South African-born strength and conditioning coach Riedoh Berdien speaks exclusively to FenceAfrica24 about his career and ambitions in football.
Fresh from a quarter-final finish at the continent’s premier football tournament, Berdien says he remains determined to achieve more at the highest level.
Berdien previously coached the Gambia national team, where he worked alongside Belgian manager Tom Saintfiet. Saintfiet has also held coaching roles with The Gambia and South African Betway Premiership clubs, including Free State Stars.
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Hailing from Cape Town, Berdien ranks among Africa’s most well-travelled strength and conditioning coaches. He has worked with national teams across the continent for more than 13 years, including Banyana Banyana, Togo, Trinidad and the Philippines.
At club level, Berdien has also worked with Tanzanian giants Simba Sports Club. He later teamed up with Tom Saintfiet when he joined the Eagles of Mali in September 2024.
With the West African side, the former Mamelodi Sundowns trainer has worked with top players. These include Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur, Woyo Couibaly of Sassuolo, and Mamadou Doumbia of Watford.
Riedoh Berdien Explains the Conditioning Challenges Behind Mali’s AFCON Run
FenceAfrica24: It was not an easy AFCON tournament. Do you have any lessons you can take from this recent one?
Riedoh Berdien: I agree with you; it’s not an easy tournament. All the top nations have increased their preparations, and the so-called smaller nations have strengthened and improved their preparations heading towards Morocco 2025. I learnt a lot from this AFCON compared to previous editions. I think there are more details in the technical team’s periodisation. Many teams never had their full squads available in preparing for the tournament. Many players are suffering from fatigue due to their club commitments, as it’s the overloading part of their season.
FenceAfrica24: Individually, you have coached at the highest level and worked with big teams and players. Are you happy with your achievements?
Riedoh Berdien: Yeah, I am happy and grateful for the opportunities, but not yet satisfied.
FenceAfrica24: If we talk about improvements, where do you think you failed as a team after reaching the Last Eight?
Riedoh Berdien: I think from a logistical point of view, we could have improved or done better, meaning I think a pre-camp was needed before the official AFCON preparations started. Some countries had good training camps in Spain, the Middle East, etc. The more training sessions with quality players, the more quality outputs there will be, and performance will improve.
FenceAfrica24: There’s no doubt that Mzansi (South Africa) was represented despite Bafana Bafana crashing out in the Last 16; having you in the Last Eight means the country was represented. How do you feel about that?
Riedoh Berdien: One should not really focus on that. But I am glad that South African Technicians are being recognised across the continent and the World. We are talking about Benni McCarthy, who is improving the Kenya National Team, Pitso Mosimane, Fadlu Davids, etc. There were AFCONS when South Africa never qualified, yet South Africans still represented the country without recognition, thanks to journalists like you who followed their stories.
Riedoh Berdien on Bafana coach
FenceAfrica24: Some fans feel Bafana needs a new coach just before the upcoming World Cup. Some still believe in coach Hugo Broos. Can you comment on that, and what do you think hurt Bafana in Morocco?
Riedoh Berdien: I think that a decision has to be made by SAFA. Personally, I think Coach Benni should coach the national team one day, not saying he has to take over for the current World Cup, since Coach Hugo has brought respect back to our nation, for sure. So, I think he should lead us in June. I think our selections in this AFCON might not have been 100%. I researched the top countries and their success process. Spain won the World Cup in 2010 with core players from Barcelona. Germany won the World Cup with core players from Bayern, and Italy won the same with core players from AC Milan. South Africa did well when the core players came from Sundowns.
FenceAfrica24: Lastly, I see Steve Barker recently taking over at Simba SC, and it’s another South African mentor getting recognised beyond South African borders.
Riedoh Berdien: It’s great that South Africans are getting recognised for their hard work because, to be honest, the country has produced good technicians and players. It would be great to help fellow South African Coaches succeed, but I think, at the end of the day, the coach decides who they want to work with. So, after AFCON, Simba and the coach will decide whether they want South Africans together or not.
