The South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season can be showcased at Wembley Stadium subsequent month on the 2024 Asian Soccer Awards.
The 2023/24 Crew of the Season, curated by Sky Sports activities Information’ Dev Trehan and former Japanese Eye sports activities editor Zohaib Rashid, recognises expertise and celebrates the on-pitch achievements of British South Asians in The Sport.
The Asian Soccer Awards return to Wembley Stadium on September 25 and can as soon as once more be hosted by Sky Sports activities Information transfers guru Dharmesh Sheth.
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Dharmesh Sheth and Sam Tighe talk about whether or not Liverpool would settle for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk leaving on free transfers subsequent summer time given their service to the membership
The occasion is supported by the Soccer Affiliation, the Premier League, the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation and PGMOL, in addition to Kick It Out and the Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation by way of the Followers for Variety marketing campaign.
Hearts attacking midfielder Yan Dhanda received the Up-and-Coming Participant accolade on the 2013 awards and has been named within the South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season for the second season in a row.
“I’m very proud of my background and my ethnicity and I’m proud to be in the Team of the Season again,” Dhanda instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
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Yan Dhanda hit the cross bar with this beautiful effort on his Hearts debut towards Rangers on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season
“I have to keep it up now, and keep my standards high, and try and it make it in every single year. But I’m super-proud to be in the team again.”
Shrewsbury City full-back Mal Benning instructed Sky Sports activities Information: “I’m over the moon. It’s a privilege to be named in any Team of the Season and to be named in the South Asians in Football one is something I am very proud and privileged to be a part of.
“There has been a lot of hard work and discipline that has gone into it. You have to stay focused on your work every day, but it’s always a real pleasure to be recognised like this.
“There will not be many South Asians within the recreation so to focus on them in a Crew of the Season like that is huge.”
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Folks from throughout the sport have fun Sky Sports activities’ dedication to British South Asians in Soccer
Millie Chandarana, who was the one South Asian heritage girl with an expert contract within the Girls’s Championship final time period, additionally retained her place within the Crew of the Season.
Chandarana was an ever-present for Blackburn Rovers and scored her workforce’s Objective of the Season for the second straight yr, earlier than incomes a transfer to Nottingham Forest.
“It’s such an honour to be in the Team of the Season for the second year,” Chandarana instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
“It was an honour for the first year, but to be named for the second year is really great and it’s brilliant to see so many players who are British South Asian – both male and female – in the Team of the Season.
“That is one thing that is fairly distinctive, I’ve by no means seen that earlier than. And to be in and round the very best names within the nation is one thing that’s actually particular for me.”
Asian Soccer Awards founder Baljit Rihal mentioned he’s thrilled to assist carry the British South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season to the house of English soccer, significantly when under-representation stays an “overarching issue” throughout the sport.
“Our last awards were in 2017, and so much has happened in the South Asian football space since then,” he added.
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We have a look again on among the greatest targets scored by South Asian heritage objective machine Michael Chopra
“There are many stories to be highlighted with people and organisations to be recognised. Yet, the overarching issue of under-representation in professional football for the South Asian community still exists.
“We imagine that by reviving the awards, we can assist enhance consciousness and never solely encourage extra into skilled soccer but additionally make decision-makers at golf equipment extra conscious and be a catalyst to addressing this difficulty.”
Leicester Metropolis midfielder Arjan Raikhy joined Sky Sports activities Information’ Dev Trehan eventually yr’s launch of the groundbreaking South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season
FA head of range programmes Dal Darroch mentioned: “This will be an important opportunity to celebrate the inspiring work of those who are making a positive impact for South Asian communities across the UK.
“Creating alternatives for South Asian communities is essential to us, and we’re dedicated to utilizing our affect to assist drive this ahead.
“We’ve made good progress in this area in recent years, however we know there’s much more work to be done, and it’s crucial that the footballing bodies continue to work together to ensure our game becomes truly representative.
“Asian communities make up the most important ethnic minority teams within the nation and making certain that is higher mirrored in our recreation will stay a strategic precedence for us for years to return.”
British South Asians in Football
For more stories, features and videos, visit our ground-breaking South Asians in Soccer web page on skysports.com and keep tuned to Sky Sports activities Information and our Sky Sports activities digital platforms.
