Aman Verma [Signed - 11 Dec]

[demon_dog]

Quote from today's Sun newspaper, page 91.

Aman in a million.

Leicester could make history today.

Non league player Aman Verna is in line to become the first Asian to play for City's first team.

The midfielder, 20, has joined on a six month loan deal from Redditch United and is in the squad for the Carlisle clash.

Foxes manager Nigel Pearson said "He's a strong lad, has a desire to learn and has impressed me."

Verma was released from Leicester's Academy at the age of 12.

His mother Lina said: "It's still sinking in that he's now come full circle."

Good luck to the lad, an inspiration to other youngsters, shows that with the right attitude and determination that it is possible to realise your dream.

[jimmer]

It was premature to play him in the first team at all. He never merited it and looked way out of his depth when he did play.

As for being out of position he played either right back or right midfield - much as he'd normally play.

If 17/18 year olds can all be expected to play different roles I see no reason why a seasoned international shouldn't do the same. I have never heard such a lament of excuses for any one player in years as there was for Kaebi when he was here.

[Tilley]

Non league player Aman Verna is in line to become the first Asian to play for City's first team.

[Koke]

Tilley, as davieG said the papers always do that.

Barack Obama, the first black president. The tallest, the shortest, the first Asian, the biggest tits etc.

I

There's a bit of history being made here, and quite frankly I don't understand why it's a big deal if they underline that he's the first Asian to sign for Leicester.

[Tilley]

There's a bit of history being made here, and quite frankly I don't understand why it's a big deal if they underline that he's the first Asian to sign for Leicester.

Because it's not a big deal is it?

He is just simply another player.

Me moaning about it on a football forum isn't going to do anything.

[Lillehamring]

the merc was bound to pick up on this, so much so that they have even manipulated the boundaries of asia to accommodate the fact (kaebi was technically the first)...

i guess iran isn't 'proper' asia

[Webbo]

The papers are making a big thing about him being the first Asian, so what? It means that the second Asian to play for Leicester will get less attention and nobody will mention the third at all. Isn't that what we all want, where skin colour isn't an issue?

[Koke]

Because it's not a big deal is it?

He is just simply another player.

Me moaning about it on a football forum isn't going to do anything.

For us it's another player.

For the local Asian community, it is a bit of a big deal. He's the first amongst them to sign for Leicester.

[Koke]

The papers are making a big thing about him being the first Asian, so what? It means that the second Asian to play for Leicester will get less attention and nobody will mention the third at all. Isn't that what we all want, where skin colour isn't an issue?

Well, that's what I mean.

There was a time, when the first black player made it to our national team. There's a first for everything.

The 2nd and 3rd and 4th Asian player will not even mentioned at all.

[potter3]

the merc was bound to pick up on this, so much so that they have even manipulated the boundaries of asia to accommodate the fact (kaebi was technically the first)...

i guess iran isn't 'proper' asia

That's a good point actually

[Thracian]

Quote from today's Sun newspaper, page 91.

Aman in a million.

Leicester could make history today.

Non league player Aman Verna is in line to become the first Asian to play for City's first team.

The midfielder, 20, has joined on a six month loan deal from Redditch United and is in the squad for the Carlisle clash.

Foxes manager Nigel Pearson said "He's a strong lad, has a desire to learn and has impressed me."

Verma was released from Leicester's Academy at the age of 12.

His mother Lina said: "It's still sinking in that he's now come full circle."

Good luck to the lad, an inspiration to other youngsters, shows that with the right attitude and determination that it is possible to realise your dream.

Yes it's funny how so much was made of Muzzy Izzett being Turkish but now that does not seem to count. Okay, Muzzy was born in London but he played football for Turkey and the Turkish connection was much emphasised.

But with Turkey being Eurasian I don't know if that actually counts as Asian. And presumably Verma was born in Asia.

Bloody hell, should it matter? Perhaps we'll be celebrating City having their first player to be born in a bus shelter one of these days. Now that WOULD be something.

After all, we've got thousands of Asians in Leicester but hardly anyone of any nationality who was born at a bus stop.

[marbelladave]

After all, we've got thousands of Asians in Leicester but hardly anyone of any nationality who was born at a bus stop.

