belvederebee
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Are there any players of Indian heritage in pro football? If so, why may that be?
South Asian - Indian heritage players.
- Thread starter belvederebee
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Peteseeger
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Because they are good at football????
hairman
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I think you may have mangled your question.
Michael Chopra
Indian Bee
Well-known member
It be good if you can provide some context why you are asking this?
AB
Well-known member
I assume the question was if there aren’t any, why?
There are a few, certainly more than there used to be.
There are a few, certainly more than there used to be.
difford
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Neil Taylor, Danny Batth, Yan Dhanda
Ealing Bee
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Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City)
"Choudhury is of Bangladeshi-Grenadian ancestry. He was raised in a traditional Bengali Muslim household, and has visited Bangladesh since he was a child"
"Choudhury is of Bangladeshi-Grenadian ancestry. He was raised in a traditional Bengali Muslim household, and has visited Bangladesh since he was a child"
OP
belvederebee
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Sorry. Didn’t proof read it.
I have been wondering why are there so few players of Indian heritage in pro football.
Anybody know/ got any theories.
Indian Bee
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In short, I don't think they are good enough. Let's take a step back there are huge numbers of players whom are British and white that do not also make it. One has to be really good with a degree of luck to make it as a pro these days. You can be talented at 14-18 but then that next step getting a pro contract is the hardest. I do not see any 'major' obstacles in the pathway for players of Indian heritage becoming a professional footballer than I do for British South Asians and British African-Caribbean making it in County cricket.
Bill Benn
Well-known member
Maybe they ain’t that good at it or they prefer other sports.I think the club have tried to attract interest from that sector especially with southall and Hounslow on our doorstep.I’ll never forget the council that voted through our planning for LR was made up of that
heritage and will be forever grateful
sonofabee
Well-known member
Absolutely
NorthamptonBee
Yes Boss
As an Isleworth kid, I had loads of Asian boys and girls in my class at junior school, went round each other’s houses etc, played cricket together but there was eff all interest in playing or watching football from them or their families. I always felt we’d fill GP as the love of football hit Heston, Southall and Hounslow but it’s been a very slow burner.
Peteseeger
An expert on nowt
I remember there being a fantastic atmospere at Griffin Park when we played the Indian national team in 2001, much of it created by a large number of enthusiastic Indian supporters. I believe one of the drivers for organising the tour, including the specific venues chosen, was to try and encourage talented young boys of Indian heritage to think about taking up football professionally. This did not happen but I am hopeful that the 'breakthrough' will come eventually.
Indian Bee
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The breakthrough surely is the number of BAME supporters in the last decade and since we have moved to BCS supporting Brentford has increased two fold.
Shame I was out of the country last week as I heard Dark Wood or whatever his name had a lot to comment about that.
Brentford Bob
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Nevin Saroya was a Bee.
I seem to remember a player at Rangers called Mo Dhatta?
I’ve had this discussion with people before…. When I was a kid of about nine or ten, there were loads of Asian kids playing for school teams, and they seemed like good players at the time. The consensus was that Asian parents (certainly back then ) were more keen for their kids to study hard, rather than put effort into sport.… and if they had to play sport, Cricket was the game.
I seem to remember a player at Rangers called Mo Dhatta?
I’ve had this discussion with people before…. When I was a kid of about nine or ten, there were loads of Asian kids playing for school teams, and they seemed like good players at the time. The consensus was that Asian parents (certainly back then ) were more keen for their kids to study hard, rather than put effort into sport.… and if they had to play sport, Cricket was the game.
LboroBee
from: parts unknown
Malvind Benning, Port Vale.
I remember him playing for Walsall at GP.
en.m.wikipedia.org
I remember him playing for Walsall at GP.
Mal Benning - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
Indian Bee
Well-known member
True story. My parents back in the day got a phone bill for over £140 from BT and in the early 90s that was a lot for a monthly phone bill (even now it’s a lot). They thought I was calling Brentford FC as I wanted to be a pro for them but it was just me calling the f***ing useless club line hoping for a signing …… we got Murray Jones !!!!!
AB
Well-known member
There’ll be a bit of that and on the odds, spending 15-30 hours a week extra on school work will pay off on average way more than doing so in a PL academy.
On cricket, it’s effing ridiculous that Yorkshire CCC who have a huge load of Asian kids in their demographic are as massively racist as they are and it absolutely screws their really good community work.
Indian Bee
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AB
Well-known member
Quite. My son used to go to their (excellent) summer schools. If he hadn’t already decided against cricket I’d now be very reluctant to send him there again.
Tom the bee
Pessimistic Optimist
Should get another Brentford Vs India match going next summer imo
I have no doubt that the numbers and talent will continue to increase. Historically, cricket has been the number one sport and remains so, at present, in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. That is a generational thing, but I expect that may change with time, especially for those brought up living here.
A Real Mysteron
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Harry Forrester I believe, but mixed race.
Silly Hat
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Why? There’s very little real interest in football in India, outside of West Bengal and Goa.
Indian Bee
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Football is growing hugely in India, not sure why anyone would think it is just popular in a couple of states. One should just look at the viewing figures for Premier League football each weekend and the 2018 World Cup Final.
However had the unfortunate pleasure of going to the Man United sports bar in Lower Parel (Bombay) a couple of years ago. Good food and drinks mind you.
However had the unfortunate pleasure of going to the Man United sports bar in Lower Parel (Bombay) a couple of years ago. Good food and drinks mind you.
