EVELYN SIMON among many others, helped Benedikt Duda (German Champion and European Team Champion) to become a top senior player. In addition, she was nurturing and developing Annett Kaufmann (U15, U19 and U21 European Champion) on her pathway to be a top young player. Moreover, today, she is supporting and guiding the development of Josi Neumann, Lizett Fazekas and other compass talents.

Her main responsibility is to scout and train players and then ensure that the development of the chosen talent is appropriately aligned with their high expectations and goals.

“My job is to create a peaceful and fruitful environment for the player – so they can focus on their improvement and development at the table, without any outside stress or friction.”
EVELYN SIMON

OLIVER ALKE is a former national team player who became the first compass expert coach. His job within the foundation is to find young talents in the north of Germany and create optimal conditions and environment which ensure that they can grow both as players and as people.

Olli is responsible of many compass supported players outside of Germany in order to guide and support their education process. He works very closely with he families and personal coaches of the talents while also leading the compass yearly summer camp.

“Most important is always the human being and the pedagogics, meaning how to reach the kid’s individual thinking and understanding. One must build a trustful relationship. That is the only way to support a child in his or her development in such a way that he or she can achieve high goals.”
OLIVER ALKE

BOGDAN PUGNA has developed his coaching skills by working and living in three of the major European table tennis countries – Romania, France and Germany. When he realised he could not become a top player himself, he has been determined to work hard to gather experience and become an elite coach instead.

Bogdan is now based in Ochsenhausen and is the expert coach of Flavien Coton from France, one of the world´s most talented players born in 2008.

”My experiences from working intensely with many players who have been brought up in different table tennis cultures make it possible for me to adjust rapidly. I can read the player and immediately see the information of the technical status, so I know how I can contribute to the development.”
BOGDAN PUGNA

MELANIE HEILEMANN has gained a lot of experience in the fitness industry and completed various vocational training in the US, in the health and sports sector. Since joining compass in 2018, Melanie has been closely working with Evelyn Simon and her players, Annett Kaufmann and Josephina Neumann.

She approaches the body as a holistic organism where there is no strength in the muscles without conscious breathing and a clear mind.

”As a personal coach, you have to know what the person you’re working with really wants. In Annett Kaufmann’s case, that’s clear. She wants to compete in the 2028 Olympics, if not already in 2024 in Paris. That’s the goal we focus on in every single training session.”
MELANIE HEILEMANN