2013 Asian Football Awards launched in grand style at Houses of Parliament, Westminster

The Houses of Parliament in London saw a number of high-profile guests attend the 2013 launch of the second annual Asian Football Awards in a grand ceremony last month. The event, hosted by Inventive Sports saw nominations officially open for the awards set to be hosted at Wembley Stadium on October 8, 2013.

The Asian Football Awards 2013 (AFA), in association with Goals Soccer Centres, will once again be at the heart of English football, the world renowned Wembley Stadium, in a year that The Football Association (FA) celebrates its 150th anniversary. The hosts for the awards evening will be BBC Asian Network presenter Noreen Khan and Sky Sports News presenter Dharmesh Sheth.

The awards promise to be a star-studded event once again - with dignitaries from the world of football as well as a number of high-profile celebrities and footballers. With an anticipated audience of over 500, this year's event will be a fantastic opportunity to witness inspirational Asians in football, first hand. Last year's event brought together representatives of clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, QPR, Wolves, Charlton, Liverpool and Blackburn, while this year the event is expecting many more organisations to get involved.

AFA Founder Baljit Rihal opened proceedings at the Houses of Parliament by saying, "This year's awards promise to be yet another meaningful statement of intent for the Asians in Football cause. We are proud to be able to bring to you a bigger and better awards ceremony, which aims to honour those that are paving the way for Asians in Football. The football organisations have given us greater support and we aim to leverage this by continuing our quest to showcase Asian role models within the UK football industry."

Other speakers at the launch event included Paul Uppal MP, Sir Rodney Walker (Non-Executive Chairman Goals Soccer Centres), Darren Bailey (Director of Football Governance & Regulation - The FA), Jas Jassal (Inventive Sports), Zesh Rehman Foundation and Khalsa Football Academy. Baljit added, "We are honoured to have guest speakers here today, representing the government, leading football organisations and those that are delivering effective projects in the community."

The Westminster launch included a large gathering of prominent Asians involved in the Football industry as well as many up and coming football players. Many guests commented on the great networking session with key football industry personnel.

Paul Uppal, MP for Wolverhampton South West, declared, "I am privileged to be able to support the Asian Football Awards and have sponsored the Parliamentary reception today. The Launch in Parliament has showcased the continued success in all aspects of UK football and I have enjoyed welcoming the role models of today as well as tomorrow. I hope that the Awards highlight the growing importance the Asian community play in the professional game, as well as at grassroots level, and serve as an inspiration for others to get involved."

The Awards see Goals Soccer Centres as their headline sponsor, along with a strong contingent of supporting football organisations including; The FA, Kick It Out, The PFA, Show Racism The Red Card and Sporting Equals.

General Secretary of The Football Association, Alex Horne said, "We are delighted that the Asian Football Awards are returning to Wembley Stadium in The FA's 150th anniversary year. Our chairman, David Bernstein, spoke highly of the inaugural event in 2012 and we look forward to welcoming the Asian football community back to one of the world's most iconic stadiums. The end of last year saw English football agree on an inclusion and anti-discrimination action plan, and events like the Asian Football Awards help inspire and unite all levels of the game."

Gordon Taylor OBE, Chief Executive of The Professional Footballers Association, said, "The PFA are supporters of the Asian Football Awards 2013 and proud to herald the developments of Asians in Football both in the UK and across the globe. The Awards are a celebration of the contribution and achievements of Asian people working across the football industry from grassroots to the highest echelons of the game. We congratulate the nominees in all of the award categories and welcome this opportunity to profile success and achievement."

The Asian Football Awards' primary objective is to create an awareness of the positive efforts made by Asians within the UK football industry. It also aims to engage with organisations and individuals to help increase Asian participation levels in the UK. AFA Founder, Baljit Rihal commented, "This is an industry awards – we are not just concerned about increasing Asian participation on the football field. Our aim is also to help make the hierarchies of organisations that govern football more reflective of the society within which we live."

Roisin Wood, Director for Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, said, "This is a crucial initiative, which shines a light on some of the positive work undertaken by British Asians at all levels of the game. Kick It Out has long been championing this area and supporting these awards is a natural continuation of this."

Nominations for the 2013 Awards are now open online with the 15 categories aiming to reward and recognise individuals and organisations across the entire football industry.

You can nominate your candidate(s) under http://www.asianfootballawards.co.uk/afa-awards/nomination-form

The AFA 2013 judging panel includes representatives from The FA, The PFA, Kick It Out – as well as AFA 2012 award winner BBC Sport presenter Manish Bhasin and CEO of International Airlines Group Willie Walsh.

The AFA are also continuing their engagement with grassroots football. Their headline sponsors Goals Soccer Centres will host a nationwide 5 A-Side tournament throughout May and June 2013 – with the winners being presented with The AFA Trophy at the Wembley award ceremony in October. Teams can register on the Goals website under http://www.goalsfootball.co.uk/Football/PromotionAFA.aspx?event=AFA

AFA Founder Baljit Rihal finally on the importance of the awards, "Our vision has constantly been to support the growth of UK Asians in football. Since our inaugural event last year, the media attention and support from all across the industry has been astonishing. I can proudly say that the Asian Football Awards has and will continue to encourage more Asians to get involved in every aspect of the game."

2013 Asian Football Awards to be held on October 8 at Wembley

The second annual Asian Football Awards (AFA) will be held at the home of English football, Wembley Stadium, on October 8, 2013 and will once more be organised by Inventive Sports. The formal press launch reception was held at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster on March 26, 2013.

