Twenty-four-year old Waheed Hussain was awarded a Special Recognition in Sport prize at the recent Lancashire Sports awards.

Waheed has recently taken up a post as sport outreach worker at Hyndburn Borough Council -- a paid job he has virtually been doing on a voluntary basis for the past four years.

"I am very passionate about sport," said Waheed who was born-and-bred in Accrington. "I am one of the lucky people who gets paid for a job I love doing. It is a job I would do for nothing, and I used to!"

Waheed's passion for sport goes back to his days as a pupil at Mount Carmel Secondary School where he was involved in every sport going. Whether it was football, cricket, basketball or badminton -- every team-sheet graced the name of Waheed Hussain.

"I come from a sports-mad family, added Waheed. "I have always been interested in sport from an early age. Me and my brothers have always been involved in sport and basically we will play anything."

Waheed knows all about shooting for goal but now he has a goal of a different kind to aim for -- and that is to attract more Ethnic Minority youngsters onto our pitches and courts.

"It is not something I intend to change, or am capable of changing, overnight. It is a slow process but the wheels are slowly beginning to turn.

"There are a lot of Ethnic Minority youngsters in the borough who are not participating in sport for one reason or another. That is an area I intend to tap in to and I am looking forward to the challenge."

Waheed hopes his hands-on experience will help him succeed where others have failed. For he is doesn't just talk a good game, he plays a good game as well.

"This doesn't mean to sound big headed in anyway but I hope to become a role model for youngsters from my community. What I mean by that is that they can look at me, see what I have done and follow in my footsteps."