Tuesday 26 August 2014 18:52, UK
Lena Fallkvist hopes her appointment as fitness and conditioning coach for Indian Super League side FC Pune City can inspire women throughout the sub-continent.
The 51-year-old is the only female recruited as a member of the backroom staff for any of the eight teams competing in the inaugural league which commences on October 12.
And the Swede says she cannot wait to begin her new assignment, insisting she is motivated by the prospect of becoming a role model for millions of women in India.
“I’m very excited and I'm so ready to go now,” Fallkvist told Sky Sports. “It will be quite an experience for me to play a part in the starting of this new league.
“As someone who loves football it's nice to know I will be going there and doing something good and something I love. I'm really hoping to do something good for Indian soccer.
“I'm proud to be the one they asked to come over and I haven’t taken on this role for the money, I’m doing it from the heart. Hopefully I can inspire other women to play soccer and to train.
“I’m doing this for the cause and I'm going to do my best to be a role model for other women to come after me. That’s what really motivates me.”
Fallkvist, who has previously worked with former Inter Milan athletic trainer Stefano Rapetti, will link up with former Juventus striker David Trezeguet, who is Pune’s designated marquee player in the ISL.
“It’s a dream of course and a of course a big, big honour to be working with David Trezeguet,” she said.
“I’ve worked with world title winners in other sports but I’ve never worked with a soccer player as famous as that.
“I think I will be working very closely with David because he doesn’t speak English but he speaks Italian and so do I.
“I guess I will have to translate a little bit, but I’m also looking forward to talking to him about the wonderful goal he scored to win Euro 2000 with France. I think everyone in India will be thrilled to see him.”
Fallkvist’s move to Pune was facilitated by Kshatriya Sports CEO Prashant Agarwal who also brokered Trezeguet’s deal to the ISL.
He said: “All I have to say about Lena's move is nothing in this world is complete without a woman. To really develop this beautiful game of football in India, we need to encourage women. Lena's move to ISL is first step towards this beautiful dream.”