The inaugural event in 2012 attracted over 300 representatives from grassroots clubs and businesses in the football arena to a number of current and former players and personnel – not just from the United Kingdom but around the world.

With support and representation from the likes of The FA, PFA, Kick It Out, Show Racism The Red Card and Sporting Equals the first event proved to be a huge success which was recognised by football organisations and clubs around the UK. The event hosted esteemed guests from the football establishment like David Bernstein (FA Chairman), ex-Chelsea defenders Paul Elliot and Graham Le Saux, BBC Sport presenter Manish Bhasin and award-winning journalist and author Mihir Bose.

"The Asian Football Awards have been created to recognise and reward Asians in football in the UK. We aim to provide a platform for Asians to promote their skills whilst also showing the footballing world that coaches, volunteers, players, administrators and fans are Asians who simply love the game," explains founder of the AFA Baljit Rihal.

This year, Sky Sports' Dharmesh Seth and BBC Asian Network's DJ Noreen Khan will co-host the awards show which will be held again at the iconic Wembley Stadium. For 2013, The Asian Football Awards have attracted a higher profile of sponsors with a greater input and support from many of the UKs top clubs and football organisations.

This year, their headline sponsor GOALS Soccer Centres will be hosting 'The AFA Trophy' tournament nationwide with a number of other new awards to be introduced as the profile of Asians in Football continues to rise.

"Our aim is to see a steady stream of Asian footballers making their debuts at league clubs across the UK… It's only a matter of time before this is a reality as there are so many talented players on the peripherals of making it," explains founder of the AFA Baljit Rihal.

The AFA 2013 ceremony will be a star-studded event once again with dignitaries from the world of football as well as a number of prominent celebrities and footballers. With an anticipated audience of over 500 attending, The Asian Football Awards 2013 promises to be a fantastic opportunity to witness inspirational Asians in Football, first hand.

Asian Kings 7 A-Side Football Tournament in Manchester

The Asian Kings Football Tournament 2012 is a 7 A-Side tournament which will be played on September 8 and it is being organiserd by Pro Academy Soccer Scout along with the British Asian Football team to provide a platform for British Asian and non-Asian footballers to showcase their skill and ability directly to the world of professional football.

The Asian Kings Football Tournament will enhance the opportunity for Footballers to stand out and for the first time will provide them with the exposure and recognition
they have been waiting for... The search has begun!

7-A-Side Tournament Details
Date: Saturday; September 8, 2012
Time: 8am Registration (Please arrive early to register your team)
Venue: The Etihad Complex, Sportscity, Etihad Campus, Manchester, M11 3FF
Entry Fee: The entry fee is £500.00 per team

Prize Monies & Trophies: The winning team will receive a cash prize of £2500.00 and the honour to lift the Asian Kings Trophy. The runners up will receive a cash prize of £1000.00 and every player entered in the tournament will be introduced to our online platform. There will also be a Golden Boot Trophy and a Player of the Tournament Trophy awarded to the relevant.

Teams: Teams will consist of a squad of 10 with 7 players and 3 subs in each team. Teams must wear a regimented kit and we also request to receive your team colours before the tournament date to ensure there will be no colour clashing on the date. It is imperative all players must wear shin pads.

Referees/Disciplinary: Our professional referees will explain the match rules at registration and to each Captain at the beginning of their match. Any player receiving a red card will be suspended for the rest of the match and the following match. Any player/team guilty of violent conduct will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament. Please be aware this is a prestigious event for everyone, there will be families and children present and any misbehaviour example fighting, swearing will result in the team getting disqualified.

Attendees: The British Asian Football and Pro Academy Soccer Scout group ambassador Kevin Campbell will be in attendance alongside scouts from a range of professional football clubs including the Premier League, Championship and professional clubs from around Europe.

Tournament Format: 32 teams from around the UK will get split into 8 groups of 4 teams. Each team will play 3 games in their respective groups and gain either 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. The top 2 teams from each group will then progress onto the 1st round of the knockout phases, the quarter finals, semi finals and the grand finals.

Game Times:
Group games – 10 minutes one way
1st round knockout phase – 10 minutes one way
Quarter Finals – 10 minutes one way
Semi Finals – 15 minutes one way
Grand Final – 10 minutes each way

Contact Details:
The Pro Academy Soccer Scout Team
Phone: 0161 276 9740 / 07908664186 / 07776331588 / 07807765825
Website: www.pass2pro.com
Email: info@pass2pro.com/andy@pass2pro.com /barry@pass2pro.com/ Kevin@pass2pro.com
Address: Manchester Buildings, 71-73 Hyde Road, Manchester, M12 6BH

If you have any questions or queries regarding the Asian Kings Football Tournament 2012, please do not hesitate to contact the organisers. Apply now to avoid disappointment... Good Luck!

Jazzy B - 'The Crown Prince of Bhangra' & his love affair with Liverpool FC

"My love for Liverpool Football Club stems from when I was growing up in Vancouver where all the kids watched English football. I remember players like Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes and Ian Rush. I always wanted to visit Anfield to watch my heroes play. Since moving to England I've had the chance to get more involved in football and watch some games live," explains Jazzy B, who is arguably one of the biggest stars of the Bhangra music scene.

Born in Punjab, India and raised in Surrey, British Columbia in Canada, Jassy B or in full Jaswinder Singh Bains released his debut album in 1993. He has since gone on to release over 15 albums and has toured the world twice over. Tagged as the 'Crown Prince Of Bhangra', Jazzy B has become one of the most recognised Punjabi personalities in the world with his unique style – both vocal and fashion.

