Our resident expert Dave Trehan brings you a special edition of Football Weekly’s South Asian players after an eventful week in the game…
Last week I took to the flyer Sky Sports News Exclusively revealed the pioneering former Liverpool and Bristol City striker Simran Jumat He joined West Bromwich.
The striker earned her first start for her new club in the North of England Women’s Premier League match away to Liverpool FC, with Universities Winning the corner kick from which West Bromwich’s only goal came in the 2-1 loss.
Mariam Mahmoud, Who contributed four goals in four matches for West Brom this season, and also appeared in the match, coming on as a substitute in the first half for the Baggies.
Kira Ray – who features alongside Jamiat and Mahmood in the first ever schedule and show, documenting the journey of South Asian heritage players in modern women’s football – built on her recent impressive display against Liverpool F.C. by sparking a stunning 7-1 comeback by Derby County Win over Stourbridge.
The Punjabi Sikh striker came off the bench to bag an assist against Liverpool Fed, and was rewarded with a start against Stourbridge, who took the lead at the Dom Amot Arena through Niamh Dhesi.
But when Charlotte Steggles converted a precise cross early in the second half from Ray, the floodgates opened – with Maria Thames and Eleanor Ashton both scoring twice as Sam Griffiths’ side picked up their first points of the season in style.
Fort William hero Shadab Iftkar was also in the news last week when he returned to frontline coaching after being appointed as the new manager of the Pakistan Under-19 national team.
Idea He became the first British South Asian to ever coach a Scottish senior football team when he took over at Fort William for six months, which ended in May last year.
But like many South Asian heritage managers, Preston-born Iftekar has struggled to get a chance domestically and will now continue his journey as coach of the Pakistan Under-19 team.
It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the Birmingham-born Pakistan international midfielder Rahis is a prophet.
Naby saw a lucrative move to Belgian side Eendracht Aalst fall through at the last minute, but the former England Under-17 international has now completed a move to Nicosia-based Cypriot side Digenis. Adel, Nabi’s older brother Also playing for Nicosia, the striker has already picked up three Player of the Year awards this season at Doxa Katokopias.
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Zidane Iqbal has paid tribute to his friends, family and coaches on social media after Sky Sports News revealed he had become the first British South Asian to ever play for Manchester United at senior level.
It has been a week of mixed fortunes for the former Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal, Who was sent off late in Iraq’s penalty shootout win over India in the King’s Cup semi-final.
Iqbal, whose father is British of Pakistani origin, received a red card after grabbing Brandon Fernandes’ arm, causing him to miss Sunday’s final in Bangkok. Iraq ended up lifting the cup, defeating the host nation, Thailand, on penalties in the final.
There was also a historic moment during Apollon’s match with Samegrelo in the first round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers, with the 21-year-old. Manisha Kalyan He became the first Indian ever to score in the competition in Apollon’s 3-0 win which saw the Cypriot side advance to the next round of qualifying.
A goal keeper Rohan Luthra He continued his good form with a clean sheet for Slough Town in a 2-0 win over Aveley.
Luthra is on loan from Cardiff City where last season he became the first ever Briton from South Asia to feature in goal in the top two divisions of English football in a story exclusively revealed by Sky Sports News.
Punjabi goalkeeper Rohan Luthra embraces Sky Sports News’ Dave Trehan after his first clean sheet for Slough Town
Some fans made the trip from South Wales to cheer him on at Arbor Park as there was no football tournament due to the international break – and they left happy, with the 6ft 5in Punjabi goalkeeper putting in an emphatic display to help out the team. The Rebels get the three points they desperately need.
Nathan Minhas, Who scored a stunning overhead kick against Torquay United at the end of last month, also featured in the game, coming on as a second-half substitute as Slough recorded their first home league win of the season.
Graduate of Sutton United Academy Imran Kayani, Who left Slough at the end of last season, joins Whitehawk after a short spell at Dover Athletic.
The striker, who is eligible to play international football for Pakistan, made his debut for the Hawks in the 2-1 win over Canvey Island at the weekend.
Sheffield United full-back Sai Sachdev He helped the England Under-19s conclude their trip to Spain in style with a 4-2 win over Switzerland.
Sachdev came on as a second-half substitute in the win over Switzerland after playing the full 90 minutes against Germany earlier last week.
British South Asians in football
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