New Ross County signing Yan Dhanda out to defy football’s prejudice
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YAN Dhanda is determined to keep blazing a trail for young British Asian footballers after joining Ross County from Swansea City.
The former Liverpool and West Brom youth endured racism as a youngster and has spoken of how it drove him on to succeed.
In December 2015, Dhanda became only the second professional South Asian player involved in England’s Premier League after signing for Liverpool.
Huge barriers still face players from similar backgrounds, with little evidence to suggest the situation is any better in Scotland.
The 23-year-old West Midlands-born midfielder, who made 60 appearances for Swansea in the Championship, said: “I’m super proud of my heritage and where my grandparents on my dad’s side are from.
“I’m trying to prove to young South Asians that you can become a professional footballer if you really believe in yourself and have the right guidance.
“I had that. My family has always supported me, and my dad actually came up with me to the Highlands to make sure everything was alright.
“I’m desperate to show people that you can do anything you want with the right guidance and with hard work.”
There have been efforts to improve British Asian representation in England’s academies since a Commission for Racial Equality survey in 2004 found only seven British Asians were playing professionally in England.
In 2013 the Football Association announced plans to encourage greater inclusion for players and coaches, but by October 2019 there were just 12 players of South Asian heritage across England’s national leagues.
Only last December, a 15-year-old boy from Kent was sentenced in a youth court for racially abusing Dhanda on social media after an FA Cup match against Manchester City.
In 2019, Dhanda joined fellow Asian footballers in speaking out on racism they had encountered, saying: “People tell me I’m one of only a few Asian professionals and there are millions of Asian kids, all different races, that want to be footballers.
“I’ve had a bit of racism growing when I was playing youth football.
“I’ve had people say the P-word, or corner shop this or that because people stereotype Asians to have those sort of jobs.
“My dad’s told me since I was young that if you get racism whether it’s in football, school, or wherever just let it make you work harder.
“It just drives me on even more. I’ve been strong enough to see past it.”
