On the eve of the Pakistan football team's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, players performed a Bollywood medley after the conclusion of a training session.
It was a way for them to relax after an intense training session, but more importantly, the Pakistan players were singing it to warm up to the newest member of the team, their British-Indian coach with roots in Navsari, Gujarat.
Trishan Patel, who has worked as a pizza delivery man and organised and analysed football trips for British schools, began work as Pakistan's assistant coach last month and nothing could compare to the thrill and adventure that came with it, as Pakistan lost 3-0 to Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world.
India coach Trishan Patel (second from left) and manager Stephen Constantine are on the team bench during a FIFA qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Islamabad last week. (Special arrangement)
“'Go and help break down barriers' – those were the first things my mother said to me (when he received the offer). We discussed that this could be a positive step between the two countries and open up new lines of communication,” Patel told The Indian Express from Islamabad, where the match was taking place.
Patel, 36, previously worked as an analyst with Pakistan before joining the team as assistant coach to Stephen Constantine in May. When an offer came for him to be part of Pakistan's squad, the UEFA A-licensed coach, who has worked with some of England's top academies, didn't hesitate a moment.
Patel knew his Indian descent might be a topic of conversation, but from the moment he arrived, “the people and the team were so welcoming and appreciative.”
“I grew up in a society that doesn't judge people on their religion or nationality. I have many Pakistani friends back home and they have been messaging me, offering all sorts of help and wishing the Pakistan team well,” Patel said. “I also feel part of this country that shares a common heritage. I wish the Pakistan team well.”
Trishan Patel during the Pakistan Football Team's tour to the resort of Margas Hills in Islamabad. (Special Arrangement)
Mr Patel's grandparents migrated to Kenya from Navsari before settling in the British industrial town of Luton in the late 1960s. His father, Satish, worked initially for a car company and then moved to IT, while his mother, Saroj, worked for a soldering company.
Patel attended a local soccer training program along with his two brothers before deciding to forge a career not only as a soccer coach but also as a soccer analyst.
“Growing up in England, football was always around me in some form or another and I was lucky enough to have my siblings and I have had access to football. After graduating from university, I wanted to pursue a career as a football analyst,” he said.
It hasn't always been smooth sailing. “My first venture was organising a football camp in the US for a school programme. It was tough for my family to support me but they did everything they could. I worked as a pizza delivery boy and did a few local coaching jobs to earn money for the trips,” added Patel, who also runs a suicide prevention campaign in memory of his father, who died in 2016.
Trishan Patel (Special Arrangement) during an analysis session
Following experience in local football programs and a postgraduate degree in Applied Education Services, Patel gained his first experience at a football club. He worked at Luton FC Academy as a Community Coach and then Centre of Excellence Coach for six years, before working as a coach at Liverpool International Academy from 2016 to 2023. At the same time, he worked at lower league Berkhamsted Football Club from 2020 to 2023.
Last year, the Pakistan Football Federation first approached Patel to work as an analyst with the then 195th-ranked team, and he accepted, holding virtual sessions with the players.
It was no easy task given the language barrier, the relative obscurity of young Pakistani players and a lack of interest in football in the country, which has been banned twice by FIFA in recent years.
Patel said frequent talks with former India coach Constantine, who was appointed Pakistan coach last year, helped him. The two have known each other for the past three years, Patel said.
Trishan Patel (Special Arrangement) with the Pakistan Football Team during practice
“Steven is brilliant. I was supposed to work with him at East Bengal but it didn't work out. We talk every day about the challenges he faces and one of them is the lack of a national league and coaching programme. There is no dearth of young talent. A player like 16-year-old Abdul Rehman in the Pakistan team will be a great example,” Patel said.
He added: “My focus this week has been to build one-on-one relationships with the players. It's not just about football that we need to talk about. Sometimes we can sit down at the dinner table and talk about family, culture and other things.”
Since arriving in Islamabad, Patel has been spending two weeks with the 24-man Pakistan national team, who have been taking him shopping at local markets, buying ornaments and paintings for his family as well as food.
“What worked in my favour was that we had common topics to talk about — food, movies, songs — and the players trusted me. Many of them have faced challenges and it was good that they opened up to me. We had an introduction session for the young players this week and one of them sang 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham' besides a Bollywood song, and we all clapped and sang along,” Patel said.
