Rashid Abba, Academy Link Mentor, West Ham United Football Club Coming to Pakistan

For more than forty years, Rashid Abba has been a tireless advocate for diversity, inclusion, and opportunity within English football. His lifelong commitment has focused especially on communities that have historically been underrepresented in the game—players, coaches, scouts, and administrators from South Asian backgrounds.

Rashid Abba is a true pioneer. He became the first person of South Asian heritage in the UK to work in professional football, beginning his journey at Leicester City Football Club. His work spanned multiple areas of the game, including community football programmes, academy coaching, and player recruitment. At every stage, his mission remained clear: to break down barriers and create clear, accessible pathways from grassroots football to the elite level.

A central theme of Rashid’s career has been “widening the net.” He has consistently worked to ensure that talent is not overlooked due to background, geography, or lack of access. By increasing participation and visibility, he has helped open doors for aspiring players, coaches, and talent identifiers across the football ecosystem.

Currently, Rashid Abba manages employability and mentoring programmes at the West Ham United Foundation and serves as an Academy Link Mentor at West Ham United, a Premier League club. This groundbreaking role—one of the first of its kind in the country—strengthens connections between the West Ham United Academy of Football and grassroots coaches from South Asian communities in East London.

The Academy Link Mentor programme focuses on identifying talented players who live or play within West Ham United’s catchment area and ensuring they are given genuine opportunities to fulfil their potential. Through this initiative, Rashid plays a vital role in supporting the club’s proud tradition of developing homegrown players and creating elite pathways for emerging talent from diverse backgrounds.

Beyond club football, Rashid works closely with FA Coach Development Officers as an FA Coach Mentor Developer. In this role, he helps create inspirational and transformational opportunities for coaches from some of the most diverse and hard-to-reach communities across East London and wider London. His approach combines formal and informal mentoring, delivered in a personalised and connected way, with the aim of nurturing the next generation of a diverse football workforce.

In August 2025, Rashid Abba’s commitment to global football development was on full display when Muslim Hands’ Project Maidaan Pakistan Street Child Football Team visited the UK. The team was warmly received by Rashid and the West Ham United staff, whose hospitality and enthusiasm left a lasting impression on the entire delegation.

The match hosted by West Ham United was a truly unforgettable experience. Playing in front of more than 300 supporters, stepping onto a pitch steeped in footballing history, and receiving a Man of the Match honour gave the boys a powerful sense of pride, confidence, and belief—memories that will stay with them for life.

Continuing this shared journey, Rashid Abba is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 11 January 2026 to 20th January 2026. His visit will focus on strengthening collaboration in coaching education, talent identification, and community football development, in partnership with Muslim Hands, Project Maidaan, and local football networks.

Rashid Abba’s story is not just about football—it is about equity, opportunity, and the belief that talent exists everywhere when the right pathways are created. His legacy continues to inspire communities in the UK and beyond, proving that the game truly belongs to everyone.