The glorious Journey of Muzamil Mahmood
From a remote Ganderbal village to Football Paradise, 'Brazil'
by Umar Raina
Football coach Muzamil Mahmood from Ganderbal's remote village Gogjigund ,added another feather in his cap after qualifying elite AFC A license coaching course in Mumbai.
Muzamil has become the first coach from here to qualify one of Asia's top level coaching courses. Only few coaches in Kashmir have qualified the coaching course so far. Muzamil is the second person in valley to qualify for the course.
Pertinently, All India football federation (AIFF) conducts the A license coaching diploma course for eligible coaches. The course is designed to educate Coaches in tactical and technical requirements, leadership qualities, management, player identification, and teaching physiological and psychological needs of the player.
When Argentine coach Juan Marcos Troia visited Kashmir for a coaching programme,He was instantly impressed with Muzamil's football skills.
Muzamil started coaching in 2007 as assistant coach of Juan Marcos in International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT).
"Marcos played an important role in the development of football in Kashmir.He Inspired me a lot as a coach,"said Muzamil.
Muzamil Mahmood visited Brazil in 2011 for training and exposure .
"It was a watershed moment of my life .I visited the paradise of football and was awed by the football culture of the country. It was a wonderful experience."
Back home in 2011 Muzamil established a football academy and club 'FC Ganderbal'.The club provides a platform for the local youth who aspire to play football .
Muzamil has had an illustrious journey from a player to an established football coach.He has introduced the game of Football to many places of Kashmir including Ganderbal.
He started playing football in 1998 and went on to play in the B Division league in Srinagar.
He actively played football in Kashmir for different clubs for around 10 years.
Muzamil played a pivotal role in establishing the football association in Ganderbal which formalised football in Ganderbal district.
Apart from Ganderbal, Muzamil has coached the emerging football club of Kashmir Ali Jana FC. To add to glory several african players played under his mentorship in the club.
Muzamil earlier qualified Asian football confederation D and C and B license course in 2014,2015,2019 respectively.
Muzamil says , "Kashmir is in need of well versed coaches to groom talent .We have good potential to produce talented footballers we only need to tap that in professional expertise."
Muzzamil has groomed a number of footballers , many of whom went on to play at national level. One of his academy's players Suhail was recently selected in Reliance foundation young champ football academy.
He served as head coach of Chandigarh football team for the prestigious Santosh trophy.
"Sajid Yousuf Dar ,International coach has always supported me and under his mentorship I have been able to carve a niche in the football world despite hailing from a small Ganderbal village." Muzamil said.
Muzamil has been appointed head coach of Mumbai based women's club in Indian women's league (IWL).
"I want to go further and work with the Indian super league which is the top tier football league in India." Muzamil said.
Muzamil lives and loves football.He has a vision of a bright future of football in Kashmir and wants to be part of the growing story of Football and Sports in Kashmir. Rising Kashmir
