Deki shares passion for helping young coaches

Aspiring coaches have been put through their paces by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation this week, culminating in them running a session involving Dejan Kulusevski.

With the Foundation’s bumper week of half-term activities taking place at Duke’s Aldridge Academy, on the east side of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Deki dropped by after Thursday’s open training, surprising participants on the Spurred 2 Coach programme and taking the opportunity to greet players in a girls’ football session.

Spurred 2 Coach was set up for young adults without qualifications, but an interest in coaching in Haringey, Enfield and surrounding boroughs.

It runs over four-day sessions during half-terms, with participants completing workbook tasks before sessions that allow them to put theory into practice.

The Foundation then helps fund and support them on to the FA Introduction to Coaching Football qualification (previously known as the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football).

Kristian, 20, a lifelong Spurs fan from Edmonton Green, led the session involving Deki.

“Before he arrived, I’d been saying how I thought I’d be able to coach a pro, so when I saw him come in I couldn’t believe it – my heart started going crazy!

“Because he’s so good, he got what I was coaching straightaway and that obviously helped the others. It was just a great, surreal experience.”

He continued: “This week’s been really good. I’ve grown up around the game, but you don’t necessarily see all perspectives and Spurred 2 Coach has helped me see things from a coach’s point of view.”

After the session, Deki said: “That was amazing. I’m happy to see good people working for good things in life, so I’m very happy I met them. I hope I gave them some smiles.

“They looked like really good coaches and I hope they’ll be coaches in the future, helping all levels of player to become better.”

He also shared how he loves helping young players himself, adding: “We’ve played a lot of football this year, so there’s been plenty of chances to help, and providing help is the best thing in life.”

Andre Thomas, Foundation project coordinator, who leads the Spurred 2 Coach programme, said: “With the amount of people continuously falling and staying in love with football, we’ve recognised the importance of and demand for good quality coaches, and the opportunity coaching can provide for young people to build their confidence, especially in the Spurs heartlands of north London.

“Having Deki along today was a real endorsement for these young people and we hope they’ll continue on to coach in the community, inspiring others and demonstrating opportunities available to them.”

Find out more about and register your interest in Spurred 2 Coach sessions.