Asian Football Awards 2024: Nominees Include Hamza Choudhury and Yan Dhanda

2024 Asian Football Awards: Celebrating South Asian Talent

The 2024 Asian Football Awards, taking place at Wembley Stadium, has unveiled its shortlist, highlighting remarkable achievements by South Asians in football. Notable nominees include Hamza Choudhury of Leicester City and Yan Dhanda of Hearts, both vying for the prestigious Men's Player of the Year award.

Men's Player of the Year Nominees

• Hamza Choudhury - Leicester City
• Yan Dhanda - Hearts
• Easah Suliman - Pakistan Captain and former Aston Villa player

Women's Player of the Year Contenders

The Women's Player of the Year award sees strong competition with nominees including:

• Mille Chandarana - Nottingham Forest
• Kira Rai - Derby County
• Aqsa Mushtaq - OFI Crete

Young Player Award Candidates

A bold group of young talents will compete for the Young Player Award:

• Brandon Khela - Birmingham City
• Asmita Ale - Leicester City
• Zidane Iqbal - Former Manchester United midfielder, currently at FC Utrecht

Importance of the Asian Football Awards

The Asian Football Awards aims to celebrate individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the South Asian community within UK football. Supported by notable institutions like the FA and Premier League, the event also emphasizes the growing presence and achievements of British South Asians in sports.

Coaching Excellence Recognized

The Coach of the Year shortlist features:

• Shadab Iftikhar - Wigan Athletic First Team Coach
• Pav Singh - Farsley Celtic Manager
• Neil Taylor - Former Aston Villa Defender, now Wales U21s Manager

A Night to Remember

Hosted by Dharmesh Sheth from Sky Sports, the awards night is set for September 25. It will feature various categories, including:

• Grassroots Award
• Fans' Group of the Year
• Premier League Academy Award
• Community Club of the Year
• Inspiration Award

Media Award Nominations

Sky Sports has a clean sweep of nominations for the Media Award, with prominent figures such as:

• Dev Trehan
• Vaishali Bhardwaj
• Aaron Paul

Team of the Season Highlights

Alongside the awards, the British South Asians in Football Team of the Season will be showcased, showcasing the contributions of South Asians across various leagues. Mal Benning, a full-back for Shrewsbury Town, expressed his pride in being featured again: "It's a privilege to be named in any Team of the Season, and to be recognized for my contributions as part of the South Asians in Football community is extremely rewarding."

Conclusion

The Asian Football Awards serve as an essential platform to recognize and celebrate the growing talent of South Asians in football, showcasing their hard work, dedication, and the positive impact they have on the sport. This year promises to be another memorable occasion filled with inspiring narratives and achievements that resonate within the broader community.