AFC Futsal instructor Joshuah Vaz conducts webinar for Goa and Maharashtra coaches

AFC Futsal instructor Joshuah Vaz conducts webinar for Goa and Maharashtra coaches

With social distancing and ban on gathering the norms of the day, many a sports associations are using the digital platform to inform and impart new training and coaching techniques to coaches.

The Goan futsal family has also adapted to the lockdown situation an

d are connecting coaches based in different parts of the state through the social networking website Zoom sessions.

Last week, Joshuah Vaz, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) instructor conducted a webinar for over 60 coaches who are imparting Futsal training in different parts of Goa and in the second session to Futsal coaches operating in Maharashtra.

“it was good to interact with 60+ coaches in Goa session and 260+ coaches in Maharashtra session and it was a good platform to give the correct and accurate knowledge on Futsal,” said the former India Under-16 international and co-owner of Youth futsal Academy, which operates from Chowgule College ground.

“Online Zoom Webinar organised by AIFC (All India Football Coaches) & AIFF for the Coaches of India during this lockdown• I would like to thank @the_aifc & Coaches Shekar and Caetano Pinho for including FUTSAL as a topic for this programme and giving me an opportunity to present the topic to all the coaches that attended the Webinar in the GOA region. I believe that FUTSAL is the way forward to making better football players and the right knowledge and education about this sport is important,” twitted Joshua, who incidentally is the lone Futsal Level 1 instructor in the country having passed his exam in February this year.

Joshuah, a former professional footballer with I-league club Churchill Bros, also got a chance to talk on the Futsal topic with coaches working in Maharashtra.

 “I got a chance to speak on Futsal as a topic at the Online zoom Webinar organised by AIFC (All India Football Coaches) & AIFF thereby giving me an opportunity to present the topic to the 260+ coaches from Maharashtra region.

“I believe that Futsal is the way forward to making better football players and the right knowledge and education about this sport is important,” he added.

Joshua, who spent a year in Portugal in 2007-2008 season while training with Vitoria de Guimaraes club, was appreciative of the support and backing for the world most popular game from Aaditya Thackerey, who besides been an official of WIFA is a minister in the Maharashtra cabinet.

 “It was also good to see the support that the humble Mr.Aaditya Thackeray is giving to football in Mumbai and I am hoping that he soon puts his hands into bringing up t he sport of Futsal in the Indian Subcontinent,” said the 30-year-old Fatorda resident.

Joshuah webinar interaction with coaches came in for praise from one of the participant who took to twitter to give his feedback.

“@JoshuahVaz led a great session on Futsal today at #AIFCWebinar for Maharashtra coaches. He is the only AFC Futsal Instructor in our country and I have been lucky to have learnt about the game under him at @YFA_GOA previously too. Always a pleasure learning from you coach!,” wrote Surya Prakash on his twitter handle @SuryaPrakash7.

Coach Zubin tweeting on his tweeter handle @spinchronous said: “This was by far the best  @theaifc  webinar till date.  Thank you to  @DineshNair74 @AUThackeray @SuryaPrakash7 @AlexAmbrose19 & all those who made it happen.  Special thanks to  @JoshuahVaz  for an amazing intro into Futsal & hoping to attend a level 1 course in Mumbai soon.”