Great pity I never achieved my boyhood dream of playing for City.

First player of any nationality, conceived at a bus stop, after a drunken night out celebrating City beating Portsmouth, in the semi-final of the FA Cup EVER to play for the City!

[davieG]

Great pity I never achieved my boyhood dream of playing for City.

First player of any nationality, conceived at a bus stop, after a drunken night out celebrating City beating Portsmouth, in the semi-final of the FA Cup EVER to play for the City!

Nah wouldn't make a very snappy headline although I'm sure the Sun could come up with something.

[moseeds]

For you lot (i.e. white chaps) it might not be a big deal but for brown coloured guys like me it is a big deal Since we were kids school teachers, scouts, whoever have consistently looked past very decent footballers because of general stereotyped perceptions. I remember at high school lads around me being picked to play for city trials whereas no one from the brown crowd was - and before a smart alec makes the point that its because they were sh*t I assure the reality was far from that. As an example one my own close friends - bangladeshi parents but he was british, was given trials by Man Utd amongst others yet never from city and neither would the teachers vouch for him.

Things are much better now and Aman is proof that things have and are changing. That's why it is a big deal for some of us.

[Leicester Rule!]

Aman is a sound lad ....

[clazkel]

When the players had finished warming up before kick off he stayed out collecting the balls with another guy, not sure why he did or if he was told to but fair play to him. Looks like hes got a cracking shot on him

[Thracian]

For you lot (i.e. white chaps) it might not be a big deal but for brown coloured guys like me it is a big deal Since we were kids school teachers, scouts, whoever have consistently looked past very decent footballers because of general stereotyped perceptions. I remember at high school lads around me being picked to play for city trials whereas no one from the brown crowd was - and before a smart alec makes the point that its because they were sh*t I assure the reality was far from that. As an example one my own close friends - bangladeshi parents but he was british, was given trials by Man Utd amongst others yet never from city and neither would the teachers vouch for him.

Things are much better now and Aman is proof that things have and are changing. That's why it is a big deal for some of us.

Are you differentiating between black and brown?

And even if you are are you really saying that scouts and schoolteachers have recommmended black guys and white guys but not brown ones?

I only watch the under 18 Academy side but there have been lots of non-white players through there and through every other Academy set-up I can think of and it's been the case for years.

Levi Porter got into the first team, as did Max Gradel, then, at under 18 level, there's Lathanial Rowe-turner, Eric Odhiambo, Joe Magunda, Liam Moore, Nathan Hicks, Abdilahie Yussef come to mind and I'm sure there's been others.

Look at the Wolverhampton Academy side too the other night...

Lots of black kids and cappuccino kids.

The only kids struggling to make any headway in life are the white kids, most particularly those from poor backgrounds. It's so bad, there was even a front-page story about it in the Metro on Friday.

No-one will thank me for going into the reasons cos they'd equate to a harsh condemnation of this Government on all sorts of fronts.

Suffice to say too many have been allowed to grow soft, weak, untested and unmotivated. They've been socially downgraded and made to feel second class citizens in what was once their own land and have in no way been prepared to deal with the easily anticipated competition they now face because some people in power didn't want them to compete. They wanted them to be second.

So please don't ever suggest you brown lads have been hard done by in England.

Cos I could give you chapter and verse on where some real injustices lie.

And I thank God my own youngest son stayed away from it all and trod his own path.

Especially when I see the no-hope situations some of his old pals are now in and who he now constantly tries to help out.

Even on here there's evidence in abundance.

Young white kids who can't write or spell properly in their own language never mind the second language (or more) that their contemporary black and brown pals have mastered.

What a condemnation of our system, our lack of proper family support, our lack of leadership and our failure to make proper demands of our home-born youngsters.

Please don't mistake me. I'm pleased, in fact delighted, that so many immigrants have the opportunity to make a fine life for themselves and their families. But ashamed that two generations of home-born whites have been sold down the river in so many ways.

[Ultra]

The only kids struggling to make any headway in life are the white kids, most particularly those from poor backgrounds.

Yeah, that couple Wayne and Coleen Rooney are really struggling on the breadline, aren't they?

And there are plenty of other examples I could quote...

