IndianFootball.Com Interview: SWAPNEEL KHARE

IndianFootball.Com's Harmit Singh Kamboe caught up recently with Swapneel Khare, the President and founder of Khare's Football and Rugby Academy. Those outside Pune may not have had much of an opportunity to hear from Swapneel, and that sadly is both their loss and the loss of Indian football.
If there is one thing that comes through when Swapneel speaks, it is his raw, honest passion for India and football. Having played and coached from a young age, Swapneel pulls no punches as he has no time for that. He believes in saying it as he sees it.
We need more knowledgeable and passionate supporters, and active participants that wish to better Indian football. India has arm chair critics in plenty in all aspects of her life. But she has very few sons and daughters that roll up their sleeves and make a difference, no matter what the odds.
Read, enjoy, feel proud but do not just walk away, do bother, take an interest in football development schemes that are not in the limelight. That is where both the future and the progress of Indian football lies.

Please tell us about yourself, your love for football and Rugby, and your background with respect to these sports?

Both my brother, Surhud and I were born and brought up in Africa. Born in Zambia and we then moved to Swaziland when I was about 7 and finally left Swaziland (12) with mum and bro as my father passed away while working as a Police Pathologist.
I was crazy about Football and always dreamt of playing professionally, preferably for Spurs (Tottenham Hotspurs)!!! We got hooked on Spurs after watching them play in the '81 FA Cup final Vs City (Manchester City). Never a day went by, rain or shine that we decided to stay indoors instead of playing in the garden or a match, etc. We used to get Big League Soccer (That's what the Highlights show was called back then in the late 70's early 80's) every week, along with the Bundesliga, and of course South African Football (Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, etc) and Swazi football! So when we finally turned up in the Motherland we had hopes of representing our country.
Both my brother and I were good enough by far (I'm not being self-centred or egotistical here) but there was a slight problem. The Football infrastructure in India was backward and not much has changed now. There was corruption galore and the whole system was tainted. Plus on top of it all there was nobody that could advise us on what to do. So we carried on playing our hearts out, and were immensely successful. We were both instrumental in helping (both coaching and playing) a local club here in becoming the Champions of Pune! I was lucky to start coaching a local school from the age of 17 and since then have club Championships, school championships, college championships etc to my credit.
But then life catches up. You need to start earning after education. Football was no way to earn. But what should I do???? Give up what I want to do and start on something just because 'life' demands it? That's when something big happened. I had a major fallout with the team I had helped in making the Champions of Pune. Part of the reason being that we had started Rugby as a fitness aid for a Football session and the Football fraternity did not like that (But I feel that they just wanted me out!).
So the split! My brother left them soon after and as we had to continue with both Football and Rugby, a new organization had to be formed. We didn't have a ground to play on. We had 15 playing members. So we played on a hill, then rented a ground (the rent was paid for by one of the players) and after 1 year of wandering around we got registered. Formed in 2000 - Registered in 2001.
My brother is crazy about Rugby. And it is because of him that I have come to love both sports with all my heart. As I've said before, the infrastructure in India is poor. We wanted to help parents and players by coaching the players to the best of their ability and give them a chance to succeed. Basically do for them what nobody did for us. But we don't fool anyone. We say things straight out. We are not commercial. We try and coach using the latest fitness methods, tactics, diet, etc. Discipline and dedication, integrity and just enjoying the two sports. We are also forming an Association that will cover the Pune District Area (The Pune District Rugby Football Union) that will look after Rugby in this District. The Football situation in Pune is a disaster. Too many people are looking for power. So we are happy coaching from the age of 4 upwards.

How and when did the idea of this Football & Rugby Academy (Football school) come to you and how long had you been coaching prior to founding this academy?

I am 34 years old and have been playing soccer since in a competitive environment since the age of 8 and have bee coaching since the age of 17. Once I realized that the doors of playing for India may never open for me, I decided to help others first of all enjoy this game and second, play it well.
For more information on our Academy, please visit www.kfandra.com.

Was their any specific reason to deciding on Pune as the venue for this school?

My parents had settled here.

How is the academy funded and who owns it?

It is funded through donations and fees.

What is the annual expense of the academy and how are the expenses met? How many people work at the academy on a full time and part time basis?

The annual expense of running the academy is around Rs. 1 lakh 50. (approx $ 3335) for the ground rent, balls, kits etc. Most of this is met through fees (charged to the player, a very nominal amount, Rs. 1000/- quarterly ($ 22 /- for 3 months!)
My bother and I are full time while our Treasurer, Secretary and their assistants are all part time.

