Academy Head Coach Assumes New Role To Add Structure To Grassroots And BFC Soccer Schools Program

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC announced on Monday that Academy Coach John Kenneth Raj would be assuming a new role as Head of BFC Soccer Schools and Grassroots Development. Certified in the Asian Football Confederation’s AFC ‘A’ License and well versed in Grassroots Coaching Education, John Kenneth Raj is among India’s most qualified Youth Coaches.

Having completed a course in Physical Education from the University of Cambridge, John has scouted for the Indian National Team at various age groups in the past, before moving to Germany where he was the coach of the U16 U Dream Football Academy, which was under the affiliation of Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, and assisted in the administration and coaching of the football program encompassing over 20 players.

“John is a very qualified coach and has been a part of our residential program since the very beginning. Moving him into a more technical role would help us educate our Soccer Schools coaches in the right manner, while also focusing on scouting more local talent from the younger age groups like the U7s, U9s and U11s. We are in the process of having an elite batch of BFC Soccer Schools players, who will be scouted and overlooked by Kenneth Raj and our Head of Youth Development, Naushad Moosa. This will also enable us to create a clear pathway between our BFC Soccer Schools program and our Youth Academy,” said club CTO, Mandar Tamhane.

Kenneth Raj joined Bengaluru FC as Head Coach of the U18 team in 2016, and was in charge of both U16 and U18 age groups during their initial AIFF Youth League campaigns.

“I’m very excited to take up this new position because I believe that there is a lot of potential in our BFC Soccer Schools program. To ensure the coaches are in the right track to improve in their field, while also making sure that children who have the talent are nurtured is my primary focus, and hopefully we can find some really good players who can be promoted to the club’s youth academies soon,” said John Kenneth Raj.