The Biggest Reason

It was 2015. Back then, all I cared was football across Europe and supporting Manchester United, never turning a look at what goes on in Malaysian football like some of the football fans in this country due to the perceived poor management of the general scene (In my view at least). If you read closely at my profile here at the website, this was the year that my interest in local football was given a great revival.

I was just chilling with my friends after class in early September at university when my friend Kyle, a big fan of Selangor, suddenly asked us if we want to see Selangor play at Shah Alam Stadium on the 12th. My friends passed on the offer, but the football fan in me (And also seeing I grew up in Selangor) accepted his invitation and said along the lines of ‘I’m in’.

The night of the 12th September arrived. I arrived early at the main entrance waiting for Kyle and there he is greeting me with his Selangor jersey in full view. We got our tickets and went in. Selangor though sadly fell to Kelantan 3-0 in their opening Malaysia Cup group match thanks to Gilmar’s brace and Austin Amutu. But strangely, I didn’t feel too bothered about the loss.

There’s a reason for this. It’s all because of Kyle. He talked about what’s been happening about the local football scene with passion and enthusiasm, something that believe it or not, have not heard anyone talk about football before, let alone on Malaysian football. Yes, I met people who talked about football, but none of them compared to how Kyle talks about it. He was chatty, articulate and emphatic about the Malaysian football landscape. Little did he know that his passion was infectious. After all, he successfully ‘infected’ me with the Malaysian football bug.

Kyle Playfully Fighting With Geese (Credit- Arisz Irfan)

You see, what Kyle did was incredibly significant. Before that night of 12th September 2015, I intend to be a sports writer. After that night, there was a path that I have seen. That same path I took that could well be the right one. Because I decided then is to not only be a football writer, but a MALAYSIAN football writer.

Before I can thank him for reopening my eyes and stoked the fire in me, he suddenly disappeared without a trace in the middle of 2016. No one knew where he is (Although I did hear unsavory rumors about what happen) and I’m left without one of my friends and influences.

That is… until a few days ago. He suddenly reemerged when his Facebook account was reactivated and posted something since 2016. My prayers were answered. Every one of his friends, myself included welcomed him back in open arms via Facebook and asked what on earth happened. He told his story on what happened when he vanished. Let’s just say he went through a hellish ordeal after he got set up.

You had no idea the joy I felt when he came back. I finally have my Malaysian football buddy back. He is the biggest reason that lead me to the path of my career that also lead me to meeting wonderful people such as Khal and a lot others along the way. Because if it weren’t for Kyle, I wouldn’t have been keen on local football and that in turn also would’ve caused me not meet some of the people I know on Twitterjaya. To the people who I usually see on football/futsal nights, hopefully one day I get to introduce you all to him. For now, I’m just going to celebrate his comeback. Welcome back, Kyle.