AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: After the eye-opening experience in Osaka, the AFC Pro-Diploma Course Team moved to Shizuoka for the 2nd part of the AFC Professional Coaching Course module in Japan. The part involves the 2nd of its Club visit and training observation at Shimizu S-Pulse FC.

Shimizu happens to be one of the traditional Clubs of Shizuoka, Japan on a whole and also one of the successful ones in terms of Trophies won and History. The visit provided further insight into professionalism which is embedded in the system and the Coaches were also introduced to newer and different philosophies in terms of Club Management and Football.

Afshin Ghotbi, former Head Coach of the Iran National Team and presently the Head Coach of the Club gave a warm welcome to the Team and provided a hospitable atmosphere for the participants to work under. He shared his insights about the Game, Club and Japanese Football in general during his presentations.

Ghotbi stressed it’s necessary for a Coach to “understand and study the culture of the Nation.”

“It is very important as a Coach to understand and study the culture of each Nation because in Modern day Football you just cannot be a Coach. You also have to be a Manager just like in a Multinational Company or the Corporate World where you have to deal with many people starting from the Players to the Kitman and to the Director of the Club,” he told www.the-aiff.com.

“As a Coach it is important to know and understand how people behave and work which eventually helps you make your life easier,” he added.

Ghotbi also happened to work with Guus Hiddink as a part of his Elite Coaching Staff in South Korea for the Senior National Team. He had assisted Hiddink at the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan.

The Participants were also very pleased to have met Ghotbi. Khalid Jamil, Head Coach of Mumbai FC said the meeting has helped him realize as to how much he needs “to develop more.”

“In my past 6 years with Mumbai FC, I thought I had learnt what Professional Coaching was all about. But I was never so wrong. Under the Instructorship of Wim Koevermans and after meeting someone like Afshin Ghotbi, I realise how much more I have to develop myself,” he stated.

“This Pro-License module has been an amazing experience for me in terms of learning and education and I have promised myself to be better than what I was last season to help my club scale greater heights.”

Arthur Papas, Head Coach of Dempo SC added: “The experience of completing the second module of the AFC Pro License in Japan has served to highlight what benchmark for Football in Asia resembles. Every single detail both on and off the field is accounted for from how the J-League is structured. It ranges from the Organisation to the Infrastructure to the Professionalism of the Clubs,” he pronounced.

“I hope that every Participant returns to India with the desire to spread the knowledge acquired and further emphasise the benefits of the current Coach Education pathway with the overall aim of improving the standing of Indian football within Asia.”

The Participants along with Koevermans observed the Training Sessions of the Club over 3 days of their Club visits also taking note of every activity and detail that goes on behind the scenes to make a Club successful.

It was followed by match visit to the IAI Nihondaira Stadium, the Home Stadium of Shimizu S-Pulse. The Course is now in its last phase where assessments will follow the theory and practical sessions.