Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Female Asian footballers 'are drawing more women to the sport'

Female Asian footballers 'are drawing more women to the sport'

by NADEEM BADSHAH

FOOTBALL may not have come home but the success of the men's and women's England teams has led to a boom in the number of young south Asian female players, according to coaches.


Since the 2019 Women's World Cup, rising stars have emerged including England youth international Simran Jhamat who joined Bristol City Women in July to become the first British Asian professional in the club's history.

Teenager Roop Kaur plays for Queens Park Rangers Girls Under 16s, Rosie Kmita is at Watford, while Birmingham Under 16s signed Layla Banaras.

Prior to the Women's World Cup two years ago, there were no players of south Asian origin in the Women's Super League.

And experts believe after England's men reached the Euro 2020 final in July and the women's European Championships taking place next summer, there will be more youngsters with the goal of playing pro football.

Manisha Tailor MBE, who was recently promoted to assistant head of academy coaching at Queens Park Rangers, told Eastern Eye: "I think that the commitment from The Football Association and governing bodies to make football accessible to South Asian female players has inevitably resulted in an increase in participation.

"In addition to the men's Euros, there is build up towards the women's euros next year which is great to see as it is certainly inspiring girls and women to take up the sport.

"Role models such as Simran and Rosie, as well as Lucindha Lawson, are at the heart of creating change towards seeing more elite South Asian female footballers."

1535050 scaled Manisha Taylor coaching a session with U13 boys at QPRPhoto: Lucille Flood for The FA


It comes after Jhamat was hailed as "a fantastic role model" by her former manager Vicky Jepson who believes she can inspire the next generation of British Asian female footballers.

The 20-year-old from Walsall, Midlands, was spotted playing for Sporting Khalsa before being approached by Aston Villa's Girls' Centre of Excellence where she spent seven seasons before joining Liverpool.

Arun Kang OBE, CEO of the Sporting Equals charity, said we are all aware of the power and positivity that role models can have on communities as "you cannot be what you cannot see".

But he told Eastern Eye: "While we do not want to dampen the current positive trajectory of the England (men's) team, we at Sporting Equals can't help but question the true strength of the diversity within the England men's squad.

"These claims of excellent diversity are in reference to some ethnically diverse communities being present while others are wholly unrepresented.

"We have spoken at length about the importance of sporting bodies becoming specific with community approaches through our terminology advocacy work and how they must move away from looking at diversity through a selective umbrella lens whereby they can engage with selective communities and ignore others."

Sporting Equals created the British Asians Sport and Physical Activity (BASPA) Network to raise awareness and challenge sporting bodies to do more on developing talent, coaching and leadership roles.

Kang added: "Often these necessary discussions are quieted with cultural stereotypes and perceptions of barriers that do not actually exist or persist.

"However, there is more than enough research to highlight that British South Asians are very active in football there are unconscious and conscious biases at play that actively prevent them from reaching elite-level talent status.

"We hope that the footballing bodies will reflect on any positive learnings from community and talent engagement and retention within the England women's squad and implement such learnings for the men's game so that in future tournaments British South Asians may also see concrete representation and diverse talent."

British Asians make up seven per cent of the UK population but only 0.25 per cent of professional footballers, according to research.

Yashmin Harun BEM, chair and founder of The Muslimah Sports Association (MSA), said the increase in Asian players has been encouraged due to the positive work by the Football Association and the media.

She added: "We cannot underestimate the importance of positive stories and the impact it has on our communities.

"At Frenford & MSA WFC we have had a huge uptake of female players from age five to adults, with a majority from an Asian background. This is due to these players and parents seeing females who look like them playing football.

"The more stories we are able to promote and tell the more parents and players will be encouraged to take up football and create pathways.

"The unfortunate events which took place at the Euro 2020 final [involving some spectators trying to watch the match without a ticket] should not deter Asian fans from attending games in future and with the Women’s Euro 2022 coming to Wembley, it’s a perfect opportunity to experience the game.”

page 39 top story lead inset 2 GettyImages 1142640166 scaled Cho So-Hyun of West Ham Ladies celebrates with Jane Ross and Rosie Kmita. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

A community football club looking to encourage more female players is Southall Athletic FC in London, who play in Division One of the Middlesex County League.

