AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The three-day FIFA Workshop for Academy Coaches got underway in Goa today (October 10, 2014).

AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das was present at the official opening function along with Scott O’Donell, AIFF Technical Director Academies and Director Coach Education, Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Development Officer for South and Central Asia, FIFA Instructor for the Workshop Desi Curry, President Goa Football Association Elvis Gomes, and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Benaulim Cajetan Silva.

While Elvis Gomes was the Chief Guest, Cajetan Silva was called on as the Guest of Honour.

A total of 19 coaches of whom 13 belong to the AIFF bandwagon, in charge of all the Academies run by the Indian FA, are taking part in the meet.

The Workshop – a FIFA initiative happening for the first time in India – will aim to enlighten the coaches on the latest philosophies followed across top academies in Europe.

“This workshop will help the coaches understand the scene that is prevalent in top Academies,” Curry told www.the-aiff.com moments after the official opening.

“There is cooperation and collaboration from all partners and representatives from the Federation, local government and ministers which I great to see and goes to show the weight that is being thrown behind this Workshop.

“What is happening in India is exciting. And with the FIFA U-17 World Cup coming up, importance has to be put on Youth Development. Coach Education is very important in this regard. I hope this Workshop helps in that aspect,” added the former Technical Director of Irish FA.

“I am glad to see the response at the official opening,” said O’Donell who also donned the hat of the Master of Ceremonies in the ceremony.

“This course will be one from where our coaches will learn a lot and also get familiar with the best practices in top academies.

“They will also learn from eachother while staying together. This is also very important to keep all of them on the same page,” O’Donell added.   

Topics such as role of modern day Academy Coach, Academy philosophies, visions, Academy Curriculum would be covered during the two-day Workshop.

List of participants:

Syed Shabir Pasha, Goutam Ghosh, Sajid Dar, Francis Bruto da Costa, Aqeel Ansari, Indranil Chakraborty, John Kenneth Raj, Bitan Singh, Bibiano Fernandes, Mohammad Yusuf Ansari, Feroz Sherriff, Mario Aguiar, Jude Barreto (AIFF Academies), Srikanth R (Reeds FA), Nirvan Shah (PIFA), Sukhwinder Kumar (Conscient Football), Floyd Pinto (Kenkre Sports), Mangesh Sreekant Desai (Mumbai (Warriors), S Geevarghese (Kovalum FC).