent more space than one pound of muscle.
You’ll burn more calories.
Lifting increases the number of calories you burn while you are at rest. That’s because after each strength workout, your muscles need energy to repair their fibres. In fact, researchers found that when people did a total-body workout with just three big-muscle moves, their metabolisms were raised for 39
hours afterward. They also burned a greater percentage of calories from fat compared with those who didn’t lift.
Your diet will improve.
Exercise helps your brain stick to a diet plan. University of Pittsburgh researchers studied 169 overweight adults and found that those who didn’t follow a three-hoursa-week training regime ate more than their allotted 1,500 calories a day. The reverse was also true – sneaking snacks sabotaged their workouts.
You’ll be happier.
Yoga isn’t the only Zen-inducing kind of exercise. Researchers found that people who performed three weight workouts a week for six months significantly improved their scores on measures of anger and overall mood.
You’ll build stronger bones.
As you age, bone mass goes to pot, which increases your likelihood of one day suffering a debilitating fracture. The good news – a study found that 16 weeks of resistance training increased hip bone density and elevated blood levels of osteocalcin – a marker of bone growth – by 19 percent.
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You’ll get into shape faster.
The term cardio shouldn’t describe only aerobic exercise – a study found that circuit training with weights raises your heart rate 15 beats per minute higher than if you ran at 60 to 70 percent of your max heart rate. This approach strengthens muscles and provides cardiovascular benefits similar to those of aerobic exercise— so you save time without sacrificing results.
Your heart will be healthier.
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who did three total-body weight workouts a week for two months decreased their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by an average of eight points. That’s enough to reduce the risk of a stroke by 40 percent and the chance of a heart attack by 15 percent.
You’ll be even smarter.
Muscles strengthen your body and mind – Brazilian researchers found that six months of resistance training enhanced lifters’ cognitive function. In fact, the sweat sessions resulted in better short and long-term memory, improved verbal reasoning, and a longer attention span.
the
knowledge
Yoga Science of
SFME: What style of yoga do you teach? PS: I teach flow yoga which combines movements in timing with breath in a smooth and flowing manner. I like to compare it to a slow and reflective dance of self discovery and expression with lots of challenges and surprises. Students who do my class are pleasantly surprised to find themselves in poses they never thought they could do without much strain or effort because of the smooth and encouraging style in which I teach. My yoga combines the philosophy and teachings of Vajrayana Buddhist meditation techniques with the transformative power of physical postures and breath. SFME: How did you come to yoga? PS: I’m from the Philippines and from a strict Christian background. I had no contact with Yoga
Peace of mind
growing up but always felt that we shouldn’t go around stepping on insects or eating meat. I have always been interested in Easter Philosophy and especially Buddhism. One day in high school I bought a Yoga book by BKS Lyengar because I thought yoga would teach me to levitate or float across the room. I would follow the postures every day without really knowing what I was doing, all this time waiting for something magical to happen. What did happen was that for some reason putting my body in these positions felt good – and I started to question why? Twenty years down the line and several esteemed yoga masters later I can look back and laugh at this because yoga is not “magic” – it’s a science in the true meaning of the word. Similarly when I attended my first meditation I left laughing and “high on life” –- again I started to
ask why? I spent several years of my yoga journey getting to the bottom of these questions. SFME: When you’re not teaching or training teachers, who are you? PS: Outside of my busy schedule of yoga classes and teacher training I am also a single parent and full time mum. I also have a passion for belly dancing and count it fortunate that I now live in the Middle East, where Egypt and Morocco are just a stones throw away. SFME: How has yoga transformed your life? PS: Yoga saved my life. Growing up in a dysfunctional family I really didn’t have a good concept of myself and had very low self esteem. Although I tried to hide it by looking very self assured – deep inside I felt very unworthy. This led
Brought to you by
A Filipino and Vajrayana Buddhist, Peewee Sanchez has been singing and dancing since the day she was born and Yoga is her favourite mode of expression. She is Regional Yoga Trainer for Fitness First Middle East and through her efforts Fitness First Middle East is a registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance.
