Welcome to Dev's Digest, the forward‑thinking Sky Sports column where Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and reflects on the most significant moments for British South Asians in football. In a charitable twist, Hamza Choudhury’s match‑day shirt from Leicester City’s dramatic 2021 FA Cup triumph over Chelsea will be placed on the auction block later this month, Sky Sports News reports. The iconic jersey, presented in a framed display, will be sold at a fundraiser supporting the Children Not Numbers charity, an organisation that aids children caught in the Gaza conflict.
The event is being organised by Nujum Sports, a body that represents Muslim athletes across the UK. Choudhury, who concluded a 21‑year spell with Leicester by moving to Sheffield United in the summer, has been invited to speak at the London gathering on 25 October.
His presence underscores the growing influence of South Asian players in the professional game. The column also highlights the rise of another South Asian talent, Fulham youngster Farhaan Ali Wahid, who followed Choudhury’s footsteps by earning his first senior cap for Bangladesh at the ASEAN Cup.
Wahid, currently on loan at National League leaders Boreham Wood, entered the match as a substitute and found the net on his second appearance for Bangladesh during a 2‑1 loss to Indonesia. Further down the international ladder, Oxford City winger Dillon De Silva made a decisive impact for Sri Lanka, scoring in a 3‑0 win over Seychelles and then adding another goal in a 2‑0 victory in the second leg of the double‑header on Mahe Island. These performances illustrate the expanding footprint of British South Asian players on the global stage.
The story takes a more personal turn as Mal Benning and Kam Kandola publicly voiced their support for Dundee United midfielder Zidane Iqbal after he endured abuse while on international duty with Iraq. Iqbal, born in Manchester to a British‑Pakistani family, told reporters last weekend that he had been targeted with both verbal slurs and online harassment because of his heritage. Because of the abuse, Iqbal was unable to collect his Men’s Player award at the Asian Football Awards, an event where Benning was also honoured with the Football Pioneer award—a detail first revealed in last month’s edition of Dev’s Digest. Ahead of the ceremony, Benning, a four‑time member of the South Asians in Football Team of the Season, expressed his disappointment: “It’s heartbreaking to see Zidane suffer that kind of abuse.
He is a role model for South Asian players, having featured at the World Cup. I hope this is an isolated incident and doesn’t discourage any young South Asian aspiring to turn professional. We as a community must stand together for him.” Kam Kandola, who received the Non‑League Player award, echoed the sentiment, praising Iqbal’s courage: “We all stand behind him. It’s vital that he feels proud of his background.
Some people shy away, but he confronted the hatred head‑on—for himself and his heritage. I’m impressed by how he handled it, and we’re all with him.” The Asian Football Awards also celebrated other South Asian talent. Wrexham and Pakistan forward Mariam Mahmood earned the Women’s Player accolade, while her national‑team colleague, Lewes midfielder Layla Banaras, was named Women’s Young Player.
In the men’s game, Brandon Khela, a former Birmingham City midfielder, admitted excitement at the prospect of Robbie Savage taking the reins at Peterborough United. Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince confirmed that Savage has been offered the job and negotiations are underway. Khela, who claimed the Men’s Young Player award, said: “Savage has Premier League experience, which is exactly what I aim for.
Learning from him would be invaluable, regardless of who ultimately gets the role. I still have a lot to improve, and any chance to learn from a figure like him is something I welcome.” Khela also offered praise for Luke Williams, who was dismissed as Peterborough manager two weeks earlier: “I have many good things to say about Luke. He taught me a lot, and I hope our paths cross again in the future.” The column then shifts to Dilan Markanday, a trailblazer 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.
Markanday recently scored a dramatic late winner for Chesterfield in a 2‑0 victory over York City, describing the moment as reminiscent of his youthful days at Spurs. He recounted: “It was around the 96th minute, I still had the energy to push forward. The ball came to me on the halfway line, and while the manager and fans urged me to play it safe, I chose to go one‑on‑one with the defender.
I got past him, took on another player and smashed it into the bottom corner. I felt like that kid again at Tottenham, fearless and free. That feeling is what drives my career – playing with childlike joy, without fear, just enjoying the game.” Markanday’s words capture a broader theme running through Dev’s Digest: the emergence of South Asian players who are not only breaking barriers but also shaping the narrative of British football. From charitable auctions that spotlight community causes, to international debuts that put Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the map, to award ceremonies that both celebrate and expose the challenges faced by players like Zidane Iqbal, the landscape is evolving.
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