The highly experienced fitness coach will work with the Liverpool legend at Al Ettifaq
Bafana Bafana fitness and conditioning coach Kopano Melesi has joined Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard at Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
Melesi has been appointed as the club’s Head of Performance and will closely work with Gerrard to ensure his players are in optimal condition, starting this season.
Al Ettifaq going big on sports science
The Saudi club has opened a Department of Performance and Sports Sciences to enhance the physical aspect of the squad and the South African will oversee its operations.
“Pleased to announce that I have joined Al Ettifaq as Head of Performance. Thank you to @Ahmadhanfoosh for making this move possible,” Melesi wrote on X.
Where has Melesi worked before?
Melesi is a highly experienced strength and conditioning coach who started out in 2013 as the head of football conditioning at the University of Free State before joining Qatar's famed Aspire Academy.
He also worked at the Mahd Academy in Saudi Arabia, which means he will not struggle to settle in at Al Ettifaq.
Melesi was part of coach Hugo Broos’ backroom staff that led Bafana Bafana to an impressive third place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has also previously worked as the national U20 and U23 teams’ sports scientist.
