Coaches change lives. It is important to have community coaches with the knowledge and skills to help children and youth develop their football and social skills. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) understands the value of community coaches and has a vision of developing coaches across Bangladesh.

A good coach not only teaches football but also teaches other aspects of life. Grassroots coaches are in primary contact with children and youth and are in an important position to develop their life skills. The sad reality is that many grassroots coaches do not have many opportunities to develop their coaching skills.

Mario Lemos is one of the most well-respected professional coaches in Bangladesh and is the Head Coach at Abahani Club Limited, one of the best football clubs in the country. He is volunteering with SHI to develop a coaching culture in Bangladesh by building the skills of community coaches. Community coaches from across Bangladesh have been joining virtual sessions with Lemos, with on-field sessions scheduled to start once the COVID-19 situation permits.

Lemos has built sessions from his vast knowledge of football coaching and working in different countries. Through his sessions, Lemos and SHI aim to empower coaches with the knowledge, skills, and social values needed to build up children and youth in Bangladesh as the next generation of footballers.

Trainee Marium Begum stated that it has been very difficult for women and girls to find an opportunity to learn about coaching, given the Bangladeshi context. She feels lucky to have found this opportunity to learn from Lemos, her favorite club’s coach. Lemos has already started impacting lives and through the journey of various community coaches, will hopefully continue to impact and empower other girls through football.