"We need more football academies and qualified coaches, so I decided two years ago that I will train to become a coach," KESC player Essa Khan. PHOTO: FILE
Limited exposure and dismal performance in international matches have led Pakistan’s senior football players to seek a new role in the sport.
Former Pakistan captain and now KESC’s key striker Muhammad Essa Khan said he will become a License B coach in November this year.
Essa, who rose to prominence in 2000 with his performance for the Pakistan U23 team, revealed that he has been training to become a coach for two years now, and the License B certificate will be an achievement for him.
The 29-year-old was instrumental in KESC’s silver-medal win in the previous season of the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL).
Essa will be travelling to China for an Asian Football Confederation coaching programme in August before the PPFL season starts this year.
“We need more football academies and qualified coaches, so I decided two years ago that I will train to become a coach,” Essa told The Express Tribune. “I’ll be a certified License B coach by November.”
However, Essa will remain a part of the KESC team in the PPFL this year.
According to Essa, he travelled to Europe and also attended programmes for coaching at the Sky Academy in Qatar.
“I need to gain more knowledge. I coach at my own academy in Chaman, but I want to coach at the national level in future.”
Meanwhile, national goal-keeper Jaffar Khan said he would obtain his License C certificate this year. He agreed with Essa that coaching was a better option for a lot of players.
Senior players Muhammad Tanveer and Mehmood Khan are also among those looking to become licensed coaches this year.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2013.
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