Closing off 2015.
Khal, @padangbolasepak
Disclaimer: Right off the bat, apologies for the grammar, for the sentence structure, whatever English grammatical sin I may have caused. Trying to improve, trial & error only way to reach that close level of perfection
Now onto the post:
Two thousand fifteen, a chapter in our Malaysian football history that we as the stakeholders of the sport as supporters had to endure the drama filled year, together. Either on the domestic league level with the club a person support or on the international level with the national football team. At every level, when you think it could not get any worse, it does get really (insert synonym for the word S**T). From the players salary issue to the #SayNoToCircusGame to Ashara (in arabic means 10) to the Shah Alam-Saudi-Flare incident to this & that. Despite all that, we are still here. The apocalypse hasn’t arrived yet, it’s not the end of the world as we know it. Just yet.
Dua ribu lima belas, also a chapter in our history that, initiatives from people as core, fans of the game. Taking various hot water situations forward attempting resolve the types of difficulties the sport is facing today. From the Players Football Association Malaysia(PFAM) to National Football Development Program (NFDP) to Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to the rest who are doing their part to make the football great again. Tackling problems from professional footballers rights, the youth development concern, promoting professional football in Malaysia & the rest. These people have identified the numerous problems, isolate them. Combating them with their field of strengths as well as helping others who may be constrained however willing to contribute.
In social media (open circuit social media: twitter, Facebook or close circuit social media: whatsapp, telegram) & with the people we meet, we customarily talk, moan, humour & discuss it. In those moments of discussions & debate, observe the picture in detail, the story closely. Identify the trouble. Understand the illustration put forth to us. Then ask ourselves, “What’s the problem?” Normally, our blood pressure would rise when we think about the problem & go, “Oh my.” Fret not, as other people’s blood pressure are also rising with you when reflecting on the present problem. Know that, we are not alone in this theatre of war. Keep in mind there are people in the frontline of the war. I am pretty sure that they lose a lot of sleep than most of us in this fight.
For that, we should do something to help. Rather than not doing anything. “Rome is burning. And the problem is not just with the people who started it. They're past, mostly likely irredeemable. The problem's with all of us who do nothing.” Strength to strength we can rise. You’ll be reading this & probably ask, “What can I do?” The very first thing you should ask yourself, “What is my area of strength?” “With this area of strength, where can I start.” Where & how do you start it is entirely up to you. As long as you feel that you are contributing, then you are making progress. You could be an actuarial science major helping out with the statistical aspect. You could be from the field of law to bolster the rights of those in need. Heck! You could be someone from the Food & Beverage industry, making a career jump from being a barista to a football coach, if you are certain that you have ability to be a coach, of course!
The avenues of possibilities for you to help strengthen a possible position in the grand scheme of things are endless.
There will be a point or points in time that you will make the decision. Timing. Sometimes when it is right, it feels right. Sometimes when it is doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Like Gandalf said from the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
From time to time, we may find ourselves overworked, burnt out. With that heavy cloud we start to worry & being afraid that the efforts in giving service that will eventually turn into myth. In that respect, relax, we are all human. The margin of errors does happen. Learn from the misstep, reassess, regain the confidence to believe in the effort along with the approach & keep pushing on forward. That heavy cloud will turn into a storm shaking the landscape. That is only one individual, one thunder storm. Imagine others uniting. The storm will eventually turn into a hurricane. And that hurricane will change the Malaysian football scenery for the better.
In that matter, a constant reminder that we are not alone in this fight. There is a big picture that we are all apart of. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interest. We are fighting for our football. We must seize this opportunity to turn the corner in our footballing history. A moment when Malaysian football fans all over unite in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight!
In the future, there will be people writing about our Malaysian football history. On how we turned it around, together. Now we must make sure they will have to write it. History will always be made in the presence of writers for the future to immerse themselves in. They say football transcends race, language, religion, every creed & every space. As long as the writings & documentation continue, it too shall travel timelessly.
That's about it. Until the next one.
That's about it. Until the next one.
