Welcome to Dev's Digest, Sky Sports' flagship column where Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and highlights the most significant milestones for British South Asians in football. This edition celebrates two standout stories: the forthcoming recognition of Mal Benning at the Asian Football Awards and Hamza Choudhury’s triumphant first appearance for Sheffield United. Mal Benning is slated to receive the prestigious Football Pioneer award at this month’s Asian Football Awards, an exclusive revelation from Sky Sports News.
Benning’s career is a textbook example of perseverance and breakthrough for a British South Asian player in the English game. On Valentine’s Day last season he marked his 500th professional appearance – a milestone that only a handful of South Asian‑heritage footballers have ever reached in the English leagues.
Benning’s journey began in the youth ranks of Walsall, where he broke through under the guidance of then‑manager Dean Smith during the 2012/13 campaign. After a brief loan spell at York City, he secured a permanent move to Mansfield Town in 2015. The Stags’ supporters quickly embraced him, affectionately dubbing him “Sir Mal.” Over the next few seasons he became a cult figure, not least because he scored a memorable winner against arch‑rivals Chesterfield in April 2018. By the time he left Mansfield, he had amassed more than 250 appearances for the club.
In the summer of 2021 Benning transferred to Port Vale. Ironically, his most iconic moment came against his former side. In the League Two play‑off final at Wembley, he capped a 3‑0 victory for Vale with a goal that sealed the win over Mansfield. The strike was symbolic – a former hero returning to haunt his old club – and it underscored his knack for delivering on the biggest stages.
What followed cemented Benning’s status as a true trailblazer. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, he reflected on the broader significance of his achievement for South Asian representation in football. “I came on Sky Sports News earlier in the week talking about South Asians in football, and that today was a massive step,” he said. “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 that sentiment, praising Benning’s long‑standing commitment to raising the profile of ethnic minorities in the sport.
“He has certainly been a pioneer and someone who has been flying the flag for many, many years,” McAnuff noted. “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 accolade arrives alongside a raft of nominations for other British South Asian players at the Asian Football Awards.
The 2025/26 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season has produced eight additional candidates. Dundee United’s recent signing Zidane Iqbal, Chesterfield midfielder Dilan Markanday, and Hamza Choudhury are all shortlisted for the Men’s Player award.
Young talent Brandon Khela (Peterborough), Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley) and Seth Ridgeon (Fulham) feature on the Young Men’s Player list. The Non‑League Player category includes Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh, Hereford defender Kam Kandola, and Boreham Wood winger Tarryn Allarakhia. On the women’s side, Leicester City full‑back Asmita Ale joins Wrexham forward Mariam Mahmood and Burnley midfielder Millie Chandarana for the Women’s Player shortlist.
The Women’s Young Player of the Year award sees Riya Mannu (West Brom), Layla Banaras (Lewes), Leicester youngster Sareet Kaur Binning, and Wales international Safia Middleton‑Patel in contention. Turning to the other headline, Hamza Choudhury enjoyed a dream debut for Sheffield United, helping the Blades to a dramatic 3‑2 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Transfer Deadline Day.
The Bangladesh international was thrust straight into the starting XI at right‑back and completed the full 90 minutes, a testament to the confidence manager Paul Hecking placed in him. Choudhury’s move to Bramall Lane marked the end of a 21‑year association with Leicester City, where he logged 166 senior appearances and was part of the squad that lifted the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history in 2021. He also contributed 34 league games and captained Leicester on several occasions during their Sky Bet Championship title‑winning campaign in 2023/24. His final outing for the Foxes came in a 2‑1 defeat to Burton Albion – the very club where he made his EFL debut on loan more than a decade earlier.
The transfer reunites Choudhury with former Leicester manager Chris Wilder, under whom he spent a loan spell at Watford in the 2022/23 season. Internationally, Choudhury earned his first cap for Bangladesh in March 2025, adding another layer to his multicultural football identity.
Since joining Sheffield United, he has already become a fan favourite, praised for his work ethic, defensive solidity and ability to contribute to attacks down the flank. Another historic moment highlighted in the digest is the inclusion of Pakistan forward Mariam Mahmood on Wrexham’s international honours board – the first woman ever to receive that distinction at the club. At 22, Mahmood joins legends such as Joey Jones, Dai Davies and Kieffer Moore on the board, becoming only the second British South Asian to be honoured in this way after former Wales international Neil Taylor, who turned professional at Wrexham in 2007 and earned 43 caps for Wales. Mahmood made her debut for Pakistan during AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying in Indonesia last year, one of nine British‑born players representing the Shaheens.
She has since scored three goals in six international appearances and featured for Pakistan in the FIFA Series in Ivory Coast in April. The digest also touches on a major business development: Amit Bhatia attended his first Liverpool match since his consortium secured a 38 percent stake in the club. Bhatia, the son‑in‑law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, was invited by Fenway Sports Group principal owner John W. Henry to watch Liverpool’s 2‑2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The investment group, which also includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co‑founder Eduardo Saverin, will see Bhatia take a seat on Liverpool’s board as vice‑chairman once the deal is ratified. "It’s the biggest and the greatest football club in the world.
So to in any way be associated with it, it is the stuff of dreams," Bhatia told LFC TV. He added that with great prestige comes great responsibility, praising FSG’s stewardship over the past 16 years and pledging to help elevate the club in any capacity. These stories collectively illustrate the growing influence of British South Asians across all levels of the beautiful game – from pioneering players like Mal Benning and Hamza Choudhury to emerging talents, women’s football trailblazers, and even boardroom investors shaping the future of elite clubs. For more in‑depth features, video interviews and the latest updates, visit the South Asians in Football hub on SkySports.com and join the conversation.