Cambridge United were represented at a highly successful Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) Player Development Day hosted by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) at St George’s Park, with three young U’s players gaining valuable experience in a high-performance national environment…
Zak Massoud, Owais Jawed and Isaac Ansari were supported on the day by Head of Academy Education Harsh Joshi and Academy Player Care Manager Callum Langley, as they trained alongside more than 100 players from across the professional game, including representatives from 14 Premier League clubs, 40 EFL clubs and eight National League clubs.
Delivered as part of the Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS), the event provided players with the opportunity to work with England National Youth Development Coaches, club coaches and PFA staff. The programme combined elite on-pitch training with off-pitch learning, including player and parent panel discussions, informal mentoring and education sessions designed to support long-term development.
While the players took part in the training sessions, Cambridge United staff engaged with the AIMS programme, gaining insight into how the scheme supports players and families and how that support can be continued back at the club. The day also brought together more than 250 parents, club representatives and stakeholders, reflecting a shared commitment across the professional game to improving representation and opportunity.
The event proved to be a positive and memorable experience for the young U’s players, providing valuable learning both on and off the pitch and reinforcing the club’s ongoing commitment to supporting player development in an inclusive environment.
