Sipan Petrosyan. [Photo/Hangzhoufeel]

A youth soccer academy, situated on the top of an arcade in Hangzhou, was recently established by Sipan Petrosyan from Armenia. It is uncommon to see such spacious pitches in the shopping malls of a metropolis.

"I started my formal football training when I was five," Petrosyan said. "And it was my father, a football enthusiast, who led me onto this path." Since then, Petrosyan has formed an unbreakable relationship with the sport and believes it will be his lifelong career.

Petrosyan used to play professional in the Armenian League and, despite a series of ankle injuries, his passion for the sport never faded. Soon afterwards, he decided to become a football coach. He managed to pass the UEFA A license evaluation, the second-highest license in the world. During his nine-year coaching career, he acquired expertise from numerous soccer clubs, such as Urartu Professional Football Club.

Petrosyan came to Hangzhou in 2018, and later came up with the idea of coaching youth football in China. Cooperating with the Hangzhou government, he has helped children in many public schools take their first steps into football.

"In my life, I have continuously pushed the limit and improved myself. Now I want to develop youth football in China and build my academy here." Petrosyan has already made his first move – opening an academy in Binjiang district of Hangzhou.

Every weekend kids aged 6-12 run and laugh on the soccer field of Petrosyan's academy, wearing uniforms with their names and favorite numbers. Unlike the tight training schedules of most youth academies, Petrosyan guides them through one-on-one offensive and defensive drills, improving their passing and receiving skills by practicing basic movements.

Moreover, the coach is thoughtful and always takes every child into consideration.

"Players at this academy are like a family," said the mother of the youngest child in the class.

Sipan Petrosyan poses with children at his academy. [Photo/Hangzhoufeel]