Welcome to Dev's Digest, Sky Sports' agenda-setting column where Dev Trehan delivers exclusive news and reflects on some of the key developments for British South Asians in Football.
Choudhury's Leicester memento to raise funds for Gaza relief
Hamza Choudhury's match-worn shirt from Leicester City's memorable 2021 FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea will go under the hammer at a charity fundraiser later this month, Sky Sports News can exclusively reveal.
The framed garment will be sold at an event organised by Nujum Sports, a Muslim athlete representation body, to benefit Children Not Numbers, a charity supporting young people affected by the conflict in Gaza. The auction takes place in London on October 25.
Choudhury, who departed Leicester after two decades with the club to sign for Sheffield United during the summer transfer window, will attend the event as a speaker.
The midfielder has recently been competing at the ASEAN Cup, where fellow rising talent Farhaan Ali Wahid of Fulham made his international bow for Bangladesh. Ali Wahid's debut represents a historic milestone: he is only the second Premier League footballer ever to represent the Bangladesh national team.
Currently on loan at National League leaders Boreham Wood, Ali Wahid came off the bench to score in his second appearance for Bangladesh during Thursday's loss to Indonesia.
In parallel international action, Oxford City winger Dillon De Silva netted for Sri Lanka in a 3-0 victory against Seychelles, then added another goal in a 2-0 win against the same opponents in a double-header contested on Mahe Island.
Community stands firm behind Iqbal after abuse
Mal Benning and Kam Kandola have voiced their solidarity with Zidane Iqbal following the Dundee United midfielder's experience of targeted abuse while representing Iraq on international duty.
Iqbal, born in Manchester, publicly disclosed that he had endured verbal and online harassment stemming from his father's British-Pakistani heritage. The midfielder was unable to attend the Asian Football Awards ceremony to collect his Men's Player honour.
According to Desi Blitz, the 2026 Asian Football Awards were held on September 29 at The Clementine, Syon Park, London, where Benning received the South Asian Pioneer Award.
Benning, who has earned four consecutive selections in the South Asians in Football Team of the Season, expressed his dismay at the treatment Iqbal has faced.
For him to experience that abuse is saddening. I'm saddened by it, because Zidane Iqbal is a great example for South Asians playing football - he's played at the World Cup.
The defender continued:
Hopefully, this is a one-off for Zidane and it doesn't put a dampener on any South Asian looking up and trying to be a professional footballer. All we can do as a community is stick together and make sure we're there for Zidane. I know the young lad, he's done well for himself. Hopefully, he'll have a great career. I'm saddened, but we're all here for him, definitely.
Iqbal made history in 2021 when he became the first British South Asian to play in the UEFA Champions League, appearing for Manchester United against Young Boys. He went on to represent Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing in all three of the nation's matches at the tournament.
Hereford's Kam Kandola, who claimed the Non-League Player award at the ceremony, praised Iqbal's courage in confronting the issue.
We all stand by him and it's important that he is proud of his heritage. I'm proud of him if anything. It's a difficult situation. Some people shy away from it but he stood up to it - and for himself and his heritage. I'm quite impressed [by how he handled it]. We all stand by him.
Wrexham and Pakistan forward Mariam Mahmood secured the Women's Player award, while Lewes midfielder Layla Banaras, her international team-mate, won the Women's Young Player accolade.
Khela optimistic about Savage's Peterborough prospects
Brandon Khela has expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of Robbie Savage taking the Peterborough United manager's role. Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince announced this week that Savage has been offered the position, with the two clubs in negotiations over terms.
Khela, an ex-Birmingham City midfielder who won the Men's Young Player award at the Asian Football Awards, believes Savage's Premier League pedigree could prove invaluable to his development.
He has played in the Premier League, the highest level, which I aspire to get to. I could definitely learn a lot from him, if it is him. Whatever manager comes in, it doesn't matter who it is, I'm just looking forward to whoever is coming in. I'm really excited for that. I've still got loads to improve on in my game, and if it is him, I hope to learn a lot from him.
Savage, a former cult figure during his playing days at St Andrew's, previously managed Macclesfield before his tenure at Forest Green Rovers.
Khela also paid tribute to Luke Williams, who was sacked as Peterborough manager a fortnight ago.
I have a lot of good things to say about Luke. I learnt a lot from him, but that's football I guess and I hope our paths cross again in the future.
The former England youth international has made almost 60 appearances for Peterborough since joining the club last year.
Markanday rediscovers fearless form at Chesterfield
Dilan Markanday has described the sensation of scoring a stunning solo goal for Chesterfield earlier this month as a return to the fearless mindset that defined his time as arguably Tottenham's finest academy prospect.
Markanday etched his name into history when he became the first British South Asian to represent Tottenham Hotspur in the club's 140-year existence, appearing in a European fixture under Nuno Espirito Santo five years ago. He rounded off the scoring in style during Chesterfield's recent 2-0 victory over York City.
Ahead of Chesterfield's crucial early-season clash against Tranmere Rovers, broadcast live on Sky Sports Football at lunchtime on Saturday, Markanday reflected on his goal and the mentality that produced it.
I think it was in the 96th, 97th minute, it was late in the game, and I still had the fuel and the energy to keep going. When that ball came to me on the halfway line, I think a lot of fans and even the gaffer was saying go down the line and just hold it in the corner, because we were up 1-0. I disregarded that, which ended up paying off, and my eyes lit up as soon as I got one-vs-one with the defender - that's the situation I want to be in. I managed to get past him, and took on another player and hit it into the bottom corner. I was absolutely ecstatic when it went in.
The winger continued:
I actually felt like that sort of little kid again back at Tottenham, you know taking on players - and that's what has allowed me to have the career I've had. I felt really good in that moment. I just want to keep continuing to score goals, different types of goals and just enjoy my football with that 'childlike kid in a playground' sort of feeling where there's no fear, there's nothing to prove to anyone, just going out there and enjoying your football. I've just got to remember that and play with no fear. I was just happy with the goal and hopefully they keep coming.
Benning's milestone achievement
According to Asian Football Awards organiser Mo Rihal, Benning has made more than 500 professional appearances throughout his career, underlining his status as a trailblazer for British South Asians in the professional game.
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