Zesh Rehman Talking about QPR and John Gregory

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British-born Asians make telling statement
The Peninsula (Qatar) By Tusdiq Din
London • Two talented British- born Asian footballers have witnessed at first hand the enormity of the task facing the Pakistan football team’s slim chance of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa after the side’s 7-0 home thrashing by Asian champions Iraq in Lahore last Tuesday.
Queens Park Rangers’ defender Zeeshan (Zesh) Rehman and Tranmere Rovers midfielder Adnan Ahmed lined up for Pakistan only to be blown away by powerhouse Iraq.
However, and against all the odds the signs of hope for Pakistan football are encouraging and were much in evidence during the return tie played in Aleppo, Syria on Sunday when Pakistan achieved something of an inspiration, by managing to hold Iraq to a goalless draw....
Both players spoke exclusively to The Peninsula and explained that they are happy to represent Pakistan after experiencing frustration and a lack of opportunities for England at any level.
There has been an outcry in the English game recently as to why in a Premiership laden with foreign players, there are fewer English players coming through....
Despite the doom and gloom prognosis for Asian footballers, the 2004/05 season saw the emergence of the first Asian player to play in the Premiership, when Rehman broke into the first team at Fulham. Rehman whose supportive parents hail from Pakistan, was given rave reviews by the then Cottagers’ boss Chris Coleman, and produced some excellent performances countering the might of Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer.
Having played for over half the season, however, the twenty-three year old was sold to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in the summer of 2006, with Rehman frustrated at not getting a regular first team place at Fulham.
Far from being despondent about this perceived step back, as Rangers struggle in the Championship, the Birmingham-born defender remains optimistic his game can significantly improve at Loftus road for him to be knocking on the doors of the Premiership again.
Rehman says that although he is aware of racism in the game, he has never come across it, but feels Fifa have shown the strength of their intentions with their new anti-racism agenda and points deduction for offenders.
“I think Fifa’s proposals are a good idea, if people are going to be racist, they deserve to be punished. There is no room in football for racists,” he declares.....
Meanwhile, Rehman will have a new manager at Loftus Road with new owners Formula One supremo Bernie Eccelstone and Renault boss Flavio Briatore aiming for an ambitious Premiership return within three years.
Rehman readily admits to having a difference of opinion with the outgoing Rangers boss John Gregory. “We never really saw eye to eye, I had to be the best in training just to get noticed, but these things happen in football. The team met the new owners and Eccelstone explained he’s used to success in Formula One and that there is no room for passengers, which I liked to hear.
Rehman revealed that the early season tragic death of QPR team-mate Ray Jones had a massive impact on him, but the words of former boss Coleman have helped him at Rangers.
“In the next two years you’re going to need 60 or 70 games Coleman told me. You’re going to step out of this environment where everyone knows you, and I’m confident you’ll come out the other end mentally stronger. QPR is just what I needed, to be tested in a different environment. Now I want to do well for Pakistan and one day get to a World Cup although this will be un-chartered territory for the country.”
The rest of Asia will no doubt be taking note. Peninsula