PakPassion.net is proud to present an exclusive interview with the first ever British Asian player to feature in the English Premier League, Zeshan "Zesh" Rehman.
By Farid Khan (2nd August, 2013)
PakPassion.net: Hello, Zesh! How are you doing?
Zesh Rehman: I?m great. Thanks.
PakPassion.net: How was your experience playing against Manchester United just recently?
Zesh Rehman: It was a great experience. I played against them when I played for Fulham. It?s a special occasion whenever you play against Manchester United and I learned a lot. I enjoyed that game.
PakPassion.net: What was your dream when you chose football as your career? Has it been fulfilled?
Zesh Rehman: My dream was to play professional football and for a British Asian to play in the EPL is such a big thing.
PakPassion.net: The life of a professional footballer seems very glamorous from the outside. Is that really the case? What are the real perks and pitfalls?
Zesh Rehman: The life of a professional footballer is very disciplined. You have to train hard and do a lot of sacrifices. You have to overlook family and friends and focus on you game and try to improve it as much as you can.
PakPassion.net: What obstacles being an Asian/Muslim did you face during your playing career in England?
Zesh Rehman: A lot of negativity, to be honest. You have to overcome many negative remarks, such as ?You won?t be able to join a big club? and ?Play cricket as football is not your cup of tea? etc. There is a need to educate people regarding this issue.
PakPassion.net: What were your feelings when you debuted for Fulham against Liverpool and became the first British Asian footballer to play in the EPL?
Zesh Rehman: To play in the EPL is massive. It is the best league in the world and to debut at such a historical ground as Anfield is special. History and traditions are attached to that very ground, which makes it even more special.
PakPassion.net: As Mr. Shahid Khan has taken over Fulham, can we expect you to be back in the EPL?
Zesh Rehman: It?s good news for English football and for Fulham, but not for me. I am not planning to be back in the EPL.
PakPassion.net: Given the simplicity of this game as in the equipment needed to play, are you surprised that there aren't many more people playing football in Pakistan?
Zesh Rehman: No, not much. They need to focus on football and take keen interest in it as they do with cricket. We have to produce players and this is the only way to do it.
PakPassion.net: How can the game be better marketed in a country like Pakistan, where cricket is, by some distance, the preferred sport to watch and play? What needs to be done with the national team in order for it to seriously compete with some of the better teams in the world?
Zesh Rehman: We need top coaches and players to visit Pakistan and we also need to send our players to different Asian leagues for exposure. That?s the only way we can compete with other teams in the world.
PakPassion.net: Do you think the Pakistan national football team will ever qualify for the World Cup?
Zesh Rehman: It will be really difficult and would take about 20-25 years. We have to start from the very bottom. We are not even in the top three teams in South Asia and we can?t compete with other Asian and East Asain teams such as Indonesia, China, Japan and Korea.
PakPassion.net: What you have done for young and poor Pakistani football players through ZR Foundation? Has it lured many youngsters into playing football?
Zesh Rehman: The foundation is working solely in the United Kingdom. The main focus in on teams like Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers, but we are planning to start a project in Pakistan in a year or two and get more players involved in the game.
PakPassion.net: How tough was it for you playing for Pakistan in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against top teams?
Zesh Rehman: It was difficult as I wasn?t with the team for too long. Most of the players were playing in Pakistan only and the level was lower as compared to those who were playing in Europe. It requires time and patience and you have to keep on working hard.
PakPassion.net: What made you opt to play for Pakistan, when you had already featured for England at the U18, U19 and U20 level?
Zesh Rehman: It was my family?s decision as they wanted me to prolong my football career and it was the right one and I would not have played for England for such a long time.
PakPassion.net: You took a bold step by questioning the decision to leave Michael Chopra, who has recently signed for Blackpool, out of the England squad. Is racism still part of English football culture?
Zesh Rehman: At that time, he deserved to be called up because he was the top scorer in the Championship, but they considered the one who had fewer goals than him. The racial factor has improved and the governing bodies are working on it, but there are always one or two incidences, which are extremely cold and that was one of them.
PakPassion.net: Which other league or team do you follow and would like to play in if given the chance?
Zesh Rehman: No particular team or league, but yes, I follow Middle East football a lot and the clubs of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are very well managed. Japan, China, Korea have also got some exciting leagues. Kitchee is a great club and I am very happy here.
PakPassion.net: Who is your all-time favourite footballer?
Zesh Rehman: Has to be Eric Cantona because of the way he played.
PakPassion.net: Against which club did you like to play for and against the most?
Zesh Rehman: When I was young, I used to root for Aston Villa and a few Korean clubs are also in that list. I love to play against them.
PakPassion.net: What do you plan to do after you retire from professional football?
Zesh Rehman: I am planning to get involved in the coaching staff of some Asian league teams and there is a lot that can be done for footballers in Pakistan. I?d like to become part of the Federation and the governing body.
PakPassion.net: Thank you very much for your precious time and go well for Kitchee FC this season.
Zesh Rehman: Thank you very much and take care!
