46 Asian Express National JANUARY 1ST EDITION 2011 SPORT www.asianexpress.co.uk www.asianexpress.co.uk SPORT JANUARY 1ST EDITION 2011 Asian Express National 47 SEND US YOUR SPORTS STORIES TO SPORT @ASIANEXPRESS.CO.UK REF GIVES HIMSELF THE RED CARD From non-league to international star The pioneer of Asian A student from West Yorkshire really exciting, I was going to make Association (PFF) in attendance. referees retires has been called up to the my debut at the Asian Games but I Irfan, who currently plays for a Pakistan football team for the had just started university and local Bradford side, Mahmoods Back page story forthcoming Olympic decided not to take time out. Fairbank United, was first selected in qualifiers against “Graham Roberts is now in charge 2007 and was included in the U19’s Coventry vs Stoke. It was my first Malaysia. and to be honest I am excited to squad for a tournament in Iran, LAE BULLSEeYE: The firstt ’s play darts! Championship game and it was Irfan Khan, 21, work with him, he brings a lot to making five appearances. professional Asian darts a very tough but a great from Bradford, Pakistan. He was also called up for a player showing why he experience.” maybe just a “We are travelling to Thailand on training camp with the main earned the nickname ‘Rock It’ “There were a few years where regular student the February 6th, for two week camp Pakistan team but was forced to I stopped refereeing, when I studying sports Brian Robson he is the manager of withdraw due to injury and is yet to moved to London. I had a family, development at Thailand, I think we are playing a make his first full cap. so it came down to them coming Bolton University but friendly game against them so I am Irfan is still hoping to secure a first, so I started working for a car he is set looking forward to meeting him as professional contract, after having a hire company. But football is in for international well.” trial at Scunthorpe United a few my blood, so I soon started on recognition in Irfan was discovered during a trial years ago, and is hoping his with my progression again.” Pakistan. at Rotherham Football Club with appearances at the Olympic Jarnail managed to reach the Irfan said: “I am scouts from the Pakistan Football qualifiers will aid his chances. Championship before he decided to retire after he thought it was time to give his body a rest, but there was one thing he still wishes Rovers fail with he could have achieved. “I didn’t get the chance to Ronaldinho bid referee a Premiership game,” said Blackburn Rovers hopes of Jarnail. “But you ask any referee landing a former world player of and their goal is become a the year have been shattered. Premier League ref. The closet I Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho have got was being the reserve has decided to join Rio de ref for a Premier League game.” Janeiro-based club Flamengo and ending any hope Blackburn had of Despite retiring from the game, signing the former AC Milan Jarnail, who is currently a police playmaker. Community Support Officer with The 30-year-old joined Milan the London Metropolitan police, from Barcelona in 2008 and had is very much still involved with also been linked to Brazilian referring and is on the national teams Gremio and Palmeiras. list of referee assesses, which AE OFFCIAL: Jarnail Singh during his Rovers boss Steve Kean had helps review match officials. refereeing days already conceded the club's hopes of signing Ronaldinho were ‘dead in the water’. New Rovers owners, the Venky’s group, had reportedly offered him a £20m three-year contract. Rovers owner’s are still keen to bolster the squad with reported interest in Fulham’s Damien Duff and Barcelona youngster Ruben Rochina. AE PROFESSIONAL: Rohit ‘Rock It’ Rabadia with the third best in the world QUALITY CATERING EQUIPMENT IPL smash ‘The Machine’ James Wade auction record & REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS Fifty-five players were sold on Simon Hamalienko the second and final day of the By The first professional auction for the Indian Premier [email protected] League (IPL). AE EXPANDING: IPL Teams spent a total of Zesh Rehman with The first professional Asian darts player $62.8m (£40m) over the weekend representatives from to buy 127 players, with 350 is hoping to encourage more Asians to Asian darts player on the Kassim Darwish players being for grabs. follow him into the sport. Indian test batsman Gautam Grammer School Rohit ‘Rock It’ Rabadia, 30, is the first Gambhir became the most Asian to play on the full British Darts expensive player in the history, the full BDO circuit