By Gareth James
Yan Dhanda wants to blaze a trail for the next generation of Asian footballers that takes him all the way to the Premier League.
The Swansea City midfielder, who headed to south Wales after leaving Liverpool at 19, is growing into a key figure for Steve Cooper’s side who are chasing Championship promotion.
Now 22, Dhanda is one of just 10 British Asians playing professional football in the United Kingdom.
He was born in Birmingham to parents Jaz and Zoe. Both were also born in England, but father Jaz has Indian parents and Dhanda was subjected to racial abuse growing up.
Now he is a star in his own right and said: “Everyone knows I’m really proud of my family background and who I’m representing.
“If I inspire people regardless of whether they’re from the same background as me or not then that excites me. Hopefully people can see my journey and realise anything is possible.
“The amount of Asian footballers in the Premier League is very small. I think that’s only going to increase in the next few years if we stick together and kick racism out of football completely.
“Things are going to change if people are given opportunities. Hopefully in the next few years there will be more Asian footballers playing.
“The Black Lives Matter movement is a great thing to show solidarity and that racism can’t be tolerated. We’ve got to keep at it and support each other regardless of where you come from.
“It’s been good to see. Hopefully it’s made people realise racism can’t be tolerated and hopefully in a few years it won’t be in the game.”
Dhanda has become a key figure for Swansea, but he admits he hates playing away over the festive period. Cooper’s men travel to QPR today for their Boxing Day fixture.
Swansea start the Christmas schedule third in the Championship. Dhanda and his team-mates have their eyes set on automatic promotion.
“I’m really enjoying it at Swansea. When I look at it from a bigger picture, I think everything has gone really smoothly here. I’ve made progression every year and everyone can see that,” Dhanda said.
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“My journey at Swansea has just got better and better and I think in the next few weeks and months it’s going to get even better again. I know there is still more to come.
“Everyone who plays in England wants to be playing in the Premier League and I really believe we have the squad and staff to get there. I can’t see why we can’t be there next season.
“We were away last Christmas too so to be honest I was hoping we’d be at home on Boxing Day this year. Unfortunately, we’re away again and I do hate it to be honest.
“Christmas Day is the one time everyone gets together and spends time together. I do look forward to it and when the fixtures came out and I saw we were away I was gutted.”
The Swans head to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on the back of a strong opening few months of the season.
They lie third in the table, and take on a QPR side who are winless in seven and sitting in the lower reaches of the standings.
Head coach Cooper said: “They are a good footballing team and they’ve got players that on their day can be really dangerous and they are at home.
“This league, every game is difficult, in one way, shape or form.
“As always, the approach has to be to try to bring our game to the table as much as we can.
“It’s about attitude and commitment and trying to make sure we hit the ground running from the first whistle.”
