British-born Asian premier league footballer, Zesh Rehman, named in May 2010 as one of the 50 World Cup Bid Ambassadors for The FA’s World Cup 2018 bid, talks to The Bridge Magazine in an exclusive interview.

Zesh Rehman The Bridge MAG image

Best known as the first British-born Asian to play in the Englandpremier league, Zesh Rehman was first spotted by a talent scout at the age of twelve. He debuted at Craven Cottage.

Born on 14 October 1983, the British Pakistani football defender currently plays for Kitchee in the Hong Kong First Division League. He has made a total of 21 league appearances at his debut team, Fulham FC.

He is also known as an ambassador for Kick It Out, the Asian Football Network, and the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. In addition to his appearance on BBC Radio, he also runs his own foundation :

Established in 2010, the Zesh Rehman Foundation uses football as a strength to impel marginalised communities to prosper.

The Kitchee football star has represented England at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.

With a dual British and Pakistani nationality, Rehman thought it was a more realistic option to play forPakistan. He then managed to raise the profile of football in Pakistan.

Tall, robust, and elegant, Rehman has a ‘determined to win’ attitude on the pitch, but off it, he comes across as a rather humble person, placid, with a reassuring voice.

Zesh Rehman The Bridge MAG image

He is not only a gifted footballer but also a talented and empathic communicator.

In September 2011, he launched an iPhone application designed to help players bridge the language divide when moving to overseas teams.

Rehman’s hobbies include snooker, cinema and socialising. He is fluent in Punjabi and Urdu, as well as English. His brother, Rizwan, who played for Brentford, was forced to retire early after an injury.

On June 21 , 2012 Zesh Rehman spoke to The Bridge  Magazine.

• Racism is a big issue in relation to the 2012 European championships that have just started. What do you think about accusations that have been made about the behaviour of fans of the host nation, Ukraine?

Follow the links below to read more:

1)

https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/rachel-tcheungna/high-profile-people-global-news-that-never-fades-the-bridge-magazine-book-from-britains-news-to-world-exclusives/paperback/product-9v5vnj.html?page=1&pageSize=4

   2)

https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/rachel-tcheungna/global-news-that-never-fades-from-britains-news-to-world-exclusives/paperback/product-ennmdm.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Rachel Tcheungna, Author, Writer of 

The Bridge Books and 

The Bridge Magazine Editor.