WIFA - The Western India Football Association

From acting in Chak De India to watching the Quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP in South Africa, Kimberley Miranda has experienced it all. She devoted herself to helping out the underprivileged when she worked with Magic Bus for 5 years. An AFC ‘C’ License coach herself, Kimberley is head strong & holding her own to inspire young girl’s and help them achieve their dreams.

She was relaxed and affable throughout her interview.

1. How important is sports in people’s life?

Playing sports helps you to improved physical health. Sports play a primarily positive role in youth development, including improved academic achievement, higher self-esteem, fewer behavioral problems, and better psychosocial. It helps in building friendships and relationships.
All over the world, sports is being used to address various issues like health, peace, gender equality. Over the past few years more and more people are accepting the fact that through sports, numerous issues can be dealt with.

2. How can sports help in bringing people together?

Its quiet simple….Take a football and walk into a park. There will be kids who will swamp you wanting to play. That’s how people & communities come together through sport! Sports use the fundamental values to communicate and to inspire positive change amongst both individuals and communities. That’s the power of Sport!

3. Have things changed for women in football?

Not by leaps and bounds but there are positive changes seen in women’s football. As FIFA stresses on the need to develop women’s football all over the world, there are few nations that have professional leagues for women. I hope my country moves in that direction and someday girls will make a career out of it and can proudly say that they play professionally.

4. What made you take up coaching?

It was never planned. After graduation I started working for an NGO. They used sports as a tool for development. I was assigned a group of U-14 girls and boys. Daily I would meet these kids and train them in football, but I realized that my life was being transformed as it wasn’t just coaching them. They were helping me become a better person & be sensitive to various issues.
Within a few months working with the NGO, I was recommended to take part in the International Coaching Course organized by KNVB, Netherlands. That’s where my formal training began as a coach. Thanks to the Dutch and my students that inspired me, I am in this field.

5. As a coach have you seen any differences in players over the decades?

There have definitely been positive changes. The game has become more scientific and organized these days to which players have adapted well.

6. Do you think today’s coaches should be aware that the way they were coached might not be the best method now?

Personally, it doesn’t matter. Coaching has evolved over the years. Coaches work hard to bring new techniques and ways to train players and make it more interesting. During my time coaches gave us the best they could in limited time and resources. As times change and we progress in every field, we have to adapt and that’s what we are doing. We are adapting to the changing phase in football.

7. What should coaches keep in mind when they move between different levels?

We should be open to learning new things and adapt quickly to the fast changing times of football.

8. What more could football do to rid itself of all forms of discrimination?

All over the world football is being used to deal with various social issues. Discrimination in its various forms is one of the major issues being dealt with. It’s more of a state of mind than anything else. Maybe if we all took our religion seriously and practiced what is in our holy books we could get rid of discrimination, because every religion is based on love and where there is love for humanity there cannot  be hate or discrimination.

9. How did you first get into the game?

I used to be a hockey player, but our college participated in football tournaments. I was asked to attend the junior state level selections only for the experience. I got selected and made my first trip to Assam as a part of the Maharashtra junior team.
Initially, I played football as an off season sport. But after the representation, I started playing more of football and made many friends along the way. That’s how I got into the game. At the time I never felt I would become a football coach someday, but it feels good to inspire young girl’s to pursue their dreams.

1. Do you see yourself working in the men’s league?

My area of interest is youth development and grassroots, but nevertheless if given an opportunity I wouldn’t mind working in the men’s league to gain experience.

1. How would you compare the Netherlands Team that came down to play 2 years back and our current Indian Team?

I stayed with the CTO team that came to India for almost two week’s & got to know a lot about the players and coaches. As I have never been around the Indian team, I wouldn’t be able to compare.
What I really liked about the CTO team was the players were more open and interactive with the coaching and managing team. Also they had to make time to study while they were here in India. Education was an integral part of the team and they gave equal importance to their studies.

2. Future Prospects?

I intend achieve higher level coaching qualifications to help with the youth development and grassroots program.