Former England Youth Captain Shines in Pakistan Debut Against Kenya
Former Aston Villa academy graduate and England U20 captain Easah Suliman recently made his debut for Pakistan in a match against Kenya Suliman's debut comes just three days after fellow British-Pakistani Otis Khan made his own debut for Pakistan This exciting event highlights the growing presence of British South Asians in football, and is truly the stuff that dreams are made of
Easah Suliman, a former England youth captain and graduate of Aston Villa academy, has recently made his senior international debut for Pakistan. During Pakistan's match with Kenya in Mauritius, Suliman debuted three days after Otis Khan, a British-Pakistani midfielder for Grimsby Town, also made his debut for the Shaheens.
Suliman holds a special place in the hearts of Grimsby fans as he had previously joined the club on loan. This was six months after he had scored the first goal in the final match that led to England's victory in the U19 European Championship in 2017. Currently, Suliman is playing for Vitoria Guimaraes in the top division of Portugal and has been honored as a part of the South Asians in Football Team of the Season. He spent the last season on loan at UD Vilanfranquense where he started in the club's last 14 matches.
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After turning pro at Villa on his 17th birthday, Suliman climbed up the ranks of the club. He then spent some time on loan at Cheltenham Town and Dutch team Emmen, before eventually joining Grimsby. Suliman's journey to the top has been an impressive one, and his dedication to the sport is evident.
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'Stuff that dreams are made of'
After his debut for Villa in a League Cup match against Wigan under former manager Steve Bruce, the centre-back went on to join Vitoria, a top-flight Portuguese club, in 2020 for an undisclosed fee.
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Nilesh Chauhan, the co-founder of Villans Together, an Aston Villa supporters' group, shared with We News that Easah was highly regarded by everyone at the club. He was not only a fantastic role model and ambassador for Aston Villa, but also a kind-hearted individual who was always willing to dedicate his time to others.
Witnessing Easah's continued progress and the opportunities he has received is truly inspiring. From leading England juniors and securing a trophy, to now representing Pakistan, he is living the dream that so many aspiring young South Asian players have. What's even more impressive is that Easah hasn't rested on his laurels - he has worked hard to earn his spot on the international stage. His journey is a valuable example for any young South Asian aspiring to succeed in the game.
Our accomplishment of establishing our own fans' group in Northern Pakistan a few years back, where young individuals are educated about the Beautiful Game through the Aston Villa approach, is a source of great pride for us.
This announcement will undoubtedly have a significant influence on these individuals, as well as on British South Asians who are interested in football.
Suliman has earned international recognition at youth level throughout age groups with England, most recently featuring for the nation at U20 level.
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Suliman arrives at London Heathrow with the U19 Euros trophy
Suliman, the first-ever British-Pakistani to lead an England squad, showcased his impeccable leadership skills by playing every minute of England's U17 World Cup campaign in Chile 2015. Two years later, he played a pivotal role in England's victory as European U19 champions, scoring a crucial header in a 2-1 triumph over Portugal in the final.
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Aaron Ramsdale, the goalkeeper of Arsenal, and Ryan Sessegnon from Tottenham were both members of the England U19 team alongside Mason Mount, the Chelsea midfielder who has been the subject of intense transfer speculation to Manchester United this summer. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to make a comeback in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship after being absent in the 2021 tournament due to a FIFA ban for third-party interference.
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The country's women's team returned to the international arena at last year's Women's SAFF Championship in Nepal.
