Alef Manga completes six months without playing and will face challenges when he returns

Training in Coritiba more than a month ago, at alternative times, Alef Manga It’s been more than 180 days without playing a football match. Since returning to Curitiba, in October, the athlete has focused on preparing himself physically to wear the white thigh-high jersey.

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Suspended from football for 360 days for manipulating results, Manga hired private consultants to train his physical and tactical aspects while he awaited a decision from the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) on his return to football.

At the beginning of March, he was released to train at Coxa’s CT, at opposite times to the main squad. O OneTwo Sports spoke with physical educator Rodrigo Cruz, one of the professionals responsible for Manga’s preparation after he returned from Cyprus, where he played on loan for Pafos.

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Cruz trained the attacker between December 2023 and February this year. According to him, the athlete was focused on returning to the field during the Paraná Championship, as there was an expectation that the STJD would release him in February, which did not happen.

“He is very focused. I didn’t know him personally. Those who see it from the outside have one vision, and when you start working with them, you have another. Extremely professional, very dedicated, he was committed to returning”, recalls the coach.

“I always talked about returning to a high level, working to return among the best, adding to the group [do Coxa]. At the time, the idea was still to return to the State Championship. He talked a lot about playing at Atletiba again, about becoming champions in Coritiba, playing in Series B and moving the club up,” he says.

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Coritiba: reception for Alef Manga

At the Top Sports football school, where Cruz works, Manga trained in two shifts, every day of the week. According to the educator, it was common for children to recognize the athlete and approach him.

“When he trained here, a lot of children and parents came to ask for an autograph and take a photo. He received this affection, this warmth. He didn’t know how he would be received and he had this question mark. But the time he was here was really cool,” said the coach.

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Afterwards, Manga started training privately with Coritiba’s physical trainer, Valdir Júnior, in a studio. Júnior passed on the best types of training to Cruz, complementing the work.

“He came back out of shape [do Chipre]. But [depois do trabalho], he was already prepared to return. He just wasn’t going to have playing time, but physically he was very well”, explained the educator.

Alef Manga preparing for return to Coritiba

Physical trainer Robson Gomes, who has played for the Atletiba duo, told OneTwo Sports who has already gone through a similar situation to Manga with striker Walter, ex-Athletico.

When he worked at Goiás, Gomes worked separately with the player, who was serving a suspension for doping.

“I was his personal. We trained without uniforms, in a separate location. He dedicated himself fully, but our concern was with the return. While he didn’t have any games, other athletes already had around 20 to 30 in years,” he recalls.

“The concern was also about injury prevention, because there is a long time without playing. The training is equivalent, but it is not comparable. No matter how much control mechanisms you have. This is probably the biggest concern with Alef”, explains the professional.

If the punishment is carried out to the end, Manga could complete around 270 days without playing. For Gomes, in addition to individual preparation, the attacker’s good return to the club also depends on activities with the squad.

“There has to be a great balance so that his return is gradual, but that he can be reintegrated as quickly as possible. And it is necessary to create mechanisms for training games and friendlies, when possible, so that it is as close to the others as possible”, he says.

Alef Manga’s return and Coritiba’s moment

Alef Manga’s punishment completes 360 days in the second half of July. If it is not anticipated, as the player’s lawyers try, Couto Pereira’s return should happen at the end of the first round of Series B.

According to Gomes, if Coxa is in a good moment, Manga’s return and adaptation could be facilitated.

“I think expectations have to be the best possible. Hope that Coritiba is as close to the G4 to facilitate its return”, says the professional.

“He has to understand that the trial created a backlash, because Coxa fans are demanding and know his quality. But you need him completely, his personal and professional side balanced so that he plays as many games as possible”, he adds.