Bitter setback for FC St. Pauli: Smith is out of training camp!

Bitter setback for FC St. Pauli: Smith is out of training camp!

The start of FC St. Pauli's training camp on Friday was overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events. Defensive player Eric Smith surprisingly canceled the first training session after less than half an hour. A quick look at the situation makes it clear that Smith was not feeling well - he held his right hand on his stomach during warm-ups and left the field to be treated in the function building. Club websites reported a general “malaise”, which gives coach Alexander Blessin hope that it is only a temporary illness. Confirmation followed on Saturday: Smith will not be able to take part in the second day of training either, and his appearance in the upcoming test match against Karlsruher SC on Sunday is in jeopardy.

The situation is particularly unfortunate since Smith, who can play multiple positions in defense, is considered a central part of the team. In recent weeks he has proven to be important for the integration of the new additions and the defensive combination. He will also be deputy captain alongside Marcel Hartel next season, while Jackson Irvine will lead the team as captain.

Intensive preparation and future challenges

Despite the unsuccessful start to the training camp, the team had previously had a successful phase. The team has been training again in Hamburg since Tuesday, July 18th, after completing intensive training sessions in South Tyrol. According to the club's reports, Smith can look back on the hard work of the last few days with a positive mood, even if he finds the digestion of his day off not sufficient for full recovery.

In these preparatory games, FC St. Pauli showed an impressive performance by winning six games, including an outstanding 7-1 against Austria Lustenau. Smith points out that the games against Sabah FK and Arminia Bielefeld were the bigger challenges because they gave the players the opportunity to play at full length and test their fitness. The anticipation for the upcoming game against Hapoel Tel Aviv on July 22nd is palpable. Smith sees it as challenging as the club has a great international reputation.

Injury prevention in football

Given Smith's current unwellness, the topic of injury prevention is becoming increasingly important in the football world. Studies show that the demands on players in terms of strength, speed and endurance are consistently high, while there is an increased risk of injury, especially due to factors that cannot always be controlled. Newer approaches, such as multimodal injury prevention programs and implementation of evidence-based practice, are considered key to reducing this risk. Programs such as FIFA 11+ or specific eccentric training, such as the Nordic Hamstring Curl, are already showing positive effects on reducing injuries.

Training loads should also be evaluated regularly to help reduce injuries and maximize player fitness. In addition, a healthy diet and sufficient fluid intake improves performance and can have a preventative effect. Taking these aspects into account, it is hoped that Eric Smith can soon be reintegrated into training and thus be able to make his contribution to the upcoming season.