Do you 'Care'? - Ali's Words

When I started coaching over a decade ago, one of the things that made me stand out was that I genuinely believed in looking after every player I worked with. This personal connection was visible to the players, and parents and built the TFA's reputation in the UAE as an academy where players received holistic support through football.

As I travel and meet more players, coaches, agents, and sports management companies, I find that the "care" for the players seems to fade out. This makes me wonder, why do people in football not care about the players?

We see it all the time with agents and sports management companies, where people start with the principles of personalized attention but turn bitter when players hop from agents/companies/coaches because the idea of success in football seems like a financial transaction.

Often, coaches and agents focus on celebrating with a star athlete who just got selected instead of boosting the confidence of those who didn't. Coaches help players maneuver injuries, demotivation, and burnout and focus on appreciating each opportunity's value.

Achieving a professional football career is a long-term goal, and each player needs a support system around them. We are dealing with children's dreams, careers, and future, and if there is one thing I hope all teachers, coaches, and agents prioritized - it would be to care.