Interview with Mr. Pradhyum Reddy Essay Example

in the ISL has been discussed by team owners who are worried about their financial situation. Pradhyum believes that Ashley is different from other foreign managers seen in other I-league clubs before because he was brought in not just as a manager but also to help establish an entire club and implement new systems based on his experience in Premier League and Championship."The management of the club has been supportive and committed to making their club stand out from others. While they may not be among the top five clubs in terms of player salaries, they prioritize investing in facilities, player nutrition, and other important aspects that define a proper football club. The support staff plays a crucial role in managing all these areas, and if there was someone solely dedicated to this purpose, they would likely allocate more funds to this section compared to other clubs. This is why Ashley's directorship has been successful in the UK as he implemented much-needed systems for the club's success.

Regarding my role at BFC, I joined the club during its early stages when it had no name yet and many details were still undecided. Prior to joining BFC, I worked at a club in Pune. One of BFC's plans was to hire a foreign manager who had knowledge of the Indian market to bring something unique to the team. During my interview, I presented them with a model and an extensive presentation covering both football aspects and business strategies. In my presentation, I referred to "Soccernomics," a book that highlights mistakes made by other clubs in their spending practices, particularly Indian clubs. In India, winning the league doesn't

necessarily require high expenditures on players; instead, it demands strategic thinking and understanding where and how to find suitable playersBased on my previous experience in northeast India, I am well acquainted with the talented players from that region. Furthermore, I have established strong connections not only in northeast India but also throughout other parts of the country. This network has proven invaluable in my current role. Living in Bangalore for over 10 years and being fluent in the local language gives me an advantage. My familiarity and expertise within this area are what led to my selection for this position.

Having a local assistant manager makes it easier for our foreign manager to navigate both Indian and international knowledge. As for your second question regarding a typical day at the club, my schedule is filled with various activities. Scouting and recruiting new talents are personally one of my great passions.

I start my day promptly at 7:30 AM by joining the ongoing training sessions of our junior team. During this time, I make sure to have discussions with the head of youth development to stay updated on the U-19 team's progress. Later on, I meet with Ashley to plan out the training activities for the day alongside the fitness manager.

We also receive updates from physiotherapists regarding which players are fit enough to train that particular day, adjusting our session accordingly based on their availability. The warm-up routine we implement depends on how many players show up for training that day.The high performance manager's responsibility is to customize these sessions accordingly. Throughout the session, we discuss upcoming tournaments such as the Durand Cup or League matches and analyze

various squads. Additionally, we focus on preparing and analyzing our opponents' strengths and weaknesses during the first week, while dedicating the following week to identifying our own strengths and weaknesses while also exploiting other teams' vulnerabilities.

During a discussion about evaluating academy progress and Indian players' quality compared to other clubs, Pradhyum mentions that it is currently challenging to assess due to their club's relatively recent establishment just 18 months ago and their youth team being only a year old. He mentions that their U-19 squad may not be considered the best in the country, but explains that initially they aimed to build a team using the top U-19 players in India. However, after one year, mostly 18-19 year olds would be there now.

He also brings attention to the problem of older players participating in the U-19 category, indicating an issue with age manipulation in India. In any case, if a U-19 participant does not progress as expected and reaches the age of 20, we are left with no choice but to have them participate in local exhibition tournaments because they are ineligible for the first team or the U-19 team.Therefore, we devised a different strategy by forming a U-17 team that competes as U-19's. This allows players to have three years for development, even if they don't perform well in the U-19 tournaments. In the long run, this approach will benefit us. Additionally, we have teams for U-15, U-13, U-11, and U-9 categories which is uncommon among many clubs in India. These teams exclusively recruit local players from Bangalore instead of searching nationwide like other clubs do. Our main goal is to develop local talent

rather than aiming for the strongest team.

In contrast to my previous work experience in Shillong where they recruited top players from northeastern regions through tests, our model here is completely different. Pune FC also took a similar approach by searching throughout the country instead of focusing on one region. Both methods ultimately lead to similar outcomes and there is no right or wrong way.

We are only considering a maximum of two or three players. Comparatively speaking, Chelsea only produces a few youth players every two/three years compared to other Premier League clubs. This raises the question of whether last year's victory was expected and what were the key factors contributing to the team's success? According to Pradhyum, there were no initial expectations regarding their victory.The owners' main objective was to avoid finishing at the bottom and experiencing embarrassment. Their realistic aim was to secure a mid-table position and strive for a top 3 or top 5 spot. It is evident that expectations were surpassed, as confirmed by players, support staff, and management. The credit goes to the players themselves who displayed hunger for success similar to Jose Mourinho's mindset. We recruited passionate and professional individuals who had been overlooked by other clubs but desired to prove themselves. Ashley also deserves recognition for motivating the players and ensuring their full commitment on the field.

Moreover, we prioritized sports science by conducting various assessments like hydration tests, pH level tests, and fitness evaluations to ensure our players' well-being and fitness levels were maintained. Our team consisted of competitive professionals who continuously sought improvement through each trial. The testing process not only focused on negative aspects but also fostered

positive elements such as building strong bonds among participants.

