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Chelsea ex Player Speaks on the Need for Asian Role Models

Graeme Le Saux, the ex Chelsea football player, said that there is a need for more Asian football role models to attract young Asians to football. Le Saux addressed an entrepreneurial TiE Manchester event in Manchester. The ex Chelsea football player said that the lack of Asian role models in football as managers, players and commentators the Asian public doesn?t find the game interesting.

Asians have gravitated to cricket, he points out, because they have many role models in cricket, both in this country and in the sub-continent. From Sachin Tendulkar to Naseer Hussain, British Asians are inspired by successful cricketers but when it comes to football there is hardly anyone to look up to. Though Newcastle United`s Michael Chopra is someone to watch out for. The British Asian youth need more Michael Chopras and boxing champion Imran Khans to attract British Asians into sports.

Le Saux also blames the lack of Asian presence on the pitch on the tendency of Asian parents to discourage their children from taking up sports seriously. "Asian parents want their children to follow a profession in medicine, law or engineering not in sports."
To become a successful player one has to start at a very young age.
"It`s the seven and eight year olds who get trained to become footballers. So parents have to encourage and support their children in taking up football seriously," he said.