Football Dreams: Dilan Markanday Eager for India Call-Up, Charity Auction Highlights
In the latest edition of Dev's Digest, we dive into some exciting developments for British South Asians in football. Dilan Markanday, the trailblazing winger from Chesterfield, has made it clear that he is fully committed to playing for the Indian national team.
Markanday, who recently celebrated five years since making history as Tottenham Hotspur's first British South Asian player, expressed his excitement about the possibility of donning the Indian jersey. However, the path isn't straightforward due to legislative barriers that require potential players from the diaspora to give up their overseas passport and obtain Indian citizenship.
He recently attended the Unity Cup match where India faced Jamaica, and it only fueled his passion. "A hundred per cent, I’m super interested in that happening," he shared with Sky Sports News. "Watching them play and seeing the quality and professionalism was really impressive. I’d love to contribute to that and aim for success in international tournaments."
In other news, Hamza Choudhury's shirt from Leicester City's 2021 FA Cup final triumph against Chelsea was auctioned for £7,000 at a charity event in London. The auction was part of a fundraiser for Nujum Sports, benefiting the Children Not Numbers charity, which supports children affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The event raised nearly £90,000 overall, with Choudhury's Community Shield medal also fetching £3,000. Choudhury expressed his delight at the generosity shown, stating, "I’m proud to work with Nujum Sports, and Children Not Numbers is a fantastic charity to support."
Next week, Choudhury will represent Bangladesh in the South Asian Football Federation Championship, and he could be joined by Mohammed Mahe Khan, a promising young striker from Moulton FC. Khan is set to feature in the squad alongside Fulham's Farhaan Ali Wahid, who has been making waves at the National League with his impressive performances.
Wahid, just 19, recently earned the Johnny Haynes Trophy as Fulham's academy player of the year after an outstanding season with 17 goal contributions in 21 games. He joins the ranks of previous award winners like Fabio Carvalho and Jay Stansfield, showcasing the bright future ahead.
In other exciting developments, Barnsley midfielder Vimal Yoganathan is chasing his dream of playing for Wales. After recovering from injury, the 20-year-old has been in fantastic form, scoring three goals in just seven appearances since his return.
Yoganathan has a history of representing Wales at various youth levels and is determined to reach the senior team. "I’ve always wanted to represent Wales," he revealed. "I know the step up is significant, but I’m working hard to make that dream a reality."
Lastly, West Brom’s women’s team is on a roll, with Riya Mannu declaring their championship ambitions. Despite a rocky start, the team has bounced back with six consecutive wins and is just three points behind the league leaders.
Mannu emphasized the determination within the squad, saying, "We have big ambitions, and we’re a young team growing together. We just want to keep winning and seize the opportunity in the league this season."
For more insights and stories about South Asians in football, check out our dedicated page on skysports.com and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us!
