06/08/2023
Love u Brother
'Ganderbal' to Football Paradise, 'Brazil': Muzamil Mahmood's Contribution to the Evolution of Football in Kashmir.
Munib Mir
After passing the rigorous AFC A licence coaching course in Mumbai, football coach Muzamil Mahmood from Ganderbal's rural village Gogjigund added another achievement to his resume.
Muzamil is the first coach from this region to graduate from one of Asia's best coaching programmes. There are currently very few certified trainers in Kashmir.
Relevantly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) offers eligible coaches the A licence coaching diploma course. The training aims to teach coaches the technical and tactical requirements, management, leadership, player identification, and teaching players' physiological and psychological needs.
The moment Argentine coach Juan Marcos T***a saw Muzamil play football during a coaching session in Kashmir, he was blown away.
Muzamil began his coaching career in 2007 as Juan Marcos' assistant at the International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT).
"Marcos had a significant impact on Kashmir's football scene.He gave me a lot of coaching inspiration, added Muzamil.
2011 saw Muzamil Mahmood travel to Brazil for training and exposure.
It was a turning point in my life.When I went to the land of football, I was in awe of the nation's football culture. It was an amazing experience.
In 2011, Muzamil founded the football club and academy "FC Ganderbal" at home.The club offers a venue for the region's young people who want to play football.
Muzamil's journey from football player to seasoned coach has been one of distinction.He brought football to various locations in Kashmir, notably Ganderbal.
He began playing football in 1998 and later participated in Srinagar's B Division league.
For around ten years, he actively played football in Kashmir for many clubs.
In order to formalise football in the Ganderbal district, Muzamil was crucial in the establishment of the local football association.
In addition to Ganderbal, Muzamil has also coached Kashmir Ali Jana FC, a young football team. Several African players participated in the club under his supervision, adding to his success.
Muzamil previously completed the D, C, and B licence courses for the Asian Football Confederation in 2014, 2015, and 2019, respectively.
According to Muzamil, Kashmir needs knowledgeable coaches to develop talent.We just need to tap into our professional experience to generate outstanding football players.
Many of the footballers Muzzamil developed went on to compete at the national level. Suhail, a player in his academy, was recently chosen for the Reliance Foundation Young Champ Football Academy.
He served as head coach of Chandigarh football team for the prestigious Santosh trophy.
"Despite coming from a small Ganderbal village, international coach Sajid Yousuf Dar has always supported me, and with his guidance, I have been able to carve out a niche in the football world." stated Muzamil.
In the Indian Women's League (IWL), Muzamil has been named the club's head coach.
"I want to work with the Indian Super League, the top-tier football league in India, in order to advance further." stated Muzamil.
Muzamil adores football and lives for it. He envisions a promising future for the sport of football in Kashmir and wants to contribute to its expanding narrative.–TDV
