A Coach's Perspective of the Asian Soccer Star Search

Waking up at 6:00am on the day of Chelsea’s search for an Asian Soccer Star, wasn't my idea of fun, but I was going there to support and help my brother Sobha as I had been helping his football for the last couple of years.

Arriving at the ground for the 8.30am registration, the training  ground started filling up with around 80 to 90 players and their families. It was good to see so many other Asian kids interested in the 'beautiful game'.

The day started with the kids split into groups, identified by different coloured bibs, and an intense warm-up schedule. This really drove home the importance of spending a sufficient amount of quality time making sure all the muscles are properly lubricated to avoid injury.

The real purpose of the day really kicked off around 10.30am when the kids had to take part in the specially developed Chelsea Football Academy tests. These were all timed and developed to test speed, agility, accuracy and ball control.

I'm sure these were just a small part of the overall academy trials, which are taken over a 3 day period. Anyway, the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the majority of the kids were there for that purpose. There were a handful of kids, Sobha included, that showed real promise. But unlike Sobha these kids had the build and strength of much older youths.

Sobha would need to use his speed, vision and technical ability to have any chance. And he did, sailing through the tests.

After lunch it was time for 4 and 5-a-side matches, and for the kids to really showcase their skills and fitness levels. This is where the kids showed that 'Asians really can play football'. The matches were technically good and exciting to watch. It was plainly evident that the bigger, stronger kids were dominating the small-game piches. Some of the smaller stature kids were technically brilliant and outshone the bigger kids.

I was proud to see so many Asian kids give 110% effort, and over the moon to see Sobha excel in such a competitive environment.

Throughout the day some of Chelsea's first team players made an appearance to mingle and take picture with the kids. As long time Chelsea fans, Sobha and I were excited to meet Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou and Ray Wilkins. We even got a glimpse of Ashley Cole jogging around the grounds.

The day concluded around 3.30pm with a presentation ceremony announcing the winner of the competition and certificates for everyone that took part. Sobha didn't win, but was definitely in the top 4.

We knew that he wasn't ready for the trials as he had been out of football, for over 4 months the last half of this season, with a broken collar bone. But what he had experienced this day would refocus all his emotions and goals to achieve his dream of playing professional football.

On the way back home I reflected on the day’s events. It was a success in many ways and gave hope to cultures which have been stereotyped in relation to the subject of football. The search for an Asian Soccer Star has certainly given inspiration to many Asian youngsters who wish to play professional football.

Many Asian kids don't have the parental and family support that Sobha has, and all the professional clubs know this.

There is also a belief amongst coaches and scouts that Asian kids don't have the competitive 'killer instinct' to challenge for the ball and prefer to play more 'show' football. The other major negative perception amongst the mainstream football fraternity is that Asian kids just don't have the physical prescence to make it in the professional game.

These are all perceptions that need to, and can be destroyed, paving the way for a generation of Asian professional football players.

Sobha is well on the path to changing perceptions and we will share his journey along the way to inspire other kids and their families.