me down the road to bad choices, alcoholism and an abusive marriage. At the very lowest point of my life, yoga was the only thing that kept me sane, forced me to question what was really important in my life and showed me the road to a better version of myself. Part of the reason why I really connected with yoga is the way it would immediately make you feel so good after each class. The one thing I really wanted to be able to do was a back bend but this pose made me feel very uncomfortable. One of my teachers said it was because my heart was frozen and I needed to “ melt” it to progress in my practice. As I worked on “melting my heart” through postures, breath work, and meditation a lot of the anger melted away with my stiffness. I learned to love and trust myself and my abilities. I learned that there are so many people lovingly supporting me in
my life and through my yoga I have learned to love them back. And I learned that the key to this is to open up and surrender to all the blessings that are coming your way. Now I feel that my soaring back bends are a testament of how yoga transformed me for the better.
SFME: What can people expect from one of you classes? PS: People can expect to laugh since I like to crack jokes because I firmly believe smiling is one of the cruicial keys to good health. People can expect to sweat, feel energised and calm at the same time. People can expect to have a safe experience because I believe in the power of nonviolence. Usually I ask the class beforehand if anyone has something specific that they want to work on and I try to give them what they need in my sessions.
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SFME: What do you love most about teaching yoga and what would you want people to know about the practice of yoga? PS: What I love most about yoga is the transformative power it has to improve every aspect of your life. Through yoga your body becomes fit, trim, and balanced. Through yoga all your internal systems become more efficient. Through yoga you learn to manage stress levels. Through yoga you learn good habits that make you more effective with your family and career.
SFME: Where can people find you? PS: I teach in most clubs in UAE. You can log onto www.fitnessfirst-me.com for more information on yoga schedules. For those in other countries in the Middle East, I pop in every now and then for special workshops and yoga retreats.
the
knowledge
Strength training can be confusing if you’re just starting out or if it’s been a while since you’ve lifted weights, especially when it comes to choosing what type of equipment to use. Should you use free weights or machines? Knowing the pros and cons of each can help you figure out which one is right for you. MAchine advantages
Supportive: Most machines provide support, which is great for
people who need help when learning new exercises. It can also be good for people rehabbing injuries or those who want to lift heavy weights without a spotter.
Easy to use: Most machines work on a fixed path and make it easier to use good form. SAVE TIME: It usually doesn’t take as much time to change weights on
machines as it would for many free weight exercises.
Less Intimidating: Trying to figure out what to do with a bunch
of dumbbells can seem impossible. With machines, you know exactly what muscles you’re working and how to do the exercise correctly.
MAchine disadvantages
TOO Supportive: Because you have so much support, you use fewer muscle groups at the same time. This means you burn less calories and work the body in a less functional way. limited: Most machines offer one exercise for one part of the body,
which means having to use multiple machines for a total body workout. They don’t allow you to work on weaknesses. Many machines require you to use both arms or legs to move the weight, so if one side is stronger than the other, that side may do more work than the weaker side. They don’t allow the body to work naturally. Because many machines work on a fixed path, there’s not much room for working the body throughout different planes of motion.
FREE WEIGHT advantages
versatility: Free weights can be used for a variety of exercises for the entire body, so you don’t have to move from machine to machine to work different muscle groups.
functionality: With free weights, you’re able to move the body through natural motions as well as through a variety of planes allowing you to mimic movements you do in real life like squatting, lifting things over your head and rotating the body. whole body strength: Because you’re supporting your own body, you can work on specific muscles while involving smaller stabilizer muscles that can get neglected with machine training...this can also help you burn more calories during your workout.
FREE WEIGHT disadvantages
HARD TO LEARN: Using free weights requires skill and coordination, so you may need some instruction when using them for the first time. Good form is harder to achieve without the added support from machines, so there’s a higher learning curve with free weights. RISK OF INJURY: Because there isn’t a fixed path when using free weights, it’s easier
to put your body in the wrong position, which could lead to injury. There’s also the risk of dropping the weights, especially if you’re lifting heavy.
