‘Long way to go’ for South Asian footballers

Hereford FC defender Kam Kandola stated that there is still a long way to go regarding South Asian representation in football. The 22-year-old Wolverhampton native, who recently won Non-League Player of the Year at the 2026 Asian Football Awards, emphasized the need for more players from similar backgrounds to get involved in grassroots football at an early age.

According to the Football Association, South Asians make up just over 1% of those competing at an elite level. Kandola highlighted AFC Telford United defender Mal Benning as an inspiring role model and expressed hope that eligibility rules will eventually allow him to represent India at the international level.