Q&A session with Joel Matti Maian Mawroh, UEFA Licensed Coach from Shillong

Joel Matti Maian Mawroh is currently working towards his UEFA B licence in coaching. He is one of the first team coaches and analysts at Welsh side Ely Rangers AFC.  

Note: This article was originally published on the 20th of January, 2020. 

Growing up, which team did you support? Who is your favourite coach?

It has always been Liverpool, mainly influenced by my brothers and cousin brothers (hahahaha). Watching LFC matches and growing up playing the game, Gerrard was my idol. All I cared about was accuracy and power when shooting at goal (just like the No.8), scored some crazy ones too. The most memorable match was the one against Dortmund at home in the Europa League Quarter Finals. Liverpool is not just a club for me, for it has its positive influence – the never die attitude, which inspired me into pursuing something that, once upon a time, was just a far-fetched dream. YNWA.

I honestly have too many coaches that I get inspiration from. For me, every coach has a unique way of offering something from their coaching style, and they are responsible for shaping the game into what is it today. Arrigo Sacchi is one of the top coaches for me. His influence on Italian football has immensely helped Italian football to adapt to the changes in the sport, tactically, to be specific. I won’t deny that Pep (who emulates Rinus Michels) drove Liverpool into becoming World Champions (European Champions too, soon to be Champions of England), pushing Klopp and his team of elites in the club to achieve what they have achieved. Klopp has shown us what mental strength looks like, day in and day out. Trust me, it’s very hard to achieve this, and mainly, to maintain it. I hope to be someone’s favourite coach someday too (LoL).

How did you get into football? When did you decide to be a professional coach?

I started playing football during my school days in Shillong. St. Edmunds has many playing pitches where we could all play games, and football was mine. Even going to school early to get more playing time before school starts, sweating like a pig by 9.am, in school uniform and continuing the day with the same outfit, all seemed okay back then. These bits and pieces from my school days now add up as to why I want to become a professional coach. With injuries occurring, I had to switch my way of thinking for the game to continue to be a part of it. It took me a year and a half to decide that coaching was the answer. The talent that the kids and players have in the north-eastern states drives me to further my understanding of the game, to eventually push them to reach their highest potential. Fingers crossed. 

What does a day in the life of a team coach at Ely Rangers look like?

Discipline is the first thing we care about because football is a team sport. I help design sessions, coach and analyse games to find out the solutions to the smallest of problems, be it tactically, physically, technically, and even psychologically. Being on the pitch before the players and helping in setting up sessions is a routine for every training night. Now, as a club, we are trying to find out solutions in getting the optimum intensity for small-sided games (work: rest ratio). It will be an interesting project as I will be leading in creating a predictive model under a conceptual framework.

Do you follow any specific footballing philosophy in your coaching style? Which coach’s style would you like to emulate in your game?

To be honest with you, every methodology or philosophy is just a way of doing things, not the only way. As coaches in the football pathway, every session, every game, shapes us and our coaching style. In a pendulum of autocratic and democratic style of coaching, finding the right balance of when to give ownership to players in sessions where they feel more belonged, and times where you just have to tell them what to do is quite a challenging task. In coaching, coaches steal ideas from each other now and then, so in a way we have all imitated to be someone, some way or the other. I strongly believe that with time and experience, self- reflection is the key to emulating to be the best that that individual can be in ten years’ time or even a lifetime.

What’s your take on the professional football scene in India?

It’s rapidly booming, but with no clarity in their functioning and aims. Here in Wales, the FAW (Football Association of Wales), have created a Welsh way of playing which has been introduced to all the clubs around the country. These clubs then try to follow the same models and playing principles, so that when developing players are called up to play for their country, it’s easier to get them to understand what is needed from them, which eventually facilitates their adaptation. There should also be more pitches that replicate the pitches when the players play their professional matches. Designing sessions that replicate game like situations, starts with the ground. We can’t replicate what happens on a 3G pitch on a muddy field or dry pitch. It just doesn’t work. Also, water breaks should be a part of the game now. With soaring temperatures, governing bodies related to football in India should consider introducing water breaks. Dehydration has been one of the main causes of injury occurrence in players. FIFA allowed water breaks when the World Cup happened in Brazil, we should do the same in India. This will, in turn, improve player retention in the game.

What has been the most memorable game you’ve managed and the most memorable match you’ve watched so far?

The most memorable game for me would be coaching the U-18s of Nongkrem F.C, a club in Shillong. It was my second match as head coach, and within 4 days of being head coach, I experienced a 9-0 loss against a top team. Everything was dark for me, that day. What was also memorable was that we were a first division team that got promoted by default to the Shillong Premier League. We fought the academy teams of the Shillong Premier League with no funding at all. That 9-0 game woke us up. In the end, we survived that season in the league.

The most memorable match that I have watched with my own eyes was the Liverpool vs West Ham game at Anfield. 4-1 was the score. Singing the anthem and being there was just unbelievable. I got to witness a Firmino no-look goal! That, no one can take away from me.

What the best thing about being a professional coach?

The main thing I enjoy about coaching is that I get to do what I am passionate about, every day. As a professional UEFA licensed coach, with a global license that can be converted to any football association body in any country, I now have the opportunity to work anywhere around the world. I get to meet different talents and mingle with players from all parts of the society (Football doesn’t discriminate, only talent and heart matters). I like wearing tracksuits too (LoL).

What has been the toughest challenge in your professional career?

The toughest thing would be controlling your emotions and knowing when and how to express yourself in different situations, either in a game, 1 -1 talk with a player, talking to parents, fans, and so on. You’ll always have these scenes in your life, and the more you experience them, the more you know how to act the next time. Psychological aspects of the game are the most important, for they define the outcome of the match. Lastly, self-reflection. It is the key to defining yourself from time to time. Admitting one’s mistakes to oneself, however difficult, is the only way to learn and move forward.

What is your long-term plan in the coaching space? Do you plan to return home someday and resuming your coaching career in India?

Long term goals – have my own academy, and eventually my own first team, enabling the players to get exposure, to play here in the UK or any of the top leagues in Europe. I am currently making connections now to facilitate long term plans. God only knows what can happen. 

I do plan to come back to India. Seeing the demand for sports increasing by the day, and Indian parents opening up to the idea of their kids playing sports as a career is amazing. With my experience, maybe I can contribute my knowledge as much as I can, to the game that I love.

Having been exposed to European football and its high standards, do you think football in Asia has the potential to be elevated to the same level? If so, how?

Asia is in a place now where talent is slowly rising. With a greater population than any other continent, we have the potential to make it at anything. Players from Japan and Korea have shown some positive signs of adapting to European football.  We are making baby steps, but at least we are moving forward. Governments should inject funds for infrastructural development of football (and other sports) which, in turn, will create employment opportunities. Better infrastructure with public access, like parks and football pitches, might produce a Messi or a Ronaldo. You never know.

What’s your advice to other aspiring coaches that come up?

My advice to all aspiring coaches is that it’s all on you. Either the sky is the limit, or the limit is the sky.