Renowned South African fitness and conditioning specialist Riedoh Berdien has detailed how he got Tottenham Hotspur star Yves Bissouma fit for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Heading into the 2025 tournament, Bissouma’s participation was in serious doubt following a gruelling six-month stint on the sidelines. In the first half of his English Premier League campaign, Bissouma was plagued by recurring knee and ankle issues, eventually necessitating surgery.
Despite not featuring in a competitive fixture for Spurs since May, Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet showed immense faith in the 29-year-old, naming the Eagles captain in his final squad.
Berdien, whose impressive resume includes a successful tenure with Mamelodi Sundowns, played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between clinical recovery and the high-intensity demands of international football. Working in close tandem with
Tottenham’s medical and sports science departments, Berdien ensured that Bissouma’s return was handled with precision.
WHAT BERDIEN SAID ABOUT BISSOUMA’S RECOVERY
Although Saintfiet handed Bissouma a brief seven-minute cameo during Mali’s World Cup qualifying victory over Madagascar in October, the coach admitted at the time that his star midfielder was far from ‘match ready’ for a major showpiece.
Speaking to FARPost, Berdien emphasised the importance of working together between club and country. “We are in weekly discussions with the players’ clubs, medical, and sports science teams. Training data is shared, weekly and monthly reports are communicated, and we hold regular Zoom meetings. This is always in the player’s best interest.”
The Cape Town-born conditioning guru offered specific praise for the staff at North London. “I have to thank the Spurs medical and sports science team regarding Yves Bissouma; they helped him immensely with his integration. It was vital to have a gradual buildup; he is such an important leader for both club and country. We followed the club-provided rehab programs and carefully managed his field integration with the national team.”
He added that the ultimate goal is a delicate balancing act. “Our mission is to return players to their clubs injury-free. Most players enter AFCON fatigued from club commitments, so we must balance freshness with match fitness.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BISSOUMA
Mali’s journey ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of neighbours Senegal on Saturday. Bissouma was given marching orders by South African referee Abongile Tom.
Questions regarding his long-term future at Tottenham persist. As he enters the final six months of his contract with Tottenham, it remains to be seen if he has a future in North London. While West Ham United and Everton have previously registered interest, Spurs still hold the cards.
They possess an option to activate a one-year contract extension for the former Brighton man.
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