20150913_173621INTERVIEW WITH MARCELA FERRARI ASSISTANT COACH OF PABLO LIMA AND FERNANDO BELASTEGUIN

Can you introduce yourself ?

I am Marcela Ferrari, born in 1981, responsible for the training of Fernando Belasteguin and Pablo Lima and responsible for the School of Padel by Star Padel, Fernando Belasteguin's club in Barcelona.

You are also a player of padel on the WPT circuit?

As I love this sport and want to keep fit, I continue to play on the Catalan circuit and when the WPT comes to Barcelona, ​​if I can, I take the opportunity to do so. For example this year, I did not play but I try in general.

Your best ranking on the WPT?

I'm not going to say the best (laughs) but on the Catalan circuit which is the strongest (in Spain), I'm n ° 5, when there are players like Lucia Sainz (N ° 9 WPT) and Marta Marrero (N ° 3 WPT), who come to play on this circuit. (Editor's note: Marcela plays on the Catalan circuit with Lucia Sainz. Lucia Sainz is the partner of the prodigy Marta Ortega on the WPT).

How long have you been training Bela and Pablo?

I have been taking care of Bela for 4 years now… and it is true that it happened very quickly. Mikel Sciorilli is the main coach of the team (Editor's note: he lives in Madrid and follows the players on the tournaments). So I am Mikel's relay in Barcelona because I live like the 2 players in Barcelona. I have also been taking care of Pablo Lima since January of this year.

How many people are part of the team around the Bela and Pablo pair?

We are numerous. First there is Tony Martinez, for physical preparation, then Mikel Sciorilli who is the head coach and then there is a team that is invisible.

For me the team that is invisible and is very important, the base is the wives of the players, who are there during this tournament in Monaco but who are also present with the players, during the most difficult times, see them in the House. And this work is fundamental and the basis of everything, because otherwise they would have neither the rage nor the strength nor the joy of playing on the courts.

Each then has its physiotherapist and other people for outdoor activities during padel.

What is your role exactly?

Being with them in Barcelona, ​​like Bela and Pablo live in Barcelona. As they don't have Mikel on site (he is in Madrid), my role is to be in contact with Mikel who gives me the training sessions, to give the objectives for each session, to fulfill them. I am looking for sparring partners, the courts (outdoor or indoor). Normally we train at Star Padel which is Bela's club, but sometimes you have to look for a covered court, look for sparrings and they train 100%. In truth with them it is very easy, because they always train at 200%. My role is simply to be there, to support them in everything and then to report back to Mikel.

How does a typical week without a tournament go for these players?

When they are in tournaments, it is to watch them play in streaming because I cannot travel because of my work. When they're not in a tournament, it's about working, training hard. They do physical work first in the morning, then padel… If there is one who wants a double session or if Mikel is planning another session, it is to be with them. In general they spend 1h30 to 2h per day on the court of padel, but it depends on the day, at most 2h to 2h30 per day to meet the objectives. What is good with them, every week when they are there they want to improve something and they always go further. They don't come to train, no, they demand a lot, and the whole team we have to be attentive all week.

How is it still possible to improve a player who has been the number 1 for so many years like Bela, who has won everything ... how is it possible to bring him something more as a coach or co-coach?

I asked myself this question. Is it possible to continue to improve? And the answer is yes, it is possible to continue to improve. Do you realize that yes… It's not over the year but over the week that they are constantly improving small details, to have more speed, to return ever lower balls… always . That's why I think they are number 1, every day they ask for more of themselves, they don't just have a good shot, if they can have better and even better… they don't not looking around but watching their own game which they can improve. And do the job well, something must be improved every day. If it's physical, technical, tactical… they can rely on this great team.

Bela and Pablo's qualities?

For me first, it's the person. The fact that they have agreed to integrate a woman into their team for me is incredible.

Otherwise the qualities: they are workers, very simple, they know what they must do at each moment in their work, a job well done, they fight ... these are not really the blows in themselves but it is is the fight, the constancy, the sacrifice, the work and off the court they are great people.

 

How do Bela and Pablo complement each other?

Both players are very combative people. We did not know what the combination of these 2 players would give, but in the end, I say today that it gives a perfect cocktail. They complement each other because they each know very well what their space is and they both love the same thing: winning!

What are the differences between the pair Bela-Juan Martin Diaz and the pair Bela-Pablo Lima

It's a question I've never been asked ... For me, Juan Martin is a genius and I admire him, but I never trained him. Also, for me to have the players Bela and Pablo Lima in Barcelona is something very special. They are different and I live it differently too. As far as I'm concerned, I'm looking at the present and the Bela / Lima pair can do an amazing tandem. Every thing has its stage and for me it's a very nice and nice stage.

Are there other women like you who coach men or are you the only one on the circuit?

At the professional level, there are great female coaches like Neki (Editor's note: Neki Berwig coach of the female pair Patty Llaguno / Eli Amatriain n ° 3 of the WPT) but on the men's circuit, not that I know of. There should be more elsewhere, why not? Of course you can't keep up with their pace, but it's more about being with them, encouraging them, correcting them, being a traveling companion if necessary. A woman can do it. Bela is the first player to take a woman on his team and lead by example that it is possible. And it doesn't go too badly for him, right? He doesn't have a bad team, does he? (laughs)

Mikel is the chief coach who counts on me in Barcelona. This is 4 years that I take care of Bela and it will be a year with Pablo. And I do not think any of them have noticed if it's a woman or a man. They know that I give everything and they are happy and that's what counts.

Interview carried out on September 13, 2015 in Monaco during the World Padel Tour by Kristina CLEMENT for Padel Magazine.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.