A three-day Coaching Workshop cum Clinic conducted by Rob Baan and Scott O’Donell concluded in New Delhi on Sunday (January 15). The Workshop was attended by 16 Coaches from all over the country.
The Workshop which had separate practical and theoretical sessions came in for high praise from all the participants. Former Indian Captain and stopper-back Tarun Dey felt the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is on the right track. “It’s essential to scout youngsters at the right age and the AIFF is doing a laudable job,” he said. “Both Rob and Scott come with a lot of experience. The Workshop was of great help and the value addition has certainly made me a better coach,” he added.
The Practical Sessions were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium while the theoretical sessions stressed on Talent Scouting and Trends in Modern Football. Baan also highlighted the philosophies of the AIFF Academies.
Godfrey Pereira, who was the last among the coaches to have a practical session, felt the concept of the “AIFF Regional Academies was very much the need of the hour.”
“The Academies need whole-hearted support and there shouldn’t be any interference in the Curriculum from anyone,” he maintained. “I thank the AIFF for taking such an initiative.”
Naushad Moosa said: “The Workshop was an education in itself. Rob and Scott stressed on game related situations. It was a pity it ended in three-days itself. I only wished it continued for some more days,” he quipped.
List of participants: Tarun Dey, Gautam Ghosh, Sankarlal Chakraborty, Prasanta Chakraborty, Tarun Roy, Ananta Ghosh, Godfrey Pereira, Naushad Moosa. Yusuf Ansari, Aqueel Ansari, Francis Ignatius, Sham Saran Shahi, Hillal Parray, Sajid Yousuf Dar, Arshad Hussain, Kundan Chandra, Ravi Babu and John Kenneth Raj.