What is the maximum capacity of the academy in terms of coaches and students that can be trained at the same time? How many coaches and how many students are being trained right now? Do all students/trainees get the same training or is there a more intensive course for some trainees?

We try and keep the coach to player ratio at 1:16. To enable this we have appointed two coaches to help us with the younger lot. The number of players are solely dependent on the ground, according to the capacity they are willing to allow. But usually 50 - 80 players of all ages. If we have secured trials for players, or the players have a tournament coming up etc then our training is focus based. Our training is intensive and fun all year round.

If yes, how many trainees are at the advanced course?

We do have plans to provide specialized courses but once again finance is a major factor.

How many locations does the academy have today? Does the academy own the facilities or is it renting them?

We wish we had a ground we could call our own. Then we would really progress. We can only just about afford to rent the ground we play on and that too with conditions and for two hours.

Are there any plans on establishing new academies in the country or increasing the capacity of the existing academy?

Millions of plans!! But plans need MONEY!!!

Otherwise we are planning to introduce Rugby at first along with Football to the lower strata of society. Get the real Indians into both sports. These guys are the tough ones!
Therefore we will begin touring the district popularizing the sports. If we had our own ground we would hold camps. Once again finance is a major factor.

Do you have any tie-ups with coaches or institutions from overseas to develop both the coaches that train and the trainees. How do you ensure that the coaches remain at the cutting edge of coaching and training?

Both my brother and I make it a point to keep abreast of everything new and old. We even make it a point to undergo courses that may help us in our endeavours! (if financially ok!)

As a trainee what does a child get in terms of training and facilities from your academy?

First of all it is important that a child play both Rugby and Football for FUN. We try and teach discipline and dedication and that these two words are the most important to be successful. A child is growing and we make sure that the child grows in the right way.
For more professionally minded players or parents we treat them professionally!!!! We give them our knowledge and charge nothing at all for the extra's! We have developed a scrum machine and use various training tools we have designed ourselves.

Do you currently have any talent at the Academy which can make it not only into the Indian national team, but also big in a foreign league? (either now or in the near future)

Yes we do and had also. But we can't tell parents that they should take the risk in allowing the child to attempt to turn pro. Why? Because there are too many underlying elements on the way and if the child does not succeed, then what happens?

What are top five things (or more) that will make a dramatic impact in quality of football in India.

A long time ago when it finally dawned on me that playing for my country is just a dream, I decided to draw up a plan that would create a more suitable atmosphere for the younger generation.

1. School football: The school football season should be drawn up over a longer period of time and not be forcefully played out over a month. Schools should give more importance to the players of all the sports.

2. State Level Structure: Each State should form their own semi-pro league (breaking down to district level also). After 2 to 3 years you will find teams from all over the country rich enough to play home and away in the PROPER national League.

3. PE Teachers: The physical Education centres in India all need a dramatic modern change. The PE teachers are mostly taught through dinosaur methods and therefore teach through dinosaur methods.

4. Cricket: Sports (Except cricket, cricket should be brought back when all the other sports are equally important) should be given equal importance in schools and colleges.

5. Lasses: I think the girls of the country will push India forward. Focus on them.

Do you think that all it will take is one role model to make it from India on the global stage and then the flood gates will open? Or what is needed in your opinion?

Appointing a foreign coach will not suddenly bring fortune upon this land! Will Indians only wake up if a player makes it abroad??? Allowing two dodgy Americans into the U-20 team is not a solution. In a football playing population that runs into millions can't we find 20, 6 ft gifted individuals??? Why didn't my brother or me play for India??? In Pune there are over 80 clubs. In Pune alone. From these 80 clubs I will be able to select 15 players that will challenge the current National team. But can I? I can't! Why??? Because our infrastructure is all screwed up!
If I became the India Coach my first step would be to sack the selectors. I would want total, unbiased control of my team. I should be able to select a player from Manipur, Cochin or the Ganges. Its my choice. Or maybe 10 players from the Himalaya's if they are good enough. But is this allowed in our system??? NO!!
Change the infrastructure. Give the entire control of sport in India to a fellow that already has enough money for himself/herself and manna for sport in India is the answer. Or give it to me! I just want to see India successful, I'm happy having 3 square meals, I don't want more.
The rot of there being selectors begins at the school level, goes through to the college then University and up to the pro level. End this selection committee. If I want my team to play 5:4:1 or 4:3:3 I will scour India to find these 22 players. I will not base my formation on a bunch of selectors.

Who have been some of the most famous graduates of the academy so far? Any major awards/tournaments that your academy has won?

We sent Ashwin Lokare and Vikram Sathe for trials at Charleston Battery (USA)