Five more Pro – License Coaches for India

All India Football Federation is taking a professional approach in formulating the strategy for making Indian Football team more and more professional. It has become incumbent that the players of this generation are made more and more technically sound and disciplined. India is presently having nine AFC Professional Coaching Diploma held Coaches in its ranks after Khalid Jamil, Mariano Dias, Santosh Kashyap, Hilal Parray and Thangboi Singto who have successfully completed All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) first ever AFC Pro Diploma Course.

Previously Savio Medeira, Derrick Pereira, V. Soundarajan and Hering Shangpliang were the only Indian AFC Professional Coaching Diploma Coaches. Among the 12 participants, Scott O’Donell, Karim Bencherifa and Arthur Papas also successfully completed the Course. Stanley Rozario has been awarded with a Pro-Pass (FAME) which implies he has to re-sit one more practical examination. The course was conducted by former Indian National Team Coach Wim Koevermans, who is also a UEFA Pro License Instructor.

AIFF President Praful Patel has already talked about the professionalization of coaches and referees in pursuit of the development of the team. The organization also conducted two AFC GK courses in Kolkata in November 2014. Of the other 18 participants for the AFC GK level 1 course, 14 Coaches have successfully passed while four candidates among four passed the AFC GK Level 2 Course. Both the AFC GK Courses were conducted by experienced AFC GK Instructor Yong Wai Hwong from Malaysia.

Praful Patel contributions have been immense in uplifting the spirit of the Indian players who are aspiring to make it to the international level. AIFF is leaving no stones unturned as it is preparing itself for its first ever international tournament FIFA Under – 17 World Cup, slated in the year 2017.