Michael
Chopra, has
become the first British Asian to play in world of
English Premier League football
Michael
Chopra, the gangling 19-year-old son of a shopkeeper,
has become the first British Asian to play in the
high-powered world of English Premier League football,
and he might well set a trend.
Chopra, who went to school where former England
captain Alan Shearer learned his trade and dearly
hopes to follow in his hero's boot steps, came close
to scoring a goal for Newcastle United against Manchester
United last weekend.
British Asians have featured prominently in English
cricket, but the community has been conspicuous by
its absence in football -- both as spectators and
as players.
The emergence of the fleet-footed striker has
thus come as a pleasant surprise for the community
as well as for the large numbers of football fans
that follow the game closely.
Chopra, born in 1983 in Newcastle, is the
son of an English mother and an Indian father.
Both run a shop in Gateshead.
In 1999, Chopra became the first British Asian
to be selected to play for England Under-16s.
His father said: "I was proud enough that he
had been picked to play for his country but the fact
that he was the first South Asian to play for England
made it doubly special."
Last weekend, Chopra played alongside his idol
Shearer and came very near to scoring against reigning
champions Manchester United. His style is already
being compared with Shearer's.
"I am disappointed (at not scoring), but it's
great to be involved. It was a good test for me against
international defenders like Rio Ferdinand, Mikael
Silverstre and John O'Shea," he said after the match.
England manager Sven Goran-Ericsson was among
the spectators at the match, and reports said he was
impressed by Chopra's deft touches and blistering
pace.
Chopra's feats on the field have made him a role
model for Asian youngsters who feel excluded from
the football system.
"I don't feel under any extra pressure because
of being an Asian player, but it's great that I can
be a role model to Asian kinds. Hopefully I can inspire
them to do well," he said.
Coinciding with Chopra's rise, football authorities
are taking steps to redress the lack of Asian representation
in football.
Nearly 100 teams have registered for an Asia-Europe
Football festival to be held in September. The Football
Association and the Professional Footballers' Association
are backing the festival.
It is hoped the event will lead to the creation
of Britain's first Asian football academy in the city
next year.
Event director Majid Lavji said: "We are still
waiting for Asian footballers to make the impact that
black footballers have made since the early 70s."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said
it is "a scandal" that there is only one Asian player
currently in English football.
He added: "(This is) because they feel excluded.
Ask clubs such as Walsall or Bury, where the best
teenage footballers are in their areas.
"They'll say it's the Asian kids who play on
the street. Get them in, make them feel welcome."
(IANS)