Omar Al Duri, a renowned fitness and nutrition expert based in the UAE, has been called up for international duty with the Ghana national football team at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
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The London-born UAE resident, who co-founded Platform 3 gym in Dubai Marina and has recently been campaigning for healthier lunches at schools across the UAE, is now charged with making sure the Ghana squad are in the best shape possible to challenge for World Cup glory.
Al Duri will ensure the team is in peak physical condition, through a specially tailored training regime, physiotherapy and a strictly controlled diet.
With their first game on Saturday 30th May against a tough Austrian side, and with 2007 champions Argentina also in their group, Ghana will need to be not only in their best form, but their best physical shape.
Al Duri has gained an international reputation for his work in the UAE where he prides himself on getting the best out of people using physiotherapy, personal training and nutrition, and the Ghana FA have seen how his talent and expert advice is vital to their World Cup ambitions.
Earlier this year at the African Youth Championships held in Senegal, the team excelled and Al Duri became a fundamental part of the coaching staff.
Ghana’s highly rated Yaw Yeboah, who is in the youth team at Manchester City and was voted the Most Valuable Player at the African Youth Championships earlier this year, is delighted to have Al Duri back in the Ghana camp at the World Cup.
Great result against Colombia! @ghanafaofficial finish their pre World Cup games with a 2-0 victory! Well done! pic.twitter.com/FoGfAGJ5xN
— Omar Al-Duri (@Omaralduri) May 24, 2015
“Omar has been great for us,” Yeboah said. “He has motivated us and trained our bodies to cope at the highest level. The confidence we have knowing our bodies are up for the fight is something not to be underestimated.
“We know, walking out on to that pitch, that we are fitter than the other team, which is a huge boost.
“He is part of this squad, not just in making sure we are in the best physical condition but a friend for all of us too, and that is important at tournaments like this.”
Al Duri, who coaches women and men’s football teams in the UAE, is delighted to be able to play his part in the team’s progress.
“For me, working with such a great bunch of lads is such a joy,” Al Duri explained. “They are motivated, keen to impress and hard working.
Spirits are high at the camp as the team meet & discuss expectations for the @u20worldcup in New Zealand! First up a friendly with Colombia
— Omar Al-Duri (@Omaralduri) May 23, 2015
“My job is about making sure they are in the best shape possible, and combined with their natural skill, this is a team that will go far in the competition.”
Al Duri continued: “There are players in this squad who will be household names in the years to come, so it makes me enormously proud to play a part in their development and teach them the correct mentality about fitness and looking after yourself.”
Ghana are in Group B for the 2015 edition of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and will play their group games in both Wellington and Auckland.
The 2015 Under-20 World Cup will see new champions being crowned, as holders France, who won the tournament in 2013, did not qualify for this year’s event.
