The hard work behind UD Almería kitmen and kitwomen duties
Bernardo, Mari, Juanillo and Mateo are the first to get up each day and the last to go to bed
There are many workers who work their fingers to the bone for a football team, regardless of the squad and the coaching staff, and whose tasks are not often seen despite being of the utmost importance. Doctors, physiotherapists and kitmen/kitwomen are a clear example. The latter are among the first to get up and the last to go to rest. They have to have everything ready before the alarm clock of the players and coaching team members goes off and at the end collect all the equipment so that the next morning it is available to the squad again.
The UD Almería kitmen and kitwomen are Bernardo Hernández, Mari César, Juan Ventaja aka ‘Juanillo’ and Mateo Ruiz. They have been in charge of the countless kilos of equipment to be used at the pre-season training camp in Marbella; from training and casual clothing, to football boots, trainers, balls, dumbbells and much more training stuff. The two coaches trunks as well as a van are full to the brim.
The UD Almeria’s kit manager is Bernardo, whose job is to ensure the players and coaching staff have all their kits prepared and ready for training and match days. He has got the support of Mari Cesar, who is in charge of everything related to the hotel laundry, which is not piece of cake. The Club’s transport system is highly efficient thanks to Juanillo and Mateo, who collect the players and coaches so as to give them a lift from the hotel to the training facilities day after day; they are also responsible for carrying litres and litres of water to make sure the footballers and staff are hydrated at all times.
Players must have their sports gear ready first thing in the morning. Then, when the team members arrive at the hotel, they have to get changed before having lunch first, and then do it again to exercise in the evening. Once the activity is done, it is time to put on the casual clothes. After that, the laundry has to be done... and so on day after day. These employees also have to check the footwear (boots, trainers and flip-flops) and when there is a match, the training wear and kits must be washed too…Nothing but hard work!