Welcome to Dev's Digest, Sky Sports' flagship column where Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and highlights the most significant moments for British South Asians in football. This week’s edition celebrates two standout stories: the recognition of Mal Benning at the Asian Football Awards and Hamza Choudhury’s impressive first outing for Sheffield United. ### Mal Benning – A Trailblazer Honoured Sky Sports News has obtained exclusive confirmation that Mal Benning will be presented with the prestigious Football Pioneer award at this month’s Asian Football Awards ceremony. The accolade acknowledges his pioneering role and lasting impact on the game for South Asian players in England.
Benning’s career milestone arrived on Valentine’s Day last season when he chalked up his 500th professional appearance – a figure that only a handful of British South Asians have ever reached in the English league system. Reaching half a thousand games is a testament to his durability, consistency and professionalism over more than a decade.
The defender’s journey began in the youth ranks of Walsall, where he broke into the first team under the guidance of manager Dean Smith during the 2012/13 campaign. After a brief loan spell at York City, Benning secured a permanent move to Mansfield Town in 2015. It was at Field Mill that he earned the affectionate nickname “Sir Mal” from the Stags supporters, a moniker that reflected both his on‑field leadership and his status as a role model for aspiring South Asian footballers.
During his tenure at Mansfield, Benning amassed over 250 appearances and etched his name into club folklore by scoring the winner against bitter rivals Chesterfield in April 2018. His consistency earned him a transfer to Port Vale in the summer of 2021, where he continued to add to his impressive résumé. Ironically, Benning’s most memorable moment came against his former club.
In the League Two play‑off final at Wembley, Port Vale defeated Mansfield 3‑0, with Benning sealing the victory by netting the final goal. The triumph was not only a personal high point but also a symbolic statement about the progress of South Asian players in the English game. After the match, Benning addressed Sky Sports, emphasizing the broader significance of his achievement: > “I came on Sky Sports News earlier in the week talking about South Asians in football, and that today was a massive step. I don’t care that it’s me – it could have been anyone – but for the Sikh community, as well as South Asians in football, that was a massive step.” Co‑commentator Jobi McAnuff echoed the sentiment, praising Benning’s pioneering spirit: > “He has certainly been a pioneer and someone who has been flying the flag for many, many years.
It’s really great to see him get his day, and against his former club – it always seems to be the way – he pops up with the goal. He was fantastic. He’s come back into the team and he’s taken his opportunity – it’s a big, big credit to Mal Benning.” Benning’s recognition comes at a time when eight other British South Asian players from the 2025/26 Team of the Season are also in contention for various categories at the Asian Football Awards. The shortlist includes: - **Men’s Player**: Dundee United’s newcomer Zidane Iqbal, Chesterfield’s Dilan Markanday, and Hamza Choudhury.
- **Young Men’s Player**: Brandon Khela (Peterborough), Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley) and Seth Ridgeon (Fulham). - **Non‑League Player**: Jas Singh (Tamworth), Kam Kandola (Hereford) and Tarryn Allarakhia (Boreham Wood). - **Women’s Player**: Asmita Ale (Leicester City), Mariam Mahmood (Wrexham) and Millie Chandarana (Burnley). - **Women’s Young Player**: Riya Mannu (West Brom), Layla Banaras (Lewes), Sareet Kaur Binning (Leicester) and Safia Middleton‑Patel (Wales).
These nominations highlight the growing depth of talent across all levels of English football and underscore the importance of celebrating diversity within the sport. ### Hamza Choudhury – A Dream Debut for Sheffield United While Benning’s accolade was a moment of reflection, Hamza Choudhury provided a dose of pure excitement on Transfer Deadline Day.
The Bangladesh international made his Sheffield United debut in a pulsating 3‑2 victory over Bolton Wanderers, instantly endearing himself to the Blades faithful. Choudhury was thrust straight into the starting XI at right‑back and completed the full 90 minutes, showcasing his defensive solidity and attacking drive.
The match came just one day after he finalized a permanent move away from Leicester City, ending a 21‑year association that began in the club’s academy. During his spell at Leicester, Choudhury logged 166 senior appearances, contributed to the club’s historic FA Cup triumph in 2021 and captained the side on several occasions as Leicester clinched the Sky Bet Championship title in the 2023/24 season.
He also featured in 34 league games during that title‑winning campaign, cementing his reputation as a dependable midfield work‑horse. In a twist of fate, Choudhury’s final appearance for Leicester was a 2‑1 defeat to Burton Albion – the very club where he made his EFL debut on loan more than a decade earlier. The move to Bramall Lane reunites him with former manager Chris Wilder, under whom he spent a loan spell at Watford in the 2022/23 season.
Internationally, Choudhury debuted for Bangladesh in March 2025, adding another layer to his multicultural football identity. He has already become a key figure for the national side, scoring three goals in six caps and representing Bangladesh in the FIFA Series in Ivory Coast earlier this year.
### Other Noteworthy Stories - **Mariam Mahmood makes history at Wrexham**: The 22‑year‑old forward became the first female player to be added to Wrexham’s international honours board, joining club legends such as Joey Jones, Dai Davies and Kieffer Moore. Mahmood is the second British South Asian to achieve this distinction, following former Wales international Neil Taylor.
- **Amit Bhatia’s Liverpool investment**: The son‑in‑law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal attended his first Liverpool match after his consortium secured a 38 % stake in the club. The partnership, which also includes Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, will see Bhatia join Liverpool’s board as vice‑chairman once the deal is ratified.
Bhatia described the opportunity as “the stuff of dreams” while acknowledging the responsibility that comes with stewardship of such a storied institution. These narratives illustrate the expanding influence of British South Asians across the football spectrum – from grassroots to elite levels, from playing fields to boardrooms. For more in‑depth coverage, features and video content, visit the dedicated South Asians in Football hub on skysports.com. Feel free to reach out with your thoughts, story ideas or feedback; the conversation is always open.
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