AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will conduct a special all-women’s AFC ‘C’ Diploma Coaching Course from January 4 to 10, 2022 in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh as a precursor to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup later that month and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup towards the end of the year.

The course will be conducted by Coach Educator, Mr. Jeddy John Almeida.

A total of 9 AFC ‘C’ Diploma Courses have been conducted by the AIFF in 2021 all over the country - Maharashtra (2), Punjab (2), Karnataka (1), Haryana (1), Gujarat (1), Mizoram (1), Madhya Pradesh (1).

Although there have been a few all-women AIFF ‘D’ Certificate Courses in the past, this will be the first ever all-women AFC ‘C’ Diploma Course.

AIFF Head of Coach Education Savio Medeira believes this is an important step towards developing the women’s game in India.

“This special course will help us develop more women coaches in India. Women coaches will be in a better position to be role models for young girls to take serious interest in the game,” he said. “Young girls will also be able to connect and find women coaches more approachable.”

Chhattisgarh hosted one AIFF ‘D’ Certificate Course at Raipur in November and another one is scheduled to be held at Narayanpur in December.

Interested coaches can register through the Coach Education portal (http://coaching.the-aiff.com/) from December 13, 2021 onward, with an AIFF ‘D’ Certificate being the prerequisite condition.