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Kalpana Das is currently the head coach of newly inducted Pune FC women’s team. Kalpana Das is a AFC B License coach by qualification. She has had a very diverse experience in the field of football on and off the field. She has handled a sports venue organisation, been a coach at various sports clubs. She is also an instructor of the AIFF D License and AIFF Grassroots Instructor.
Women’s Football scene in India is looking very bright and Kalpana Das is leading from the front. Our wifa.in team caught up with her for International Women’s Day
Q.1) How can sports be used to bring people together?
It can play a role in bringing people with different culture and thoughts together to create a social impact
Q.2) Football being dominated mainly by male in India, how to overcome those gender barriers?
The barrier has to start from one’s own house and am sure that it would clean up the entire nation
Q.3) Have things changed for women’s in football?
Yes, the players’ physique and the game quality as well as an active participation by celebrity child
Q.4) What made you take up coaching?
Passion for the game and to create more passionate footballers like me
Q.5) As a coach have you seen any differences in players over the decades? How you manage their skill sets?
Yes, a lot of it in fact. The players skill have tremendously been enhanced through fun and SSG thus getting their full focus and improvement
Q.6) How did you first get into the game?
In school, joined the team only for fun never ever dreamed that i would build it as a career
Q.7) Do you see yourself working in the men’s league?
Why not the coach s job is the same
Q.8) Which team did you support as a child? Do you still support them?
Germany now it depends on performance but i love Chelsea
Q.9) What is your ultimate dream
To become another Helena Costa in India
Q.10) How do you compare the Netherlands Team that came down to play 2 years back and our current Indian Team?
They were young and has been playing together as a team for long in a better infrastructure where as we lacked in period of training as our players are from different states and their daily training does not meet the required facility.
Q.11) You recently had selections for the Pune FC Women’s Team, how was the response you got?
Good response but players are yet to know the importance of their career and what is it to play for an i-league team
Q.12) How has your progress been so far with the Pune FC Women’s Team?
Yes its challenging as we are not in the business of buying players but creating players
Q.13) Do you feel that the predicted ISL for Women’s would make an impact on Women’s Football in India?
Yes drastic change will take place
Q.14) What are the difficulties you have to face everyday?
In football no men or women all are considered to be the same but yet when people hire they first see the gender rather than qualification and experience
Q.15) What made you leave Chennai and start from scratch in Maharashtra?
Football business dragged me to Mumbai but coaching i was always in i had been the Manager for Tamil Nadu Senior Women’s Team and always ensured that we reach Semi Finals , also formed Women’s Police Team in Tamil Nadu and it was the first Govt. Team to recruit players after seeing the performance. I also still have my senior boys playing for 1st division in Tamil Nadu .During working period i motivated and supported my office colleagues to play football after work.
Basic Info
Fav. Player – Marta
Fav. Team – Japan
Fav. Coach – Arsene Wenger
Visionary Insights – Produce quality players and to take the game to all nook and corners
School – St. Ursula’s A.I.H.S.S. ( Church Park)
College – Annamalai University
#MakeItHappen #PaintItPurple #IWD2015
