HELPING CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH FOOTBALL
those from a white background , often based on familiarity and networks ( who you know ) with the power brokers and decision makers in football ; namely the owners . Of equal importance is that in some cases , those white candidates securing those roles are sometimes less qualified than their BAME counterparts .
The old racial stereotype that the BAME player is strong , powerful and fast to help the team tackle , score goals and win football matches seems to be ever present . When these players are in their mid to late thirties , they are not earmarked for senior progression within football clubs because the decision makers have a preconceived idea that those from a BAME background lack both the mental strength and required skills to achieve and succeed at management level .
AGOPE also acts as a pressure group and issues responses through blogs and stories in the media where professional footballers have , or are likely to , suffer some form of inequality during their career as a footballer .
HELPING CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH FOOTBALL
Amar Sandhu discovered his love for cricket at the age of 7 . When his talent was recognized at the age of 13 , he gave his team all he had . He played for a semi-professional cricket club and was overwhelmed with sponsorship . Amar practiced night and day to make sure that he became better and better . Amar ’ s talent was recognized to the level where he had been put forward to play for a major team . During the selection process , Amar played in front of the critics like a professional ; in confidence and ability . Unfortunately , even after years of practice , Amar was not selected as the winning contestant , which was devastating . Amar did not think that the decision was made based on his ability to be a successful cricketer . Amar thought that the decision was based upon his heritage and ethnicity . This left Amar feeling a sense of remorse and disappointment . His talent , ambition and dreams were shattered within just moments of the decision being announced . Being the first Brit player chosen , the mystery of not making it went unexplained .
How many more Amars ’ are there who feel their dreams have been shattered and what happens to their talent ? Maybe if decisions were based purely on talent these sportsmen could live the dream that they deserve .
• Amar has not played cricket now for two years because the thought of playing brings back the memories of making the final cut .
• Amar told me “ When I was informed that I had made it to the final trials , I felt on trial all the time . There were two ethnic players in the team , a bowler and myself being the batsman . I felt more pressure to perform and felt that I was more under scrutiny than other players . It is quite tough being an ethnic minority player . You have to be 10 times better than non-ethnic players .”
Having won many awards , Amar says that he still has a passion for cricket and will pursue his ambition by coaching children who are under privileged , and at the same time , he wants to share his experience with them . Amar is a great believer that sports brings nations , countries and strangers together while also giving you release from worldly things .