Welcome to Dev’s Digest, a Sky Sports activities column through which Asian Soccer Award winner Dev Trehan delivers unique information and displays on among the key developments for British South Asians in Soccer.
Singh on set at Sky Sports activities Information
The second half of the World Cup coincided with the beginning of South Asian Heritage Month within the UK – and it was nice to have fun with two trailblazers on set at Sky Sports activities Information.
Our resident transfers guru Dharmesh Sheth has been an everyday fixture on Sky Sports activities Information for greater than 20 years and somebody who’s helped pave the way in which for under-represented communities in sports activities media. He was joined on set by New Zealand worldwide footballer Sarpreet Singh.
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Dharmesh Sheth updates on the switch hypothesis surrounding Julian Alvarez in addition to Inter Milan’s curiosity in England internationals John Stones and Djed Spence.
Singh, who has simply accomplished a transfer to Portuguese facet Farense, made historical past on the 2026 World Cup by changing into the primary footballer of Indian parentage to start out a recreation within the event’s historical past.
“When the team got selected and I was named, it was a real proud moment for me and my family,” Singh informed Sky Sports activities Information.
“I believe I am in a really privileged place to be the primary Indian and first Punjabi to play on the World Cup. I’ve acquired a lot assist behind me from everybody world wide. I see it as an enormous privilege and I embrace all of the challenges which can be forward of me and that include it.
“I’m very happy and proud to be given that responsibility and I try and do my best to represent our community and all the people that support me.”
Sarpreet Singh andJeremy Doku battle for possession through the World Cup recreation between New Zealand and Belgium
Singh idolised Didier Drogba rising up and would get up in the midst of the night time in New Zealand to look at the Premier League nice in motion for Chelsea.
Whereas he by no means acquired to play in opposition to Drogba, Singh did play in opposition to England in New Zealand’s pre-World Cup pleasant with the Three Lions in Tampa.
“It was such an amazing experience to be up against the likes of Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford who I watched play [for ages] in the Premier League. It was another dream come true moment, but I was just trying to do the best job for my country.”
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England captain Harry Kane displays on England’s third place on the World Cup, backs head coach Thomas Tuchel to succeed with England and doesn’t rule out enjoying yet another World Cup.
Had issues labored out in another way, Singh might have been lining up alongside Kane at membership degree subsequent season. Singh spent 4 seasons with Bayern Munich after the Bavarian giants signed him following his spectacular exhibiting for New Zealand on the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup.
“It was such an unreal experience,” stated Singh, who performed in opposition to Tottenham within the 2019 Audi Cup remaining earlier than making his Bundesliga debut later that yr.
Sarpreet Singh made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich in 2019 when he changed Philippe Coutinho in a 6-1 win over Werder Bremen
“It was amazing to be around one of the biggest clubs in the world and to learn from some of the best on a daily basis.
“Hansi Flick (the present Barcelona supervisor) was in cost. Alphonso Davies and Joshua Zirkzee have been there on the time, so we’re all mates.”
Bhatia and Bezos to take stake in Liverpool?
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British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia is main a consortium trying to buy a minority stake in Liverpool – we take a more in-depth take a look at the previous QPR co-owner.
An funding consortium led by British-Indian millionaire and former QPR co-owner Amit Bhatia has expressed an curiosity in buying a minority stake in Liverpool.
Liverpool house owners Fenway Sports activities Group (FSG) acknowledged the method on the identical day that Bhatia stepped down from the board at QPR to finish an 18-year affiliation, having agreed to switch his stake within the membership to majority proprietor Ruben Gnanalingam.
Amit Bhatia was QPR’s co-owner till July 21, when he transferred his share of the membership to Ruben Gnanalingam.
A spokesperson for FSG stated: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”
Sky Information has since revealed that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has additionally been approached to hitch the consortium.
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Sky Information’ Mark Kleinman discusses Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ potential involvement in a consortium, led by former QPR co-owner Amit Bhatia, to purchase a stake in Liverpool.
No deal has been agreed with discussions at an early stage. FSG purchased Liverpool in 2010 for £300m. Forbes just lately valued the membership at £4.6bn.
On Tuesday, Bhatia introduced he was leaving his position at QPR, saying the membership “has been a deeply important part of my life and of my family’s life”. He served as vice-chairman earlier than changing into chairman in 2018, a job he held for 5 years.
Will Amit Bhatia achieve his try to accumulate a strategic minority stake in Liverpool Soccer Membership?
Bhatia is the son-in-law of Lakshimi Mittal, who’s the manager of metal and mining firm ArcelorMittal.
Mittal is price an estimated £23.2bn.
Crew of the Season stars return
Dilan Markanday, Millie Chandarana and Zidane Iqbal are among the many gamers featured within the British South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season
It was unbelievable this month to publish our fourth annual British South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season.
Produced in partnership with DesiBallers, the crew stays the one annual initiative recognising the on-field contribution made by British South Asians in Soccer.
How the gamers line up within the 2025/26 British South Asians in Soccer Crew of the Season
Numerous gamers on this yr’s crew have returned motion, together with Hamza Choudhury who’s Leicester Metropolis’s longest-serving participant and has captained the Foxes throughout pre-season.
Jas Singh has been again between the sticks for Tamworth, whereas Kam Kandola has began each pre-season recreation at Hereford since becoming a member of over the summer season.
