Videesha Pahalu has made significant strides in her coaching career, recently achieving a historic milestone with Auckland City FC. Having previously been part of the Lautoka football coaching team in 2019, Pahalu assisted with the first team during their Delivereasy Chatham Cup Round 3 match against Waiheke United.
With several years of experience coaching at youth levels, Pahalu stepped up to support Martin Brandon, who leads Auckland City’s under-23 men’s team. She expressed her pride in being trusted in this capacity, noting, “It’s honestly an absolute honour. To be trusted in that environment… means a lot — not just to me, but hopefully to other young women who are trying to break into football.”
Pahalu, who has been with Auckland City since she was 19, shared her journey from serving in skills centers and school teams to now contributing to the first team. “It’s surreal,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of normalizing female and Pasifika coaches in men’s and boys’ football.
During the match against Waiheke United, Pahalu, along with Brandon and manager Dinesh Chand, guided a young and inexperienced team as the first team was away competing in the FIFA Club World Cup™ in the United States. Pahalu appreciated the unique challenges of coaching at the under-23 level, describing it as a rewarding environment that bridges youth and senior football.
Reaffirming her commitment to coaching, Pahalu is currently working towards completing her B-License, aiming to continue evolving in her professional journey.
This achievement contributes to the progressively inclusive environment in coaching within New Zealand, mirroring trends in women’s sports globally. Pahalu’s story serves not only as an inspiration to female athletes and coaches but also emphasizes the growing recognition of women in leadership roles across sports, promoting empowerment and encouraging future generations to pursue their passions in football and beyond.
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