Subam Rabha: I dream of working with a senior team soon in future

The 29-year-old became the first coach from Assam to obtain an AFC A license.

Hailing from the state of Assam in the Northeast of India, Subam Rabha has made a name for himself, by becoming the first and only coach from the state, to obtain an AFC A license, the second-highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Coming from a city of Guwahati, which has an ample amount of people passionate in playing football, Subam Rabha has paved the path for the upcoming generation of coaches and managers in the region. Undoubtedly, he has become a sort of a role model for such individuals. 

Subam Rabha is currently the head coach of NorthEast United’s reserve team, and has been doing wonderful things with the side. It was under the guidance and leadership of Rabha, that NorthEast’s reserve team won the GSA C Division Football League, and got its first-ever piece of silverware. Now with the A license, Rabha is henceforth eligible for coaching any I-League team and become the assistant coach of any ISL team.

The 29-year-old's journey began from coaching at South Point School Guwahati, before making a switch away and working at NEUFC as a grassroots coach. From there, the young coach made a lot of impact, and impressed the management. As a result, he achieved his promotion as the head coach of the NorthEast United reserves. 

Although busy with the preparations of the RFDL, Subam Rabha spoke to Khel Now post his achievement. Excerpts are below.

How important was the support that you have received from your family, your loved ones and those at the club?

“My family has always been supportive and their belief in me has really motivated me to work hard and to work continuously and do good in life. Also, they have been very helpful and supportive throughout my career. I would also like to thank NorthEast United FC, I think without them I would not have reached this place.

"The support and trust from the management have been very helpful for me to achieve the things that I wanted to achieve when I joined this club. Also, I have been learning many new things by staying with this club and by working under the coaches who are more experienced than me has really helped me to get the licence done.”

In how much time can fans expect you to manage an ISL senior team?

“I think it is a dream for every coach to work for a senior team. But my focus right now is to work for the development league (RFDL), which is starting from the18th of March. But yes, I dream of working with a senior team in future soon.”

The real man behind the touchline

Subam Rabha’s love for football has no limits, and the local lad from the mystic land of Guwahati has worked on from scratch with hard work, perseverance and constant manifestation, only with the aim to revive the football fervour in Assam and the entire Northeast India.

He has come a very long way already in his career, and through his constant efforts, we can be sure of seeing Rabha at the biggest stage of Indian football very soon.