PANAJI
Joshuah Stan Vaz from Fatorda has become the first Indian coach to clear the AFC Futsal Coaching Certificate Course - Level 3, which is currently the highest futsal coaching certification in Asia.
He attended the course in October-November 2024 in Bekasi Indonesia under AFC elite instructors Chiew Chun Yong (Malaysia) and Young Jin Lee (South Korea) and was declared successful in March 2025.
“The goal remains the same as when my dad started in 2012 to educate and develop the people and coaches of Goa and India about the importance of futsal to make better football players," Joshuah said.
"We must work together to achieve great things. I believe that India with a proper plan and preparation can make waves in Asia very soon in both men's and women's categories,” he added.
Joshuah was among only 13 coaches recommended to attend the course, the other two being from Malaysia and 10 local participants from Indonesia. The course covered problem solving, tactics in attacking and defending in different systems, futsal-specific fitness amongst other topics.
Joshuah was also the first Indian to hold the Level 2 certificate which he completed in 2019 in Malaysia. Joshuah was the head coach of the first-ever men' and women's national teams that played the AFC Qualifiers in Tajikistan 2023 and Indonesia 2025 respectively.
He is three times runners-up in the three editions of the AIFF National Club Championship as a coach cum player with Mohammedan SC (2021 & 2023) and Golazo FC (2024). He also won the 1st IFA (West Bengal) State League as coach in 2022.
As a futsal player, he has played since 2011 winning the Chowgule Futsal League (indoor) five times with his local team La Masia between 2011-2018 and also with the Goa team in a private futsal championship in 2016 winning the best player and highest scorer along the way. He is one of the founding members of India's only futsal academy, Youth Futsal Academy, in Margao, established in February 2012.