CONFUSION: With machines, you know exactly what exercise you’re doing and what
muscle you’re working. With dumbbells, there are so many exercises you can do, it’s easy to get confused about where to start. With strength training, a variety of tools is often the best way to get an effective workout. When choosing your own resistance, consider the following: If you’re a beginner stick with machines until you feel more comfortable with the movements.
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Peer Pressure Many people whose profession depends on the way they look have put their bodies and health on the line to accomplish their desired body shape without truly understanding nutrition, how exercise impacts on the body and most importantly -– rest. Staying thin or lean by living off a calorie deficit diet and rigorous exercise programme is a time bomb waiting to detonate. The only way to look good for the long term is to treat your training as if you are an athlete. Take the appearance and pressures of being a model. They sometimes become victims of fad diets, fast weight loss and improper nutrition. Without getting into too much physiology, your body needs carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. Proteins are the basis for your muscles and fats/oils help with your nerves and hormones among other things. A proper diet should include all of these, but the key to maximum performance is the ratio you intake. An athlete should eat a balanced diet that is high in carbohydrates, low in fat, and adequate in protein. Remember the body on average struggles to shed more than 2lbs per week of fat. A shock to the system with an intense calorie deficit might look good on the scales but hard-earned muscle or tone will have been sacrificed. So you perform better in the gym and look better long term stay with the basics: Before exercise eat high carbohydrate foods like bread, pasta, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Timing your meal from 1 to 4 hours before strenuous activity will help keep plenty of blood glucose available for your muscles. Drink plenty of water and stay away from fast burning sugars and processed carbs. These are useless calories that play havoc with your blood sugar levels. After exercise is the time to eat protein to replenish what you lost during your physical activity, but don’t overdo it. Remember protein can not only come from meats but is also present in dairy products and eggs. Also look to replace carbohydrates if your activity was long and exerting.
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the
knowledge
With any supplement, even vitamins, you need to ask these six questions:
1 2
Does it provide benefit?
3
What is the amount that works, the dose? (Never take more than the prescribed dose.)
4
Does your supplement recommend that efficacious dose on the label?
5
Can you trust the supplement company to always deliver that amount in its product?
6
Can you trust the supplement company not to include unsafe or illegal additional products intentionally or unintentionally in the product?
Is it safe now or in the longer term?
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SUPPLEMENTS ARE THEY WORTH IT? At the mention of sport supplements most people think of protein powders by the bucket full and things that make you go blimp in the night. That shouldn’t be the case. Supplements for the weight training sports and fitness activities do have a place in health and performance enhancement. The hard part is finding out which ones work and how much to take safely.
Protein Powders – Whey, Casein, Soy, Egg The above are complete proteins with all of the essential amino acids that the body cannot produce itself. There is no scientific justification for weight trainers or bodybuilders consuming more than about one gram per pound of body weight a day of protein. You can count your protein intake by using a food database such as at www.calorieking.com. Protein powder supplements may be useful in certain situations. Protein supplements in the form of shakes may be convenient for before and after workout sessions to maximise muscle rebuilding. Different proteins, such as whey and casein, egg and soy have different absorption rates. Whether you should favour one over another for muscle building is still a subject of popular and scientific debate, although whey protein isolate, a more rapidly absorbed protein, has some support from various scientific studies. Don’t waste your money on amino acid tablets or capsules; they contain too little of anything to be of benefit. For protein powders, assess the value by checking out the quantity of protein listed on the label. Don’t be fooled by a host of other ingredients and fillers that don’t add value. Some carbohydrate is okay and may even be essential after a hard workout. Just make sure you get what you expect. Try to buy from reputable manufacturers who guarantee their products and make details available on the labels. Cheap supplements from unknown sources may be unreliable or even hazardous. Low-fat milk powder is a reasonable source of whey and casein protein and for many people this makes an effective alternative to the more expensive protein powders. Taken with some carbohydrate after training, perhaps as a proprietary flavoured milk, this is a simple and effective alternative. Safety: No safety issues are expected with the ingestion of protein powders within reasonable limits. Excess protein consumption may not be safe for people with kidney disease. Expected results: Combined with resistance training, sufficient protein consumption in conjunction with an appropriate diet can lead to increased muscle and reduced body fat. Eat plenty of low-fat protein foods, supplement with skimmed milk powder or good quality commercial powders if necessary, but don’t get too obsessive about different types for general bodybuilding and weight training. How much: Less than one gram per pound of body weight each day total protein including meals. Studies have shown a supplement of 40 grams per day of whey protein with eight grams of casein with weight training has performed better than other combinations.