"I am a huge LFC supporter and proudly wear my official LFC shirts on stage in India and the Far East. For the UK and North American audiences, I generally wear my customised LFC kurta (a traditional Indian loose shirt). I designed it myself and got it custom made by my tailor in Punjab. All the Asian Liverpool supporters around the world who've seen it are asking where they can get their own kit from." Jazzy's passion for the Reds has seen him endorse LFC in his recent smash-hit video the title track to 'Maharajas'. "It was an easy decision, the director wanted a certain style and the shirt was the right choice. I also have 'Maharajas' (meaning Kings) printed on the back."

With over half a million Youtube hits to his last video alone, 20,000+ followers on Twitter and in excess of 250,000 fans on Facebook, Jazzy B proves that his musical message goes far beyond the surrounds of the Asian music arena. "I love talking about music and football on Twitter and Facebook. It's what keeps me informed of how LFC are doing while I am on tour. I am also proud to be an honorary patron of the Punjabi LFC twitter fan club; I'll do anything I can to promote Liverpool FC."

As a sports fanatic who also follows Ice Hockey and the Indian sport of Kabaddi, Jazzy encourages his young fans to keep active. He is especially keen to see an Asian become a high-profile professional footballer, ideally with Liverpool FC. "It would be a dream come true to see a South Asian play at Anfield in front of the Kop. I'm sure it will happen and hopefully it will be my son Jovan. He's Liverpool mad. He's the first in our house to have his scarf in front of the TV singing 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' whenever we watch a Liverpool game."

Jazzy has partnered with Inventive Sports, a UK based sports consultancy, in their drive to promote UK Asians in football. "I really believe in the passion that Inventive Sports have about Asian participation in Football. It was their enthusiasm that really made me decide to support their cause. I hope I can help reach out to my global fan base and make a difference."

Director of Inventive Sports Baljit Rihal said, "We are glad to have Jazzy B on board to help us spread the word about Asians in Football. It's not just about the players on the pitch; it's also about encouraging more Asians onto the terraces. Having Jazzy as an ambassador will help us encourage participation on all fronts." Baljit, who also founded the Asian Football Awards, continued, "We are very excited to be working on a project with Liverpool Football Club's supporters committee, which we hope will help increase the awareness of Asians in football. It's also an added bonus that Jazzy is a passionate LFC fan and that he supports the club through his music and social media channels."

Liverpool FC's Ethnic Minority Supporters representative, Abu Nasir commented, "LFC are very much engaged with its Asian fan base and are proud to say that we probably have the biggest following of supporters from a South Asian background both in the UK and globally. We continuously work and engage with Asian fans on an on-going basis and are excited about developing this project in partnership with Jazzy B and Inventive Sports."

Danny Lynch from football's equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out said, "If we see more Asians following their team in person after a clarion call from someone like Jazzy B, it can only be of benefit for the community and the game as a whole. Music and football have long had parallels with one another, combining passion and excitement from a mass audience. When they are used together to promote one another, as is the case here, they seem obvious bedfellows. Moreover, anything which creatively gets more people interested and energised by football is something to be applauded."

Former professional footballer and FA Consultant, Brendon Batson MBE was asked whether using music icons to engage with Asian fans was a positive step. He commented, "It's a good idea if done in a genuine way. It would also be beneficial if they supported a team or at the very least football."

After being informed of the forthcoming project, BBC Asian Network Presenter and fellow LFC supporter, Noreen Khan commented, "Having Jazzy B team up with LFC is brilliant news! He is probably the biggest Bhangra star around and has built up a huge loyal following over the years. With Jazzy helping to promote this initiative it can only help generate and boost more interest in football amongst young Asians."

With the 2012/13 season just weeks away, Jazzy hopes to catch some games in between his future tours and film release. "My wife and I saw Canada play in the Olympics last week, so now I am buzzing for the new Premiership season to start. I definitely plan to go to Anfield this season to see how Brendan Rogers gets the team playing. I was devastated to see Kenny go, but hopefully the team can now move on and challenge for the number one spot after such a long wait for another title."

With future plans to showcase Asian footballers in one of his music videos, Jazzy feels he has seen enough talent to know the future is bright. "I've seen kids in Canada, India and the UK wearing their (English) Premier League shirts with pride. Asian kids love the game and they all want to be the next Messi, Ronaldo or Gerrard. It would be great to have my music and my passion for Liverpool FC get more Asians interested in the game. With so many fans around the world supporting my music, I hope I can encourage more of them to start supporting Liverpool Football Club."

Follow details of the project on Twitter: @JazzyB @InventiveSports @PunjabiLFC

PIO Netan Sansara aims to become Great Dane!

As I reported a week ago PIO Netan Sansara signs for Danish club FC Vestsjælland and for the former England Under-18 and U-19 international Netan Sansara the one-year deal with Danish First Division side FC Vestsjælland is a chance to develop in career further.

The 22-year-old pacey left-back adds another destination to his ever-impressive CV having earlier plied his trade in England, Scotland and Cyprus. Sansara is one of a handful of players who are proof that there is talent in the Asian community in Britain as he becomes the first British-born Asian to ply his trade in Danish football.

Sansara made his decision to sign for FC Vestsjælland after turning down a number of tempting offers from clubs across Europe, including a two-year extension with PAEEK FC. The Cypriot club were left in no doubt of Sansara's ability and versatility across the park after signing him last season. Primarily a left back, he filled in for half of the season at Centre-back, earning rave reviews across the football scene in Cyprus.

The Walsall-born defender began his career with his home town club, signing his first professional contract at the age of 17 and then breaking into the Saddlers first team at the age of 18. Sansara then travelled north of the border to join Dundee FC in the Scottish first division before making the decision to fly the flag for British footballers in Cyprus.

