Srinagar, Apr 8: Adding another feather to his achievements the young football coach of Valley, Sajid Yousuf Dar was appointed as Under-14 national football team chief coach by All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Sunday.
 Sajid will be leading Indian side in the U-14 Int’l football festival at Kathmandu, Nepal from May 17. Before that he will be heading one month coaching for U-14 side at Kalyani, West Bengal starting from Thursday.
 It is the first time ever that any coach from J&K state has reached that level in the Indian football arena.
 Pertinently Sajid who is Kashmir University coach and Hilal Parray a JK Bank coach are the only two qualified coach of State who have got AFC A-licence. On the basis of that both the coaches have been getting regular national assignments from the AIFF that is football governing body of India.
 Earlier this year Sajid was appointed by AIFF as a spotter in Under-19 junior nationals at Cuttack and after that he was also the coach of Under-19 national selection/coaching camp in Goa.
 Satisfied with his services during the U-19 camp, AIFF engaged him for U-14 selection camp at Kalyani.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir on phone from Kalyani Sajid said that, “It is a dream come true for any footballer or a coach to be a part of the national team. Thanks to Allah for whatever I have achieved in my life and I am also very lucky to have people like B A Malik, N A Khan, and my Director Prof B A Khan around me who always encouraged me during my playing and coaching carrier”.
 “To be the part of national team was my aim and dream and I have worked hard to reach upto this level” he said.
 Sajid is  elder son of first senior international footballer of the state Muhammad Yousuf Dar and his family has given State number of national level footballers.
 “My father has always been supporting me and my brother Majid who is now the manager of J&K Bank Football team” he said.
 Sajid is thankful to J&K Football Association (JKFA) for the support that they have been given him and said that he is representing JKFA in the national and international arena.
  “I  am thankful would like to JKFA president Zameer Thakur and Gen Secretary S A Hameed for keeping faith on me and keeping on encouraging me from time to time” he added.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST