For E.S. Shyam, it is yet another milestone in his long journey in the world of football. This 46-year-old footballer has now become the only one from the Telugu-speaking States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to have been qualified for the AFC D Licence Instructor last week at Goa.
The fact that this midfielder, who represented India in the Asian Youth championship in UAE and Nepal in 1989, AIFF has made it mandatory for all the coaches to undergo AIFF ‘D’ Licenses before going to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Courses i.e ‘C’ Licenses, ‘B’ Licenses and ‘A’ Licences. Recently the big names of Indian football like the great Baichung Bhutia, Rennedy Singh and Climax Lawrence who are the proud D-Licence holders, the course was conducted by Scott O Donnel the Technical Director of AIFF is testimony of his love for the game despite all odds.
A qualified coach of the State Bank of Hyderabad with which he is the Deputy Manager and also instrumental in his Bank recruiting quite a few talented footballers in and around Hyderabad even when the sport was in a limbo, Shyam is now keen to give back something in a big way.
What exactly does this D Licence holder mean? “Now, I can conduct ‘D’ Licenses Courses for the coaches in Telangana, examinations and make a critical assessment before submitting my report to the All India Football Federation,” explains Shyam. “Prior to my qualifying this course, most of the coaches from the AP and Telangana had to go to Mumbai or Delhi to attend these courses,” he added.
In a way, armed with the D Licence course certificate, which is below A,B and C (AFC) in grading, Shyam, who cannot think of spending a day without going to the Gymkhana football ground, is keen to help in emergence of quality coaches from the State. “If I am able to conduct two to three courses in the immediate future, I may be able to see that at least 40 coaches who can handle coaching with all the technical mastery,” he says.
“The fact that there were 800 footballers from schools attended the Airtel talent scouting programme at Gymkhana the other day was simple proof of the abundance of interest and talent. All they need is proper guidance and mentoring,” feels Shyam who rarely misses any football activity in the City. “I will be pleased to leave a mark on the game in my own little way,” he signs off before another coaching stint at Gymkhana Ground.
