Sun, Jun 01, 2014 page18

• Kickboxer knocks Sneijder into shape for World Cup

  • AFP, ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands
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  Wesley Sneijder is back from the FIFA World Cup wilderness — and has world heavyweight kickboxing champion Gokhan Saki to thank for helping him back into the light.

  Less than a year ago, Sneijder was dropped by Dutch coach Louis van Gaal and a few weeks ago, doubts were being raised as to whether the temperamental, but brilliant midfielder would be on the plane to the tournament in Brazil.

  Yet the 29-year-old member of the Netherlands team that reached the 2010 World Cup final is back in fighting shape — and in Van Gaal’s good books.

  Sneijder, who plays for Turkey’s Galatasaray, was depressed and unfit when he turned to Saki to get back in World Cup shape. The 103kg Dutch-Turkish fighter imposed a militant training routine on Sneijder in between his fights at kickboxing’s Glory World Series.

  “Thanks to him, I got back to my optimal weight, like when I was 22 years old,” the former Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter player said. “In terms of footwork and agility, I am back to my old level.”

  The difference was noted at the Netherlands’ World Cup training camp in Portugal this week and Van Gaal now calls Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben one of the world’s best strike forces.

  Though it was Saki who put him back in shape, the Galatasaray star also praised Van Gaal for making him get back to work even though relations between the two have never been easy, with the coach a frequent critic of Sneijder’s.

  When Van Gaal returned for a second spell as national coach in 2012, he took the captain’s armband from Sneijder and gave it to Manchester United striker Van Persie and Bayern Munich’s Robben.

  Sneijder was outraged, but Van Gaal said it was a because he had moved from Western Europe’s star leagues to Turkey’s Super Lig.

  “I cannot understand why a player under 30 and of his caliber would make such a choice,” Van Gaal said at the time.

  Sneijder’s performances for Galatasaray were unpredictable and in the middle of last year, Van Gaal dropped him from the national squad for a series of friendlies.

  “Wesley is more present at the gala parties than in the opposition half,” Van Gaal said in a jibe at Sneijder’s fitness at the time.

  As recently as a month ago, some Dutch media outlets were questioning if Sneijder — who in 2010 also won the Champions League with Inter — would be going to Brazil.

  Yet Sneijder had already started training with Saki by then.

  “With hindsight, I can see that Louis van Gaal was right. I was not working enough. My level had gone down,” he added.

  At the start of last month, Van Gaal welcomed the progress made by his star midfielder, but added that “Sneijder must prove that he can again be the superb player he was in 2010.”

  Ready to work and sharp on the ball, Sneijder’s performance at the training camp seems to have convinced the arch-disciplinarian, who will assume the helm of Man United after the World Cup.

  “I read that it was thanks to me, but its really thanks to him,” Van Gaal said. “If he keeps this form, he can bring a lot to the team.”

  Some reports say the coach would like to take Sneijder to Manchester, but while their relationship has improved, Sneijder has said he is not ready for that yet.
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