Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Islamabad: Positive attitudes such as continuous learning and being open minded will help budding or beginning football coaches explore their ‘football niche’, coaches in a course at the AFC U-14 Boys’ Festival of Football have been told.
AFC Grassroots and Youth Director John Whittle, while addressing the participants of a coaching course at the festival now underway in Islamabad, said:
“Coaching is a simple yet effective form of personal development and many of us have big dreams of one day coaching within a big club or an international team, however as you venture on your pathway you will find where your expertise is.
“This could be grassroots football, specific youth age group teams, women’s football and many more areas of the game.
“Hopefully this is a beginning of a fruitful career within the game for you all, but remember, be open-minded and never stop learning.”
Meanwhile, AFC Elite Coaching Instructor Morteza Mohases who is instructing the course, is happy with the grasp of the course content of the 16 participants in the course.
“I’m pleased to have 16 participants here in Islamabad and they are all showing to have some good qualities within the theory and practical sessions, however there is still a number of days left of this course and hopefully they can all keep making steady progress and achieve their personal goals," he said.
The central Asian national U-14 team coaches taking part in the course will then have an opportunity to put the lessons they have learnt to practice when their teams take to the field of play from April 11 until 15, the culminating activity of the two-week annual festival.
Other proponents of youth football such as the referees and team physiotherapists are also having their own courses in the festival and will also be putting their newly gained knowledge and skills to practice during the matches.