His performances for PAEEK FC saw him shortlisted for the Player of the Year award at the inaugural Asian Football Awards, which took place at Wembley Stadium in January 2012, while off the pitch, Sansara has been active in the community in his role as ambassador for anti-racism and social inclusion group Kick It Out.

Sansara is relishing the challenge with FC Vestsjælland, saying, "I'm really excited about the new season ahead of me with my new club. I'm glad to have got my future sorted and now I can concentrate on my football."

"After spending a few days in Denmark during the summer training with the team I really enjoyed my stay there, the players and the staff and it was a big reason in why I opted to join FCV. The hard work begins now and I will be doing all I can to play my part in helping the club succeed."

FC Vestsjælland, co-owned by Anglian Football, have ambitions to challenge for honours in Denmark as promotion remains their immediate plan as well as help develop football in India.

VIDEO: Asian Football Awards 2012

It took a while, but now the report on the first-ever Asian Football Awards is now online!

The Asian Football Awards were supported by The FA and Kick It Out, with Sporting Equals as its legacy partner saw leading figures come out to support the glitzy event at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. Guests for this event included David Bernstein (FA Chairman), Paul Elliot, Graham Le Saux, Piara Powar, Mihir Bose, Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) and award winners Michael Chopra and Manish Bhasin.

Chelsea's Asian Star Scouting Programme a success

English Premier League side Chelsea FC once more organised its Asian Star scouting programme at its Cobham training complex with more then 300 children taking part over the weekend, hoping to win a year-long place within the Chelsea FC Foundation's Elite Training Centre.

This year young players aged from Under-9s, U-10s, U-11s and U-12s with British Asian backgrounds had the opportunity to compete against each other under close scrutiny from Chelsea Foundation coaches. This year's winners will now return to the club's training ground later in the summer for a week-long trial.

The winners in the different categories are

Under 9 - Rajan Singh Sahni
Under 10 - Keshveer Singh Lakanpal
Under 11 - Ibrahim Rahman
Under 12 - Saidul Islam Khan


The Asian Soccer Star 2012 winners in the four age groups were decided on their performance, test results and the Foundation coaches' analysis.

Parents watched on under sweltering conditions as their children were put through drills and tests for speed and agility before taking part in five or six-a-side games of football. The teams all played each other once in a tournament before a final took place between the two top sides. The winners of that meeting were awarded medals and Asian Soccer Star 2012 trophies. The sides were guided by professional coaches.

The initiative attracted the attentions of local media and Punjab singer Jaz Dhami, a coach himself said, "This year I've seen a massive progression and I'm excited to be here. There are not any other clubs which put these events on and it gives the youngsters a great platform from which to build."

"I would like to see more of it, I've been involved over the past three years and I'm surprised other clubs where there is a big Asian population haven't followed suit."

Kashif Siddiqi is a professional footballer who, as well as being a Pakistani international, plays right-back for Ventura County Fusion in California. He came down to Cobham to lend a hand giving out prizes and couldn't speak highly enough of the event.

"It's a great initiative and I'm hoping a number of other clubs can now blueprint this model. What Chelsea are doing is not just great for young Asian footballers but the community as a whole," he said.

"I've seen different kids from the various age groups shine and it's a brilliant idea. If I had something like this when I was growing up it would have eradicated a lot of the barriers I faced, so I'm very appreciative of what the club are doing."

Each winner was given a Chelsea shirt with Asian Star printed on the back and the number depicting their age group before being whisked away for interviews. It marked the end of Asian Star 2012 and head of the Chelsea Foundation, Simon Taylor, said, "It's been an absolutely fantastic day, the weather's been lovely, there's been a great atmosphere and we've seen some very talented footballers on show."

"The kids have loved it and so have the adults. This year we've engaged with the parents a lot more, there have been a few presentations which have been extremely well received so hopefully everybody involved has had a great day."

Birmingham Smethwick's Sikh heartbeat gives grassroots football a voice!

On Wednesday, April 25 football stars past and present from in and around Birmingham joined a cast of grassroots and community activists for an historic night jointly organised by the Smethwick Gurdwara with Kick It Out (football's equality and inclusion campaign) and FA Consultant Brendon Batson for 'One Game Smethwick'.

Held in the shadows of English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns grounds, Baggies icon Brendon Batson, newly signed Walsall full-back Malvind Benning and ex-Saddler Netan Sansara, headlined 'One Game Smethwick', the first professional football debate to be held inside a Sikh Temple in the UK.

The forum consisted of a series of presentations about football in the local community; while prior to the forum, a sixty-strong congregation of guests were given a guided tour of the Temple, and shown how the facility is used each and every day.

The event, run in conjunction with Birmingham County FA and supported by West Bromwich Albion in the Community, brought together an audience from across the area, and offered attendees an insight into how crucial Smethwick Gurdwara is in promoting tolerance and inclusion, through sport, in and around the local community.

"The Temple has been key in these areas for many years," said Buta Singh, who heads up the British Asian Club Championships, and sat alongside Gurinder Singh Josan, a representative of the Smethwick Gurdwara committee, at the top table with Marni Sidhu, a teacher and coach in Coventry, Mick Tuohy from Sandwell Leisure Trust and Jasbir Batt of Birmingham County FA.

Former Walsall defender Netan Sansara, now playing for Cypriot side PAEEK FC, is one of only a handful of British Asians who have broken through to the professional ranks, and talked candidly about the role religion plays. "I'm a Sikh boy. Even in Cyprus, my faith isn't left to fallow. There is a Temple nearby which I use, and is good for when my family comes to visit. My faith is just as important as my football and I give both equal billing in my life."