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Proud sponsors of the Fitness Team at Fitness First
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SMOOTHIE does it The Day Break
Muesli with Berries and Nuts 100g Soya Milk 100ml Frozen Strawberry 7 pcs Banana 1 Low Fat Yogurt 75g Ice 2 cubes Mix in a Blender and blend for 45 secs till the consistency you desire is there. Drink up and enjoy. The Gluten in the muesli takes time to be absorbed by the body so you have energy for a longer time. The banana, which is a complete meal, supplies the necessary carbs and also the essential minerals. The berries in the muesli as well as the strawberry supply the body with antioxidants as well as Vitamin C.
STOMACH CLEANSE
This smoothie is especially good for the stomach and excellent if you have constipation The Papaya and Apple in this smoothie helps to ease the stomach. Ingredients Papaya 120g Ginger (small knob) 20g Apple Juice 50g Ice 2 Cubes
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Sand runner If you’re starting to ache from pounding the roads in a push to get fit or racking up the miles for a forthcoming event, turn to the sand to mix things up and ease the strain. Running on sand forces you to run slower for the same heart rate, giving you the main benefit of altitude training. The heart and lungs don’t care if you are swimming, biking, or running at 10 minute miles in six inches of mud. The trouble with deep sand is that it gets in your shoes. It can also mess with your running form.
Sand running advantages: l It gives you a tough workout with very low mileage. l Your back and shoulders get a workout because you have to maintain balance. l You can wear very old running shoes – you are only protecting those feet from an occasional stone or cutting object. l Packed sand can be so packed that it has minimal give. Mostly though, you’ll see your shoe imprints and you can run with your very best economical form. l Soft or packed, make sure the slope, or camber is minimal. The low tide bar and the high tide bar are usually the best areas, but many yards shoreside can be good for really deep sand. Sand dunes will give your quads a great test of course. On steady run days, try a mixture of surfaces. For quality days, deep sand is for strength or resistance training.
You’ll also burn 1.6 times more calories per mile on each run. The reason is that running on sand consumes more energy. The impact force on sand is lower allowing for better running with less strain/ pounding on the body.
WARNING The hardest part of running on sand is that you are more prone to certain injuries. You can easily strain your Achilles tendons and calves if you are not careful. This is because you will end up straining further than when you run on harder surfaces. Barefoot running can lead to plantar fasciitis or ankle sprains because of the lack of support. You can avoid the strain on your Achilles and calves by running near low tide. And, don’t forget to watch out for sharp objects as well!
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Exclusive Interview
Fabio Cannavaro At home in Dubai
He’s won league titles at the highest level in Italy and Spain, captained his country to World Cup glory and won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. Italy’s most capped player talks exclusively to Richard Bevan about the new challenge he’s facing as Technical Director and Global Ambassador at Dubai’s Al Ahli Club.
