Source: Radio New Zealand
Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai has dealt with a hamstring injury for most of the season. Shane Wenzlick / Photosport.nz
An injury-hit Auckland FC could see out the A-League season without a fitness coach and the club still will not divulge why they suddenly parted ways with Elias Boukarim last month.
Boukarim had been the club’s inaugural head of performance and the Australian was involved with fitness and injury prevention. He was known for being a hard taskmaster.
The club said after Boukarim’s unexplained departure he had returned to Sydney to be with family.
On Wednesday coach Steve Corica was still tight-lipped about why Boukarim had left after a season and a half saying he “would prefer not to” elaborate further.
“It’s not great when you lose someone of his experience and what he did for the club was excellent and we want to thank him for that.”
Corica did not believe the team’s current injury toll of six unavailable players for Sunday’s game against Perth Glory in Auckland was related to not having a head of performance.
Louis Verstraete of Auckland FC is making his way back from injury. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Captain Hiroki Sakai was sidelined again, for up to a month, after experiencing pain in his right hamstring mid-way through the win over Melbourne City. It is an injury that has plagued him several times this season.
Nando Pijnaker sprained his ankle on the training pitch ahead of the derby against the Wellington Phoenix and is still a couple of weeks away from playing, as is Marlee François who has bone bruising on his foot.
Goalkeeper Oli Sail suffered a season-ending knee injury the last time Auckland played Glory in January and fellow keeper Joe Knowles is also dealing with an injury.
Midfielder Louis Verstrate had a hamstring injury but should be fit enough to return to training in the coming days but he was still in doubt for Sunday’s game.
Corica said not much had changed since Boukarim left when it came to strength and conditioning.
“The programme is still set up obviously Theo’s [Van der Mei] been doing that job since Elias has left, but he was learning from Elias so he’s not quite there yet.
“He’s doing a great job but that is a position we need to fill and look for someone else in the near future.”
Corica said they could “possibly” fill the role by the end of the season.
“Maybe not if we don’t get the right person we will have to continue the way we are and try and find someone for next season.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
