BURNLEY FC BACK PFA ASIAN INCLUSION MENTORING SCHEME

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Academy Coach Irfan Kawri joins PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme’s Player Development Day at St George’s Park

2022-03-19T11:00:00.000Z

BURNLEY FC BACK PFA ASIAN INCLUSION MENTORING SCHEME

Academy Coach Irfan Kawri joins PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme’s Player Development Day at St George’s Park

2022-03-19T11:00:00.000Z

Academy Coach Irfan Kawri joins PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme’s Player Development Day at St George’s Park

Burnley FC Academy Coach Irfan Kawri was proud to join the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in welcoming scholars, academy, and professional players to St Georges Park for a ‘Player Development Day’ as part of their Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme.

The Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) was created to enhance the experience of British Asian footballers on the elite pathway, by creating a structured network of support that allows them to thrive.

Representing Burnley FC Academy, Irfan Kawri, is a part-time coach and a coach mentor for England’s Football Association (FA). Kawri who is of Muslim faith and Indian-Zambian heritage was born in Bolton and has previously represented Zambia as a player for the U20s and as Assistant Coach for the senior national team.

On Sunday 6th March, the PFA held their first AIMS ‘Player Development Day’ for 2022 at St Georges Park. Following on from previous events during 2021, there has been an appetite from players and families on the programme to connect and network more regularly.

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The face-to-face events have proved a real highlight giving players the opportunity to connect with peers from different clubs, take part in coaching sessions as well as network and learn from professional player experiences.

During the day, Kawri who has over 14 years’ experience working in English football at elite level, led on the delivery of the coaching session with the U15s and U16s as well as supporting England U17s Head Coach Tom Curtis, with the Scholars and Professional Players session.

Kawri has been supporting the AIMS work since 2018 and is a mentor to players and families in the Northwest region, he played a key role in helping to ensure the day ran smoothly spending time with parents, fellow coaches, and practitioners.

Danny Batth (Sunderland), Neil Taylor (Middlesborough), Otis Khan (Leyton Orient) and Malvind Benning (Port Vale) are among the senior footballers mentoring scholars and emerging pros, with those players, in turn, sharing their academy experiences with their younger peers.

PFA’s Player Inclusion Executive, Riz Rehman said: “The momentum behind the PFA’s 5-year strategy to increase Asian representation in the game is very strong and thanks must go to all the Clubs who have fully supported and backed the scheme by connecting us with their players and families.

“Over the last 24 months we have laid some solid foundations upon which to build, and we will continue to work with our networks of Clubs to provide additional wrap around support for players and families. We’ve had unbelievable buy in from our nationwide network of Clubs and this was demonstrated in the attendance on the day, with many allowing their players and staff to miss weekend fixtures and training schedules to attend the Player Development Day.”

Over 90 players from academy level to professionals, were accompanied by parents, coaches, practitioners, club staff and stakeholders at St Georges Park. The full day included educational presentations, parent workshops and coaching sessions for the players led by England U17s Head Coach Tom Curtis. The turnout illustrates the success of the scheme which has allowed players to connect, parents and practitioners to network and brought together communities that all have the aim to progress along the elite pathway.

Gurpri Bains, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead at Burnley FC said “Asian ethnic groups make up the second largest percentage of the UK population, with ethnically diverse people collectively making up almost three quarters of Lancashire’s population.

“Whether you currently play, watch, or have some relationship with football, events like this provide those who have been traditionally under-represented in the professional game exposure to positive representation and role models and the support and confidence to thrive at whatever level or responsibility. It’s amazing to see and something which 20 years ago didn’t really exist to this standard and structure.”

With the full backing of Burnley Football Club and Burnley FC Academy, Chairman Alan Pace added: “We were absolutely delighted to team up with the PFA and support the work of their Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme. Irfan is an asset to our Academy, and I would like to thank everybody involved in bringing this event together. We look forward to similar events in the future and welcoming Asian communities across Lancashire to Turf Moor.”