'God is the greatest', says England team's first Muslim player Djed Spence
'God is the greatest', says England team's first Muslim player Djed Spence
After England's football team beat Serbia 5-0 in a stomping victory in a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, much of the talk in the sporting world was about the new player in the squad.
Djed Spence is a full-back with six caps for England Under-21s and now an international in the senior team.
The Tottenham Hotspurs star replaced Reece James for his first senior cap, which he received from team captain Harry Kane after the game.
Spence's arrival on the national team was historic: he is the first Muslim player ever to play for the senior England squad.
It's been a long journey for the former Middlesborough player, who was sent out on loan three times by Spurs - a lack of stability which he said shattered his confidence.
But last season Spence established himself in the first team.
He said he was emotional after Tuesday's match, describing what it meant for Tottenham legend Kane to give him his legacy cap in the dressing room.
"He said I was at Tottenham with him a few years ago and he has seen my growth and he knows how hard it is to get to this level and was just happy for me.
"It was amazing - it has been a long time coming," Spence said.
"I have dreamed about it all my life. It is an honour. I'm a little bit emotional from the journey I have been on.
"I'm officially an England player now so I am over the moon."
'It is good to make history'
The 25-year-old trailblazer, who has a Kenyan mother and Jamaican father, described it as a "blessing" to be the first Muslim to represent England and told the BBC he wants more Muslims to do so.
"It is good to make history and hopefully it spurs young kids on around the world so they can make it and do what I am doing."
He added: "I was surprised - I didn't know I was the first. I hope it paves the way for many more."
He is a religious man and has no reluctance in expressing his faith, declaring: "Whatever religion you believe in, just believe in God. God is the greatest. He never lets you down.
"You see days like today - it is all because of God."
At a time of rising anti-Muslim hatred in Britain, Spence's success will come as a cause for celebration for many British Muslims.
Ebadur Rahman, founder of Nujum Sports - which supports hundreds of Muslim athletes through professional counselling - said: "Djed has big responsibility on his shoulders - not only is he playing for England, he is playing for Muslims all around the world because he is now seen as a role model breaking a barrier."
Yunus Lunat, a former chair of the Football Association's race equality advisory board, added: "It is great that he is comfortable visibly professing and celebrating his faith.
"Every single young Muslim player I've come into contact with through coaching in this country aspires to play for England. No other nation, not their parents' nation or anything like that, just England. That's it."
There are an estimated 250 Muslim players in the professional English leagues, but none have earned a full cap by reaching the elite level - until now.
