Wadoo elated to clear AFC coaching course

The Asian Age.  | Irfan Haji

Sports, Football

The Mumbai City defender feels the team has shaped up well during preseason training in Valencia for the forthcoming ISL season.

Mehrajuddin Wadoo

Mumbai City FC player Mehrajuddin Wadoo is elated after clearing the AFC License B coaching course. The three-week course was held in Goa in July this year. A total eight candidates out of 19, who appeared for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) B License course, have successfully cleared the course. It also includes Wadoo’s former Indian teammate Gourmangi Singh.

The 33-year-old wily defender has been undergoing preseason training along with the rest of Mumbai City FC squad under the supervision of head coach Alexandre Guimaraes in Valencia for the forthcoming Indian Super League season.

“I am very glad to have AFC B License certificate. A few years back I passed my C License from Goa only and B was even more difficult but thanks to Allah for the success,” Wadoo said.

The Jammu and Kashmir footballer has already started a State Football Academy in his native state and oversees its functioning.

“I have already started coaching my academy in Kashmir during off season but of course I want to get into the coaching after I stop playing. So I think this is the right time to learn about coaching when I am still playing,” he added.

After assembling in Pune in late September and undergoing fitness tests, the Mumbai City FC team has been camping in Valencia since the first week of October. Guimaraes’ boys have also played as many as five friendlies there, without tasting defeat.

“We are having a great preseason in Valencia from almost a month here. The team is looking in good shape. We have a good squad this season and we are looking forward to play in ISL 4,” he said.

Mumbai City who made it to semi-finals for the first time last season, are set to play their first game against Bengaluru FC on November 19 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium. They will play their first home game at Mumbai Football Arena against FC Goa on November 25.

The Ranbir Kapoor co-owned club unveiled their brand new official home jersey for season 4 of the ISL here on Sunday, incorporating the iconic Bandra-Worli Sealink into the design.

Besides Wadoo and Gourmangi, Kh. Shiela Devi, Rajat Guha, Amit Kumar Jaiswal, Shantanu Jain, Yan Cheng Law, Sugitesh Subhash Madrekar also cleared the B-License course.

Wadoo’s other former teammates in the Indian team Renedy Singh, Samir Naik and Clifford Miranda meanwhile cleared the AFC A-License course. Altafuddin Ahmed Syed, Arata Izumi, Vivek Rawat, Dinesh Nair, Anup Singh and Mohan Suresh Dass were the other successful candidates.

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