Graham Johnson Shares his exercise routines September 22, 2009 Amazulufc.net offers you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what goes on during a typical Usuthu training session. AmaZulu’s Technical Team is made up of different departments.

The team is headed by Neil Tovey, former skipper of Bafana Bafana, and includes Calvin Petersen, the newest member of the team, who is a former Bafana Bafana striker, as well as Graham Johnson, a former goalie for Manning Rangers and trainer of Bafana Bafana.

All three individuals form a diverse component in the technical team under the guidance of Clive Barker.

It’s a blessing that Johnson started his career as a striker and converted to a stopper, a move he says gives him a good understanding of a strikers movements.

So how does he prepare his understudies at training? See pictures below or view the video on the AmaZulu facebook page.





Johnson explains: “We do various kinds of training on different aspects of the game. Normally before we begin we start of by getting the blood running and we do a bit of stomach sit ups stretching the muscles.

“Most importantly we do a lot of handling – always I try to involve the ball. Even on working on agility we try to involve the ball.”

AmaZulu has taken a lot of critism for conceding too many goals - even conceding unnecessarily during games that they have gone onto win.

“For a goalie it is not easy. If defenders and midfielders do not cover up for him by closing down opponents then the keeper will be exposed, but that’s when the bravery of the keeper will be called upon”, said the former Bafana Bafana goal trainer.

Before a match you’ve seen how Graham takes his three men on the field while Petersen takes up the strikers.

Johnson offers us a brief analysis of the three Usuthu keepers.

“Nick Gindre is good organizer and talker. Sometimes a player don’t like being shouted at, but its unfortunate keepers have to do that and Nick does that well,” Johnson says of the Argentine born English international.

“Then looking at Kati (Sibongiseni Mzimela), he is still an under-study, but has improved a lot. He’s the type of player that always wants to know about his improvement.

“I’ve been impressed by his consistency. If he were to take over the number jersey from anyone it would be because he has pushed himself and worked hard, not because anyone is doing badly”, said Johnson.

“Then there is Zambian international Kalilio Kakonje whose experience is good to the team. Even with him, he has improved a lot from the day he joined us,” he said of the Kakonje who recently played in a World Cup Qualifier defeat at the hands of Nigeria.


Article by amazulufc.net journalist Nhlanhla Brilliant Mkhathini