F
ABIO Cannavaro knows his latest challenge will be among the toughest of his spectacular career. As a player he carved out a reputation as one of the most feared defenders in the world, gracing the back line of European giants such as Juventus, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, as well as achieving the ultimate honour of leading his country World Cup glory in 2006 as Italy’s captain. But almost exactly five years after lifting the famous Jules Rimet trophy with the Azzurri, and being named the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year, a deteriorating knee injury forced the 38 year old to make the difficult decision to hang up his boots and take on a new role as Technical Director and Global Ambassador at Dubai’s Al Ahli Club having played for the Club for just one season as their captain. Originally signed to not only help the team on the pitch but to raise the profile of Al Ahli as an internationally recognised sporting brand, he was keen to continue to help on both counts
despite no longer being able to play. “Towards the end of last season my knee problems began,” says Cannavaro. “I had cartilage problems and consulted specialist, Dr Castellacci. He treated me during the holidays. But when just running was painful I decided it was time to stop. Despite the offer of a four-year contract in a technical position at Juventus, where he enjoyed perhaps his most successful spell as a player, the Italian decided to stay loyal to the club that had shocked world football a year earlier by bringing him to Dubai. “I wanted to be honest and immediately informed our Chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah, with whom I have a great relationship,” he says. “We talked about ideas the club already had and decided I would stay on at Al Ahli for another three years in a managerial role. I’ll also be working to promote football in a part of the world in which it is really taking off. I would have liked to play on for another year but, in this condition, I would have let the club down, knowing that I
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w w w . a l a h licl u b . a e
“I had various offers such as from Juventus and the Italian Federation but because of my good relationship with the Al Ahli Club and the Chairman and also the fact that my family is comfortable here in Dubai I thought that the best decision was to stay here.” could not play at that standard of football with my knee problems. Now I’m 38 and have won at national and international level and I’m happy with what I have achieved.” “I had various offers, such as from Juventus and the Italian Federation, but because of my good relationship with the Club and the Chairman and also the fact that my family is comfortable here in Dubai I thought that the best decision was to stay here.“ Cannavaro began his professional career playing for a Napoli team in the Italian Serie A that boasted the legendary Diego Maradona – now manager at Al Wasl – within its ranks.
He played for the club between 1992 and 1995 before moving to Parma where he spent seven successful years – winning the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Cup in 1999 and another Coppa Italia in 2002. A two-year stint at Inter Milan followed where top honours eluded him despite being part of a strong team that included the likes of Hernan Crespo and Francesco Coco. Cannavaro moved to Juventus in 2004, linking up with former Parma teammates Lilian Thuram and Gianlugi Buffon and winning two consecutive Serie A titles before his starring role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany.
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‘Juve’ were relegated to Serie B as a result of the infamous match fixing scandal that engulfed Italian football in 2006 and Cannavaro followed manager Fabio Capello to Real Madrid where he was to match his two Serie A titles with two consecutive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008 as well as winning the 2008 Supercopa de Espana. He returned to his beloved ‘Juve’ for one final season in 2009 before deciding the time was right to take on a new challenge here in the UAE with Al Ahli at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. Having scaled such heights on the football field Cannavaro admits it will be hard to leave
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“When I was young I would never have imagined that I would be the captain of the national team and lifting the World Cup and reaching more than 100 caps for ITALY. It was one of the best moments of my life and I’ll remember it forever.” his playing days behind but he’s relishing the opportunity of a fresh start and a new career off the pitch. “My emotions are mixed because when I think about the past and the career I’ve had, I’m happy and I have very fond memories but obviously I’m sad to leave it,” says Cannavaro, who made 136 appearances for Italy to become the most capped player in the national team’s history. “When I was young I would never have imagined that I would be the captain of the national team and lifting the World Cup and reaching more than 100 caps for Italy. It was one of the best moments of my life and I’ll remember it forever. “But I’m starting a new career and a new challenge here at the club where I finished my playing career. “The football field is what I miss most but now I have more time off to prepare for my future and also to maybe start taking my coaching badges.” Cannavaro, along with Maradona, is spearheading something of a revolution in UAE football as more and more of the game’s biggest names are becoming associated with teams in the region. Al Ahli have been busy in the summer
transfer market, recruiting Brazilian striker Grafite – a former German Player of the Year – from Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga; fellow countryman and hotshot striker Jaja from Turkish club Trabzonspor; Chilean attacking midfielder Luis Jimenez, a former Lazio and Inter Milan player; and Lebanese defender Youssef Mohamad from Germany’s Cologne to fill the permitted places for foreign players in the team. They’ve also recruited UAE national team member Amir Mubarak. At his unveiling, Jimenez revealed the growing interest in UAE football that his stirring among his fellow professionals, something he believes is helped by the presence of stars such as Cannavaro. “People around the world know that football in the UAE is improving a lot,” said Jimenez. “It’s a league that is getting better every year. They’re always trying to bring in better players and a lot of the players in the Chilean national team are calling me now asking me to find them a team in the UAE. The fact that fact that Fabio is still here in the UAE also gives added value to the league.” There’s still some way to go before the standards are comparable to those in Europe but strides are being made in the right direction and Cannavaro’s first task is to get Al Ahli back
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to where they belong on the domestic front – challenging for top honours. The club are one of the most successful in UAE Football League history – winning the Championship five times and the President Cup seven times – but indifferent form has seen them finish eighth in the table for each of the last two seasons. The Italian believes the new signings, along with the recruitment of former Manager Ivan Hasek, who guided the team to their last title triumph in 2008-2009, will help get Al Ahli back on track while laying solid foundations for the future of the league. “Obviously I played for the top clubs such as Juve and Inter so at the moment it’s difficult to make a comparison with European standards,” says Cannavaro. “But here the league is improving and that’s the most important thing. They have to keep bringing international players because they bring experience and quality to the league. “I think the new signings will give us better quality than last year and get us to the same level as Al Jazira, who won the league last season, so that’s the important thing for this year.” If even just a fraction of Cannavaro’s success rubs off on his team the future for Al Ahli looks very bright indeed.
