Meet Anjitha M, India's First Female Football Video Analyst

While India's sports landscape is slowly progressing towards better gender representation on the fields and pitches, the battle for equality behind the scenes remains lengthy and ongoing. Reeling in an era of positive change is Anjitha M, the country's first professional football video analyst, who is paving the path for more women in sports with each strategic move she makes. Hailing from Kerala, this enthusiastic trailblazer is currently working with the Gokulam Kerala Women's Team. She was initially a player with the Kerala Blasters Women's Squad, which was discontinued in 2023 due to financial constraints.

Such issues highlight the struggles that Indian women in sports face, causing a major setback in fulfilling their passion. Anjitha's journey from being a player to entering a male-dominated profession shows her commitment to empowering sportswomen and encouraging them to not give up on their dreams despite the challenges.

How Anjitha Got Into Football

Anjitha's fascination with football started at a young age, inspired by her father, Mani, who is a player too. Accompanying him in his matches, her passion for the sport grew. When she was in the 8th standard, she decided to join her school's football team. Soon, she became a junior and then a senior player at the State level. 

Speaking to The Bridge, Anjitha expressed, "My first coach, Nithish, dad and mom (Nalini) were the reasons I got into football. My family is my strength." While pursuing a B.Com at St. Joseph's College in Kozhikode, she further flourished in the sport, going on to participate in Calicut University matches and later joining the now-disbanded Kerala Blasters Women's Team.

She was encouraged by the Blasters' coach, Shareef Khan, who she said saw great potential in her and motivated her. Anjitha is now pursuing her Master's degree in commerce from Carmel College in Kozhikode. Despite academic commitments, she continues to pursue her passion for football, consistently breaking barriers and making waves.

As Anjitha's fondness for football grew, she began looking for career options beyond the field. She initially explored sports management but later found her calling in sports analysis. She credits Anand Vardhan, an analyst for the Kerala Blasters reserve team for his assistance. "He helped and guided me, giving me the first idea of how to become an analyst," she told The Bridge.

Later, Anjitha completed a course from the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), which provided her with valuable guidance. She has now retired from playing and is completely focused on her profession as a sports analyst. "It’s great to stay involved in football, and being an analyst allows me to work from home while staying connected to the game," she said.

While the Kerala Blasters Women's Team was discontinued, women sports aficionados like Anjitha and many others are relentlessly contributing to the football scene with their unwavering resilience and dedication. Aspiring to eventually become a football coach, Anjitha continues to work for the progress of the sport, especially encouraging the participation of women.