The women’s game in India is in a developing stage at the moment and our women’s national team is ranked at a respectable 54th place in the latest edition of the FIFA World Rankings. But do you know any of our female players? Oinam Bem Bem Devi, Nangom Bala Devi, Sasmita Malick – these are just a few players of the current India squad and there are many more players trying hard to get some recognition for women’s football in India. Even international star players like Birgit Prinz (Germany) or Marta (Brazil) are showing excellent skills on the football fields of this world with less media and fan attention than their popular male counterparts.

IndianFootball.Com Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director Chris Punnakkattu Daniel had the chance to speak to Leeds United’s Tania Panesar. Panesar is a prime example of Indian-origin female footballers making their way to the top-ranks of European football.

Tania has kindly agreed to give us an insight-view of her background, footballing career with LUFC Ladies, the Indian national team and lots of other interesting things…

Chris: Tania, thanks a lot for taking some time to do this interview! IndianFootball.Com has been following your career over the last few years and it’s great to see your successful story in English football. Please tell us more about you and your family background. Where are you from and where does your family hail from in India? Where did you grow up and which schools did you attend?

Tania: My Mum is from Leeds, England and my Dad is from Hoshurpar, Punjab. I was born in England and have lived in Leeds all my life; I went to Lawnswood High School, which is near to where I live here in Leeds. My Dads family originates from Punjab but they moved to England when my Dad was four.

Chris: Have you been to India in the past and do you still do so? If not, would you like to visit the country?

Tania: Yes, I went when I was fourteen with my Granddad to visit relatives that live there and also to see the places where my immediate family grew up. I spent some time in Delhi, and then we went to visit relatives in Chandigarh and then most of the trip I was where my grandparents grew up in a village called Gulpar, which is in Punjab.

Chris: Please tell us more about your visit(s) to India and your impression about the country, the culture and its people!

Tania: I was young when I visited so my memories are quite vague. Although I know I really enjoyed it and would definitely like to go back. I remember big white cows or maybe they were bulls! They would pull carts and I remember seeing some of them tipped over in ditches at the side of the road!

Chris: When did you realise your interest in football and how did you start off to kick the ball? Whom did you turn to for guidance?

Tania: We lived in a cul-de-sac and the boys in the street and my brother used to play football and use two drains as goalposts, I think to start with I stood in goal but then afterwards I joined in. We played football all the time, after school and at weekends. My Mum and Dad knew I played in the street and they took my brother to play for a local team, after a while I joined the team as well.

Chris: How did your parents react to your passion towards football and did they support you from your early beginning on? Many people will think about Gurinder Chada’s blockbuster 'Bend it like Beckham' and if things went off for you similarly!

Tania: My Dad is very westernised so I didn’t have a strict religious up bringing like the storyline in 'Bend It Like Beckham'. My grandparents and some relatives practice their religion and do have similarities to the film, but everyone in my family regardless of their culture accepted and encouraged me playing football 100%. My granddad knows more about the women’s game than me, he tells me the results and watches games on Eurosport!

Chris: When did you join your first football club and how was the feedback of your friends, teammates and coaches about your football talent?

Tania: I joined my local team Tinshill Dynamos; my brother was already playing for them so I went along. At first the focus wasn’t really about football, people were more intrigued that there was a girl on the team, but like always I received support and encouragement from everyone.

Chris: Did you prefer to play as a striker from the early beginning on or did you play other positions in the past before finalising your preference?

Tania: I’ve always preferred upfront, but I have played a few seasons on the wing, I once played in goal when I was about eight or nine when I was at Tinshill Dynamos the boys team; we were winning by about 10 goals and they put me in goal and then we lost! Haha...

Chris: Were there any particular players you looked up to as a child?

Tania: In the men’s game my all time favourite player growing up was Ian Wright. I like to watch others now like Alan Smith and Thierry Henry, but most of all Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabregas. I like to see Arsenal do well and also enjoy watching Man United because like Arsenal they play good football.
In the women’s game the two players in the English game I think are great are Kelly Smith (Arsenal Ladies) and Fara Williams (Everton Ladies), and then Marta (Brazil).

Chris: You’re a Leeds-girl and made it to the top ranks of the Leeds United Ladies Football Club. Please tell us more about your progress at Leeds United and how you made it to the first team!

Tania: I played for my local boys team Tinshill Dynamos from 7 years old to 11, it was mixed boys and girls but then when you get to a certain age you can’t play in mixed teams anymore, so I joined an all girls team when I was 12 called Leeds City Vixens, I played there until I was 17. After that I wanted to play in the Premier League which is the best league in the women’s game and when I was 18 I went to train with Leeds United and then I signed there.

