Orlando Pirates’ strength and conditioning coach, Helmy Gueldich, was often seen celebrating goals with players during Jose Riveiro’s tenure at the club. However, he has notably been ‘absent’ this season.
Gueldich joined the club in August 2023 and helped secure three trophies, including the Nedbank Cup, under Riveiro, who is now the head coach of Al Ahly.
Previously with Tanzanian giants Young Africans, Gueldich has not been seen on the bench lately. Since coach Abdeslam Ouaddou took over this season, Rust Ruan has been listed as the conditioning coach and has sat on the bench during matches.
Gueldich, the Tunisian conditioning coach who previously worked with Kaizer Chiefs mentor Nasreddine Nabi at Young Africans, was seen on a hospital bed at the start of pre-season. After leg surgery, he shared an image on social media along with a message.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HELMY GUELDICH?
FARPost has learned that Gueldich is still at the club but now serves a slightly different role. He is among the club’s conditioning coaches, working with the team in preparation for matches. However, he has not been travelling with the team recently. His primary responsibility is to remain behind and work with players who are not part of the match-day squad.
On Saturday, as the Buccaneers defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final after the dreaded penalty shoot-out in Pretoria, Gueldich was working with the players, not travelling with the team. Typically, his focus is also on players like Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane, who are focusing on their fitness.
The highly rated strength and conditioning coach enjoyed success in Tanzania, where he remains highly sought after. He won a treble with Yanga before leaving the club at the end of the 2022/23 season. Gueldich is not only a seasoned professional but also a former player, holding a PhD in Exercise Science.
Former Bucs captain Innocent Maela has described the conditioning coach as a “very qualified, humble, and smart guy.” Maela credited the 35-year-old for drilling them very hard.
“He is very important to us, a very qualified, humble guy, smart guy. He has drilled us very hard, really strong, and it shows in our matches. Every time we go one goal down, we are able to come back and find an extra gear and go all the way to win,” the retired Bucs captain said in a previous interview.
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