QASIM Ali has got the world at his feet - but not his head in the clouds.

For the Edge End High School, Nelson, pupil has emerged as one of East Lancashire's brightest footballing talents and has already been snapped up by Bury where he attends the club's school of excellence.

But while the 16-year-old has a burning ambition to become one of the country's first Asian professional footballers, he is bright and realistic enough to know that he has a tough road ahead of him.

Qasim is part of a new wave of Asian youngsters who are on the verge of breaking through in the game.

And the popular belief is that it will be sooner rather than before an Asian player makes it into the big time.

But Nigel Hill, head of PE at Edge End, says that Qasim is aware of the pitfalls that lay ahead of him in his quest to become a soccer star.

He said: "Qasim is undoubtedly a very talented player and is a very good prospect. But probably more importantly he is very bright and knows how difficult a task it is to make it as a professional footballer.

"Although he is easily the best player at the school he takes nothing for granted and trains very hard. So he deserves what he has achieved out of the game so far." He added: "Qasim is very bright academically so while he has set his sights on becoming a professional footballer he knows how important it is for him to keep on top of his studies and not get carried away with being in a school of excellence. But he is a very determined character and if he doesn't make it as a footballer then he wants a career in sport and, from what I have seen, he has every chance of achieving his goal."

Brian Taylor, who is the youth team coach at Bury Football Club, has worked closely with Qasim over the past few months and realises that he has the potential to become a first class footballer.

But he warned that having the potential and fulfilling it are two different matters.

He said: "He is a good footballer, as our all the lads here, but while it is our job to monitor how they are coming along it is also important for us to warn the lads that it is very hard to break into the game. Some of them come here very excited about the fact that they have joined a school of excellence but the stark truth is that very few go on to make it.

"But Qasim has as good as chance as any. He likes to play up front, has a good touch and is a quick player. He is a bright lad and very good to work with.

"He is just one of a number of Asian lads here and it is good to see them coming through at last. Around 20 years ago it would not have happened but it is only a matter of time before there is an Asian player playing in the Premiership."

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