Albion players involved in PFA's Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme

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Men’s academy player Sahil Bashir and girls' academy player Shabanna Holmes Gupte took part.

BHAFC

2023-02-08T12:25:00Z

The scheme was created to nurture today’s elite south Asian footballers, boosting representation and inspiring the next generation of players.

Players from our men’s and girls' academies were involved in the PFA’s Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme’s (AIMS) annual Player Development Day at St George’s Park last week.

Men’s academy player Sahil Bashir and girls' academy player Shabanna Holmes Gupte were representing us on the day, with over 100 players in attendance from 56 different clubs.

The scheme was created to nurture today’s elite south Asian footballers, boosting representation and inspiring the next generation of players.

Led by Riz Rehman, Player Inclusion Executive at the PFA, this pioneering work has gained significant momentum in developing a sustainable future for south Asian players in elite football with the numbers of players within the Professional Development Phase being at an all-time high at any one given time.

28 Scholars within the Professional Development Phase at the start of the 2022/23 season - the highest number at any one given time.

Sahil Bashir plays for our men's under-18s.

1 in 2 professional club academies has at least one player with south Asian heritage signed on their books.

Riz Rehman, said, “I am extremely proud of the groundbreaking work we have achieved over the last two and a half years – the AIMS network has grown considerably and it’s important to focus on the progress that has been made. We are now seeing more players progress from the youth development phase into the professional development phase. This will give confidence to academy players and their families that there is a pathway for them in football.

“We are continuing to work closely with clubs to boost representation across the younger age groups and have facilitated talent identification events nationwide with clubs across London, Midlands, North-West, and Wales. Although there will always be issues and statistics we need to continue working to improve, the important thing is to begin working towards them and that’s what we are doing”.

Albion Scholar and AIMS mentee, Sahil Bashir, added: “I’ve been involved with AIMS since I was 15 (years old) and I look forward to all the PFA events. As a young player who is still learning his trade, it is like gold dust connecting with senior players who are regular first-team starters. To have the opportunity to join in training with them, ask questions and learn about how they deal with setbacks can only further my development both on and off the pitch.”

The Player Development Day involved:

Presentations for parents from the PFA and Premier League to understand the various initiatives across the footballing landscape that align with AIMS.
A workshop (how to build resilience) from Zesh Rehman – current Assistant Manager at Portsmouth FC and the first British Asian Pakistani to start a Premier League game.
Hearing from players who have transitioned via the AIMS programme from playing to industry work.
An opportunity for players to connect with peers from different clubs, create friendships and receive coaching from England National Team, professional club, and academy coaches.
Creating opportunities for parents and guardians to connect with each other to share experiences and create a support network to help them navigate the academy journey.