Benning, who has just signed a professional contract with English League One side Walsall, spoke of his pride at making the grade and representing the local community. "I'm in the early stages of my career and hearing from people like Netan, who was at Walsall when I was just starting out, is inspiring. His work with organisations such as Kick It Out demonstrated to me how important this area of work is, away from just the playing side."

Speaking about the importance of working closely with parents at the grassroots level of the game, Sidhu, who will be representing Kick It Out and the Black and Asian Coaches Association (BACA) at the Grass Roots Football Show next month, said, "In my role as a coach, communicating with parents is absolutely essential. This extends to being on hand to ferry youngsters to and from training sessions, when there parents are unable to do this themselves."

Mick Tuhoy, a qualified referee and chairman of the Sandwell Minor League, praised Smethwick Gurdwara for the way it engages with the local community, "I've worked in the area for over two decades, and I've seen a palpable change in the demographic of people working in this field. The changes I've seen have been dramatic. There are more posts held by women at the Trust than ever before, and more Asians participating in and on the receiving end of work that we deliver. Institutions like Smethwick Gurdwara play an important role in this."

These thoughts were echoed by Jasbir Batt, a relative newcomer with just four years experience in his position at the County FA. He concluded, "It's our job at The FA to be open and accessible to anyone. Getting youngsters into organised football can help us track how successful our efforts have been."

It was an evening of open discussion and one hopes it will help more British Asians to get into the professional game in English football.

Sikh Temple to host UK football forum

The Smethwick Gurdwara in Birmingham will become the first Sikh Temple in the United Kingdom to open its doors to a community and professional football event.

On Wednesday, April 25 the Smethwick Gurdwara will join forces with Kick It Out (football's equality and inclusion campaign) and FA Consultant Brendon Batson for 'One Game Smethwick'.

In what will be a groundbreaking partnership with the local Sikh community and Birmingham County FA, the event will bring together grassroots teams and community groups in the oldest Temple or Gurdwara in the UK to discuss how local stakeholders can work collectively to make football more readily available to everyone in the area also discussing issues of British Asian footballers.

West Brom legend Brendon, new Walsall left-back Malvind Benning, ex-Saddler Netan Sansara currently playing for Cypriot side PAEEK, and Notts County's Sam Sodje will be taking part in a panel session at the free forum.

Buta Singh, who heads the British Asian Club Championships, a series of open football events across the Midlands, and is a user of Smethwick Gurdwara, said, "The Sikh community has been involved in football in this country for over half a century, but this is the first time professional football has come into our place of worship."

"We welcome the fact that football wants to serve communities as well as entertain them and I feel we are now moving into a new era of the game together."

Lord Herman Ouseley, Kick It Out Chairperson, said, "This is another example of the positive work Kick It Out carries out in order to engage with different communities."

"A Gurdwara is not the typical setting you'd expect for a grassroots football debate, yet this is further proof that the campaign's work extends way beyond just combating racism. 'One Game Smethwick' is a unique opportunity to discuss openings in the game at a local level, and I'd encourage anybody that can make it down to attend."

Running from 18.30 - 20.45 GMT, the forum will also consist of a series of presentations about football in the local community, and a guided tour of the Temple.

To confirm your place at 'One Game Smethwick', please contact Kevin Coleman, Kick It Out's Grassroots Development Officer, on 020 7253 0162 or via kevin@kickitout.org .

British Asian Football Ambassador Baljit Rihal goes Downing Street

Baljit Rihal; co-founder of The Asian Football Awards and also a Football Players Agent, was amongst a select list of prominent UK Sikhs invited by Prime Minister David Cameron to a Vaisakhi (Sikh festival) reception at 10 Downing Street in London on Monday, April 16.

Baljit earned his invitation by playing a prominent role in promoting young footballing talent from amongst the British Asian community. By casting a light on the Asian communities participation with the sport, Baljit hopes to tackle the issues holding back many from reaching the top professional levels of the sport.

To this end Baljit co-founded the Asian Football Awards, which this year held its inaugural awards ceremony at Wembley Stadium in January, with the full backing of the Football Association and its Chairman David Bernstein. He was also recognised for his long running involvement with Her Majesty's Judiciary where he serves as a Magistrate.

"Vaisakhi is the one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and it's very humbling that the Prime Minister hosted such an event at the UK's seat of power," said Baljit Rihal.

A number of high profile individuals were present at the event, which celebrated the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi. They included; Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon, Baroness Warsi (Chairman of the Conservative Party), Monty Panesar (England Cricketer), Kulveer Ranger (Director of Environment for London), Chaz Singh (Deputy Mayor Plymouth), Ashpal Bhogal (England Junior Hockey) and Paul Uppal (MP).

"It was a truly magnificent event, and to be involved in a reception with such high profile guests was both an honour and a privilege. I used this opportunity to talk about the projects I am involved with regarding Asians in football. The Prime Minister mentioned that he had heard about The Asian Football Awards and was impressed that we had the support of The Football Association."

In his address at the reception, The Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Sikhs number approximately 700,000 people in the UK, their representation in all aspects of British Society show that they punch well above their weight."

Baljit's current projects include planning for the 2013 Asian Football Awards as well as a number of projects around his Player Agency portfolio with Inventive Sports.

PIO Indy Aujla: Club Coach in Belgium at the age of 24!

Inderjeet Singh Aujla, better known as Indy Aujla, is a 24 old British born footballer of Indian origin who at his current club Royal Racing FC Montegnee, a Belgian fourth division outfit has been named as the head coach until the end of the season. If my information is right then Indy is the youngest coach across Europe at this level.

