Tony Smith
Take a trip to Batley’s Mount Pleasant stadium or Bradford’s Odsal, clubs that are geographically located in dense, Asian populated areas and you would expect to see some in the stands.
A game that customarily appeals to the northern, working-class folk that live along the M62 corridor, surely it is a sport ideally targeted at the Asian people?
But having migrated from South-east Asia in the late 60s to work in the factories of Yorkshire and Lancashire, the majority decided to stick to their native sport of cricket.
Some became fans of football, the national sport of their new country, with Liverpool being a popular choice because of the success they were achieving during that era.
Later generations then started to support Manchester United for the same reason, but none were interested in rugby league.
Kids grow up wanting to be the new Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard but if asked whether they want to emulate Bradford youngster Sam Burgess, you’re sure to get a mystified look and a reply of “Sam who?”
After England’s poor performance at the World Cup, questioned were asked as to whether the country has the correct infrastructure at grassroots level to produce quality talent like Australia does.
Maybe it is time to look at the alternatives available, in order to change the fortunes of Smith’s floundering set-up.
Despite areas such as Batley, Bradford and Salford having a large Asian community, the RFL and clubs have failed to tap into this vast market.
It is well known that traditionally, football and cricket is the sport they enjoy playing and watching.
Supporters regularly flock to Old Trafford and Anfield to sing for their teams, but Batley Bulldogs and Bradford Bulls remain devoid of British Asian fans, despite the stadiums being on their doorsteps.
And they are even paying more for this pleasure, taking into consideration the difference in ticket prices and cost of travelling.
Yet enough isn’t being done to include rugby league in this as well.
This is something which has been echoed by Tony Smith, two-time Grand Final winning coach who said; “There is an effort to increase awareness of the sport to the Asian people, with relationships being built between themselves and the RFL.
We would like to do a lot more and there is a willingness on that part from our side.”
Smith went on to say: “It’s easy to be critical about these things but we have to be encouraged, we have to be happy with the work and effort being done from our perspective, and from others as well.”
However, if players who are picked to represent their homeland, then go on to perform poorly, it must act as a wake-up call for the authorities to get something done.
Whilst the ECB selectors give young Adil Rashid a chance by taking him on the tour to the West Indies, rugby league gets left behind when there is an opportunity to uncover Asian talent.
“I’m not sure that we have portrayed our game in the correct way in the past. We need to portray it in the right way to the wider community,” explained Smith.
This is an admission that there could be an ‘us and them’ culture within the sport.
Followers of rugby league could feel that they are born into the sport as their ancestors have been part of it, and feel intruded by people trying to join in.
But the Australian, turned British citizen, thinks it is about talking to the people and showing them what the game is about and how it is played.
“It is a tremendous sport once you get an understanding of it and that is down to how we educated non-rugby league followers.
It is really important because we need to get out there and explain some of the rules, what the game is about, and how much of it really is a family sport,” he said.
This is one of the reasons why Asians might be reluctant to get involved, as the concept may be difficult to grasp to someone new.
For instance, you can kick a football in any direction and the goalkeeper is the only one who can handle it, provided that he is in his area.
Whilst in rugby league, the ball can only be passed backwards and downward pressure on the ball is required for a try to be awarded.
Easy enough, but then come the complexities.
The numerous reasons why a penalty may be awarded, what a double-movement is and the momentum rule, something that even rugby league enthusiasts will struggle to define.
A more logical explanation as to why Asians may be put off is their culture and upbringing.
Parents who have lived in India or Pakistan will push their children towards cricket, a non-contact sport, or football, one that is relatively safe if played properly.
Rugby league, on the other hand, can be seen as a violent game where you put your body on the line and are likely to risk getting hurt.
However, Asians can take heart from watching their own in a more brutal sport.
‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, former boxing Featherweight champion, and Amir Khan, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, are two role-models they can aspire to.
Strong mental, as well as, physical strength is required to succeed in such demanding and hard-hitting sports and it remains to be seen, whether any aspiring Asian kid, will step up to the plate in rugby league.
Abdul Khan is one that has been in the Bradford Bulls youth set-up for a couple of years, but has yet to break into the first team.
Nevertheless, Smith has words of encouragement for those who are interested in the game.
“I feel the Asian community would excel at the game as there are many aspects about them which would suit rugby league and so if we create more awareness we can achieve this,” he said confidently.
With such high praise coming from the top of the game, we may, belatedly, see someone following in the footsteps of Ikram Butt.
Shamoon Hafez
No comments:
Post a Comment