Culture club breaks down the barriers.

Byline: By Jamie Diffley

Only a handful of Asian players, have ever graced the Premiership, including Newcastle's Michael Chopra. Jamie Diffley looks at why there aren't more

It was not too long ago when a teenage striker in black and white was being hailed as the next big thing.

More importantly, though, was the fact that should Michael Chopra break through into the Premiership, he would be the first Asian footballer to do so, giving a massive shot in the arm to youngsters who hoped to follow in his footsteps.

That early promise has yet to be fulfilled. Chopra, now 21, is plying his trade with League One outfit Barnsley FC, leaving young Asians in the North East without someone they can call a role model.

"If there was someone to look up to it would make things better," says Habib Rahman. "Look at Amir Khan and what he did for boxing.

"A lot of Asian youngsters, and parents, are against boxing, but he generated a lot of interest and a lot of support."

Habib is taking a break from football practice with his team Sol FC. They have just finished fourth in the newly-formed Community Champions Superleague, but Habib is not happy. There were only eight teams in the league.

"There were high hopes for us when we started," he says. "But it just didn't happen. Hopefully, next season will be better."

Sol FC was born from the ashes of the Elswick-based Newcastle Tigers, one of the city's first all-Asian football teams.

Habib helped form the team in the late 1990s as part of his role as a youth worker with the city council.

The team secured funding from the Northumberland FA to help pay for strips and get it started. When the Tigers turned out for the first time in the Newcastle & District Welfare League, founded in 1901, their presence was felt.

"It was a culture shock for everyone involved," admits Habib. "Up until 1993 there wasn't a single non-British player in the league. We came along with a squad of 11 Asian players.

"It was an eye-opener for them as much as it was for us. There was negativity towards us, but that's part and parcel of being an Asian team. The ref and the organisers were aware of any potential problems and were well-equipped to deal with it."

Habib was born in Bangladesh and came to Newcastle 20 years ago with his mother and five brothers. When the 31-year-old talks about "potential problems" he is talking about racism. But rather than labour the point he is quick to get on with it.

"Racism is part and parcel of our lives," he shrugs. "I could walk home from here and get called a Paki. That's just the way it is."

The league folded in 2002 due to a lack of Saturday teams, and for a couple of years the Tigers wandered in danger of extinction. Last year the team changed its name to Sol FC and joined the first season of the Community Champions Superleague. The league was set up by Ovi Akpofure, the man behind Newcastle International ( a team he formed in 2001 as part of a Show Racism the Red Card campaign to bring together the city's ethnic communities.

"The league was set up to encourage all aspects of the community to get involved in football," says Ovi. "Sol FC did very well this year and played with pride and passion. There's a huge lack of Asian footballers because a lot of them seem to have difficulty dealing with the negativity which exists everywhere and mirrors society.

"In an ideal world that wouldn't happen, but people are always going to give grief to those from different backgrounds."

Although racism is a factor in the lack of Asian players, those involved are keen to stress it is something which is not out of control. An equally important factor is a lack of interest in football and sport in general among older generations in Asian communities.

"There is not much support from parents where sport is concerned," says Ami Choudhury, of Newcastle, who also plays for Sol FC. "Education is far more important than anything else in Asian communities. Every parent has ambition for their sons and daughters.

"They want them to become doctors or lawyers and become the dreams that they have.

"If you say you want to be a professional footballer they'll look down on you."

Attitudes are changing however.

Fulham's Zesh Rehman has emerged as a regular player and has become what so many people thought Michael Chopra's would be, an Asian player establishing himself in the Premiership.

And Habib hopes it will be the start of many more to come.

As well as being instrumental in forming the Tigers and then Sol, the dad-of-two helps to organise an annual five-a-side tournament which attracts hundreds.

"This year we're expecting 40 teams to play, and most of them will be Asian," he says.

"It isn't an Asian competition but a lot of Asians turn out for it, which is good.

"As long as we're encouraging them to play football and getting involved."

With second and third generations bringing up children born and bred in the United Kingdom, attitudes are changing ( something noticed by Whitley Bay-based campaign group Show Racism the Red Card.

The group's project co-ordinator, Ged Grebby, who highlighted the lack of Asian involvement in the group's first video back in 1996, says: "Traditionally, there haven't been many Asian fans either, but that's changing".

"There were some Asian fans at Cardiff for the FA Cup semi-final. But the fact that I noticed them still means they're a rarity."

"Youngsters who were born and bred here are living the life of their environment," says Elswick Labour councillor Sajawal Khan.

"They're being encouraged by their parents more and integrating with other communities through sport.

"Integration is very important from my point of view. I believe in that very strongly, and sporting activities can help achieve that."

Habib has two young sons and although still traditional in his values, will not be as strict as his parents.

"Older generations always wanted their children to get decent qualifications and become a professional of any sort," he says.

"But look at what football players earn these days. Why become a doctor or lawyer when they can earn more than them in a week?

"I'll definitely encourage my son to play."