AIFF-WIFA aim to train 5000 coaches in Maharashtra

The Western Indian Football Association, the Maharashtra state FA, in its centenary year has embarked on an ambitious program of producing 5000 AIFF certified coaches in the next three years, who will then train footballers at the grassroot level all over the state.

There are currently 30 districts affiliated to WIFA, with more than 2000 clubs, 1500 school teams and around 500 college teams playing the sport, however, the number of qualified AFC coaches in the state to that effect are only 55, which shows the huge disparity between the qualified coaches available and the football teams and players. Given the geographical spread of the state and huge population, added to the growing popularity of the sport, the need of the hour is for many more qualified coaches to work at the grass root level.

Hence a project plan to start another ladder for coaching was initiated by WIFA in consultation with the AIFF. A pilot project of the Coach Education Program for Grassroot level has been initiated in Maharashtra and on successful implementation it would then be taken to other states of India. Through this programme, AFC 'A' and 'B' licence coaches would become instructors and will be on the panel of the AIFF, in turn eligible to train and certify AIFF-certified coaches.

Gabriel Joseph, AIFF Director of Coaching, who will be conducting the programme, said that this Coach Education program for grassroot level is the brain child of the WIFA, CEO – Henry Menezes and it would be first of its kind conducted by AIFF. "The pilot project will first create a pool of instructors from the available AFC ‘A’ & ‘B’ license holders in the state. Thereon these successful instructors would be eligible to train coaches under them,” said Joseph.

"In the next five years, we hope to see Maharashtra as one of the top football playing states in the country, for which we need a strong base from which to pick and choose. This pilot project will help unearth quality coaches from among former players of repute, who would be then used to train youngsters at the grass root level," said WIFA CEO Henry Menezes.

"This project will also ensure that there will be uniformity in the coaching methods and standards used at the grass root level with periodic reviews and evaluations of the systems, being used," added Menezes.

Menezes felt that most of the coaches at the grassroot level were untrained, which was a matter of concern as it hindered the progress of footballers there as compared to the metros and bigger centres. The AIFF certified coaches coming out of this programme would ensure that the same coaching methods and systems would be available to football players in all districts of the state.

Currently 20 AFC 'A' and 'B' licence coaches have been selected for the pilot project, the names include Santosh Kashyap, Khalid Jamil, Godfrey Pereira, Yusuf Ansari, Arshad Hussein, Naushad Moosa, Augusto D'Silva and Aqueel Ansari. Four outstation coaches in William Koso (Nagaland), Ms. Maymol Rocky (Goa), Saji P.M, and Charles G.J. (both Kerala) are also attending the course. The 10-day coaching programme, which began on July 11, is being hosted by the Bombay Gymkhana at their premises, scheduled to conclude on July 20.

The daily programme involves practical classes in the morning and evening between 7.00 am and 9.30 am and 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm respectively interspersed with theory classes.

Star Impact has sponsored the kitting of the coaches and instructor, providing four sets of uniforms each, shoes and balls for the programme.