Garhwal United FC Women have scripted a memorable chapter in Indian football by earning promotion to the Indian Women’s League (IWL) after a dominant IWL 2 campaign. Behind their inspiring journey stands a calm and composed figure: Akshay Unni, a 29-year-old coach from Thrissur, Kerala.
Akshay entered the world of football coaching in 2017 at the young age of 21. His journey began with the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS), where he started as a coach for the Under-8 age group. Over time, he transitioned to managing the U10 and U15 teams. “I hold a B License, and though I’ve wanted to pursue the A License, it’s difficult to find time since coaching courses usually happen mid-season. My priority has been my team,” he says.
BBFS, established in 2010, has built a strong grassroots foundation with five residential academies across the country. One of them, located in Nashik, is dedicated to women’s football. “Sunil Patwal, our Technical Director at BBFS, is a Garhwali. That’s how the connection between BBFS and Garhwal United came about,” Akshay explains.
Garhwal United, which carries the legacy of the iconic Garhwal Heroes FC formed in the 1950s, only recently began focusing seriously on its women’s team. “The team existed before, but real importance was given only in the past four years,” says Akshay. He took over as head coach during the 2021–22 season, when the team finished second from the bottom in the Delhi league. But rather than be disheartened, he saw potential.
“I proposed a long-term plan to build a competitive team. We focused on creating a young core and recruited around 10 players from Delhi and Meghalaya,” he recalls. The second year saw them finish runners-up in the league, and in the third year, they emerged as Delhi champions. They played IWL 2 but narrowly missed promotion to IWL that year. “This year, we scored 28 goals and conceded just 1 in IWL 2, and we earned our promotion convincingly.”
Akshay’s coaching philosophy is rooted in personal development and joy. “Players need to understand themselves and why they play football. They must enjoy the process. If they enjoy what they’re doing, they’ll be more open to learn,” he explains. He prefers a possession-based style of play, with emphasis on controlling the ball and defending as a unit. “Winning is important, yes—but more than that, it’s about growing together. The players are growing, the club is growing, and I, as a coach, am growing. This is exactly what I want.”
His approach has already yielded results—six of Garhwal United’s players have been selected for the India U-20 national team. “That’s something we’re really proud of,” he says. “Our goal now is to maintain this core group for next season.”
Looking ahead, Akshay and his team are focusing on the Football Delhi Women’s League. Planning for the IWL season begins in June. “We’ll look to bring in the best talents from our academies and assess which positions require experienced Indian or foreign players,” he explains.
As Garhwal United steps into the top flight of Indian women’s football, they carry with them more than just momentum. They bring with them the passion of a young coach who believes in building from the ground up—with trust, vision, and joy at the heart of the game.
