Joel Richard Williams
Technical Director / Head Coach
Football Development. Built on Experience.
Kicklabs is a football development academy led by Joel Richard Williams, Technical Director / Head Coach, an AFC-licensed coach from Gibraltar with experience across professional, academy and grassroots football in India and Gibraltar.
Joel’s coaching journey includes Minerva Punjab FC, where he served as Technical Director during their 2017/18 I-League-winning season, and Gokulam Kerala FC, where he was part of the coaching setup that won the Kerala Premier League. In Gibraltar, he has worked with Europa Point FC as Assistant Coach and Magpies FC as Head Coach. He currently serves as Tuensang FA Head Coach.
Alongside coaching, Joel has become a recognised football commentator in Nagaland, covering major competitions including the Dr. T. Ao Trophy and the NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy.
At Kicklabs, his experience shapes a clear football philosophy: possession with purpose, intelligent movement, high-intensity pressing and brave, intelligent decision-making.
We don't just teach players what to do.
We teach them to understand the game.
DEVELOP THE PLAYER. UNDERSTAND THE GAME. PLAY WITH PURPOSE.
Manu B.S. Rao
Director of Football
Manu B.S. Rao brings extensive experience across football coaching, player development, scouting and team leadership. His career spans professional clubs, academies, schools and competitive football environments, including roles with Minerva Academy FC, Baichung Bhutia Football Schools, FC Pune City and the Delhi Premier League.
As Director of Football at Kicklabs, Manu oversees the footballing direction of the academy, with a focus on developing players, supporting coaches and establishing a clear pathway for long-term football development. His experience in performance analysis, customised training, player scouting and leadership complements Kicklabs' commitment to creating a structured, modern development environment.
A former player and team captain, Manu combines practical experience on the pitch with a strong understanding of player development and team management. He holds an AFC C Licence, FA Level 2 and AIFF coaching qualifications, and was part of the coaching team that won the AIFF U-13 Youth League Rest of India Group D in 2017–18.
At Kicklabs, Manu's role is to help build the football structure, culture and pathway that underpin the academy's long-term vision.
Bill
Director of Operations
Bill oversees the day-to-day operations of Kicklabs, ensuring our centres, coaches and programmes run smoothly and efficiently. He manages administration, logistics, partnerships and operational planning, while supporting the expansion of Kicklabs into new locations.
Working closely with the technical team, Bill helps build the structure and systems behind Kicklabs, allowing the organisation to grow while maintaining consistency and professionalism across every centre.
