Blackburn’s Malichandrana hopes she can help boost British South Asian representation in women’s football and is in no doubt that role models are important.
Manchester-born midfielder Chandrana, whose father is Indian and mother English, has said she was the only Asian girl who played football she knew growing up – starring in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham. except for.
Blackburn announced in November that the 27-year-old was the first South Asian recipient of the Football Leadership Scholarship, after the club said she was the only British South Asian player with a professional contract in the Women’s Championship.
Asked about being a role model, Chandrana told the PA news agency: “It’s definitely something that I embrace because I know the importance of it, because I had someone like that growing up. There were no role models. I didn’t really have any female athletes that I looked up to.
“People talk a lot about Bend it Like Beckham (in which Parminder Nagra plays Jess Bhamra) – it was the only South Asian girl playing football at the time, and it’s a film. My life has been compared a lot, but I would prefer to be compared to a real footballer.
“Girls these days can hopefully look up to a professional athlete and say, ‘I want to be a professional athlete,’ who can make a career out of it and get to where I am. I can, hopefully, filter through the elite routes. I accept it because I think it’s important.
The scholarship was founded by the University Campus of Football Business and the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) in association with journalist Dev Trehan, with the aim of promoting and supporting the development of British South Asians in sport.
It sees Chandrana mentored by Trehan as she studies an MSc in Football Business at the GIS Manchester campus, and GIS’s Inclusive Leadership in Football award course.
“It’s great to be the first of its kind,” said Chandrana. “Dev Trehan is pushing for change and it’s really good to work with him. I’m happy to get the scholarship and hopefully we can work on it for the future.
As reported in the Football Association’s Asian Inclusion Strategy update last August, the 2021 census shows Asian communities make up 10.6 per cent of the population of England and Wales, while South Asian communities make up 6.9 per cent. .
The update states that while the number of professional athletes of Asian heritage is low, Asian participation of women at the grassroots level (ages 16+) is expected to increase from 15.4% to 17.5% in 2022.
The lack of diversity in the women’s game has been a talking point in recent years, and developments include changes to talent pathways at the FA and promoting access to football for girls in schools.
On the low level of British South Asian representation, Chandrana said: “I think there are many factors, both community-wise and externally. It takes a long time to change the mindset.
“It’s great to see so many girls playing at the grassroots level, but the next level is even higher.
“With all the strategies, plans are being made for the future, which is great. I’m optimistic about it and I hope that within 10 years there will be a lot more South Asian girls in the championship and the WSL ( will play in the Women’s Super League).
Chandranana was speaking ahead of the final day of the Championship season on Sunday, when Blackburn played at Sheffield United.
Sixth-placed Rovers beat Watford 1-0 last weekend and Chandrana faces fellow British South Asian Safia Middleton Patel, the 19-year-old Wales goalkeeper who joined Manchester United on loan in January. But joined the Hornets and spent his last time with Blackburn. .
Chandrana said her sharing the pitch was “a really good sign”, adding: “She’s a very good keeper, a good girl and a lot of people look up to her. Having someone like her in the game is great.” It’s good to see someone who can push things forward.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
