Welcome to Dev's Digest, the trail‑blazing Sky Sports column where Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and reflects on the most important stories affecting British South Asians in football. In this edition we cover a charity auction, international breakthroughs, award‑night highlights and the solidarity shown by South Asian players across the game. First up, a piece of memorabilia from Leicester City’s historic 2021 FA Cup triumph over Chelsea is about to change hands for a good cause.
Hamza Choudhury’s match‑day shirt, still framed in its original presentation, will be put up for auction later this month, Sky Sports News confirms. The sale is part of a fundraiser for the Children Not Numbers charity, which supports youngsters caught up in the Gaza conflict. The event is being organised by Nujum Sports, the Muslim athlete representation body that champions diversity in sport.
Choudhury, who left Leicester after a 21‑year spell to sign for Sheffield United, will appear as a speaker at the London gathering on 25 October. Choudhury’s own journey has been mirrored by another rising South Asian talent, Fulham academy prospect Farhaan Ali Wahid.
Wahid, on loan at National League leaders Boreham Wood, earned his first senior cap for Bangladesh in the ASEAN Cup, becoming only the second Premier League‑affiliated player ever to represent the South Asian nation. He made an instant impact, coming off the bench to score in his second appearance as Bangladesh fell 2‑1 to Indonesia.
Further down the globe, Oxford City winger Dillon De Silva has been a key figure for Sri Lanka. He found the net in a 3‑0 win over Seychelles and repeated the feat in the reverse fixture, helping Sri Lanka secure a 2‑0 victory on Mahe Island. De Silva’s performances underline the growing influence of British‑born South Asian players on the international stage.
The column also shines a light on the recent abuse suffered by Dundee United midfielder Zidane Iqbal. After being targeted for his British‑Pakistani heritage while on international duty with Iraq, Iqbal spoke out bravely, describing the verbal and online attacks he endured. His courage was noted by fellow South Asian professionals Mal Benning and Kam Kandola, who publicly stood with him.
Benning, a four‑time member of the South Asians in Football Team of the Season and recipient of the Football Pioneer award at the Asian Football Awards, said, "It is heartbreaking to see a role model for South Asian players subjected to that kind of hatred. Iqbal has already played at the World Cup; we must ensure this is an isolated incident and not a deterrent for aspiring youngsters." Kandola, who collected the Non‑League Player award, added, "We all stand by him. It takes real strength to defend your heritage in the face of hostility, and he has done exactly that." At the Asian Football Awards, Mariam Mahmood, the forward who represents Pakistan and Wrexham, was honoured as Women’s Player of the Year, while her teammate Layla Banaras of Lewes claimed the Women’s Young Player prize.
Their achievements highlight the increasing visibility of South Asian women in the beautiful game. In the men’s categories, Brandon Khela, the former Birmingham City midfielder and this year’s Men’s Young Player winner, expressed excitement about the speculation surrounding Robbie Savage possibly taking over at Peterborough United. Khela, who admires Savage’s Premier League pedigree, said, "If Savage becomes our manager I could learn a great deal from him. No matter who is appointed, I’m eager to see what the future holds and to keep improving my own game." Khela also paid tribute to former Peterborough boss Luke Williams, noting that the experience gained under Williams would remain valuable for his career.
"I have a lot of good things to say about Luke. He taught me a lot and I hope our paths cross again," he told Sky Sports News.
Another milestone was reached by Dilan Markanday, who became the first British South Asian to appear for Tottenham Hotspur in the club’s 140‑year history when he featured in a European fixture under Nuno Espírito Santo five years ago. Earlier this month Markanday delivered a spectacular solo goal for Chesterfield in a 2‑0 win over York City, describing the moment as reminiscent of the carefree kid he once was at Spurs. "I ignored the advice to play it safe, took on a defender one‑on‑one and smashed it into the bottom corner. It felt like I was that little boy again, just playing for the love of the game," he explained.
Markanday hopes to continue scoring a variety of goals while maintaining that fearless, child‑like enthusiasm. The column concludes by inviting readers to explore more stories, features and video content on Sky Sports’ dedicated South Asians in Football page.
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