MORGAN PIEK
Indian batting great, Sachin Tendulkar, has sung the praises of former Proteas and India fitness and physical trainer, Adrian le Roux, of Bloemfontein. Le Roux worked with the Indian national side from 2001 to 2003 and was hailed by the batting maestro for keeping him fit, making physical training enjoyable.
Tendulkar said earlier in his career not much attention and focus were paid to training and specific training as such.
In an interview in his native India, Tendulkar said Le Roux knew exactly which boundaries he could push with the players.
"The best time in my life when I felt I really enjoyed training was when Adrian le Roux joined our team. He never forced us. He said whatever you feel like doing, you come to the gym and do it and I'll monitor you.
"I loved Adrian because he said you could go out and eat; all he did was push us to the limit where we felt okay, fine, this is what we can do. When the training got boring we were back in the room. Adrian knew where to stop," said Tendulkar.
Speaking to Courant, Le Roux said the words by Tendulkar are humbling and he was fortunate to be in that position at the time when Indian cricket was at its best.
"Those are nice words by Sachin. We try and create the environment for the guys to train in. The normal training principles still apply, but you try and make it an enjoyable journey for them.
"Slowly but surely you try and improve the players' fitness levels and sort of make it a part of their culture so they feel that training is part of what they must do as professional cricketers."
Le Roux is currently involved in the Sports Performance Clinic as well as the Indian Premier League team, the Kolkata Knight Riders.
