Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and Hearts midfielder Yan Dhanda are leading the nominations for the 2024 Asian Football Awards, set to take place at Wembley Stadium. They are in contention for the prestigious Men’s Player of the Year award, joined by Pakistan captain and former Aston Villa player Easah Suliman.
In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Nottingham Forest’s Mille Chandarana, Derby County’s Kira Rai, and OFI Crete’s Aqsa Mushtaq are under consideration. The Young Player Award will be contested by Birmingham City’s Brandon Khela, Leicester City’s Asmita Ale, and former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, who currently plays in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Returning to Wembley on September 25, the Asian Football Awards will highlight the contributions of South Asians in football within the UK. Notable figures supporting the event include representatives from the FA, Premier League, PFA, PGMOL, and the Fans for Diversity campaign.
The Coach of the Year shortlist features Wigan Athletic’s Shadab Iftikhar, Farsley Celtic’s Pav Singh, and Neil Taylor, a former Aston Villa defender and current Wales U21 manager.
This year promises to be significant for the Media Award category, with a strong lineup of nominations highlighting exceptional contributions in sports media.
In addition to the main awards, other categories include the Grassroots Award, Fans’ Group of the Year, the Premier League Academy Award, Match Official of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Inclusion Project of the Year, and the Inspiration Award.
Baljit Rihal, founder of the Asian Football Awards, expressed excitement about the nominations, saying, “We are thrilled by the caliber of nominations. The achievements of South Asians in football across the UK are remarkable and resonate with the broader community. This shortlist reflects immense pride and showcases the exceptional talent within our community.”
Additionally, the British South Asians in Football Team of the Season will also be featured at Wembley, celebrating the contributions of South Asian players in leagues worldwide. All shortlisted players for the Asian Football Awards were part of this year’s Team of the Season, with several of them named in the starting XI.
Shrewsbury Town full-back Mal Benning shared his pride at being selected for the Team of the Season again, attributing his success to hard work and dedication. He emphasized the importance of highlighting the achievements of South Asians in football.
The Asian Football Awards is poised to be a pivotal event, celebrating diversity and excellence in football. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage as the awards approach.
