Herbalife has sponsored the Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM) football science workshop series titled “Fitness Assessment and Evaluation as part of our CSR initiative” recently.
In a statement, the health and wellness company said it had joined hands with MASM and UiTM’s Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation to bring Malaysian football to greater heights through sports science.
“This initiative forms part of a broader endeavour to elevate the local sports scene by propelling football science to foster the development of Malaysian talent,” the Herbalife statement read.
It said the workshop took place at UiTM Shah Alam sports complex and attended by coaches and trainers from across Malaysia.
Participants were provided with a comprehensive toolbox of assessment applied knowledge, techniques and strategies to enhance the performance levels of their players.
MASM vice president associate professor Dr Mahenderan Appukutty said football, being a highly demanding sport, requires athletes to possess exceptional physical abilities.
“To reach peak performance levels, it is essential to understand how to assess and evaluate the fitness of our players accurately.
“This workshop is aimed at equipping all participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to optimise the performance of our teams through scientific means,” he said.
The workshop, led by expert speakers, featured a virtual session with Adam Waterson, a member of Herbalife’s Fitness Advisory Board and the head of strength and conditioning for LA Galaxy, a US professional soccer team.
This included sharing his wealth of career experience with LA Galaxy, strength training philosophy and programmes, performance metrics and analytics, as well as nutritional strategies for pre, during and post-game fuelling and recovery for players.
Adam also shed light on the importance of fostering human connections and training players with a personal touch.
“I think it comes down to being a coach who shows empathy and understanding for the players, as well as the methods that would bring the best out of each individual player.
“This is why, in LA Galaxy, players get individual programmes, ranging from nutrition and strength programmes to power and conditioning programmes in the field. Every player is unique and it is important to look after them individually,” he said.
Adam emphasised the importance of nutrition to hydrate and fuel players throughout training sessions, such as by providing Herbalife24 CR7 Drive for sufficient carbohydrates, electrolytes and fluids.
He also highlighted that it is vital for players to obtain adequate amounts of nutrients to support them in their back-to-back matches and rigorous training sessions.
Associate professor Dr Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin, the dean of Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM Shah Alam and head of fitness of Selangor Football Association said, “The support offered by Herbalife has enabled us to create a platform where experts, practitioners and researchers from diverse backgrounds could come together to share insights and exchange ideas, foster advancements in the science of football and promote the overall well-being of our home-grown athletes.”
Football Association of Malaysia head of high performance and soccer coach Reuben Jude Balraj spoke of the significant role of industry professionals in sharing their insights.
He said, “It is crucial for people from the industry to share our insights as it helps players and coaches prepare for real-world situations and to practice acquired knowledge by applying their skills and expertise on the field effectively”.
The public-private smart partnership extends beyond the workshop to a range of initiatives, including Herbalife’s recent sponsorship of 12 student cyclists from UiTM, enabling their participation in the national cycling tour, Le Tour de IPT 2023.