For Indy the offer initially came as a surprise but after the second manager had to leave the club this season it seemed to be the best solution to see the season out with an internal solution. The RRFC squad is quite international with four Englishmen, two Hungarians and a French national besides a Canadian international player in the squad while the rest of the team coming from Belgium.

Royal Racing FC Montegnee president Peter Johnson, an Englishman based in Panama, spoke highly about his new player-manager, "Indy has shown a renewed desire to succeed in football. At a time when this particular club needed some enthusiasm he was instrumental in providing that and generating what was lacking in team spirit. Those are fundamental requirements, in my opinion, for a coach."

Meanwhile Indy in a detailed answer said, "It was an offer I couldn't turn down. I know all the player's very well and know our strengths and weaknesses. We have lacked the desire in the last third to finish chances. I have opted for a more direct approach as we have two very good winger's and the last match we played 4-4-2 and created many chances. In training I've been working on finishing inside the box, normally the first yard is in the mind and my studies in psychology have paid off as I'm incorporating mental exercises with technical ones. The president is well aware I am looking for a move to play elsewhere next season, but from now until the end of the season i will give my best both on and off the field."

And Johnson knowing that it will be difficult to keep Indy at RRFC said, "Having watched Indy play, and heard comments from visiting English pro Club coaches, he has the talent to become a very influential team member at much higher levels."

Indy now sounds more like a coach then a player and very mature for a 24 year old. Speaking about the job Indy said, "I'm learning a manager's work in never done 24/7 job. It's all good experience for me. I've always believed in my abilities and management is definitely an avenue I'm interested in after I retire from playing."

Peter Johnson added, "He is a very good player and has the respect of his peers and, in time when he finishes actually playing, with the proper coaching courses behind him I think he a good chance of succeeding as a coach."

For Indy coaching at Royal Racing FC Montegnee is a big task, but at 24 his football career is still at an early stage; but the experience he makes now will come good once he finishes playing and turns into a full-time coach.

Chelsea's Asian Star Scouting Programme is back!

English Premier League side Chelsea FC will once more organise its Asian Star scouting programme. This year young players aged from Under-9s to Under-12s with British Asian backgrounds will have the opportunity to compete to win a season-long placement at one of Chelsea's Elite Training Centres in London, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex.

Since its inauguration in 2009, the programme has already identified five potential stars of the future who have gone on to play for professional clubs' academies.

Previous winners of the competition were given the chance to trial for the Chelsea Academy but to ensure aspiring players get the best possible coaching, this year's initiative is offering a year-long placement on one of the Chelsea FC Foundation's Elite Training Centres.

The scouting programme is quite popular amongst British Asians, whose kids want to try and make football their career. Parents and coaches of talented youngsters are encouraged to apply.

The Asian Star 2012 registration form and further details can be found on the official Chelsea FC website

VIDEO: Think you know British Asians in football?

Here a video quiz from my friends at DesiBallers!

Think you know British Asians in football? See how many you can name and be in the running to win a prize! Send your answers to desiballers@live.co.uk

Visit http://desiballers.wordpress.com for the latest on South Asians in football.

VIDEO: Asian Football Awards 2012

The first-ever Asian Football Awards were held on January 24, 2012 at the iconic Wembley Stadium's ballroom. Here a look back at the event and the winners!

The Asian Football Awards 2012

The first ever Asian Football Awards supported by The FA and Kick It Out, with Sporting Equals as its legacy partner saw leading figures come out to support the glitzy event at the home of football, Wembley Stadium.

Guests for this event included David Bernstein (FA Chairman), Paul Elliot, Graham Le Saux, Piara Powar, Mihir Bose, Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) and award winners Michael Chopra and Manish Bhasin.

The AFA managed to engage with key representatives of those individuals working hard to engage with their communities and develop Asians within the game. The event brought together representatives of clubs and organisations such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspurs, Aston Villa, QPR, Wolves, Charlton, Liverpool, The PFA and many
leading Asian organisations.

Imran Hassan, Co-Founder of the Asian Football Awards, said, "It was really pleasing seeing so many key figures supporting and enjoying the awards, but the hard work begins now in our legacy programme."

"A very big congratulations to all the nominees and winners, it really was truly inspirational to see so many role models, in particular nominees like Rikin Shah and Lifetime Achievement recipient Jarnail Singh."

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder of the Asian Football Awards, said, "The first ever Asian Football Awards was a celebration of the success of Asians in all aspects of UK football. We are proud to have created the awards which we are confident will be an annual high profile event."

Sporting Equals CEO Arun Kang sadi, "Sporting Equals was delighted to be a partner at the first ever Asian Football Awards. It was a fantastic evening celebrating the significant contribution that British Asians are making in the game at all levels, congratulations to all the nominees. I believe the strength of the awards is that they not only showcase elite players like Michael Chopra the Player of the Year, but also the considerable impact that Asians are making in coaching, sports medicine and administration, creating new role models and inspiring the next generation. We are now looking forward to finding talent, engaging and empowering communities through SE Talent id the legacy programme of the Asian Football Awards 2012."

Russell Atkinson, Managing Director Lebara Mobile added, "We are proud to be a part of the first ever Asian Football Awards, recognising excellence and inspiring future generations of Asians into the sport. At Lebara, we are passionate about supporting activities, such as football, that are important to our customers. We are honoured to be associated with Michael Chopra, a highly deserving winner of the Player of the Year Award."

The Asian Football Awards will be shown by TV partner Sony Entertainment Network on February 10 in the United Kingdom.

