Read 3 minutesUpdated: June 21, 2026 05:31 PM IST
New Zealand are not the most talented team FIFA World Cup But what they lack in nature, they try to make up for it with attitude, hard work and fitness. After a 2-2 draw against Iran, the All Whites will want to keep their Round of 32 hopes alive by defeating Egypt in Vancouver before their final group game against Belgium.
While the presence of midfielder Sarpreet Singh in the squad has fueled Indian interest, the players’ fitness and match preparation is also in the hands of someone with Indian heritage.
Sunesh ‘Sunj’ Singh has been the team’s Athletic Performance Lead and Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2019 and is considered one of the best in the country at what he does, combining rigorous physical conditioning with mental toughness and resilience. Born in South Africa, Singh moved to New Zealand in 2001. One of his most high-profile trainees is former UFC middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya.
According to his bio on the website The CleatBeat Project, ‘Through his company CS Performance Strength and Conditioning, founded in 2013, Singh is applying his unique training methods that have helped create champions across New Zealand’s sporting landscape.’
Armed with a degree in sports science, he spent eight years as head of strength and conditioning at Eastern Suburbs AFC.
One beneficiary of Singh’s work with the All Whites was veteran centre-back Michael Boxall. Less than two months after turning 38, he is one of the oldest outfielders at his World Cup and credits Singh – with whom he has been working with since 2017 – for keeping him going despite injury fears.
Boxall had an adductor problem that derailed his season in Major League Soccer with Minnesota United in the lead-up to the World Cup, and he wondered if he could make the showpiece event. But working alongside Singh, he overcame the hurdle and now prepares to fend off Egyptian stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in Vancouver. Boxall is unlikely to be disheartened by the challenge as he has already played against legends like Ronaldinho (at the 2008 Beijing Olympics), Cristiano Ronaldo (2017 Confederations Cup) and Lionel Messi (MLS).
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“We want to be as compact as possible and just limit space,” Boxall was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.
No team has ever won a match in the World Cup and if one of them does it, they will not only make history but take a huge step towards the knockout stages.