Srinagar, May 6: In recent years valleys football players have made mark at national and international arena but now it is the turn of coaches who have made their presence felt at national level.
Sajid Yousuf Dar and Hilal Ahmad Parray qualified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) “B” Licence coaching training.  The results were declared by AFC recently. There were number of C-Licence coaches in J&K but no one was B-Licence holder, which makes coaches eligible to train I-league teams.
The B-Licence coaching course was held at Chennai in March 2009 and 26 among candidates from all over the country who participated in it 21 qualified. The camp was held under the supervision of Iranian instructor Masood Irani who in past has coached Iran and Syria national teams.
Both Sajid and Hilal are well known NIS qualified coaches. Sajid is a son of the first senior international player of the valley and only FIFA accredited coach, Muhammad Yousuf Dar. He has been working in Kashmir University as football coach from the last several years.
Hilal is also a well known player and respected coach. He is assistant coach of JK Bank football team. He did his NIS after recommended by his employers, JK Bank for the course.
Before becoming coaches both were known footballers. Sajid and Hilal were part of YMCA Club, which was the first private club to win state championship. Both represented the state in several Santosh Trophy events.
AFC coaching camps are being held by AFC in order to improve the level and standard of coaching in India and other Asian countries. The A-Licence is highest degree of coaching training in this steam, which makes a coach eligible to train any national team.
JK Bank football team, which recently qualified for I-League second division, requires to have a B-Licence coach in their rank. As Hilal has qualified, JK Bank is eligible for the league.
Both the coaches are thankful to J&K Football Association and their respective departments for recommending them for the course.
“It is only due to the recommendation of J&K Football Association that we were able to take part in it. They trusted our abilities and we did our best.”
When asked about the importance of the AFC courses, Hilal said, “AFC has set several guidelines for all the clubs and among them falls this licence courses for coaches.”
“At the time of passing NIS diploma we thought that we are now fully equipped and qualified but through C-Licence course we got to know how vast a football coaching subject is. Now this B-Licence has even widened the football coaching subject for us” said Sajid Dar.
The Duo terms themselves lucky to have got B-Licence training through Masood Iqrani and said that they learnt lot from him.
“Masood Iqrani is world known instructor and the method he employed to train was simply amazing. His way of teaching and knowledge is so vast in the field of football we looked novices in front of him” said Hilal.
About the future plans Sajid and Hilal said, “We have learnt lot in the course and we want to use that in our coaching to our respective teams. We also plan to participate in A-Licence training but that depends on recommendation from JKFA.”
Pertinently Sajid and Hilal had topped the C-Licence course held in Uttar Pradesh. Sajid had got first place while Hilal second.

JKFA HAILS SAJID, HILAL
The J&K Football Association has congratulated Sajid Yousuf Dar and Hilal Ahmad Parray for qualifying AFC B-Licence course.
Hailing their achievement, the JKFA President, Zamir Ahmad Thakur said, “It is for the first time that our coaches have qualified the course. It is a big achievement and now we have two qualified national level coaches”.
“We expect that they will pass on their skills to young footballers. We also expect that they will apply for the A-Licence coaches,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 May 2010 00:00:00 IST