Premier Skills returns to Mumbai for last phase of Coach Educator course

Mumbai, 10 December 2018: The hugely successful Premier Skills initiative, run by the Premier League and the British Council, returns to Reliance Corporate Park in Ghansoli, Mumbai, this December. Led by Premier Skills Coach Educators Jez Weeks and Graham Robinson, the course will run between 6-10 December and will see 22 men and women from across India train to become Premier Skills Coach Educators.

This Premier Skills Phase 3 training programme is being run by the British Council, Premier League and Hero Indian Super League. The 22 coaches taking part in the week-long course have already progressed through Premier Skills Phases 1 and 2. This last Phase of the course will equip participants with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to successfully run their own training courses for coaches in their own communities.

Shubhu Marathe, one of the female coaches taking part in the sessions at Reliance Corporate Park this week said: “During our Premier Skills training, I realized gender does not matter when it comes to playing football as it is only the technique that matters. I can now say that we all are equals and this will help me when I am delivering Premier Skills coaching to both men and women in my community.”

Helen Silvester, Director-West India, British Council, commented: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to train coaches who will train others to provide young people with the tools and skills to help transform their lives and those of their communities. The level of participation during this phase of the Premier Skills Programme has been exceptional.”

Kate Hodgkinson, Head of International Relations, Premier League, added: “Since Premier Skills launched in India in 2007, more than 2,000 coaches and referees have taken part in training that will support grassroots football.

This week’s course will provide the opportunity for 22 men and women from across the country to become Premier Skills Coach Educators who can share their newly-acquired football knowledge with their communities and add to the more than 105,000 young people who have been positively impacted by Premier Skills delivery.”