Nominees, judges and supporters from across the country came together to celebrate Asian gamechangers across football.
The Asian Football Awards, held at The Clementine in Brentford on Tuesday, are the brainchild of founder Baljit Singh Rihal.
Trailblazers in coaching, sports media, refereeing and teams across the men’s and women’s football pyramid were recognised throughout the evening.
Baljit Singh Rihal – Awards founder and community advocate
The first edition of the awards took place at Wembley Stadium in 2012, created by Rihal.
In the 2026 event programme, the FIFA‑licensed agent explained the motivation behind their inception.
“When we first created these awards in 2012, we wanted to do something very simple: make sure the contribution of South Asians to football was seen, recognised and celebrated,” he said.
Fourteen years on, progress has been made, but the awards remain vital for recognising and amplifying Asian achievement in football.
Rihal is a prominent advocate for increasing South Asian participation in football roles on and off the pitch.
Speaking on BBC Radio Yorkshire ahead of the awards, he highlighted the disconnect between scouts and the community spaces where young South Asians begin their football journeys.
“The talent is there, the opportunity isn’t. Are they [scouts] going to the tournaments run by the gurdwaras, the mandirs, the mosques? I believe that they’re not,” he said.
In an appearance on Sky Sports, Rihal urged football stakeholders to take responsibility for creating pathways for talented young people in the South Asian community.
“Football has a responsibility to identify the talent. Football has a responsibility to develop the talent, and football has a responsibility to help that talent progress,” he said.
South Asian pioneers in football
The event was hosted by Dharmesh Sheth, a respected figure in sports broadcasting who has worked at Sky Sports for almost three decades.
Sheth has been involved in all six editions of the awards to date and serves as a visible role model for the next generation of British South Asians pursuing careers in sports media.
Sports anchor and presenter Miriam Walker‑Khan was recognised for her broadcasting work, having recently secured a role at CBS Sports Golazo in the United States.
Former professional referee Mo Matadar and Telford United player Malvind Singh Benning received legacy awards.
Matadar officiated at the highest levels of the professional and international game and continues to support the next generation of South Asian officials as a National Referee Manager at The Football Association.
Benning was named “one to watch” at the first edition of the awards. Fourteen years later, he was honoured as a pioneer of the game.
Asian excellence on the pitch and the touchlines
World Cup debutant and Dundee United midfielder Zidane Iqbal was awarded Men’s Player of the Year.
Peterborough United’s 21‑year‑old midfielder Brandon Khela won Young Men’s Player of the Year.
Women’s Player of the Year went to Mariam Mahmood, a title winner with Wrexham and a Pakistan international.
Her Pakistan teammate Layla Banaras won Young Women’s Player of the Year. The Lewes FC player, of mixed English and Pakistani heritage, said she was honoured to be recognised by the Asian community.
Hereford FC vice‑captain Kam Kandola won Non‑League Player of the Year.
Notts County Academy’s Head of Coach Development, Nimesh Patel, was recognised for his work developing coaches at the academy and nationwide.
Abid Hussain received the Match Official Award having recently progressed in the CORE X pathway to become a Level 2 referee.
Promoting Asian inclusion at clubs across the country
Leicester Nirvana FC received the Community Club Award. The club fields 27 teams with players representing more than 70 countries across junior, youth and senior levels.
Jaspal Singh, who co‑founded the Khalsa Youth Club at 16, received the Grassroots Award for more than four decades of service in the Leicester community.
Lifelong Birmingham City fan and Blues4All founder Micky Singh was recognised as an inspiration for inclusive supporter engagement.
Punjabi Wolves were awarded Fan Group of the Year for their long‑standing work promoting diversity and inclusion at Molineux, with South Asian supporters attending games since 1954.
The Palace for Life Foundation’s Get Involved programme, led by Hazmi Bahrin, received the Flowhesion Community Cohesion and Inclusion Award for its work engaging South Asian and Muslim communities in football.
Build, connect and support
The sixth edition of the Asian Football Awards was a celebration of the South Asian talent who are active across the UK in football.
The younger generations in the community are looking for pathways and opportunities to break into roles on and off the pitch.
The Football Association has created a three year plan to increase South Asian participation in refereeing, coaching and playing football.
Football bodies including the Premier League and anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out are working together ‘to share best practise and develop key areas of focus’.
Key stakeholders are beginning to take heed of Rihal’s calls for them to make an effort to cultivate the talent that already exists in the South Asian Community.
Featured image credit: Official AFA Photo Gallery
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