A football coach working across Waltham Forest has won multiple awards at an FA grassroots awards event.
Sara Fahad, 27, was awarded National and Regional Female Grassroots Football Coach of the Year at the Grassroots Football Awards held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff earlier this month.
The mother of three currently coaches children under 16 at Ryan FC, Aldersbrook Rangers and Leyton Orient’s emerging talent centre.
“I think as coaches it can be a very thankless job, so to be recognised was honestly a massive honour,” she said.
Being a role model for parents and participants
Fahad has become an important role model for the girls and Muslim children who look up to her.
She also takes pride in knowing that the boys she coaches will know, and hopefully respect, women like her in football.
“I am representation for the young girls that didn’t see any female coaches growing up,” she said.
“It’s also not going to be strange for the boys to see women in the game. It’s going to be normal because all their life that is what they’ve seen, and they respect it.”
Facing discrimination as a Muslim, female coach
The world of football coaching was very male-dominated, and Fahad learnt to hold her own as a woman.
“I think we always feel like we have to prove ourselves and work harder for the same kind of acknowledgement as men,” she said.
Unfortunately, the England Football post about her award received negative comments from people unhappy to see a Muslim woman recognised in football.
“There were comments on the post about how I don’t represent the country. I’m a female and a Muslim, and there’s millions of us in the country. I guess I can play a part in helping to push forward change,” she said.
Support from family and community
Parents have been an important part of Fahad’s support system.
“When you have the support of these dads and mums who are very much involved in football, you really start to have a lot more confidence in yourself as well,” she said.
Her husband has also been a pillar of support throughout her coaching journey.
“I’m very blessed. We are like a tag team. I’m very lucky in that respect,” she said.
Gamechangers — a community of women in football spearheaded by Sharon Muxworthy, the FA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead, — has given coaches like Fahad a valuable network.
“Gamechangers introduced me to so many other female coaches. Sharon Muxworthy has been a great mentor. She champions everything we do,” she said.
From football cages to coaching excellence
Fahad developed her football skills playing street football from the age of seven.
“We used to play out every day. I’d always be at the local cage after school playing with just about anybody who agreed,” she said.
As she got older, the dream of becoming a footballer felt increasingly distant so she turned her attention towards coaching instead.
After completing the FA level 1 coaching course, Fahad spent time on the FA Youth Council, which paved the way for her first coaching opportunities in primary schools.
“I was 16, feeling so out of my depth. I remember the kids running around with hockey sticks trying to hit each other,” she said.
The experience didn’t deter her, and she continued to hone her skills.
As well as coaching for the last 11 years, Fahad has completed an undergraduate degree in sports science and a master’s in human and applied physiology.
Future coaching goals
The mother of three has almost completed her UEFA B coaching qualification and hopes to pursue her UEFA A qualification next, which will allow her to work in professional youth and senior environments.
Acceptance to the Mentee Development Programme, which champions coaches from underrepresented backgrounds, is bringing Fahad closer to her dream of coaching in the Premier League.
“We’re going to have the opportunity to observe the England youth camps and go abroad to visit a professional club next year. We’re going to have mentors who are already in the professional game. I’m so cautious not to take any of it for granted,” she said.
Featured image credit: Sara Fahad
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