We made sure that all participants, including notable Indian stars like Sunil Chhetri, local participants like Vishal Kumar, and foreign stars like Sean Rooney and John Johnson received equal treatment with access to the same facilities. They all stayed together in one hotel which created a cohesive team atmosphere filled with positive vibes. This sense of unity allowed them to establish understanding among themselves effectively.Our fans were a significant factor in our success. In India, it is uncommon to see a packed football stadium, but our fans ensured that all our home games were sell-outs. Some even traveled to support us during away games in Goa. Even popular matches like the one between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal rarely have full crowds these days. Our fans acted as a 12th man with their chants and support, motivating the players and giving us a distinct home advantage that made it difficult for opposing teams.

When comparing Bengaluru FC's brand to other well-established clubs like Mohun Bagan, Pradhyum expresses his opinion that those clubs have not kept up with the times. Kunaal, the Media Manager of Bengaluru FC, has effectively marketed the team's merchandise and successfully engaged with fans on social media platforms. Unlike other clubs, Bengaluru FC understands the importance of fan connection and has implemented innovative strategies. The introduction of merchandise last year was highly successful among fans. However, other clubs fail to acknowledge this significance and are not interested in generating revenue as they solely focus on the commercial aspect of the game due to AFC's criteria.

Nevertheless, both Shillong and Pune clubs have recognized the importance of

fan connection. Sales of team jerseys also contribute to revenue but not as much as player purchases do. These numbers, combined with likes on Facebook and followers on Twitter, play a crucial role in attracting sponsors.Shillong is run by individuals from IIM Shillong, while Pune follows a European approach to running football clubs with smart individuals. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal clubs are still managed by old-fashioned individuals who resist change. In contrast, Bengaluru FC stands out from others.

About Mr. Pradhyum Reddy

Mr. Pradhyum Reddy, a Scottish-born Bangalorean with extensive coaching experience in the UK and US, manages Bengaluru FC as their Assistant Coach. He started his career at Woking FC in the UK and later moved to the US with South Jersey Barons. After 10 years, he returned to India and successfully coached Shillong Lajong, guiding them from the second division to the I-league.

Mr. Sunil Chhetri is a player for Bengaluru FC and the Indian Football Team who holds an 'A' License from the US Soccer Federation. In an interview, he discusses his decision to join BFC during its first season and reflects on his time at the club so far.Chhetri admits that when he initially joined BFC, he was not familiar with most of his teammates; however, he was attracted to the team management's inspiring vision and saw it as a challenge worth tackling.Chhetri reflects on his decision to join BFC and expresses no regrets, as his experience has been nothing short of amazing. He praises the excellent systems, growth opportunities, thorough preparation on and off the field, strong team bonding, and well-functioning facilities.

When discussing Ashley Westwood and the support staff at Bengaluru FC, Chhetri commends Westwood for being an exceptional professional who strives for perfection in all aspects of their work together. He is highly respected by the players and considered a close friend. Pradhyum Reddy, our assistant manager, has had a significant impact on the younger members of the team by helping them reach their full potential. We take pride in having an outstanding support staff that is undoubtedly the best in the country. Each individual gives their utmost effort in their respective roles. With new facilities and players joining us, there are high expectations for BFC's future after winning the title in our first season. However, this challenge serves as motivation to consistently implement new measures to stay ahead. This season, we have incorporated GPS technology into our training routine to align with top football clubs worldwide.
We are determined to prove that our previous success was not a one-time occurrence, as training is always demanding. With our strong team and recent summer signings, we have the confidence to do so.
About Mr. Sunil Chhetri: Mr. Sunil Chhetri, aged 30, is a professional football player who serves as a striker for both Bengaluru FC and the Indian National Football squad. He has achieved three I-league titles with different clubs and has been honored with the AIFF Player of the Year award three times. Chhetri's remarkable record includes playing 74 matches for India and scoring 43 goals. Additionally, he played an instrumental role in Bengaluru FC's inaugural title-winning campaign by scoring 14 goals - marking the highest number scored by an Indian player in an

I-League season.Interview with Mr. Mustafa Ghouse, COO, Bengaluru FC & JSW Sports: Q: Why did the JSW group choose Bangalore and how has the city embraced BFC?

Mustafa: Our Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Sajjan Jindal, selected Bangalore because he completed his engineering studies there and has a special connection to the city. It was an obvious choice for us to choose Bengaluru as our first opportunity. We believed that this vibrant city deserved its own football club to preserve the legacy of great teams from here.

The support we receive from the city is evident when attending a BFC match at home. While our numbers may not be as high as other established teams, we have passionate and dedicated fans like no other team does. BFC has become an integral part of their lives, and the feeling is mutual.

The owners had specific objectives in mind when initiating the club. Mustafa explains that there was never any pressure, and a mid-table finish would have been acceptable. However, they made it clear to the manager that they aimed higher. This message was relayed to the players who focused on taking each game as it came without worrying about their position in the points table.

At this club, raising standards is always a priority. Winning the league does not mean they should stop striving for improvement. They are continuously searching for ways to better themselves both on and off the pitch.Ashley's expertise and experience had a significant impact on their success last season. He was selected after many manager interviews because he aligned with the club's passion and vision for implementing systems. His implementation has been key

in their success as every detail is taken care of, and Ashley's coaching staff brings out the best in players. As for rumors about BFC seeking technical assistance from Juventus as a sister club, there is currently no update on that matter. The young club has ambitious plans for the future, including a functioning and growing academy and Soccer Schools. The current focus is on improving what has already been created. Mr. Mustafa Ghouse, a former International Tennis Player, serves as the COO of JSW Sports, the owner of Bengaluru FC football club.