Panaji: At a time when Indian football is facing several challenges on the international stage, Goan youngster Shashwat Kamat is making his presence felt in one of the world’s most competitive football environments.
Kamat has joined Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) as a Performance Analyst at the club’s Category 1 Academy, marking a significant milestone in a journey that began in Goa when he was just 16.
His football journey has taken him from FC Goa to England, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and now Wolves, giving him experience of two very different football development systems.
“This personally is a big, big milestone to me where I’ve made sure that I achieve my goals and dreams step by step,” Kamat said.
A dream that began at 16
Kamat’s journey started when he joined his dream club, FC Goa, at the age of 16.
“When I was 16, I had the opportunity to join my dream club FC Goa and that’s where the dream began because the people there made it all possible and pushed me to the highest limits. I learned a lot there and it made me very happy,” he recalled.
His ambitions eventually took him to England, where his experience at QPR exposed him to a highly structured system of player development.
According to Kamat, one of the biggest differences between the Indian and English football systems is the level of monitoring and support provided to young players.
“In India we say that we focus on the grassroots, but none of it is true. Here since I’ve been in QPR I have seen how players are developed under rigid conditions as well as how their progress is monitored every day and weekly basis,” he said.
The development process, he explained, extends beyond football training. Players have regular one-on-one meetings to assess their progress and also have access to psychologists who work on their mental wellbeing and behaviour.
A specialised ecosystem
Kamat also highlighted the difference in resources available within English football clubs.
“In comparison to both you can definitely say that there is much more money in the football industry here as compared to in India,” he said.
English clubs, he noted, have specialised departments dealing with areas such as player performance, identification and analysis, whereas in India, a single individual may often be expected to handle several responsibilities.
He also pointed to the emphasis placed on continuous professional development for coaches and football staff in England.
What does a Performance Analyst do?
At Wolves, Kamat’s role begins well before match day.
His typical week involves studying the opposition, preparing reports on their playing style, identifying strengths and weaknesses and helping the coaching staff develop strategies.
“Typically at the start of the week we evaluate which opponent we are going up against. We have an opposition report which helps us understand how they play and what can be certain tactics we can use against them to beat them,” he explained.
The analysis then feeds directly into training sessions.
Training plans are developed around areas that require improvement, while set pieces are also analysed and prepared according to the team’s game model.
The work does not end after the final whistle. Post-match analysis allows the team to assess what worked, what needs improvement and which positive aspects can be carried forward.
Opening a new career path for Indian youngsters
Kamat believes India has considerable potential in sports analytics and performance analysis but lacks awareness and accessible educational pathways.
“India has a lot of amazing talent and potential who can make it big abroad,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges, according to him, is the limited availability of specialised courses in Performance Analysis and Sports Science.
“The field of performance analysis is so isolated in India that nobody has ever heard about it or never knows what it is all about,” he said.
For young people interested in football, Kamat believes becoming a professional player is not the only route into the sport.
There are opportunities in analysis, coaching, sports science, performance, scouting and several other specialised areas.
“I would say that there are a lot of opportunities and you have to back yourself to pursue them. The dreams can definitely come true even if it’s not as a professional player but as a professional analyst or a person in the coaching staff,” he said.
From Goa to a global stage
Kamat left India in 2024 to pursue international opportunities. He says several people encouraged him to look beyond the domestic system and gain international exposure.
He has also been critical of the challenges facing Indian football, pointing to what he describes as political issues and controversy surrounding the football administration.
However, his journey abroad is not about distancing himself from Indian football.
Instead, Kamat wants his experience to demonstrate what Indian talent can achieve when provided with the right opportunities.
“I think me going and getting a role in England where football is worshipped puts out an idea that people should escape their comfort zone and showcase their talent at the global stage,” he said.
For Goa, the achievement carries an added sense of pride.
“Being the only Goan right now working in performance analysis at a Category 1 Academy which is the highest rating for academies worldwide, it helps me put out the dream that we can always achieve what we want to,” Kamat said.
A message to the next generation
Kamat hopes his journey will encourage young Goans and Indians to explore careers in sport that may not have been traditionally considered.
“This can also start a spark within the youngsters growing up to pursue a unique opportunity to follow a career in sport,” he said.
His own journey has not been without challenges. Kamat acknowledges that there were people who doubted or tried to pull him down, but the young students who followed his journey became an additional source of motivation.
“There are a lot of young students who really looked up to me and my journey, looking to imitate a similar journey in sport,” he said.
For him, reaching Wolves is therefore bigger than an individual career achievement.
“Me achieving this goal also makes sure that every student out there can get in this field and do his or her best and reach the top,” he said.
From a teenager joining FC Goa at 16 to working inside a Category 1 academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Shashwat Kamat’s journey is a powerful example of how Goan talent can find opportunities on the global stage.
His story also offers a wider message for Indian football: the pathway to success in sport does not end with becoming a professional player. For those willing to learn, specialise and step beyond their comfort zone, the world of football offers many more possibilities
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