Here the detailed list of the The Asian Football Awards 2012 - The Winners

The Asian Football Awards 2012 - The Winners!

The inaugural Asian Football Awards were held last night at London's Wembley Stadium with the support from The FA and Kick It Out. The event has been made possible through a partnership between Initiate Sports and Inventive Sports.

Here are the winners in each category!

Player of the Year
Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town)

Coach of the year
Nas Bashir (Hayes & Yeading FC)

Asian Woman in Football
Rimla Akhtar (Muslim Women's Sports Foundation)

Young Player of the year
Danny Batth (Wolves FC – on loan Sheff Weds)

Football Development project of the year
Diversity Academy (Nottingham)

Football Foundation of the year
Osmani Trust

Investors in Football
Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Fernandes (QPR)

Football behind the scenes award - 'Administration'
Raj Athwal (Watford FC) – Commercial Manager

Football behind the scenes award - 'Medical'
Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool)

Football Media award
Manish Bhasin (BBC)

Grass Roots Heroes
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)

Asian Community Club of the year
London Tigers (London)

Inspiration Award
Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Jarnail Singh (Referee)


Congratulations from my side to all winners!!!

Asian Football Awards Shortlist Announced for Wembley Stadium extravaganza

The first ever Asian Football Awards (AFA) will take place at Wembley Stadium on 24th January 2012 where outstanding UK Asians will be honoured. This inaugaral event is expected to attract a premier list of guests to gather, support and celebrate outstanding Asians in football.

The AFA has been launched to recognise the great contribution to both the professional game and grassroots initiatives by individuals and groups across the UK with South Asian heritage. The FA and Kick It Out are supporting this landmark initiative.

The events primary objective is to create an awareness of the positive efforts made by Asians within the UK football industry. It also aims to engage with organisations and individuals to help increase Asian participation levels in the UK.

The AFA are proud to announce that Sporting Equals are to be the Legacy Partner for the 2012 event. There has been tremendous support since the announcement of the awards last November that the organisers have decided that all profits will be used for legacy projects and future bursary disbursements for young elite Asian players.

Some of the AFA nominations include: Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town), Danny Batth (Wolves FC/Sheff Wed), Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool FC), Manish Bhasin (BBC), The Zesh Rehman Foundation, Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC), Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador), Chelsea Asian Soccer Star, Javed Khan (Premier League), Tony Fernandes and Lakshmi Mittal (QPR FC).

FA Chairman David Bernstein said, "The FA is committed to diversity and inclusion across all areas of the game and I'm delighted that the Asian football community are celebrating their achievements at Wembley Stadium."

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder Asian Football Awards, "We have received hundreds of inspiring nominations from across the country. It is such a pleasure to know that so many Asians are involved and passionate about the game of football. We hope that the Asian Football Awards can play a part by recognising great individuals, organisations and initiatives."

"Our vision has always been to support the growth of Asians in UK football. Since we announced the event last year, the media attention and support from all across the industry has been phenomenal. I can proudly say that the Asian Football Awards will most definitely encourage more Asians to get involved in every aspect of the game.

Sporting Equals CEO Arun Kang said, "Sporting Equals are delighted to be the legacy partner of the Asian Football Awards and believe that our Talent ID Programme, will provide real opportunities for talented young people to be exposed to high performance coaching, developing their skills and encourage more diversity in professional football.

We believe our partnership with the AFA can both deliver a meaningful legacy and continue to support our wider work.

Sporting Equals welcomes and recognises the importance of celebrating the achievements of Asians in football, looks forward to the AFA becoming a key annual event for the future, and working with them and other partners to facilitate change."

Shalin Patel, Head of UK Marketing, Sony Entertainment Network, "As an organisation, we have always had a close association with raising the profile of sport in the British Asian community and the Asian Football Awards are an exciting initiative which we are proud to associate with and help build support for. Good luck to everyone involved."

The Asian Football Awards 2012 - Nominations Shortlist

The inaugural Asian Football Awards will be held on January 24, 2012 at London's Wembley Stadium with the support from The FA and Kick It Out and it is a partnership between Initiate Sports and Inventive Sports.

Here are the top five nominations shortlist in each category!


Player of the Year
Zesh Rehman (Kitchee SC – Hong Kong)
Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC)
Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town)
Indy Aujla (RRFC Montegnee - Belgium)
Netan Sansara (Paeek FC - Cyprus)

Coach of the year
Nilio Bagga (Samba Soccer Schools)
Nas Bashir (Hayes & Yeading FC)
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)
Taff Islam (ProTouch and Arsenal)
Chris Dolby

Asian Woman in Football
Vanisha Patel (Charlton Women)
Rimla Akhtar (Muslim Women's Sports Foundation)
Sophia Rashid (Women United AFC)
Priti Trivedi (Scottish Premier League)
Sangi Patel (QPR)

Young Player of the year
Jasbir Singh – (Solihull Moors FC)
Danny Batth (Wolves FC – on loan Sheff Weds)
Adil Nabi (West Bromwich Albion)
Aaron Singh Sekhon (Partick Thistle FC)
Malvind Benning (Walsall FC)

Football Development project of the year
Young Asian Voices (Sunderland)
Chelsea Asian Soccer Star
QPR – Player Development Centre (West London)
Samba Soccer Schools (Warwickshire)
Diversity Academy (Nottingham)

Football Foundation of the year
Zesh Rehman Foundation
Punjabi Wolves
Muslim Women's Sports Foundation
Osmani Trust
London Tigers

Investors in Football
Ilyas Khan (Accrington Stanley)
Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Fernandes (QPR)
Venkatesh and Balaji Rao (Blackburn)
Shahid Azeem


