Football clubs' coaching staffs have grown in size in recent years. PSV is no exception. Why, really? And who are the people who help the players get the most out of themselves and the team every day? In 'Behind the team' Adri van Dooren (56), material keeper at PSV and for many years a valued force at De Herdgang.
What do you notice that football has changed in recent years?
"On training camps like this one, we have to bring a lot more than we used to. We really have everything with us these days. From undershirts to underpants and of course many different materials to train with. The only things we don't yet have to bring are football shoes and shin guards. That's up to players themselves. I tell you, in the coming years it will only become more and more."
What do you always bring from the Netherlands?
"Besides the regular training gear such as balls per player and staff member, three packages of clothing. For the medical staff we take about six or seven bags or boxes of stuff. And we always pack peanut butter, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate spread and jam. Often that can't be found in the places we go."
What can you do here or better than if you were training in the Netherlands?
"In terms of work, the difference is not great. For me, preparing a football training is not very different than in Eindhoven. Here you only have the weather with you, so the material wears less."
Tell me what your activities during a training camp are
"It actually starts for me a few weeks before we travel to the location. I need to know how many people in total are coming along, which players are joining, which staff members and what training equipment is needed on location. I pack all of those. A few hours before the plane finally leaves, I make sure all the gear is already at the airport and everything is checked in. Once we arrive at the destination airport (in this case Doha, ed.) it goes exactly in reverse order. The players and staff travel on to the hotel, I make sure all the stuff gets there as well."
What does a day in Qatar look like for you?
" My day here in Qatar starts in the morning around 8 a.m.. At that time we get back from the hotel the washed and dried gear from the previous day. I fold the clothes, then make sets of them and distribute them to the players. About an hour before the start of a training session, I or fellow equipment keeper Martijn op den Buijs travel to the training field to make sure that training gear is on the fields on time and the balls are properly inflated. Afterwards, we collect the gear and return it to the hotel. Since the selection often trains twice a day, this scene repeats itself later in the day. After the last training session, we do the laundry, which is often in the evening."
How is your bond with the players?
"Pretty good. With some you have a little more contact than others, but it's not bad with anyone. People will recognize that from the bond with their own colleagues."
This is not your first training camp with PSV, can you share with us a special, fun, funny or crazy story from the past?
"In Verbier I was once well fooled by some players. I had forgotten to lock the tailgate, which of course was full of stuff. The guys realized that and put the lid ajar. As I drove away, of course, everything thundered out of the van. Then I could start all over again.
