Taff Rahman: Clubs switching on to help minorities Arsenal reserves player-turned-coach says more Arab and Asian players are coming through Gulf News13 Jun 2015By Tusdiq Din Special To Gulf News The writer is a sports ■ journalist based in the UK Courtesy: Taff Rahman web Taff Rahman | Former Arsenal player Taff Rahman One former Arsenal player and coach who symbolises the benefits of reaching out and engaging the local community is Taff Rahman. A youth and reserve player from 1996 to 2002, Rahman was tipped to be the first Asian-origin player to make the Gunners’ first team. A striker with technical ability and speed to match, he was nurtured alongside the likes of Jermaine Pennant, David Bentley and Cesc Fabregas. Having been spotted as a 10-year-old, much was expected of Rahman, but a succession of hamstring and knee injuries would eventually put paid to his promising playing career. After spells in the non-league game, Rahman, who is of Bengali heritage, took his coaching badges and, having gained a Uefa ‘A’ licence, is soon to commence his Pro Licence with the English Football Association (FA). Ambitious and in search of his own football philosophy, Rahman worked as an Arsenal academy coach and the 31-yearold has since criss-crossed the globe to gain knowledge and experience. Joining Spurs Two years ago, after chatting with his former coach Dean Rastrick, and under the guidance of academy director John McDermott, Rahman joined Arsenal’s great rivals Tottenham Hotspur to work at their academy to further his coaching career. Rahman has first-hand knowledge of the benefits of having an inclusive policy at all levels of football. The Premier League and the FA have initiatives designed to bring all communities into football, be it player, coach, referee or media, and that is a positive step, agrees Rahman. “I’m seeing more kids of Asian and Arabic backgrounds coming through. They’re talented and, backed by their parents, they’re willing to work hard. More Asian and Arab kids are pursuing football as a career and the clubs are gaining better understanding of religious, cultural and dietary needs. All the players now need do is to turn up and give it their best.” However, that wasn’t always the case, concedes Rahman, who often found in his time that he was in a minority of one among his peers. But he accepts that, given his personal sacrifices, the newer generation of coaches will have that cultural and all-round awareness that will help bring through talented players from Asian and Arab backgrounds. As if to make his point, Rahman points to a poster of the Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, now a first team regular at Spurs.