Elsewhere In Football #11
- Aug 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Sahayak FC Foundation
I am delighted to announce that I have accepted the position as Head Of Football for the Sahayak Foundation based in Haldwani, India.
After spending a successful month here back in April it became clear that the vision and backing of this project was something I could get my teeth into and the opportunity to help solve the great Indian Football puzzle was too good to turn down.
Hitting the ground running......
There was no time to settle in. India can be unforgiving and I was immediately tested shortly after arriving in Dehli. Our 4 hour taxi ride turned into a 9 hour one when a religious festival took over the road and closed another. Sweating, tired and feeling dirty in the back of the taxi was not ideal. There was huge relief and cold beer waiting for me once we arrived in Haldwani.
Typically, jet lag had me tired all day and alert all night, so my sleep pattern was all over the place. I was grabbing a few hours here and there when possible and trying to be lively during the times I needed to be. Long journeys, jet lag and tiredness are all part and parcel of the football coach travelling to unchartered places but this week has been especially difficult.
Workshops a huge success......
We were delighted to welcome Dr Manasi Pande, an expert in childhood development. Dr Manasi spoke to a group of parents and teachers with children under 10 years in India on the Role of Sports in Early Childhood Development and how Sahayak FC uses football as a powerful tool to support children's holistic development.
Dr Manasi quoted on her linkedin page:
After the session, one parent's question really stayed with me: "My child loves sports but makes a face when it's time to study.
What should I do?" It made me pause. We often talk about getting kids into sports, away from screens, but maybe the real issue is how we teach. It was a powerful reminder:
That play is not the opposite of learning; it's the best way to learn.
That the gap may not be in attention, but in engagement.
That early childhood education needs just as much movement, joy, and curiosity as a football match.
A stark difference in approach.....
The one thing very evident to me is the desire and willingness to learn here in India. Whether it's students, young players, coaches, teachers or even parents, the thirst for knowledge and openness to new ideas is incredible. It was a horribly rainy day, so much so the local government had declared schools closed. However 60 teachers, who could've been enjoying a day off, were sat listening and absorbing as much new knowledge as they could.
Welcomed into the family & local community.....
It's been a tough week since arriving in India. As previously mentioned India is unforgiving in certain aspects and takes time to get used to. In my personal life I'm also approaching 11 weeks without being with my family, I'm missing one of my best friends weddings and I've had to say goodbye to my life in the UK which was really great and I was enjoying immensely. This isn't easy!!
However, I have been welcomed into the Sahayak family with open arms and they're a truly amazing family with incredible people. The local community of coaches, teachers and parents are all very excited for me to be here and that gives me strength. I'm honoured to have so much trust given to me and I will do everything I can to get this right.
Comments