AB
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West Bengal alone has about 20m more people than the UK. Maybe a friendly with Mohun Bagan, founded a couple of months before BFC?
paul_chatha
Member
Cricket will always be the national sport by a country mile. Kids want to be the next Sachin Tendulkar or Kapil Dev. The recent introduction of the IPL with its rewards and glamour makes it even more appealing as unfortunately poverty is still a big issue for the vast number in that country. Furthermore, there is no coordinated infrastructure and/or development at grassroots level. In terms of actual attendance figures at football matches over there. I also think that Indians love cricket as its a big day out with their friends/family and for that one day it allows many to remove themselves from the day to day struggle of living in poverty. I remember my grandad telling me stories back in the past - how people would donate their blood as you got paid by the hospital and with the money they would rush to buy a ticket to the cinema or the cricket.
Indian Bee
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How right and wrong you are on many scales here.
paul_chatha
Member
Ok thanks for letting me know. I just want to take this moment to state that I never claimed I had the definitive answer.
It was just my opinion and nothing more.
Oxford Bee
Active member
I'm involved with supporting a school in Manipur state which is close to the border with Myanmar. The school football team was slightly bizarrely wearing Arsenal's away strip - apart from the keeper who had an ManU shirt. I managed to get a shirt signed by Szczesny sent over so he could match the others.
This part of India is culturally and ethnically dissimilar from the states to the west of Bangladesh and the kids are much more interested in football than cricket.
paul_chatha
Member
My best mate is a licensed football agent and has done many deals bringing players over to the Indian Super League.
He states it's getting more popular but even he admits it will hardly dent the passion the Indians have for cricket as a national game as different parts of India have a differing attitude towards the game we love.
Steve Coppell is one of his clients and he has handled his contracts for managing 3 clubs out there I believe.
Steve Coppell loves a samosa.
He states it's getting more popular but even he admits it will hardly dent the passion the Indians have for cricket as a national game as different parts of India have a differing attitude towards the game we love.
Steve Coppell is one of his clients and he has handled his contracts for managing 3 clubs out there I believe.
Steve Coppell loves a samosa.
Attachments
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Is Marcus Tebar still out in India?
paul_chatha
Member
I have no clue as I really pay no attention to the Indian Super League. I am Punjabi and we have our own sport Kabaddi that we adore. India is too big, full of many states that are big as some countries, many languages, cultures and dialects that it's only really cricket that binds us together when it comes to sport.
I think football is enjoyed primarily in the South and the East of India. We originate from the north where kabaddi and hockey is our game.
I think football is enjoyed primarily in the South and the East of India. We originate from the north where kabaddi and hockey is our game.
Guildford Bee
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Isn’t Neil Taylor, formerly of Swansea and Villa, part Asian?
Silly Hat
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I get that. But there’s no money to be made, and the ‘challenges’ (read insane corruption) of dealing with anyone in any official position there would make it not worth the candle. Brentford would enter the idea looking to build bridges, establish relationships etc etc. I certainly wouldn’t be naive enough to think that that approach would be reciprocated by the other side.
I lived there for nearly four years and have first hand experience, trust me
AB
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As a Bengali I don’t doubt or underestimate the level of corruption! Unless you are immensely patient and have a superb poker face to bluff that the minor thing you’d like done is really completely unimportant (eg making a foreign currency bank transfer to pay for a relative’s health care) it is near impossible to get anything at all done without there being a bribe or six along the way. Having well-placed family members along the way isn’t even a guarantee of more than getting mates rates on the bribes.I get that. But there’s no money to be made, and the ‘challenges’ (read insane corruption) of dealing with anyone in any official position there would make it not worth the candle. Brentford would enter the idea looking to build bridges, establish relationships etc etc. I certainly wouldn’t be naive enough to think that that approach would be reciprocated by the other side.
I lived there for nearly four years and have first hand experience, trust me
Though off wikipedia I liked that Mohun Bagan’s founder was almost certainly a direct ancestor of mine (Bose/Basu is a big and in branches important family, but he also had the middle name Nath which is my direct line, though not used much in my generation).
Indian Bee
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Zidane Iqbal came on for United tonight. First South Asian player to represent United. Progress.
www.skysports.com
Manchester United: Zidane Iqbal becomes first British South Asian in club's history after Champions League appearance
Zidane Iqbal becomes first British South Asian footballer in Manchester Uniteds history after Champions League appearance against Young Boys; Apna England fans group tell Sky Sports News Man Utd must be proud, adding: Its a great day for the community and a great day for football.
OP
belvederebee
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When I started this thread I had in mind primarily people of Asian/Indian descent born in UK.
Indian Bee
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Dilan Markanday recently joined Blackburn from Spurs. Will be interesting to see how his career develops.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Dilan Markanday - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
AB
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Apparently in 19/20 only 8 of about 4000 registered pro players in England were of Asian heritage.
www.theguardian.com
‘Isolated and alone’: boy, 12, racially abused at football match in London
Family of Asian heritage criticise local FA for lack of support and say opposition team yet to say sorry
www.theguardian.com
NZ Bee
Member
Worth flagging to the club - they did the same for Woody a few years ago and its worked wonders for all parties....
AB
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As a local lad it wouldn’t hurt the club to use its comps to get him and parents in to a game to show him what a friendly, inclusive club looks like.
Preeti good idea
