Hanging out with Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls!
I cannot believe it is more than a year since I was filming with Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls!
They are an exceptional group of sportspeople and a credit to their country. Have a butchers at the feature I made and fronted on Jamaica’s finest netballers…
Palace winger, Yannick Bolasie, Leon, and Back 2 Action founder, Rayan Wilson
I recently found myself stranded in the middle of the west country – on the hottest day of the year – with a group of professional footballers. Technically, they were on holiday. But this was a vacation with a difference.
Rayan Wilson is the founder of Back 2 Action, a business that prepares professional footballers to perform at the peak of their abilities and push their talent to new levels. Forty footballers – from Premier League to Non League level – go to him ahead of their club’s pre season, to get into the best possible shape and give them the best chance of impressing on their return to work.
The softly spoken coach works with Premier League players including Yannick Bolasie, Nacer Chadli and Glenn Murray throughout the season, and runs the increasingly popular Back 2 Action summer camp with elite performance professionals. This summer former GB Olympic gold medalist, Darren Campbell MBE, put on special sessions for the attendees at the camp.
When I was invited along to the pre pre-season camp, I jumped at the chance – and even brought my boots down on the day. However, they remained in my bag. This camp is not for Power League ‘I had a trial once’ players – it is a space for super focused footballers.
“Players come to me because they want to improve”, Wilson tells me. “They are ready to make a commitment to themselves to push onto the next level. I don’t want to convince someone to work harder – they have to have made that decision and show me they will stick to it”.
And when you look at the success of Wilson’s clients, you know you are not listening to a man reciting from GCSE psychology text books or the latest self help best seller.
One of Back 2 Action’s biggest success stories is Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie. When Wilson started working with the West Londoner he was playing in League One. Bolasie was a player with great talent but injuries and a lack of confidence were preventing him from pushing on. Today, after hundreds of hours of work with Wilson, Bolasie is one the most exciting players in the Premier League and an established international with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Palace man was also a stand out performer at the Africa Cup of Nations – a tournament Wilson was by Bolasie’s side everyday.
Another example is Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli. After a disappointing first season in the Premier League he also turned things around with the help of Back 2 Action. The Belgium international scored 13 goals in the last campaign and has looked a completely different player since he has started working with Wilson.
Success has attracted new business and this summer Chadli’s team mate, Danny Rose, became Back 2 Action’s latest recruit. And watching the sessions take place, while I am in no rush to join in, I can see why Back 2 Action is becoming so popular. The players are bonded by their desire to succeed.
Fitness drills and small-sided games take place in front of me at the camp and every player follows Wilson’s instructions to the letter. I ask if he is happy with the day? “I am never happy”, Wilson replies with a very slight grin, but enough seriousness to make his point. “There is always something to improve on. That is the kind of attitude I want from the players I work with. It is how we improve”.
For further information on Back 2 Action click here.
I recently had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Rashad from FBB TV, a youth media channel ran by Football Beyond Borders.
I am all about encouraging the next generation to get involved in the sports media, so it was an important project to get involved in.
Have a butchers at what the talented young people put together.
You can find out more about FBB TV here: http://www.footballbeyondborders.org