Steve returns to his other ‘passion’; starts preparation for the 'Annapurna Trail 300!

Steve Herbots also has a passion for marathons! He has taken part in more than 10 marathons in the last 17 years!

Steve Herbots is not only an experienced and qualified football coach. It s not only that the Belgian coach has had a formidable experience working as a coach in Belgium, England, Ghana, Egypt, Vietnam, Mali, Seychelles, and India for the last three years as the chief coach of United Sports SC. 

He does not have feathers only in his kitty of gifting more than 10 international footballers like Ramy Bensebain, Ilias Chair and Anass Zaroury, Karim Hafez who have participated in competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, Confederation Cup, and the World Cup. 

Steve Herbots also has a passion for marathons! He has taken part in more than 10 marathons in the last 17 years! 

He stopped it for the last four years. But he has again recharged himself, brought the passion back, and set focus on the Annapurna Trail 300, the 300-kilometer marathon that starts from Pokhra and ends in Pokhra around Annapurna Mountain! 

The event will take place within the next six years. Steve explained, "After four years I resumed from zero, and started preparation with a 9 minute-run and 9-minute walk 15 weeks ago. I already have run five-half marathons since starting the 9 minutes running and 9 minutes walking. The preparation has been quite intense after I finished 26 kilometer, barefoot in 2 hours 21 minutes 7 seconds at Kalyani on Saturday." 

Steve developed his passion for marathons around 17 years ago when he was 28 and according to the coach, one of his friends from the Netherlands ignited him to start running in marathons. 

"I first ran in 10 kilometers and then in the same year, he ran from France to the Netherlands down the Belgian coast for 82 kilometers. I also participated in Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, and the 73-kilometer Ballon D'Alsace, French Alps (73km). I also have found one 100 kilometer-marathon which takes place in Pune every year. I am also planning to participate in the event next year," informed the 42-year-old coach. 

Meanwhile, when asked about his expectations in the forthcoming Second Division I-League, Steve explained that he is waiting for all the regular footballers to join the training. 

A few of his regular footballers were in the Bengal team for the Santosh Trophy and have yet to join the training. He is expecting a few more, joining the team's training after the RFDL ends. United Sports will kick off in the League on 26th January against Klasa.

Steve however seems satisfied with the team's goalkeeper Raunak Ghosh's fitness and at the same time, the coach is hopeful that Sahil Harijon, the striker who is undergoing physiotherapy treatment by a specialized physiotherapist to return to the field will fitness, will be able to deliver his best in the League.

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Jan 12, 2025 | 7:52 AM

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Jan 12, 2025 | 7:52 AM

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