Club signs Performance Analyst, Head Physiotherapist and Head of Sports Sciences
Bengaluru Football Club, on Tuesday, announced the additions of Performance Analyst and Head of Youth Development Matt Holland, Head Physiotherapist Samuel Coleman and Head of Sports Sciences, Donavan Pillai to the club’s fold. The trio have joined the club’s pre-season program at the Bangalore Football Stadium and will be part of the first team for the upcoming I-League season.
Holland, who completed his UEFA ‘B’ License with the Football Association of Wales, is also an AFC ‘A’ License holder from the Football Federation of Australia. The 27-year-old served as Academy Director at Thai club Buriram United FC and assisted in first team operations when they won the Thai treble (Premier League, FA Cup and the League Cup) in 2013.
(L-R) Bengaluru FC’s newest appointments, Head of Sports Sciences Donavan Pillai, Performance Analyst and Head Of Youth Development Matt Holland and Head Physiotherapist Samuel Coleman, in training at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru.
“I’m delighted to be joining Bengaluru FC for the 2016 season. Being part of Ashley Westwood’s staff and having the opportunity to work within the professional environment that Bengaluru FC have is something that I am excited about. I hope to assist the high quality work already established by those involved in achieving further success for this magnificent city and its supporters,” said Holland.
Bengaluru FC’s Performance Analyst and Head of Youth Development Matt Holland (L) in conversation with Head of Sports Sciences Donavan Pillai at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru.
Head Physiotherapist Samuel Coleman, on the other hand, joins from Luton Town, having previously worked at Brackley Town and Kettering Town in England’s lower divisions. With a Masters in Sports Therapy from the University of Chichester, Coleman worked with the Great Britain Men’s American Football Team and has previously worked alongside Blues Head Coach Ashley Westwood at Kettering.
Donavan Pillai who joins as Head of Sports Sciences, holds a degree in Sport Science and Biokinetics from the University of Durban and has served as the Biokineticist for the UPE International Cricket Academy. Having previously served as the Biokineticist for the Kwa-Zulu Natal Dolphins Cricket Union, Pillai has over 12 years experience in the Sport Science field and is also actively involved with athletes in JSW’s Sports Excellence Program.
Westwood expressed his delight at the additions, saying it would further improve his side ahead of the new season.
“In our bringing aboard of Donavan, Matt and Samuel, we’ve strengthened areas that we had identified could do with some reinforcement. Matt brings with him more than handy experience from working in Asia and he will be driving all the technology that we use along with focusing on the club’s Youth Development program. I have worked with Samuel at Kettering and his attribute of working hard and being a true professional in his field of physiotherapy will hold us in good stead. As for Donavan, we are going to use his experience of working with athletes to the fullest and he will be another set of eyes that will only go on to improve us,” said Westwood.
This was a Press Release provided by Bengaluru FC.
