Indian Coaches Following in Players’ Footsteps

July 20, 2012 - PRLog -- New Delhi, Friday, 20th July, 2012: In another major boost to Indian football, former football player and current youth & grassroots’ level coach, Asit Ganguli has been shortlisted for the position of head-coach by the Yanbian Baekdu Tigers FC in the Chinese Fourth Division.

This development is a part of a string of international football-breakthroughs that Indian players and coaches have made in recent times. While Yanbian FC may not be at the same level as Sporting or Leipzig, it will be a major leap for Indian coaches who find little to smile about as players get all the attention.

Asit Ganguli has had stints with numerous coaching academies in a consultant’s role, in New Delhi, and has undergone USSF and KNVB coaching certification courses that are equivalent to the UEFA C-Certificates and UEFA B-Certificates. Currently a coaching consultant for a handful of clubs in New Delhi, Asit has worked with numerous foreign clubs and coaching organizations through his company, Cleat Beat.

Since 2010, Asit has been running India’s first football magazine and the only coaching-resource website in the country. He has also undertaken several initiatives to aid the growth of football in the country. His latest project, called “Kick Start” is an initiative where Asit distributes footballs amongst kids in villages and small towns, encouraging them to learn from the sport. Training coaches is also a part of the programme his company offers that, along with the knowledge-based website and magazine, is completely free!

Although the details of the offer have not yet been revealed, Yanbian FC representative, Mr. Chong Lee stated that the club is looking for “a qualified and experienced football coach who will handle and set the soccer to a better pace and promote the present division of the club to the Jia A League.”

The only details that were revealed by Mr. Lee were that the contract would be for the duration of 2-years and that Asit Ganguli has “been shortlisted for the final selection process.” The total number of shortlisted candidates was also not revealed.

About Yanbian FC
Yanbian FC is a football club based in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of China’s Jilin Province. Founded in 1955, the club has historically been comprised of Korean players and has been a powerhouse in Chinese football. Yanbian FC won their first league title in 1965 and was runners up in 2004, in the second division. Yanbian FC is currently playing in the Fourth Division of the Chinese football league structure.

About Cleat Beat
CleatBeat.com was started by Asit Ganguli, a professional football coach, in June 2010 to fill the void of a football magazine in our country. Since then, CleatBeat.com has become India’s largest football coaching resource and organizes various development programmes and coaching clinics for children and coaches at the grassroots’ level in India. Their recent initiatives include “Kick Start”, a project that involves distribution of free footballs amongst children aged between 6 and 14, who live in villages and small towns.