Football behind the scenes award - 'Administration'
Priti Trivedi (SPL) - Admin & Finance Manager
Raj Athwal (Watford FC) – Commercial Manager
Sunil Kaikini (Head of Media Premier League)
Ravinder Masih (Aston Villa FC) – Community Relations Manager
Javed Khan (Finance Director Premier League)

Football behind the scenes award - 'Medical'
Sangi Patel (QPR) - Physio
Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool)
Jazz Sodhi (Wolves) – Head Academy Physio
Dr Ansar Zaman (Wigan FC)
Poora Singh (Birmingham FC) - Physio

Football Media award
Rajvir Rai (The Daily Telegraph)
Manish Bhasin (BBC)
Mayur Bhanji (World Sport Group)
Vaishali Bhardwaj (Freelance)
Karthi Gnanasegaram (BBC)

Grass Roots Heroes
Ash Rahman (ProTouch)
Bal Singh (Khalsa Football Academy)
Butch Fazal (Luton AFC)
Karl Sanghera (Concorde Juniors)
Mamun Chowdhury (Beamont Athletic)

Asian Community Club of the year
Albion Sports (Bradford)
London Tigers (London)
Sporting Khalsa (Birmingham)
London APSA (London)
Sporting Bengal (London)

Inspiration Award
Rikin Shah (power chair user – Coach – UEFA level B)
Butch Fazal (Asian Football Forum)
Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador)
Piara Powar (Director FARE)
Dinesh Vijayan (Arsenal FC)


Congratulations to all that made the shortlist!!! Looking forward to meeting you on January 24, 2012 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Many thanks to all those that put forward nominations. It was great to read about so many inspirational Asians doing fantastic work in football.

web: www.asianfootballawards.co.uk
twitter: @AFootballAwards

VIDEO: QPR Player Development Centre - encouraging Asian Participation in Football

The FATV went out to see what QPR in the Community Trust and West Middlesex & Hayes Youth Football League are doing at their brand new Player Development Centre to develop young football talent.

An interesting piece to watch...




This is the report on my blog about the launch on October 12, 2011:
Launch of the QPR Player Development Centre - encouraging Asian Participation in Football

2012 Asian Football Awards announced

The inaugural Asian Football Awards will be held on January 24, 2012 at London's Wembley Stadium with the support from The FA and Kick It Out. It is a partnership between Initiate Sports and Inventive Sports with the inaugural awards set to be hosted by Dharmesh Sheth from Sky Sports News.

The Asian Football Awards (AFA) have been launched to recognise the outstanding contribution to both the professional game and grassroots initiatives by individuals and groups across the UK with South Asian heritage.

A number of exceptional UK Asians and those from the South Asian diaspora will be honoured at the first ever Asian Football Awards. This high profile event is expected to attract an exceptional list of guests to gather, support and celebrate Asians in football. The awards will ensure that those working or investing in the professional game or community sport have the opportunity to receive acclaim for their achievements in developing Asians in Football.

Initial nominations include Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town), Zesh Rehman (Muang Thong Utd), Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC), Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool FC), Rimla Akhtar (MWSF), Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador), Lakshmi Mittal and Tony Fernandes (QPR FC).

Imran Hassan, Co-Founder Asian Football Awards, said, "We have seen positive movement within the development of Asians in the game. We feel that recognition and acknowledgement of individuals and organisations is a fundamental part of developing more individuals in the professional game. I am delighted to be involved in the Asian Football Awards and look forward to celebrating all aspects of the game from investors, players, coaches and those involved behind the scenes."

FA Equality Manager, Funke Awoderu, said, "The FA is delighted that the inaugural Asian Football Awards will be held at Wembley Stadium early next year. We are committed to football for all and look forward to welcoming the Asian football community to one of the world's most iconic stadiums for an evening that will not only celebrate success and high achievement across all areas of the game but act as an inspiration to younger generations."

Danny Lynch Head of Communications at Kick It Out, footballs equality and inclusion campaign, said "Initiatives like The Asian Football Awards encourage greater involvement from groups and individuals that have sometimes been marginalised from the game in the past. Kick It Out are proud supporters of the Asian Football Awards."

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder Asian Football Awards, added "The first Asian Football Awards promises to be a fantastic opportunity to network with influential personnel from the football industry. We are proud to be hosting this event and are sure that Asian participation in UK football will benefit its inception."

The Asian Football Awards will recognise and honour outstanding achievements across 14 categories that include pro/semi pro players, coaches, managers investors, backroom staff and grassroots. The AFA are open to nominations for individuals with heritage from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and indeed those dedicated to increasing Asian Participation in UK football.

The 14 different categories are as follows

- Footballer of the Year
- Up and Coming Player of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Asian Woman in Football Award
- Football Development Project of the year
- Foundation of the Year
- Behind the Scenes Award – Medical
- Behind the Scenes - Football Administration
- Investors in Football
- Grass Roots Heroes
- Football Media Award
- Asian League Team of the Year
- Inspiration Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award


An Asian Football Awards executive committee has been created which includes

- Brendon Batson MBE – Brendon Batson Consultancy
- Jonathon Mills – FA Equality Coordinator
- Kevin Coleman – Grassroots Development Officer, Kick It Out
- Zohaib Rashid – Sports Journalist and Web Editor Operation Black Vote
- Arunava Chaudhuri – Sport Journalist / TV Presenter
- Amar Singh – Deputy Editor – Goal.com


Nomination categories are open. To nominate a person, group or organisation for the Asian Football Awards or book your tickets simply visit the official website under: www.asianfootballawards.co.uk .