HEKAS, a small sports therapy clinic in Manchester, is making a big impact on Manchester United's academy prospects. Founder Sylar Tso has become popular among young players like JJ Gabriel, Godwill Kukonki, and Jayden Ngwashi, who regularly visit for specialised recovery sessions that give them an edge on the pitch.
HEKAS founder on working with JJ Gabriel
"At the beginning, JJ was like 'ah, this is so painful, this guy wants to kill me!'," Tso said of introducing Gabriel to his patented stretching device. "But a month later, he knew the benefit of it; he could run quicker and jump higher."
Tso's approach focuses on fascia, tendons, and muscles—areas often overlooked. "Most footballers are taking care of their bodies, but not with the fascia, tendons and muscles," he explained. The clinic helps clients understand what is 'wrong' with their bodies even when they would be considered fully fit to play.
Gabriel's robustness and performance
Gabriel scored 26 goals in 29 appearances for the academy last season, but an underrated part of his game is his robustness. "I see clips of attackers bringing JJ down hard. I bet if he didn't do this work regularly, he would get an injury straight away," said Tso. "When an attack brings him down, he just gets up because he worked so hard on this."
Tso, who admits he is not a football fan, focuses on the physical benefits. "He's very flexible, that's one of his biggest strengths," he said. The hips are a key area: "I would say lots of people who come here don't know how to fully open the hip. After doing the stretching here, they feel so free and just want to run."
Godwill Kukonki's rapid recovery
Kukonki, an 18-year-old left-footed defender, impressed Ruben Amorim and was included in a senior squad against Newcastle. He ended last season scoring a header in the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City. Kukonki started every Youth Cup game, totalling 37 appearances for the U18 and U21 teams. He missed only a few weeks between September and October due to an injury picked up in an Under-18 game against City. The initial prognosis was months out, but after sessions with Tso, he started a game just 21 days later.
"I used to do one City player, but he told me that when he sprinted left or turned to that side, he felt sharp pain in an area. When he had the X-ray and MRI, they told him he was alright," Tso recalled. "But the nervous system, fascia, and tendons as well had been damaged a lot. Then if you do have a surgery, you know when you can get back to the game, but it's never going to be the same performance as before."
Jayden Ngwashi's commitment
Ngwashi, a talented defender, picked up a hip injury during a first-team training session last season. HEKAS played an important role in his rehab. "Jayden is a bit quieter, but you can see he is getting more and more mature," said Tso. "He's a very good kid. All of them are super polite." United view Ngwashi as a high-potential prospect; he attracted interest from European sides last summer but committed to the Reds by signing scholarship terms.
Regular visits and off-pitch discipline
Gabriel, Kukonki, and Ngwashi visit the clinic at least twice a month and say they have felt the benefits first-hand. They are now more conscious of keeping up with their own stretches at United. Tso taught them the importance of stretching in their own time to ease pain. "My job is mainly to prevent injuries and increase the sport performance if they trust me to continue doing it," he said. "They definitely will see the benefit. No pain, no gain in here. That's the difference."
Mental and physical rest
The clinic has been quieter than usual this summer, with Tso believing it's important for youngsters to take a break. "I'm concerned with both the physical and psychological side. I think they deserve a proper rest, then start everything again," he said. "But of course, if they need me, I will be here. But yeah, they'll benefit from a little break."
HEKAS is a peaceful retreat away from Manchester's hustle and bustle, offering a place to switch off mentally. The players' parents trust Tso, who doesn't watch football and isn't aware of a young player's profile. "I just want them to literally have the best body they can," he said.
Kukonki has described the treatment as "painful but very effective". Gabriel said treatment is "a bit painful at times" but described feeling "released" after a session. Tso is excited for the future: "We care about our clients forever. Not just when they come here, but let's say they go away for a spell, and eventually come back, we still care about you. We want the best body for the client, and to increase their performance."