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Manchester United academy graduate Zidane Iqbal sat down with Sky Sports activities Information’ Adam Bate to sit up for the World Cup with Iraq and the chance of going through the likes of France, Norway and Senegal within the group phases.
Zidane Iqbal, recent from changing into the primary British South Asian ever to play at a World Cup, appears to be again in favour at Utrecht and has featured for the membership in pre-seson.
Dilan Markanday is again in motion with Chesterfield and has joined their tour of Eire, whereas Yan Dhanda can also be again within the fold at Hearts after spending final season on mortgage at Dundee.
Dhanda has featured in each pre-season recreation and can hope to be concerned in Hearts’ Champions League second spherical second-leg qualifier at residence to Sturm Graz on Tuesday.
Malik set for Actonians transfer
Pakistan worldwide Zahmena Malik is about to signal for Actonians, Sky Sports activities Information can solely reveal.
Actonians are one of many few impartial girls’s golf equipment remaining within the high 4 divisions of English girls’s soccer, alongside the likes of Liverpool Feds and top-flight facet London Metropolis Lionesses.
Malik, who hails from east London, performed for Lakatamia within the Cypriot high division final season and has beforehand featured for golf equipment together with Leyton Orient, London Seaward and Saudi facet Al-Hmmah.
East Londoner Zahmena Malik in motion for Pakistan on the FIFA Collection within the Ivory Coast (credit score: Pakistan Soccer Federation)
Former Spurs teen Malik was just lately a part of the primary Pakistan girls’s crew ever to play in a FIFA event.
Pakistan performed three matches within the FIFA collection within the Ivory Coast, with attacking midfielder Malik opening the scoring in an 8-0 victory in opposition to the Turks and Caicos Islands in a brand new document win for The Shaheens.
Malik additionally netted a historic purpose in 2023 when she scored Pakistan Ladies’s first-ever purpose in an Olympic Video games qualifier in a 1-0 win in opposition to Tajikistan.
Mannu set to signal for West Bromwich Albion
Birmingham Metropolis trailblazer Riya Mannu is about to hitch West Bromwich Albion, Sky Sports activities Information can solely reveal.
The 19-year-old was a part of Birmingham Metropolis’s title-winning squad that earned promotion to Ladies’s Tremendous League 1 final season.
Mannu impressed whereas on a dual-registration mortgage at West Brom within the second half of final season and scored her first purpose for the Baggies in opposition to Rugby Borough on her full debut for the membership.
The attacking midfielder made historical past in a Blues shirt in 2024, changing into the primary British South Asian ever to play league soccer for Birmingham Metropolis Ladies.
Mannu was a part of the Birmingham Metropolis U21 facet that defeated Leicester Metropolis 4-3 within the PGA Cup remaining the next season. That yr, Mannu was additionally named because the membership’s Skilled Sport Academy Participant of the Season.
Antonio dazzles at Sikh soccer event
Michail Antonio celebrates scoring for West Ham on the London Stadium
Gamers and spectators have been left surprised earlier this month when West Ham document Premier League goalscorer Michail Antonio performed in a cup remaining at a Sikh soccer event in Leicester.
The Khalsa Soccer Federation (KFF) tournaments have been operating for greater than 50 years, with groups allowed three gamers that are not from South Asian backgrounds.
Antonio, who spent three weeks in hospital in December 2024 after crashing a Ferrari in Epping Forest in Essex and struggling a badly damaged leg, featured for Singh Sabha Slough within the Over 35s remaining in opposition to Punjab United Sports activities Wolverhampton.
The ahead scored a panoramic purpose, chipped in with an help and even missed a penalty within the recreation as Singh Sabha Slough ran out 2-0 winners – though they forfeited the trophy as Antonio had not been formally registered to play beforehand.
Michail Antonio joins the Singh Sabha Slough boys for a photograph
Danny Barham, who was a Singh Sabha Slough visitor participant alongside Antonio, informed Sky Sports activities Information: “He joined the team through one of our players as their children go to school together and had to leave at 7am from London to get there for a 10am kick-off.
“He was the nicest particular person you might ever meet, in all probability the nicest particular person I’ve ever met!
Michail Antonio (backside proper) and Danny Barham (third from backside proper) with their Singh Sabha Slough team-mates on the KFF event Leicester
“The team we were playing weren’t originally going to let him play, so Singh Sabha Slough disqualified themselves just to let him play in the game.
“He scored an absolute worldie from outdoors the field with no backlift – virtually like Ronaldinho’s purpose in opposition to Chelsea within the Champions League – and he additionally assisted for the second purpose.
“Technically, you see why he is a pro compared to everyone else [and] there was no attitude, he played as if it was his own team. But you could see the difference playing with a pro.”
Jarnail Singh flanked by sons Bhupinder Singh Gill (R) and Sunny Singh Gill (L)
The match was refereed by Jarnail Singh, who’s the daddy of trailblazing match officers Sunny Singh Gill and Bhupinder Singh Gill.
Singh, who stays the one turbaned Sikh ever to have refereed within the English Soccer League, informed Sky Sports activities Information: “I used to play in KFF tournaments in the early 80s and have been refereeing at them for many, many years.
Michail Antonio and an opposition participant are tracked by referee Jarnail Singh on the KFF event Leicester
“Michail was a really nice, humble bloke and he was playing for the fun of it with a big smile on his face.
“The individuals watching loved seeing him and extra came to visit to look at after they realised he was enjoying. He was good and he stayed behind to take images with everybody.”
British South Asians in football
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