<i>A Bangladeshi at heart</i>

Anwar Uddin

In 1999, strapping British-born Bangladeshi Anwar Uddin had the world at his feet. He was captain of West Ham's FA Youth Cup winning squad leading a team with the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick. He was regularly training alongside Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, was privy to the quirks of Paulo di Canio and was being nurtured by Harry Redknapp. His no-nonsense style of defending caused many to earmark him as a future England international.
But then it all went wrong.
Triple groin operations left his career in tatters, his fitness in shambles and his dreams shattered. He did not even manage a Premiership debut, and repeated comeback attempts were stalled.
Fate finally did smile on him and the centre-half has rejuvenated his career at League 2 side Dagenham & Redbridge, in the process becoming the first person of Bangladeshi descent ever to captain a professional British team.
His lofty goals of representing England are now tragically a thing of the past, but that could well turn up to be trumps for Bangladesh, as Anwar now looks odds-on to be inducted into the national side.
But does the 26-year-old feel red and green?
"Very much so," agrees Anwar when the Daily Star Sport caught up with him at the Uttara Club.
"Living in England being a Bengali you're a minority. The English people will never accept you as English. If your colour is slightly different, you are not one of them. I am proud of being a Bengali, it's who I am," says Anwar shortly after displaying some nifty skills with a football.
He readily admits his Bangla sounds more like a two-year-old but is proud to be the only Bangladeshi professional in England -- and prouder still to be captaining his team.
"When my father emigrated during the 50s a lot of the people there worked the poor quality jobs and there was a negative stigma attached to it. It really got to me while I was growing up and one of my biggest drives was to be successful as a Bangladeshi and give my country a positive image."
Asked whether he would now accept a call for Bangladesh, something he rejected eight years ago, Anwar feels that he will now reconsider.
"In 2000 I was concentrating on playing for England. I was at the West Ham squad from the age of 18 it seemed a natural progression but eight years on, I am fighting to get my way back to fitness. It is very, very hard to get into the England team, especially at 26. I think that's never going to happen. I played for England C team and youth teams but my national career with England seems to be over and Bangladesh might be the only other option I have. If I am approached by Bangladesh I will definitely consider it."
Anwar agrees it would make his father proud if he ever represented Bangladesh and he too is eager to give whatever possible to the squad, be it tactically, mentally or physically.
"To be honest the academy of Canary Wharf is doing fantastic. They have got good, enthusiastic coaches here. Still the knowledge I could bring would be helpful as I have the experience of the Premiership. I have played with great players and worked with great managers and the things I have learned are from the best. I have sat with Arsene Wenger and asked him the things he does and why he does it, in terms of tactics.
"At the academy here, I can give the boys a foundation for the future, telling little things I know I can tell them things, little tactical things, the awareness things.
"I will always be here for my country. If anyone needs anything, tips, knowledge, I am ready to help,' says Anwar.
He has seen little of real Bangladeshi football but having played against them back in 2000, Anwar remembers that the standard with regards to what he was used to then was quite 'amateurish.'
But, he hastily adds, 'given Bangladesh's problems, poor economy and hostile weather, you can feel proud of it. There is still talent. The heat here is difficult and the great intensity that the English game has, it's impossible to do here. Still, after these years, watching the academy kids and some seniors, I see some improvement, albeit slow.'
In the long run, the soft-spoken Anwar plans to build an academy in Bangladesh and he says that the feedback from his visit has motivated him a lot.
"I've got positive response from government, media, federation and the people are passionate. If I can do something like that it would be beneficiary because what I'd bring from England is a financial package as well as knowledge. That's what we need.'
When asked why the 2.3 million strong South Asian contingent in England had translated into just five professional footballers, Anwar says that a lot of it had to do with the pre-set mentality of the emigrants.
"It was always either be a doctor or an engineer but that is slowly dying away. Usually people who get to England from this part don't live in English area. Bangladeshis in England don't integrate with the British. Slowly now more are moving out and embracing the English society. I was one of the first to do that and more came, but the influx remains slow and steady. May be in few years there would be 15 South Asians playing.'
He cites the example of spin bowler Monty Panesar and boxer Amir Khan, both of whom are huge in their respective fields.
"A few years ago people told me that I was the only (South Asian) one in sports. But now that we have a chance we can show what we are doing. Amir Khan is massive in boxing industry now. Everyone also knows Michael Chopra and I also enjoy a good reputation."
When asked who he most admires as a footballer, his answer of 'Zinedine Zidane' is instantaneous.
"Football is a science and you have to learn it, it takes time. If I was a teacher, I would give a video of Zidane to the kids and say watch it, that's where you want to get. I know he doesn't play anymore but he just made football look beautiful and easy. The elegance he plays with is impossible."
But it's the other end of the pitch we have to relocate to, to find the player he most resembles.
'Jamie Carragher,' says a smiling Anwar, and it's hard to envision him as tough tackling and no-nonsense.
"Players don't like playing against me. I'm always reading that this person or that person finds me a handful and I enjoy that. I want to give them a hard game."
He admits that supporting Tottenham has been the most frustrating aspect of his life but adds that he enjoys a soft spot for West Ham, due to the seven years he spent there.
More importantly he has kept up a few correspondences.
"Joe Cole and Carrick stopped by for numerous visits when I was in the hospital. Then they drove off in their Bentleys, leaving me wondering as to what could have been," says a reflective Anwar.
"But in life you have to be realistic."
Understandably so as life in the Premier League and League 2 are worlds apart.
"Playing for West Ham, you always had things done for you. Whatever you want it's there. I had Nike sent stuff over my house. Next day, Adidas says don't wear Nike. People gave me keys and asked me to drive their cars. You can't even spend all the money you get. At restaurants, the dinner is free. It's surreal.
"Even at Sheffield United, it was massive.
"But at Dagenham it's been a total contrast. After my first training, I expected someone to pick up my kit but no one did. I had to wash it myself. Back home, Mom said 'what's this? You have not done it for five years. Why do it now?' But times have changed.'
So was the 9-0 hammering of Coventry in 1999, the pinnacle of Anwar Uddin's sporting career.
"Perhaps," he agrees, "with West Ham I went to Manchester, Chelsea, sat on the bench during European games.
"But winning the championship with Dagenham gave me greater pride. I came back after people told me I'd never play again. It was a great challenge."
At the end of the interview, Anwar tips Manchester United for tonight's Premiership showdown but says that Chelsea are favourites for the Champions League.
"It's in Abramovic's city. He will probably fix Man United up next to a building site so that they don't get any sleep."
He will not be at the chilly Russian capital, preferring the warmth of his sofa. But there will be two calls he will remember to make.
"I will give Joe and Mikey calls separately and wish them best of luck and ask them not to kick each other!'
At the end Anwar reflects.
"We were a group of good players at West Ham and many are not playing now. For every one of us it was not a fairytale story. Not for me. You go your own way but it's good to keep in touch. It's football and at the end I am happy just to be known as a footballer."