‘Hidden’ Asian talent gets chance to shine – PFA’s Riz Rehman

Riz Rehman has welcomed the response to a Professional Footballers’ Association initiative to create support networks for Asian players in the domestic game.

Rehman, the PFA’s player inclusion executive, oversees the Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) project which is designed to encourage Asian youngsters as they attempt to make their way in the sport.

South Asians have been under-represented in English football, with 2020-21 Sport England data showing that players from those communities have struggled to make the professional level despite their participation numbers being aligned to all other ethnicities.

AIMS was officially launched in February 2021 after running as a pilot scheme, and practical sessions have been rolled out recently at Arsenal, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Cardiff. The next one at Manchester United is planned for August.

“The aim was to really sweep the country with talent and see what the interest is like,” Rehman told the PA news agency.

“There’s definitely hidden talent out there and the response has been very positive. Our work is showing that it needs to be done.

“We don’t need to keep having conversations and putting in strategies. We’ve done that, we’ve put it into action, and we’re already seeing success stories.

“We can put a strategy down and act on it, but the most important thing we’ve got on our side is the parents.

“Without the parents we don’t get a Zidane Iqbal at Manchester United, an Arjan Raikhy at Aston Villa or a Kamran Kandola at Wolves.”

United teenager Iqbal, a Mancunian of Iraqi and Pakistani heritage who made his Red Devils debut in December’s Champions League match against Young Boys, signed a new Old Trafford deal last month.

But the Sport England data shows that only