BORN and bred in Southall, Sukhraj Malhi, an ex-Greenford High School student, prepares to leave behind his old existence, after beating all of the odds to start his new life in the United States; Living the American Dream.

Hard work, dedication and commitment. Though these words may sound like clichés, there are non-other better suited to describe Sukhi’s ethos. From the age of seven he has had a single minded approach to chase his dream and to turn his passion into a profession, despite the many bumps on the way.

His dedication for football started when he was only seven years old, he used to play with his dad in his local park and has had no professional coaching. He said ‘I taught myself how to play football’.

He went on to develop his skills at Celtics under sixteen’s and AFC Southall at the age of 16. This is where he caught his first break ‘I went through a trial and assessments where I had professional coaches and other agents watching me and assessing my skills’, he added ‘they also recorded me playing and that video is on YouTube and it got sent to many coaches in America. I've then had offers from them inviting me to play and study on a four year contract’.

He said ‘It all felt surreal, still does to this day’. And now (though he doesn’t openly admit it) he has become one of the best football players in the Borough of Ealing and is a promising young professional footballer.

After graduating from Greenford High Sixth Form  Sukhi decided to continue to pursue his childhood passion, a decision that many would have advised him against doing.  But his single mindedness and his promise to his mother that he would ‘ make something of himself’ pulled through in the end ‘I decided not to go university because I thought I'd really push for what I want to do, I've tried so hard all my life and this is my final push’. 

Alongside his grueling football training regime, his part time job, he also finds time to get involved in a whole host of charitable sporting activities. In memory of his late mother, he ran a 10K obstacle course race for ovarian cancer.  ‘The reason why I did this is because I lost my mum to cancer when I was thirteen, and if there is anything I can do to prevent other people from going through this, I must do it should I?’.

Growing up in Southall was not always easy, he said ‘there's always a difficulty in becoming a professional footballer, I believe racism occurs in football as no Indian player has made it’.  He went on to say ‘I work hard and I hope the hard work pays of f in the end’. 

The story of him has not only touched my heart but I am sure it will touch many of others too. He has shown that dedication and commitment is the key to achieving your goal and if you want to be something, it’s only you that can make it happen. He is an inspiration to us all, especially the younger generation who are striving to succeed in whichever path of life.

When asked where he sees himself in ten years time he said ‘a professional footballer, that’s all I see in my future’.