Slough Town Ladies footballer hopeful on South Asian community’s future

Slough Town Ladies footballer Nikhita Sangha is hopeful that the South Asian community is on the rise in English football.

The 22-year-old midfielder made her debut in 2020, making over 80 appearances for the club. 

Slough Town Ladies are sat in 2nd place in the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League table with 45 points, 4 points behind Tilehurst Panthers Women. 

Sangha said: “I think I have been incredibly lucky to have not faced as many barriers that I am sure many young South Asian females have, in wanting to pursue playing football.

“Apart from injuries, the main barrier I have faced is probably the lack of opportunities I had when I was younger to play for a football team. Although my parents were supportive, they were also unaware of the teams in my area did not know much about the pathways available to play football professionally.” 

A 2022 report conducted by the PFA found out there are just 9.7 per cent of footballers at the elite level of the women’s game are from more diverse ethnic backgrounds. 

Sky Sports News also reported that British South Asians are currently the largest single-ethnic minority group in the country, but only 0.6 per cent of players in the Women’s Super League are from the South Asian community.

In 2024, the British South Asian community participation in football continues to be a prevalent topic discussed in the sporting world. Players like Kira Rai and Arjan Raikhy, who both play for Derby County and Leicester City respectfully, have been very pivotal in becoming role models and inspiring aspiring players to overcome the stigmas and barriers they face. 

“I think it starts with educating South Asian parents and children about the opportunities that are available for them to pursue a career in football, said Sangha. 

“With the visibility of British South Asian male footballers being low and female footballers even lower, it is hard for parents to understand or justify a career choice in this competitive industry when they cannot see it in front of them.

“Slowly there has started to be more coverage on the likes of male British South Asian players making their professional debuts for their clubs, but the news often stays within the South Asian community and not to the wider population. 

“Scouting is a huge factor contributing to the lack of British South Asian footballers at a competitive level, as they tend to not go outside of the “typical” requirements for what a player should look or play like.

“However, I have recently seen the PFA providing opportunities for young British South Asian players to come together and show their skills, as well as football clubs, like Arsenal, inviting young South Asian girls specifically, to train with their coaches. It all comes down to introducing changes and bringing awareness to such a huge issue.

“The numbers are staggering but the procedures in place to tackle the issues, often have not been good enough to make a change. The change in progression will not be seen instantly, but broadcasting and having mainstream media report on these issues helps to bring attention and catch the eyes of South Asian families.”