Our Game Too

OGT speaks to Riz Rehman of The PFA who has recently launched the Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS).

Riz Rehman is a former professional footballer who played for Brentford FC. After leaving the game, Riz gained a First-Class degree in Sports Science from Kingston University and embarked on his coaching qualifications with the PFA, currently holding a UEFA B License.

Riz is also qualified to work in the post-16 sector and is trained in Talented Athlete Lifestyle Support. He is part of the Education Department at the PFA and works on the Unionlearn 'Achievement Through Sport' project that extends the learning, training and educational provision for its members. 

Furthermore, Riz works closely with several football clubs and their community trusts supporting the acquisition of skills for employment and education at all levels, while promoting inclusion, equality and community cohesion with a targeted approach to those learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Riz is currently Chair of the Surrey FA’s ‘Inclusion Advisory Group’, a director at the Zesh Rehman Foundation https://www.zr-foundation.org/ and on the Advisory Group for the Premier Leagues flagship ‘Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme’ .

https://twitter.com/RizRrehman

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Shin Aujla.

Shin is a busy bee. He works for Albion Foundation, leads Apna Albion and is an elected member of the FSA's council.

In this fascinating and wide ranging interview we discuss a wide range of topics.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Permi Jhooti who was the original inspiration behind Bend It Like Beckham!

We speak about growing up in an era when women's football wasn't respected and her almost accidental foray into professional football.

This conversation is about themes and its fascinating listening to Permi ruminate on her life and the events that shaped her, including facing racism from within the changing room at Millwall and her thoughts on the perpetrator.

Now living in Switzerland, you can find Permi on insta @permijhooti and her website is permijhooti.com

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Photo credit: Oliver Look

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Kevin Yusuf Coleman, currently head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion of Brentford FC (@kevincoleman2 on Twitter).

He's been doing this a long time. And by 'this', I mean working to help minority communities to be involved in sporting organisations.

His career has encompassed the LTA and Kick It Out before Brentford FC and their bold and ambitious goal of become the most inclusive club in the country.

Most famously, Kevin spent several years at The FA and launched both the previous and current Asian Inclusion plan.

One of our most enjoyable conversations with someone who we consider both a friend and an ally.

Kevin learns as he goes along and each role builds upon the previous.

Brentford are lucky to have him!

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Abdul 'Butch' Fazal, The FA's Coach Inclusion and Diversity Manager.

Butch has been involved in football his whole life and from all aspects, having supported, played and set up clubs. In the past he has also been a critic of the system and was chair of National Asians in Football Forum and if you dig around, you can find old clips of him on YouTube!

Now he's on the other side with The FA. Find out what he brings to them and how he has developed his 'rules of engagement'.

Passionate about increasing BAME representation at all levels and helping England to win the next World Cup, this is a fascinating and illuminating interview with someone who is right in the mix when it comes to helping more Asians into the pro game.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Jas Batt of the Birmingham FA.

First we had to discuss Social Media and online abuse in the wake of Yan Dhanda, FB and troll in the last week or so before we move onto Jas.

Jas started at the bottom and worked his way up.

Along the way he has got involved with some of England's various teams of those with disabilities, The FA and now Premier League clubs too. And there is more to come!

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A lot has happened that concerns Asians in football this week and that is discussed first by Apu and Zee.

Then, OGT speaks to Rachel Pavlou, National Women's Football Manager at The FA who she has been with for 22 years!

In that time Rachel has worked on the Asian Inclusion Strategy which we discuss as well as being central to lots of female specific initiatives.

Rachel explains why its important for women to be given equal opportunities in football and she speaks with passion about the great people working really hard to ensure that the national game really is, everybody's game.

Rachel's email address is [email protected].

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Dr Stefan Lawrence of Newman University.

You'll probably recognise him if you look him up. Not only is he featured on the video on our home page around Asians in football, he is frequently in demand by the BBC and Sky whenever they need a soundbite.

Stefan brings a unique sociological perspective based on years of study to our conundrum around the lack of Asians in football.

https://twitter.com/StefanoLawrence

Also we discuss online hate, potential January moves for Asian pros and some of the articles, good and bad that have made it to the mainstream recently.

https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/under-23s-news/u23s-in-profile-dillon-de-silva/

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-academy-layth-gulzar-british-south-asians-football-850952

And the terrible: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rn7h Firstly there is a presenter who knows nothing about the subject and he asks predominantly leading questions trying to confirm his biases and they promoted it with Portsmouth's Dinesh Gillela … just one problem, he actually plays for Bournemouth!

Asians in football... we're getting there (no thanks to the BBC!)

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks to Arun Chaudhuri about Indian football who is an expert writer and commentator.

He's been involved in setting up the ISL and was the initiator of Manchester City Group's involvement with Mumbai City FC.

The common narrative is that India is football mad and there is no room for other sports. But is this true? For first generation immigrants, was football truly an alien concept?

We learn some new and surprising info about football in India, including the world's 3rd oldest football competition and how widespread football really is in India.

Fascinating conversation that turns on it's head many of the stereotypes we in the west tend to have about India and it's relationship to the world's game.

Asians in football... we're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

OGT speaks with Sanny Rudravajhala.

What would you do if the football club that you have supported your entire life no longer exists?

When it comes to the story of Bury FC and the phoenix club, Bury AFC, even that question is far from straightforward.

Great conversation with Sanny where he tells us about starting a new sports journalism career in his 30s which is strange enough, but also in the midst of a global pandemic!

Sanny first came across our radar as he was involved in the excellent Out Of Our League podcast which told the story (and many fascinating tangents) of the (almost) demise of Bury FC and the sometimes acrimonious creation of Bury AFC and along the way delves into the psyche of being a football fan, life in the lower echelons of the football pyramid and lessons that can be learnt to prevent this happening again.

On Twitter Sanny can be found at @SannyR1985.

The brilliant Out of Our League is a BBC Sounds podcast.

We'd be humbled if you can like, share and perhaps even leave us a review.

Asians in football. We're getting there.

Music:

Naraina by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4112-naraina

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/