Ajay Gore, co-founder and chairman of the women's team, said: “South Asian males are underrepresented in football, the only other group more underrepresented than that is South Asian females.

“The main goal with this team is to increase the participation of South Asian women in the sport.

“We want this club to be a legacy in the community long after our times and we want it to be a club that little kids grow up wanting to play for.”

Sim was encouraged to join Southall Athletic FC by friends and family. She previously played for Brentford FC before taking a break from the sport.

Sim said: “I’m back into what I used to love.

“There’s such a big taboo with Indian girls playing football, now there’s a community football club that’s allowing females to join in.

"It’s a good opportunity for girls like me to get back into it and prove certain people wrong.”

More For You

Kevin Costner Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Unscripted Scene in 'Horizon'

The legal proceedings are ongoing and no trial date has yet been set

Getty Images

Kevin Costner faces lawsuit over unscripted rape scene in ‘Horizon'

Actor and director Kevin Costner is facing a lawsuit filed by stuntwoman Devyn LaBella, who alleges she was subjected to an unscripted and violent simulated rape scene during the filming of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, names Costner, 70, along with production companies associated with the film, as defendants.

LaBella, 34, served as a stunt double for actress Ella Hunt and had performed various scenes for the Western film. According to the lawsuit, while one planned sexual assault scene had been properly choreographed and conducted with rehearsals and an intimacy coordinator on set, a separate scene allegedly took place the following day under very different circumstances.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Could Fetch Over £250K at Auction

Crafted by Cartier in 1930, the tiara is being offered for public sale for the first time

Bonhams

Historic Cartier tiara owned by Nancy Astor expected to fetch over £250,000 at auction

A rare Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara once owned by Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the House of Commons, is set to go under the hammer in London next month, with expectations it could sell for as much as £350,000.

The American-born politician, who represented Plymouth Sutton from 1919 to 1945, wore the striking tiara at high-profile events, including the 1931 film premiere of City Lights at the Dominion Theatre in London. Auction house Bonhams described the piece as “exceptionally rare” and cited its “impeccable provenance” as a key factor in its anticipated high value.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Priya Malik

Priya Malik to Perform at The Camden Club

Priya Malik Live: 'Ishq Hai' Poetry in London

Poetry is an art that transcends language and culture, stirring deep emotions and inspiring reflection. This June, Londoners have the rare opportunity to experience the heartfelt expressions of one of India’s most compelling contemporary poets, Priya Malik. On Sunday, 1 June, Malik will perform her acclaimed piece Ishq Hai at The Camden Club, located at 72-73 Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, NW1. This intimate event promises an evening of profound poetry and captivating storytelling, inviting audiences to delve into the many facets of love, life, and human experience through Malik’s uniquely evocative voice.

Priya Malik has become a celebrated figure in the world of South Asian poetry, known for her seamless blend of Hindi, Urdu, and English that enriches her work with cultural depth and lyrical beauty. Her poetry explores themes of love, loss, identity, and empowerment, drawing listeners into a deeply personal yet universally relatable journey. Ishq Hai, which translates to ‘It is Love’, is more than just a title—it is a declaration and exploration of love’s transformative power in all its forms, whether romantic, spiritual, or self-reflective.

Keep ReadingShow less
Duckhams secures Issa backing to drive global growth

Zuber Issa

Duckhams secures Issa backing to drive global growth

ASIAN billionaire Zuber Issa has made a strategic investment in Duckhams, the British oil and lubricants brand founded 126 years ago.

The investment values the Bolton-based company at around £50 million, reports said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal Air Force chief charts inclusive course for service

Sir Richard Knighton

Royal Air Force chief charts inclusive course for service

SIR RICHARD KNIGHTON sits at his desk with a simple motto that has guided his remarkable career: “Work hard, do the best you can, enjoy every minute.”

It’s a philosophy that has taken him from a schoolteacher’s son in Derby with no military connections to becoming the first engineer ever to lead the Royal Air Force as Chief of the Air Staff.

Keep ReadingShow less