02/12/2025
From the lanes of our valley to the grounds of Germany โ this is not just a journey, itโs a dream lived with blood, sweat, and belief. โจ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฉ๐ช
Etihad Academy proudly Introduces you to *Irfan*, a young boy who never missed a training day, Zahid Shafi , a coach who shaped not just a player, but a mindset. Two individuals who turned discipline into destiny. Today, one stands as a coach whose name echoes in global arenas like MHP Arena Stuttgart, one of the largest and most modern soccer and event arenas in Germany, and home to Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart. The other, once his trained player, earned his place through sheer hard work โ from the I-League to the Youth League โ and now representing Sudeva Delhi FC at the *Stuttgart International Cup*, in Germany, facing teams like Sรฃo Paulo, Orlando, and VFB Stuttgart and soon enough the *MTU Cup*, Europeโs biggest stage for youth โ where giants like Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea, and Real Madrid battle for glory. It's not just *our* boy standing among them, it's our valley, our whole nation you see, lining up.
This is what happens when a local academy like us, Etihad Football Academy, believes in its players. When a coach invests his heart. When a player refuses to give up. When hard work meets an opportunity.
A special thanks to *Sudeva Delhi FC*โ and especially Anuj Gupta โ for travelling every corner of India, for spotting hidden gems in small academies, for giving wings to dreams that once felt out of reach. Your vision has carried our valley across continents. This is what we reap when a talent-farmer like you sows the talent in international arenas.
Today, both coach and player have made not just Kashmir, but the whole India proud. They are not just representing themselves โ theyโre carrying the hopes of every young talent, every local coach, and every parent who believes that dreams from small places can echo in the biggest stadiums.
*This is history. This is inspiration. This is Etihad Football Academy Pampore
*And this is just the beginning. ๐๐๐*