By Neil Elkes, Evening Mail
THE first British born Asian footballer to start a Premiership match developed his skills on the streets of Birmingham.
Full of Zesh-t on city streets
By Neil Elkes, Evening Mail
THE first British born Asian footballer to start a
Premiership match developed his skills on the streets of Birmingham.
Zesh Rehman made history on Saturday when he started at the heart of the Fulham defence in the 2-0 win over Spurs.
The 21-year-old has been heralded as a trailblazer, paving the way for a up and coming generation of young Asians to make their mark on the national game. Zesh was born in Birmingham of Pakistani parents and raised in Nechells.
And although he moved south to Sutton, in Surrey, at the age of ten, he remains an Aston Villa fan to this day.
For his full debut he was joined at centre back by fellow Brummie, the 6ft 5ins tall Zat Knight, originally from Erdington. But while the Premiership giants famously signed Zat for 30 tracksuits and a set of footballs from Walsall-based Rushall Olympic, Zesh was snapped up by the Fulham Academy at the age of 11.
He has already made his mark on league football having spent three months on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion last year and playing for England at under-19 level.
Fulham has a blackout on player interviews this week.
But manager Chris Coleman said: "Zesh is a great athlete and his attitude to the game is incredible."