“Indian football heading in the right direction” – Ashley Westwood

Bangalore: Ashley Westwood flagging off the School of Speed event

Ashley Westwood, the coach of the Bengaluru FC flagged off the maiden edition of the Puma School of Speed – India’s only 4×1 km relay race for school children, earlier today.

The School of Speed is a relay race for children in the age group of 13 to 16, where teams comprise of four members who run one kilometre each to compete for the title of the fastest school.

In this exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Westwood talks about the state of football and athletics in a country as cricket-dominated as India.

You’re the coach of the Bengaluru FC. How does that feel? How are things going?

Westwood: Yeah, things are going great as of now. In the six-odd months I’ve been here, we’ve managed to create a wonderful atmosphere in the team. We’re currently at the top of the league after 15 league games, and that doesn’t happen unless there’s perfect harmony in the team. We’ve got 9 games to go, and hopefully we can hang in there and be successful.

What do you think about the standard of footballers in India? Have you spotted players in India who have the potential to play in bigger leagues?

Westwood: Indian footballers are getting there all the time – they’re constantly improving. With more and more foreign coaches coming into the country, the standards are continuously rising quite drastically. The talent is certainly there. India is a country of 1.2 billion people. With the right coaching and the right advice, I’m sure they’ll improve more and more as time goes on. Indian football is moving in the right direction.

Talking about today’s event – what are your reactions?

Westwood: Well, it’s a fantastic event. I love the fact that there are just so many children participating. It’s always important to catch them at a young age – what you’re fascinated by when you’re young is generally what you will enjoy most as you mature. The kids look extremely charged up, and it’s wonderful to see so many people turn up to watch the kids take part.

What are your thoughts on pure, unadulterated running as a method of improving fitness?

Westwood: Running is probably the best way to improve your fitness. It’s the easiest and cheapest – all you need is your own body, and some space. It’s just one of those things where you can improve as much as you want to improve, and you set your own limits.

Do you think young athletes are getting enough encouragement in India?

Westwood: Yeah, I think so. The encouragement and facilities are definitely there, in certain pockets of the country, at least. It’s just a matter of getting to the masses. Events like this are extremely encouraging, but they seem to exist only in larger cities, like Bangalore and Mumbai.