Dhaka, March 16: With the first AFC C level coaching certificate course coming to an end, participants look forward to putting it to use in the field.

Md Liakat Ali, who runs an academy in Sylhet, has been trying scout, spot and groom football talent for many years. “But now I know the proper way of coaching.”

Brimming with confidence, the 45 year old football enthusiast said his approach will have changed completely with the benefit of this coaching course. “Even I could spot an amateur coach, now that know how to structure a session.”

This 14-day course concluding on March 16 aims to teach coaches and develop their coaching practice in football. It is designed to teach the coaches to analysis, plan, prepare, organise and deliver practical coaching sessions, especially for young players.

Azmul Hossain Biddut started as a coach cum player at the Agrabad Naujawan Club where he had begun his soccer career in 1995. A member of the Bangladesh U16 side in 96, Biddut said he was very taken with the style of teaching at the certification course.

Biddut said there is a gulf of difference from when someone undergoes training under a coach and when someone is acting as the coach. “You might think you know it all, but a simple course on coaching should be enough to open your eyes regarding that.”

The Bangladesh Football Federation has already held a one day refresher course for A, B and C level coaches to revalidate and reaccredit their coaching credentials.

The certification course with 24 participants was the first of four such courses that the federation will be hosting through the year.

There will also be one B and one A level certification course later in the year.

The C level course has been designed with 37 hours of practical sessions and 48 hours of theoretical sessions over 14 days.

Firoz Mahmud Hossain, who retired from active sport about five years ago has been a team manager for Muktijoddha. “We have all had some experience with football coaching. Football language is the same all over. Just that implementation is different.”

And it is the teaching method that makes all the difference. Firoz said the course was not something borrowed from another country and completely out of context. He said the material had been tailored and customised to fit the needs coaches in Bangladesh. “It addresses the problems that we often face here.”

Looking forward to set up his own football academy, Firoz said this course would come in really handy and add much to his offer.

In the final examination, students are assessed on their practical coaching abilities, knowledge of the laws of the game, learning and understanding of the theoretical contents of football using 3 practical assessments, 2 theoretical exams and 1 oral exam to give coaches an insight into best practice when delivering coaching.

This 85 hour-course was open to all interested applicants.

Participants said they found the experience very rewarding and were keen to come back for the next level’s certification course. “I will certainly come back for the B and then A level course,” said Liakat who thought his Sampan Foundation would blow away the competition because of his improved coaching skills.

Biddut said there are a number of coaches at the club level who do not have certificates or qualifications but they are working as coaches nonetheless. “One thing everyone should understand is that a good player does not necessarily make a terrific coach.”

He said the key was to be able to solve a problem as a coach. “I think that would be the essence of being a good coach.”