A New Pathway for Women in Football: AIFF and FIFA Back India’s Coaching Ambitions
The 13-day course brings together around 22 women coaches from the North and East regions, with AIFF Coach Educator Indu Sharma leading the programme
Xtra Time Newsweek: The growth of women’s football is not only about creating opportunities for players. It is also about empowering women to become coaches, leaders and decision-makers who can shape the future of the game.
Taking that vision forward, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), with the support of the FIFA Women’s Department, has commenced the AFC C Diploma Course exclusively for women coaches at the National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata.
The 13-day course brings together around 22 women coaches from the North and East regions, with AIFF Coach Educator Indu Sharma leading the programme. The all-women batch provides participants with an environment to learn, share experiences and build confidence as they progress towards becoming future leaders in football.
For Indu Sharma, the significance of the initiative lies in the determination of the participants, many of whom have travelled from rural areas and villages despite financial and infrastructural challenges.
“I really see their aspiration to be in football, to become a better coach tomorrow,” Sharma said in an interview.
She also highlighted the importance of the collaboration between AIFF and FIFA in creating new pathways for women coaches.
“I’m really happy that this opportunity has come to India for the very first time. I would really like to thank FIFA on behalf of the All India Football Federation. In collaboration, I can really see this change.”
Indu Sharma believes such initiatives are crucial as Indian football continues to evolve.
“I feel opportunities like these are really important in today's era when we say modern football is developing and women's football is developing, especially in India,” she said.
Fully funded under the FIFA Coach Education Scholarship Programme, the course is part of a wider effort to strengthen women’s coaching pathways. A second AFC C Diploma Course for coaches from the West and South regions is planned later this year.
Together, the two programmes are expected to produce around 42–44 women AFC C Licence coaches by the end of 2026, creating a stronger foundation for women’s empowerment across Indian football.
