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

‘The barriers are still the same, they really are. But one of the great things about The Powerhouse Project is its providing opportunity. It's invaluable the work that is being done.'

Those are the words of Emma Hayes, one of the biggest drivers of change in the women's game on and off the pitch. The Chelsea manager has set standards, pushed for greater investment and support, and inspired a generation of young female coaches and players.

However, the challenge for equality remains. It's why Mollie and Rosie Kmita, in partnership with Nike, founded The Powerhouse Project in April 2021 to empower young women in their coaching careers.

Roya Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy – head coach of Chelsea Under-15s and assistant coach of the Under-16s – is a Powerhouse Alumni. Guided by the Project through her UEFA B License coaching course, Roya was then offered an internship with the Blues in partnership with Nike.

‘I got a call from Mollie and Rosie, who said, “This amazing opportunity has come up. What do you think?”', explains Roya. 'To come to work every day and see Emma Hayes, it’s impossible as a coach in the game not to be inspired by her.

‘My ambition is to coach at the highest level I can – and if in five years' time there isn’t a Powerhouse coach versus Powerhouse coach on the sidelines somewhere we’ve gone wrong!’

For Mollie and Rosie, the long-term ambition of the Powerhouse Project is to create a powerful community of women in sport, be that in roles on the pitch or off it.

'We want to show young girls there are more avenues to playing football than just being on the pitch.

‘We would love to see equality across the board when it comes to women in coaching. I don’t want to be having these conversations in the next five years. We should see more representation and female coaches working across the football pyramid.’