Pune’s Leading Elite & Residential Football Academy
PUNE PIONEERS FOOTBALL CLUB
Developing India’s Next Generation of Footballers
Why Pune Pioneers?
AIFF Accredited Academy
AIFF Accredited Academy
AIFF Accredited Academy
Officially recognized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body of football in India, ensuring structured development and national-level standards -
Tournaments
AIFF Accredited Academy
AIFF Accredited Academy
Regular participation in elite competitions including the AIFF Youth League (U18, U16, U14), TFA Elite Premier League, PDFA Youth League, DPDL, SFL, LPL, PYL, and All-India tournaments.
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Partnerships
AIFF Accredited Academy
Full-Size Pitches
International collaboration with Celtic Football Club, a Scottish UEFA Champions League and strategic association with Minerva Academy, to create pathways for our best performing players.
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Full-Size Pitches
Residential Program
Full-Size Pitches
Training conducted on two 11v11 grounds—a FIFA-standard AstroTurf facility in Kharadi and a full-size mud pitch in Yerawada—offering diverse match-realistic environments.
Residential Program
Residential Program
Residential Program
A comprehensive residential pathway featuring twice-daily training, CBSE-based schooling options, four nutritious meals a day, modern accommodation, gym, swimming pool, physiotherapy, and additional sports facilities.
Technical Staff
Residential Program
Residential Program
Led by UEFA Pro-licensed Technical Director Mark Cox (Coached Ronaldo, Rashford, Pogba, McTominay), supported by India international and Arjuna Awardee Deepak Mandal, and headed by UEFA B-licensed league-winning coach Ryan Roy Shah.
Programs
Evening Academy
Residential Academy
Residential Academy
Our Evening Academy provides Pune-based players with structured 1 hour 15 minute training sessions conducted 3 to 5 days per week under the guidance of UEFA B licensed coach Ryan Roy Shah. Each player benefits from age-appropriate development, modern training methodology, scientific coaching practices, and regular tournament exposure designed to accelerate long-term growth. We currently train over 100 male and female players of all ages and abilities and have had a reputation as market leaders for the past 8 years.
Residential Academy
Residential Academy
Residential Academy
Our Residential Academy offers a fully immersive 24×7 high-performance environment where the club assumes complete responsibility for the player’s daily development and wellbeing. Players train under Technical Director Mark Cox and Head Coach Ryan Roy Shah while receiving formal education through CBSE, NIOS, or SSC pathways, alongside access to the gym, swimming pool, physiotherapy, badminton facilities, and opportunities to compete in national and international tournaments including AIFF Youth League.
The Team Behind the Team
Ryan Roy Shah - Founder
Mark Cox - Technical Director
Mark Cox - Technical Director
UEFA B Licensed &
Masters in Sports Management
Founded Pune Pioneers and overseen 50+ trophies, league winning promotion to TFA Elite Premier League, development of players for India, state, I-League and foreign clubs and the residential academy setup.
Mark Cox - Technical Director
Mark Cox - Technical Director
Mark Cox - Technical Director
UEFA PRO Licensed
Ex Manchester United, Liverpool, Wolves, West Brom, Sheffield United
Coached Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Peter Crouch, Mason Greenwood
Deepak Mandal - Mentor
Mark Cox - Technical Director
Nitesh Singh - Technical Consultant
AFC B Licensed
Ex India International Player with 47 caps and Arjuna Awardee
ISL & I-League Player for East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, JCT Mills, Kerala Blasters and Mumbai City FC
Nitesh Singh - Technical Consultant
Mark Cox - Technical Director
Nitesh Singh - Technical Consultant
AFC A Licensed
I-League Winner as part of the coaching staff of Mohun Bagan
Coached at Mohammedan, NorthEast United and Lonestar Kashmir - all of which are reputed professional clubs in India
Ajit Braich - International Advisor
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
Novojyoti B. - Head of Operations
Canada 'A' Licensed
With over 30 years of coaching experience, held Coaching and Technical Director positions with clubs and academies in Canada, USA and England.
Novojyoti B. - Head of Operations
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
Novojyoti B. - Head of Operations
Masters in Sports Management
Ran the residential academy operations at Sportto Soccer Club Kerala, before moving to Pune Pioneers.
Archis Bhagwat - Youth Head Coach
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
AFC C Licensed
With Pune Pioneers FC since its inception, he has coached and overseen 50+ trophy wins and the development of a lot of players to bigger clubs.
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
Videep Gupta - Youth Coach & Admin
AIFF D Licensed
A prolific footballer who has taken up a pivotal role with the club, leading the senior men's team as well as the Under-7 squad, alongside the administration.
Jackson Shihavei - Youth Coach
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Jackson Shihavei - Youth Coach
AIFF D Licensed
A former I-League player with Bengaluru United, the coach from Manipur works with our Under-15s and Under-17s and also helps players from the NorthEast join our club.
John Nero - Youth Coach
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Jackson Shihavei - Youth Coach
Cursa Certified
The Nigerian coach has played as. a midfielder for Phoenix FC in Bangalore and is now working with our Under-9s and Under-11s, working on technique development
Habiba Inamdar - Youth Coach
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Toddler Coach
A former district level player who leads the line for our women's squad, she works with our Under-7s toddlers batch, providing engaging and enjoyable coaching sessions.
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Nikhil Deshpande - Admissions Counsellor
Sales & Marketing Specialist
After being the key success personnel at Acadware, he has joined Pune Pioneers to help onboarding all new admissions into our academy.