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Bend it like Birmingham

VIKASH DHORASOO, the former French national player, has shown his support for a local Birmingham sporting initiative while touring the UK.

As part of the Bend It Like Birmingham campaign he held a number of coaching sessions with the local girls and boys and spoke of his campaigning work against prejudice and how sports and playing football can act as a bridge in bringing different communities together.

Vikash said: “It’s great to see Ashram doing fantastic work that helps communities to integrate and if we can’t live side by side we need to learn how to live together. Through the project Ashram are providing opportunities for local kids to come together through football. I’ve really enjoyed coaching the children and have been happy to pass on some tips and advice to them’.

The Bend it Like Birmingham initiative has involved more than 300 young people from diverse backgrounds ranging from White, Black Asian and Refugee communities in football and other sports to tackle community tensions and prejudice.

The football player has just released his documentary Substitute in the UK, which shows how the French team relegated him to the sidelines during the 2006 World Cup.

Substitute goes on limited release in the UK, 9th May.