[Ultra]

Absolutely. Cos it damn well shouldn't be important. The Mercury are only encouraging the notion of positive discrimination and the sooner it ends and the sooner people are all treated as just that, the better. I have never in my life had a second thought about respecting everyone until they proved unworthy of respect.

Good on you. Sadly not everyone takes that attitude..

I'd even ask my friend Ultra directly, knowing his situation, whether he believes the City team should be made up of players from all over the world or from the best players available to them irrespective of origin?

The best 11 players who are capable of combining with each other to form the most effective team. Whether these players are from Leicester or Outer Mongolia should be irrelevant. (although, given the Kaebi experience, it's slightly more likely to be the former...)

Because while I don't give a toss where people come from I sure as hell dislike the idea of ethnic manipulation because it is unfair, it is unnecessary, it patronises perfectly capable people and I don't believe for one minute that the Labour Party would ever sanction positive discrimination in favour of whites, a sure sign to me of exactly how racist they are.

They actually did it for many years. I know of several cases in Leicester alone where quality black and Asian candidates for council elections have been passed over in favour of inferior white ones. I've also seen (and experienced) cases where the bias has gone the other way. Not that the other parties have great track records in this area either.

There is a restaurant near me that employs only Asian people. I would ask Ultra. Has anyone ever gone to a restaurant in Leicester or Leicestershire with all Asian employeees and suggested they should have white English or white Eastern European workers? Cos if so I don't see any evidence of the campaign working. And are efforts being made to persuade Asian run organisations to positively promote white people into senior positions?

Discrimination of this type is illegal. However it's possible that the restaurant might demand knowledge of certain recipes which applicants from a non-Asian background would be unlikely to possess.

My oldest son has long run a company which is made up of people from a huge variety of ethnic origins. His only interest is in whether his staff can do their job. And he promotes people according to ability not ethnic background.

Good on him. Like I said earlier though, not everyone has that attitude. That's why unemployment rates are higher, and household incomes lower, among certain ethnic communities than in others.

[sbfox]

Usually I agree, or at least respect Thrac's posts, but 'cappuccino kids' is out of order.

[Ultra]

Usually I agree, or at least respect Thrac's posts, but 'cappuccino kids' is out of order.

Why?

The term shouldn't be inferred as derogatory or disrespectful.

[Thracian]

Good on you. Sadly not everyone takes that attitude..

The best 11 players who are capable of combining with each other to form the most effective team. Whether these players are from Leicester or Outer Mongolia should be irrelevant. (although, given the Kaebi experience, it's slightly more likely to be the former...)

They actually did it for many years. I know of several cases in Leicester alone where quality black and Asian candidates for council elections have been passed over in favour of inferior white ones. I've also seen (and experienced) cases where the bias has gone the other way. Not that the other parties have great track records in this area either.

Discrimination of this type is illegal. However it's possible that the restaurant might demand knowledge of certain recipes which applicants from a non-Asian background would be unlikely to possess.

Good on him. Like I said earlier though, not everyone has that attitude. That's why unemployment rates are higher, and household incomes lower, among certain ethnic communities than in others.

First I'd thank you for your unambiguous replies which I am happy to accept, cos I know you.

My concerns remain about the restaurant mentioned because, just like an English or Chinese restaurant with it's traditional recipes, I'd see no reason why a professional chef couldn't learn them in house fairly quickly.

Indeed many chefs spend at least some of their time doing agency work. It is often better paid and offers them an ideal opportunity to get experience in a variety of different ethnic environments.

Yes, I'd understand and accept that a specialist would be more skilled at first but if you are going to encourage a truly inclusive workplace surely positive discrimination should work in that situation like any other.

Furthermore a white chef or black chef shouldn't be made to feel isolated because of his non-Asian background. But when that sort of thing happens I'll start to believe that multi-cultural fairness really can work across the board instead of just where white people are offering inclusiveness.

[Thracian]

Usually I agree, or at least respect Thrac's posts, but 'cappuccino kids' is out of order.

Don't be so sensitive. I could have said coffee-coloured but that's really two words. What's the problem? It's no different to saying brown, but actually a lot more accurate seeing as "black" people are actually brown as well as "brown" people.

