On a mission to change women's coaching: Nothing Stops Us

The obstacles remain unchanged, without a doubt. However, the Powerhouse Project offers chances that are extremely valuable. The efforts being made are truly priceless.

These words are from Emma Hayes who has been instrumental in bringing about change in women's soccer both on and off the field. As the manager of Chelsea, she has established high expectations, advocated for more funding and assistance, and influenced many aspiring female coaches and players.

Despite some progress towards equality, achieving true equality remains an ongoing challenge. This is why Mollie and Rosie Kmita, in collaboration with Nike, established The Powerhouse Project in April of 2021. Their aim is to encourage and strengthen young women in their careers as coaches.

Roya Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy is a member of the Powerhouse Alumni and currently holds two coaching positions at Chelsea Football Club. She serves as the head coach for the Under-15s and assists with coaching duties for the Under-16s. Roya gained valuable support from the Project when she was studying for her UEFA B License coaching course. The Project provided her with guidance and resources to succeed in her studies. After completing the course, Roya was offered an internship with Chelsea Football Club in conjunction with Nike.

Roya was contacted by Mollie and Rosie, who shared news of an exciting opportunity. They asked for Roya's opinion, and she was fascinated by the prospect. Roya couldn't believe that she would get to work alongside Emma Hayes every day. As a coach, Roya found it impossible not to feel inspired by Emma's amazing talent and work ethic.

My goal is to become a coach at the most elite level possible. If, after five years, there is not a scenario where two highly-skilled coaches are leading their teams against each other, we will have failed in some way.

Mollie and Rosie aim for the Powerhouse Project to establish a robust group of women in sports that includes both on-field and off-field positions. Their vision is to build a community that empowers women in sports.

Our aim is to demonstrate to adolescent females that there are diverse opportunities to participate in football beyond simply occupying the field.

We truly hope to witness fair and equal treatment of women in coaching roles. It is our sincere desire to not have to discuss this matter again in the next five years. We strongly believe that there should be more female coaches working in all levels of the football structure for an even representation.