COPA90 has dropped a compelling new documentary called The First South Asian Lioness. Just under 40 minutes in length, the digital first story was created by Anisha Sehmi, directed by Abbey Monteiro and features Marva Kreel.
Explaining the premise COPA90 said: “In Finding The First South Asian Lioness, Marva Kreel embarks on a personal and powerful journey to uncover the untold story of South Asian women in English football. With honesty and urgency, the documentary pulls back the curtain on the systemic barriers and cultural pressures faced by South Asian women and girls pursuing the game. Through conversations with academics, athletes, scouts and journalists, Marva challenges a long-standing silence—seeking answers, confronting truths, and offering hope for the next generation of Lionesses.
Kreel said: “It meant so much to me to do this documentary, as even when I was 9 or 10 years old playing football, the lack of diversity in the women’s game was so clear to me. And as I got older, I saw more and more top players drop out due to a mix of their class and race and the problems they encountered in a women’s game that just wasn’t yet ready to deal with these issues. South Asians are the biggest ethnic minority in the UK and yet that isn’t represented in football, and that isn’t just a coincidence. We need to truly address our unconscious biases and the lack of accessibility for so many communities that are making the talent pool so much smaller to choose from.”
Sehmi added: “You can’t be what you can’t see. I made this film to be the representation we, us brown girls, needed growing up. I’ve been pushing for this idea for over 4 years. Others before me have been fighting this very same fight to share this story. For me, it took one yes and a team of very dedicated people to finally make it happen. But the push continues. People across the football industry, including myself, are battling to be the change we want to see. British South Asians need stories like this – and more – to show how far we’ve come, and continue to go.”
Key themes explored in the film include: South Asian representation in women’s football; cultural identity, family dynamics, and generational shifts; institutional inequalities and access to football pathways; the impact of role models and visibility; and community, legacy, and the fight for belonging.
Ross Whittow-Williams, CSO for COPA90 said: “For over a decade, COPA90 has been telling the real stories about football that surround and transcend the 90 minutes. This is another great example of a lesser told story about how the beautiful game has shaped communities, culture, and how South Asian female footballers identify themselves within the context of football. We are proud to be able to tell this story and shine a light on the search for the first ever Senior South Asian Lioness.”
