The initiative took place from May 12 to 17; with intensive training for 48 grassroots football coaches and 30 referees selected from across India.

The popularity of football in recent years hasn't remained restricted to just playing on the field, many city youngsters have decided to make their mark from the sidelines as referees, coaches and coach educators.

Mohammed Jamal, 20, has gradually started to officiate in the MDFA League and junior I-League matches and aims to be a full-time referee. “I reside near CST and on my way to school I used to see people playing at MSSA (Mumbai School Sports Association, ground). I also started playing in the evenings and made friends who were interested in refereeing. I also joined a refereeing programme with them and gradually developed an interest in it,” said Jamal who undertook the six-day Phase 2 of Premier Skills initiative, run by the Premier League and the British Council that concluded at Reliance Corporate Park in Ghansoli on Thursday.

The initiative took place from May 12 to 17; with intensive training for 48 grassroots football coaches and 30 referees selected from across India.

“I also attended the Phase 1 program last year and now Phase 2 here. It has helped me immensely as they teach such things which are not easy to learn like anticipation and reading of the game rather than just educating about laws of the game,” Jamal added.

The 23-year-old Nagma Shaikh from Navi Mumbai has already become coach educator and conducts various clinics to teach coaches. “I go to different villages to teach coaches. This programme has helped me to become more specific about technical points and holistically develop kids,” said Nagma who has done her License D course before attending both phases of the Premier Skills programme.

Colaba resident Ravi Chauhan, 25, also a D License coach, said the programme helps coaches tell kids to play with the right spirit. "It involves talented, underprivileged and even disabled kids. So we have to focus on all. By learning here we will teach them how to play with the right spirit and be a good role model and be a better coach for young children.”

Like all his counterparts, Sajid Jamal a Nagpur resident from a slum area also represents an NGO and the 25-year-old despite doing Engineering is a coach educator and is planning to do sports management courses.

“This programme has helped me change language with kids during coaching, give them proper space and do proper session plans,” said Sajid who did a project design for a club of involving more kids and also takes tuitions to keep himself going.

Need more coaches
The course was jointly organised by the Premier League, the British Council, and the Indian Super League in Mumbai. The project was led by Premier League Coach Educator Jeremy Weeks and supported by UK Club Coaches Rashid Abba from West Ham United, Sam Hoare from Manchester City and Jill Stacey from Newcastle United.

“We are here for six days as part of Premier Skills Phase 2 programme. We will return for Phase 3. We have previously been in India over last 10 yrs as part of Premier Skills which focuses on all round development of community coaches, community referees and coach educators. Our current program is with AIFF and ISL. We are working with all ISL clubs, helping them develop grassroots teams and coach educators.” Weeks said on Thursday.  

Weeks admitted the hosting of Fifa U-17 World Cup by India last year has increased interest of kids in the game but urged the involvement of more coaches to make it count.

“EPL, ISL and Under-17 WC is inspiring more kids. We now need more coaches to sustain their interest. We need to teach coaches how to deliver and develop their technical skills and keep kids engaged in activities. The programme is framed such that kids on wheelchairs also can enjoy the game. We try to make educators understand how to use football in community development and tackle  social issues,” he added.