Football And Me | #KaranganBolaSepak
Football And Me | #KaranganBolaSepak by Jeffrey Lee
Football is very much what describes me. I’m Jeffrey, 26 this year. I love football more than anything else. For starters, we have to go back to 2002 Japan/ Korea World Cup where I watched my first football match on Astro in my grandparents house. A certain young Ronaldinho scored a looping free kick against David Seaman, for some reasons, I was supporting England that match. From then on, I started to watch Barclays Premier League ( that’s what it is called those days).
The first team I supported is Manchester United, the first real player I wanted to be like is Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Pure striker, so calm and composed in finishing. Then came Wayne Rooney, I love everything about this footballer. His fiery, youthful passion on the pitch and what he brings to the field. It spoked volumes when he scored a Champions League hat trick on his debut. I remember I cried when Wayne Rooney fractured his metatarsal against Chelsea just right before the World Cup. My family laughed at me but I was so so sad. During my primary school days, I played football with my dad in the afternoon in a school near my house, I sometimes play futsal with my church mates too. During the school selection, I was itching to be selected but I wasn’t chosen because the teacher deemed myself to be too thin. I was so angry at that teacher that for the next six months, I think I gained 10kg so that I can be a tougher, stronger player.
Moving to secondary school, this time I went for the school selection again, I scored a beautiful free kick, but again, the teacher said nice goal there, but you are not selected. During college, I played lots of futsal, maybe 4-5 times a week. Playing against my classmates and also tougher opponents which really sharpened my game. Everyone told me, my game improved to another level. I finally got selected to play for my college in the College games. It was tough, playing against quality international and local opponent, but I was so proud because I finally proved myself to be able to play at a higher level. I witnessed the 3-0 drubbing of Indonesia at the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup final. I watched how Brendan Gan and co defied the odds to beat Thailand during the recent qualifiers. Now I’m a more relaxed football player, playing friendlies with teams in Klang Valley and watching/catching up football whenever I can.
Football for me, it doesn’t matter what’s your race, your age, your sex or even your skill. Everyone come as one to enjoy the beautiful game together. Giving high fives with strangers during Malaysia matches, celebrating goals with a strangers when watching a match at mamak, these are plain raw emotions as a supporter.
People usually ask, why are you all so excited about a chasing a ball. For me, it is never about the ball, it is the process of everyone coming together for one common goal to take away from the match. The banter you get when you missed a open goal, the claps and raves you get when you saved a brilliant shot, the cheering together when you all earn a nail biting victory. These feelings again, you won’t get it anywhere else and I guess through these feelings, we found refuge and enjoyed this game for a long time.
Football, indeed, the beautiful game.
I would like to end this post with five words associated with football.
Togetherness
Passion
Composure
Hardwork
Feels.
Note from padangbolasepak.com: During the Restriction Movement Order 2020 Malaysia to combat Covid19 - Padangbolasepak.com encourages you from home to write essays about our beloved game of football. Can be anything. Why you fell in love with it? Your first game watching or playing? Friendships forged? Etc. Stars the limit.
500-1,000 / more words.
The objective is simple. Sharing the joy of football. Challenge you to write about the joy you may want to share. As well as keep you occupied and encourage to write. Provided that you have nothing else to do. Email us your essay with a photo attached at contact@padangbolasepak.com & we’ll post on the website as well on social media.
Thank you and take care brothers and sisters.