When popular Club Physio Courtney Dobson ended her eight year association with the Millers shortly after the end of last season, the search started for her successor – made increasingly difficult by the fact that several of her peers had also decided to move on.
As time moved on with little sign of a suitable replacement, midfielder Hassan Ibrahiym threw the name of Tenny Adebowale into the frame.
A South Londoner to the core – born at the Elephant & Castle and brought up in Camberwell – Tenny had been working on a chronic hip problem that had debilitated Hass for the last four years and, through him, had got to know some of the other players.
“When the job became available, I thought Tenny would be a great replacement if he got it”, Hassan told me. “I’ve known him for years – he’s helped me massively with recurring injuries. If it wasn’t for him, l wouldn’t be playing today.
Tenny knows his stuff and goes over and beyond to help where he can – he’s a real good, down to earth close friend.”
Now living in Bexleyheath, Tenny – who refers to himself as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sports Therapist – happily grasped the opportunity to further his own portfolio by working within a team structure with a group of players over the course of a season.
With a football background that saw him spend two years in his teens at Bristol Rovers before taking a four year scholarship in Texas, Tenny played as a left back in the Tooting & Mitcham United side that won the Isthmian League South Division in 2016/17, before focussing his efforts on expanding his expertise and growing his thriving business.
With injuries an inevitable part of a contact sport such as football, a knowledge of “late stage rehab” - massage, strength & conditioning and injury prevention – along with his physiotherapy skills will hopefully help Kevin and his management team keep a full strength squad available for action as a long season takes its inevitable toll.
Leaving the last word with Hassan Ibrahiym, “Tenny will play a massive part in our journey to promotion”.