Ahsan for the Win!
10th Anniversary Graduate of the Month: February - Ahsan Sakandar
For those who didn’t know, we just celebrated our awards during National Apprentice Week at the beginning of February. During this ceremony, Ahsan Sakandar was recognised as our Graduate of the Year, which of course made him our very special February winner for GOTM too.
Ahsan is an incredibly hard worker and passed all of his assessments first time (despite a bout of nerves and part of the course taking place online). One of the assessors even noted how inspiring he was, saying “she was hugely impressed with the impact he has on the participants within his sessions and that he was a credit to White Rose Rugby”. He used the apprenticeship to gain an incredible amount of confidence in all areas of his role, but especially in public speaking and coaching.
It was here we first noticed Ahsan’s ability to lead and coach, but another thing caught our eye. Ahsan showed us even more reason to be proud as he overcame difficulties surrounding his physical and learning disabilities. He achieved everything he set his mind to, but still acknowledged when help was needed. He always works on improving himself and asks for advice and feedback regularly, showing his devotion to coaching and the community.
"Ahsan has had an incredible impact on the rest of the team at White Rose Rugby. His determination to succeed and his desire to learn keeps the rest of the team on their toes. He’s an inspiration to everyone who he works with and there isn’t a limit to how much he can show others that the right attitude will always lead to success."
At Coach Core, we advocate for active lives and positive mental wellbeing in sports. Ahsan helps deliver these messages and continues to be an inspiration to those around him.
Early on he gained the confidence to lead the training sessions for his Mixed Ability rugby club, Bumble Bees RUFC, and was recently rewarded for his coaching by being invited to coach the MARI team (Mixed Ability Rugby International) – an equivalent to the Barbarians RUFC.
Ahsan also developed great relationships with everyone he worked with – whether that be at Beechcliffe School mentoring SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) pupils or helping to deliver Level 1 & 2 Sports Leader awards in mainstream secondary school. Even during his time with vulnerable children on a HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) camp, he’s gone the extra mile. In one case Ahsan used his coaching skills to get through to a young autistic boy who was selectively mute, yet was happy to explain to Ahsan verbally when he was having issues with sensory overload.
We’re delighted to name Ahsan as a winner for not only GOTM, but as GOTY for 2022. We can’t wait to see what he achieves next.