AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Participants of AIFF’s first-ever Grassroots Leaders course conducted in regional language in Kolhapur lavished huge praise on the project, labelling it as an “unique initiative.”

The course was conducted in Kolhapur in association with the Western India Football Association (WIFA), and the Kolhapur Sports Authority. The course was attended by 24 coaches, and AIFF Head of Grassroots Ms. Anju Turambekar was the Lead Instructor.

Current NEUFC winger Nikhil Kadam who attended the course branded it as a “historic occasion.”

“This course will, forever, be etched in my memory as the first ever regional language course in Indian Football. With it being conducted in Marathi, I was able to easily understand the concepts, and engage in the course much more proficiently,” he maintained.

Priyanka Gawali, an University player, also a referee felt conducting courses in regional languages will prompt more coaches to be a part of future AIFF Coach Education programmes.

“Many coaches start worrying that their lack of English speaking skills may become a barrier in attend Coaching courses,” she quipped. “Language barrier always limits people from upgrading themselves, and acquiring more knowledge,” she said. “With this course being conducted in Marathi, it has benefitted a lot of coaches, especially the ones who work in schools. It was much easier for us to understand the content.”

Rohan Sudhakar Adnaik, a Churchill Goa player who also attended the course mentioned that he’s “really glad that the course was flexible, and that now anyone can come be a part of the course.”

“If we get more courses like this in our own local dialect, it will benefit football in Kolhapur a lot by empowering, and upgrading many local coaches,” Rohan stated. “I would like to thank AIFF for conducting the course in Marathi.”

Anil Adsule, who coaches his own Academy in Kolhapur stressed that It was “extremely helpful that the course was conducted in the regional language.”

"The course was conducted in Marathi, and it helped us understand some of the technical words in a better way. This has given the coaches a lot of confidence to work with children, and train them keeping in mind their psychological and their physical limitations," Adsule explained.

Madhurimaraje Malojiraje Chhatrapati, Member, AIFF Women’s Development Committee Member, and also the WIFA Women’s Committee Chairman who was present in both the opening and closing ceremonies along with a host of other dignitaries, mentioned that “the course was immensely beneficial for all.”

“With the course being conducted in Marathi language, the initiative immensely benefitted our local coaches. I would like to thank AIFF for breaking the language barrier,” she expressed.