Chris: We all know about many South-Asian footballers facing prejudices based on their origin! How have been your experiences at youth and senior level and how did you cope with these prejudices, if you had to face them too?

Tania: Luckily I have never experienced any problems due to my origin; it has never been an issue.

Chris: Are there any other South-Asian female players who made it to the top level? Is there a certain interest in the South-Asian female community to play professional football?

Tania: There are a few girls that play in the top division but I don’t think there’s even enough to make a 5 a-side team!
I once went to an event set up by one of my team mates who works for the County FA; it was a programme to encourage ethnic girls to play football and they organised training sessions and matches over a number of weeks.

Chris: Football is called the beautiful game and women’s football has made its way to the limelight in the recent years. Give us an idea about women’s football in England! How does the league system look like and how would you see the future of the game in England?

Tania: Women’s football has grown in recent years and developed into a strong pyramid with the Premier League at the top. As you go down the pyramid the leagues separate out into regional leagues, as the standard gets progressively lower. This allows all levels of women players to play in organised teams in organised leagues. Further to this there are hundreds of girls teams from U10 to U16 age groups. Each Premier League club usually has a 'Centre of Excellence' attached to it that encompasses these age groups. They play other 'Centre of Excellences' and the girls may also play for junior or school teams.
As for the future of women’s football this will all depend on the nature and timings of the top league along with how much media exposure the sport gets. The future looks all the more likely to involve a summer league for the Premier League which would mean that the women’s game doesn’t have to compete for media interest with the men’s game. Hopefully this will also mean that the games get covered on TV and money will be brought into women’s football.

Chris: What are your ultimate ambitions as related to football?

Tania: Right now I'd say to get back fit and play again next season as I have had two operations on my knee.

Chris: Which match is your most memorable one?

Tania: The Women's FA Cup Final 2006 was a memorable occasion although we lost 5-0 to Arsenal!

Chris: Are you a pro-footballer fully concentrating on the career or do have any other regular job besides football?

Tania: Some clubs like Arsenal and in the past Fulham have been able to play football fulltime. But the majority of players including myself have to work as well. I studied graphic design at college and then I went on to work in advertising. Some of the high profile players have the opportunity to get sponsored, which is good.

Chris: What do you know about Indian football? Do you know any players, clubs or something related to the game in the sub-continent?

Tania: I look out for results on the Indian Women’s National Team; the Asia Cup results are on a website that I sometimes check out. Also they are trying to qualify for the Beijing Olympic tournament 2008 so im following their progress.
In the English game I know of two successful players: Harpal Singh, he played for Leeds United and is now at Bohemians in the Football League of Ireland. Also Michael Chopra who played for Newcastle United and now Sunderland, like me he has an English mother and an Indian father.

Chris: You’re of Indian origin and could be theoretically approached by the All India Football Federation to play for the Indian national team. What’s your opinion about playing for India? Or would you prefer to play for England, if there’s a chance to do so?

Tania: I'd be equally as honoured to play for either team; it would make me proud to represent my country if I ever have the chance.

Chris: Let’s have a look at the other side of your life – the person behind the female footballer! How would you describe yourself to someone else? What is your personality like and what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Tania: I enjoy spending time with friends, exercising and music. I am very artistic, my college course meant that I progressed my design skills and I do think that this is my main strength in terms of skills (along with football of course!). As for weaknesses I am typical of someone born in April i.e. I am very stubborn and impulsive at times!

Chris: Please tell us more about your other hobbies and interest? What things do you do to relax?

Tania: I like to go to the gym; I could put my iPod on and run forever! I like to shop and see my friends. Once in a while I’ll like to go clubbing and dance all night!

Chris: What music do you listen to and which are your favourites TV shows and movies?

Tania: I love dirty-electro house music, I'd say that is definitely my favourite! But I like a lot of music, Frank Sinatra or any Jazz like Michael Buble or Katie Melua, stuff I can relax to. I don’t watch too much TV but I like 'Friends', 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Sex and The City'. My all time favourite movie that I know all the words to, ha! ...is 'Home Alone'!

Chris: Did you know about IndianFootball.Com before this interview and what do you think about its work to promote Indian football?

Tania: I hadn’t heard about IFC before but from what I've learnt I think it’s fantastic and it’s nice to see an organisation promoting football for its country and people.

Chris: Finally we would like to give you a chance to send out a message to everyone reading this interview!

Tania: Right now I’d say ‘Happy New Year!’ x

Chris: Thanks a lot for doing this interview with IndianFootball.Com! We wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR, a quick recovery and a successful comeback!