Dhaba's second episode has the Punjabi FA registered football agent Baljit Singh Rihal  chatting with Joel Gill FRSA creator of Dhaba

Summary

Baljit Singh Rihal shares his journey from corporate life at British Airways to becoming a pioneering Sikh football agent and advocate for South Asian representation in football. His story highlights how refusing to accept limitations and embracing one's identity can lead to transformative change in spaces where representation has traditionally been lacking.

Find Baljit Rihal on Instagram and LinkedIn @BaljitRihal to follow his ongoing advocacy work and the upcoming Asian Football Awards in 2026.

Takeaways

• Meeting at British Airways and launching the Asian Football Awards as a catalyst for entering football
• Becoming a licensed football agent after being told it would be too difficult (with only a 14% pass rate)
• Running football agency as a side hustle before making the leap to full-time in 2020
• Challenging stereotypes about South Asians in football that have limited opportunities
• Discussing the significant underrepresentation of South Asians in professional football despite making up 9% of UK population
• Celebrating breakthrough moments like Sarit Binning captaining England's Under-16s and Sarpreet Singh playing for New Zealand at the World Cup
• Advocating for policy changes to allow Overseas Citizens of India to represent the Indian national team
• Emphasising the importance of self-belief and creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for permission

Chapters

Keywords

South Asian representation, British South Asians in football, Sikh football agent, Asian Football Awards, professional football diversity, breakthrough moments, football activism, sports inclusion, identity in sport, cultural representation in football