Academy Orientation - My Best Day on the Job So Far

Friday was a special day. It was probably the best day for me since I started as the CEO of DSK Shivajians FC back in May.  While I enjoy our staff and management meetings discussing the past, present and future of the club and treasure the trips to Europe to strengthen relations and learn from our technical partner Liverpool FC, what I love most about this sport is interacting with passionate, hungry youth footballers and their parents. 

On Friday, we organised the orientation and kick off ceremony for the next batch of LFC International Academy - DSK Shivajians footballers.  In the morning, 36 anxious young footballers and their parents arrived on campus ready to continue their growth through football as part of the Liverpool FC family. All of these boys have earned their way into our Academy through their strong performance in the Academy over the past season or by impressing our diligent coaches during the multi-day trials we hosted earlier this year. 

The orientation was extraordinary. Myself, our First Team Manager Dave Rogers and our Player Liaison Officer Subroto Chakraborty shared the LFC International Academy - DSK Shivajians FC story with the 100 people in attendance and, more importantly, communicated to the players and parents what we expect from them and what they can expect from us. 

We are truly fortunate to have both Dave Rogers and Michael Rice with us at DSK Shivajians FC as they have both been in the country for almost 3 years now and have a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge of Indian football and the mentality of players and parents.  The way they interact with locals now is so different than how most foreigners communicate when they just arrive and try to bring all their western ways into an Eastern culture.  It just doesn't work. 

I'm learning as well.  I feel much more comfortable than ever before on stage sharing my story and authentically communicating to those in the audience vs. trying to inspire and motivate with every sentence.  It helps when my words are supported by Indian football's best technical partner, best technical staff, best infrastructure and best ownership group.




The day ended on a high with a night out with my brother and FC Goa CEO Sukhvinder Singh, FC Goa's Head of Marketing Janit Desai and Akshay Tandon who is part of FC Goa's new ownership group.  We all enjoyed an quality dinner and conversation at our club's owner Shirish Kulkarni's restaurant Syrakko. 

  

Comments

  1. Eurico Rosa Da SilvaJune 23, 2021 at 6:15 AM

    This is my first time i visit here and I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially it's discussion, thank you. athletic performance coach

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