Lena Erdil LENA Erdil is one of the most exciting talents in women’s windsurfing. The Turkish Slalom champion has been turning heads since she finished second in the Youth World Championships in 2007 and is enjoying an outstanding season on the Professional Windsurfers Association World Tour this year. She enjoyed a breakthrough PWA World Championships victory at the Aruba Hi Winds Grand Slam in June before taking fourth place at the Alacati PWA World Cup in her Turkish homeland in August. She’s also got brains to go with her sporting ability and good looks and has just finished a university degree. SFME: What attracted you to windsurfing and how did you get started in the sport? LE: My parents both windsurf so I grew up with it. I started at the age of 11 – my dad taught me and I’ve been windsurfing pretty much ever since. I’ve taught windsurfing in various windsurfing schools and now my family and I have our own centre in Bodrum/ Ortakent in Turkey. What really attracts me to windsurfing is the sense of freedom you get when you’re on the water. It doesn’t matter how bad your day has been – when you’re on the water windsurfing you can forget about all your worries and just give yourself up to the wind, the waves and the sea. SFME: What physical work do you have to do in the gym to prepare for top level windsurfing competition and what areas do you need to be strong in to succeed as a windsurfer? LE: I think in competition experience is perhaps the most important thing. But keeping fit and above all spending as much time as possible on the water is allimportant if you want to succeed as a windsurfer. I think it’s all in the mind – you need to love it, want it and believe in yourself and then you can make it happen. In the winter when I couldn’t really go windsurfing – because I was attending university – I was working out in the gym with a TRX suspension trainer. It’s nice because you can train all your muscles by using your body weight and without having to swap around or wait for the right machine. SFME: You’re an attractive girl – do you see this as an asset as it obviously helps draw attention to your sport which can only be a good thing? LE: I don’t think that being attractive has had any major impact on my windsurfing career yet, but if it helps draw attention to the sport I love, it can only be a good thing! SFME: Who was your inspiration/hero in the sport when you were starting out? LE: There are a few girls like Karin Jaggi and the Moreno Twins that I’ve always looked up to, seeing that they had made their dreams come true and were doing what they loved for a living has definitely motivated and inspired me to also keep following my dream of becoming a professional windsurfer.
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SFME: What are your long-term goals in the sport – how much do you think you can achieve? LE: I want to become slalom world champion and also start competing in wave sailing. SFME: What do you like to do for fun when you’re not competing? LE: I like to read and travel and do other kinds of sports like wakeboarding, surfing, volleyball, biking etc. Just spending time and chilling out with friends is important to me as well. SFME: If you could have a dinner party with any three people – past or present – who would they be? LE: Realistically, my boyfriend and two of my really good friends from high school… but if I have to give a more creative answer maybe Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche and Albert Einstein. SFME: What’s your most treasured possession? LE: I treasure my windsurfing equipment. SFME: Tell us something most people don’t know about Lena Erdil? LE: I just finished my bachelor degree in Politics and Philosophy at the University of Sussex in England, my mum is German and I speak five languages! Did you know that?