In a historic first, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya, is hosting a FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup legacy initiative, the Coach Education Scholarship Programme, where 23 aspirant coaches—all females—are enrolled in an E-License grassroots course to earn their official football coaching certification.
The program's eleventh iteration, which will run from September 4 to 7, 2022, will train participants in both the theoretical and practical facets of the game while also giving the taking part women leadership skills.
"Meghalaya has witnessed a boom in football among girls and women through the efforts of the Meghalaya Football Association and affiliated district associations with the assistance of the AIFF, AFC and FIFA and we are grateful that Meghalaya has been chosen as a venue for the E-Licence course as part of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 legacy programme. We believe it will greatly aid us in our efforts to create a sustainable football infrastructure for boys and girls, men and women," said Larsing Sawyan, President of the Meghalaya Football Association.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 released a statement in which the project directors agreed that they wanted women's football to grow and develop at a faster rate as the tournament's lasting legacy. Equal involvement at the local level can be attained by increasing the proportion of female coaches nationwide. This training, held in one of India's most prominent football-loving regions, is a significant step for the overall advancement of women's football in India.
"Meghalaya's contribution to Indian football has been immense and that can be evidenced from the fact that the official mascot of India's first-ever FIFA women's competition, called Ibha, derives its name from the scripture of the state's Khasi ethnic group," concluded LOC Project Directors, Nandini Arora and Ankush Arora.
The Coach Education Scholarship Program, which the LOC for the event envisioned and conceptualised, has benefited not only the graduates of its ten previously held courses but also those who have received coaching from officially recognised coaches.
The graduates of the program's different iterations are now acting as role models and inspirational people in their communities, inspiring other females to take up the sport. Some players from distant areas are leading the way in allowing women to play the game, transforming the culture and the lives of young girls.
This FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 legacy project has also helped several participants who have discovered alternative employment opportunities through the beautiful game get back on their feet.
The top young female football players from around the world will display their talent in India during the biennial youth tournament, which is set to take place between October 11 and October 30 2022. Tickets for the event are now available.
