South Asian Heritage Month: Amina Ali
To celebrate South Asian Heritage Month 2024, we are interviewing several referees and coaches from South Asian backgrounds across the grassroots game in West Riding.
Up next is Amina Ali, currently a coach at Evolution Sports (Qatar), formerly of Phoenix Juniors.
Tell us about how and why you got involved in coaching football?
I got into coaching because I wanted to make a difference in kids' football experiences, especially for girls. A teacher encouraged me to run a girls' football session after school, and seeing how much fun the girls had and knowing I contributed to that was amazing. Since then, I've gained lots of experience coaching different ages and genders at various clubs.
What do you enjoy about coaching football?
I like it when the people I coach leave smiling. Its fulfilling. I also enjoy trying new things that might work better for the people I coach. Coaching football is like a never-ending journey for me, I'm always learning things that I can apply; it's why I enjoy it so much, every day is different.
What is your best memory of coaching?
My best memory is coaching an U12s girls football team where most of the girls had never played before. In their first season, they didn't win any games at all but persevered and always encouraged each other. The season after, they dominated the boys' league they were entered into and didn't lose a single game. It made me feel really proud of them! Hard work and perseverance pay off!
What do you want to achieve in coaching football?
I want to achieve being a long-lasting role model for girls who don't have that encouragement from elsewhere. I want them to know they can achieve anything they believe they want to achieve, and I hope the girls around me can see that through what I have achieved and use it as motivation. I know if they really try, they can hit every goal they see.
What are the biggest obstacles you have faced in coaching football?
The biggest obstacles I have faced in coaching football are often being misjudged about my coaching abilities because I am female. Sometimes, people can have a negative stereotype towards females in football, although it has positively improved. However, having the right mindset and not letting things like that affect how I see myself have pushed me through and allowed me to have great experiences in my journey.
Who’s had the biggest influence in your coaching career and why?
My biggest influences are Ishy Hussain and Pav Singh. They took me under their wings and really saw my potential for the future. They worked well with my personality and didn’t generalise. They gave me advice that I'll keep with me forever. Another role model who I looked up to along my journey was Sarah Lowden. Being a female coach who is so successful and influential in her journey inspired me and pushed me to believe I can achieve more too.
What advice would you give to people wishing to get involved in coaching football?
If you really want to give coaching a try, don't hesitate and throw yourself into uncomfortable and new experiences. It's the only way you will gain your confidence and see where you want your journey to take you. It’s a fulfilling role and if you enjoy it, your players will too.