Manchester City footballer Raheem Sterling has been named 2019’s Sportsman of the Year at the Sporting Equals British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs) in London, last Saturday evening.
Commenting on his BEDSA achievement, Sterling stated: “It is an honour to receive such an award and to be associated with the BEDSA, who continue to offer under-represented communities a platform to celebrate success, and who are having an incredible impact on young people around the country.”
The England and Manchester City forward has been praised for repeatedly speaking out against racism in footballand the portrayal of black footballers by certain sections of the media. According to Founder and CEO of charity Sporting Equals Arun Kang, who also launched the BEDSAs to celebrate ethnic diversity in sports, “Sterling is a trailblazer in his fight against racism. We are proud that he has become an iconic British sports star who represents so much for BAME communities and the entire sporting community, and will do for generations to come.”
CELEBRATING BAME ACHIEVEMENTS
Former West Bromwich footballer Brendon Batson OBE won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to football and race equality. He also played for Arsenal and Cambridge, and launched the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign.
Ama Agbeze, the captain of England’s netball team, scooped the Sportswoman of the Year Award. Under her captainship, the England Netball Team won a historic Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Commenting on the awards, Kang stated: “The Sporting Equals BEDSA Awards never disappoint – celebrating the outstanding work of volunteers and communities to the achievements of world class performers like Raheem Sterling and Ama Agbeze. Sporting Equals as a national charity has ensured that these awards are a key date in the sporting calendar.”
It’s also an important event, not only in terms of showcasing the “excellent work and talent among diverse communities, but also highlighting that there is still much work still to do to tackle inequalities and underrepresentation in some areas of sport”, he added.
BEDSAs 2019 AWARD WINNERS
- Sportsman of the Year: Raheem Sterling
- Sportswoman of the Year: Ama Agbeze
- Young Sportsperson of the Year: Kare Adenegan
- Inspirational Performance of the Year: Ranvir Singh
- Coach of the Year: Haj Bhania
- Unsung Champion: Harmander Singh
- Lifetime Achievement: Brendon Batson
- Special Recognition Award: Kulwinder Singh Johal
- Leadership in Sport Award: Nigel Walker
- Community Sports Project of the Year: GirlDreamer: Boarders without Borders
- Community Project of the Year: British Muslim Heritage Centre
- Special Recognition Award: National Asian Cricket Council
For more information on the event, check out: www.sportingequals.org.uk
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