Being the national team chef at a World Cup is about much more than food. Brazilian Vini Capovilla, head chef for the Matildas, leads a team that prepares multiple meals a day for 50-plus players, coaches and staff. In his fifth World Cup for an Australian national team (Capovilla has cooked for both the Socceroos and the Matildas since 2014), the culinary guru says he brings a holistic perspective to the role.
“When I joined, I thought it was all about performance, the maximum nutrition to accomplish performance,” says Capovilla. “After a few competitions, I learned that there’s much more to the role. Of course nutrition is key, but the wellbeing of players (and) the wellness that a meal can bring, is key.”