There is nothing derogatory in the term cappuccino. Any more than honey blonde, midnight blue or paleface. It's a very nice colour as Halle Berry demonstrates admirably.

[moseeds]

Are you differentiating between black and brown?

And even if you are are you really saying that scouts and schoolteachers have recommmended black guys and white guys but not brown ones?

I only watch the under 18 Academy side but there have been lots of non-white players through there and through every other Academy set-up I can think of and it's been the case for years.

Levi Porter got into the first team, as did Max Gradel, then, at under 18 level, there's Lathanial Rowe-turner, Eric Odhiambo, Joe Magunda, Liam Moore, Nathan Hicks, Abdilahie Yussef come to mind and I'm sure there's been others.

Look at the Wolverhampton Academy side too the other night...

Lots of black kids and cappuccino kids.

The only kids struggling to make any headway in life are the white kids, most particularly those from poor backgrounds. It's so bad, there was even a front-page story about it in the Metro on Friday.

No-one will thank me for going into the reasons cos they'd equate to a harsh condemnation of this Government on all sorts of fronts.

Suffice to say too many have been allowed to grow soft, weak, untested and unmotivated. They've been socially downgraded and made to feel second class citizens in what was once their own land and have in no way been prepared to deal with the easily anticipated competition they now face because some people in power didn't want them to compete. They wanted them to be second.

So please don't ever suggest you brown lads have been hard done by in England.

Cos I could give you chapter and verse on where some real injustices lie.

And I thank God my own youngest son stayed away from it all and trod his own path.

Especially when I see the no-hope situations some of his old pals are now in and who he now constantly tries to help out.

Even on here there's evidence in abundance.

Young white kids who can't write or spell properly in their own language never mind the second language (or more) that their contemporary black and brown pals have mastered.

What a condemnation of our system, our lack of proper family support, our lack of leadership and our failure to make proper demands of our home-born youngsters.

Please don't mistake me. I'm pleased, in fact delighted, that so many immigrants have the opportunity to make a fine life for themselves and their families. But ashamed that two generations of home-born whites have been sold down the river in so many ways.

And even if you are are you really saying that scouts and schoolteachers have recommmended black guys and white guys but not brown ones?

Yes. It used to happen a lot years ago. Things have only started to change in recent times. The same thing happened to black kids in the 70's and then that too stopped over time as the old timers moved out and newer coaches moved in. Now it looks like the final barrier has well and truly come down.

I live in Leicester, born and bred here, lived here most of my life. Fiercely proud of my city and very vocal about what a wonderful place it is. You can find me rambling on and bigging up Leicester on skyscrapercity forums. However...

On new years day 2007 midnight I was giving a statement to police because me and my father had been physically attacked by racist drunk white lads outside my own house. While most of you lot were getting hammered at midnight I was down at cop station. Its easy for someone to say what you just said without having to experience the other side. I was in Milton Keynes this summer only for some white lads in a car to scream out "Paki" to me outside XScape..because I was having a fag with me mrs. Growing up was another battle in itself. What my mother went through is not something Britain should be proud of and what my grandad faced when he turned up to work in the mills is another book in itself.

Things have changed now. But even only 15 or 20 years ago things were very different in football, and to think that white kids are the one's being discriminated against is just such a ridiculous notion that I can't even think of a coherent answer as to why your suggestion should be taken seriously. Whatever problems you alluded to regarding young white lads is nothing to do with any other community or race or culture. What you said above regarding white lads could just as easily be applied to young black lads, young pakistani lads, young bangladeshi lads, young somali lads...the list goes on.

Thracian your experiences of England and mine and especially that of my parents are very different. I am one of the few asians in the city that follow Leicester and fork out money to watch them whenever I can. I don't care if Aman doesn't ever kick a ball for the first team. I don't even care if his contract is terminated in summer because I know in the future there will be more asian lads breaking into the club - on merit of course - at various levels rightly reflecting the demographics of the city. But right now I'm proud that the old mentality and perceptions surrounding asians in football are finally being dispelled. It's not victim mentality to say that, rather it's a relief that my city and my club really are as progressive as I've always believed it to be. That's all.

[lildave3]

Well looking at him, I imagine he can handle himself. Big lad.