Sports scientist in support staff is helpful: Stephen Constantine

New Delhi: Lamenting the lack of sports scientists in the country, India football coach Stephen Constantine said having an experienced one in Danny Deigan as part of his support staff has helped monitor the side's progress.

"Danny Deigan, one of my other support staff is a sports scientist who has worked in the National Institute for Sports in Australia which is renowned for their discipline, commitment and excellence in the field of sports science," Constantine said in an interview with aiff.com.

"In order to get to the level that he has attained requires hard work and dedication and the highest of qualifications in his field. A sports scientist is much more than a fitness coach; and while we do have fitness coaches in India there are not too many sports scientists around," he added.

Constantine said Danny's exuberance is helping the team make rapid progression on the fitness front. "Apart from the physical aspects, Danny is also responsible for the diet, individual programmes, periodisation programmes, strength and conditioning as well as monitoring player's progress on and off the pitch. It so happens that we have acquired somebody who is young, energetic and willing to do anything to help our national teams," he said.

Constantine said most of his support staff are also helping the junior teams besides being there for the senior national side.

"Even though he and Rogerio Ramos, the goalkeeping coach are the backroom staff for the national team they have willingly agreed to work with any and all of our age group teams in order to help and develop the national team players," he said.

"I don't know about any other national coach who firstly would ask his backroom staff to work with the U-19s and I am not sure how many would agree to do it. But in this case, both have agreed to do so. It's the optimal utilisation of resources," he added.