Organisation (BDO) circuit and his passion fetching $2.4m. for the sport started after watching a game However other big names, player. is very low. If Asians want to though I threw the best darts in including former India captain Zesh moves to Manchester between to darting greats. Sourav Ganguly and West Indies “I watched a game between Eric Bristow “But I must say now, I was play darts competitively then my career, I still lost.” batting great Brian Lara, went and Jocky Wilson in 1989 and instantly accepted and many of the they have to start by entering a This year Rohit is aiming to unsold. became a fan of darts,” said Rohit. professionals are now very good pub league and then join the full play in more tournaments There were also no takers for Pakistan international’s foundation expands “I first started throwing darts at the age friends of mine. I would like to BDO circuit. abroad and hopes to break into veteran Sri Lankan batsman The Zesh Rehman Foundation (ZRF) has over the world.” of 15 when my parents bought me a thank the current BDO World “But darts has never been this the last 32 for world ranking Sanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle, successfully expanded its educational Irfan Kawri, Head of PE at KD Grammar, is dartboard. I attend Swaminarayan Temple, Champion Martin Adams for all popular with both Sky Sports points to enable him to qualify Mark Boucher and Graeme programmes to schools in Manchester. working with the educational staff at the ZRF Golders Green and they hold annual sports the help and advice he has been and the BBC providing excellent for the televised World Masters Swann. After a successful pilot of the ‘Primary Kick to design a football / educational programme tournaments. I took part in my first darts giving me.” coverage of the BDO and PDC and Lakeside 2012. This will be the Twenty20 With darts being primarily (Professional Darts “Currently I am supported by tournament's fourth season, while About’ programme in Bradford, the ZRF are called ‘On Side’. tournament at the age of 16 in 1996. its organisers are trying to improve to pilot a secondary programme at Kassim Mr Kawri, who is also a scout and coach for Thirteen years later, Rohit achieved played in pubs, it is believed that Corporation) and this will NSC Media, Chandni Caterers its image, which has been tainted Darwish (KD) Grammar School. Rochdale FC, feels it is important for students professional status and took his hobby to because of this that some Asians change people’s perceptions.” and Cricklewood Timbers, by corruption allegations. Zesh Rehman, 27, who recently appeared to meet and speak to role models like Zesh as the next level by joining the BDO. have been put off the sport. Rohit has played matches however I do need to get The player auction was held at on Sky News talking about the lack of British, it has a much bigger impact on their lives. Rohit, whose wife gave him his nickname Rohit said: “Historically against some of worlds top dart another sponsor on board to a luxury hotel in Bangalore and visited KD Grammar School to talk to He said: “British Asian’s are clearly under- ‘Rock It’ because he throws his darts like a people only went to pubs to players but admits that Dave help fund the costs of playing in was attended by some of India's students about his challenges and experiences represented in all aspects of sport from the rocket, does admit that in the beginning it drink alcohol. Nowadays people Prins, who featured in this years Europe. My long term ambition richest business people and most in football in a hope to inspire the next grass roots level to the professional game. We was quite nerve-racking being the only go to socialise. Pubs have BDO World Championship, has is to get more Asians famous film stars. changed into restaurant and been his toughest opponent. participating in the sport and to Gambhir was the first player generation. have had Haroon Khan come into the school Asian player. FOR A FREE INFORMATION PACK PHONE: sold on to the Kolkata Knight Talking about the visit Zesh said: “It’s to inspire and motivate the boys. Football is “I was very nervous, I didn’t know how bars. With the introduction of “To date I have played three become World Champion. Riders. important to educate the next generation, if I massive in England and the students were other players would react when I competed the smoking ban, things have world professionals in Dave “As well as playing darts I Some top cricketers have opted can inspire one or two to get involved in really excited about meeting Zesh and against them, let alone win against them.