Just Sit Back And Enjoy | #KaranganBolaSepak
Just Sit Back And Enjoy | #KaranganBolaSepak By T. Avineshwaran
Football is my passion seems very cliche. Football is my religion seems repeated in many circles. Football is my life and soul has been said by many over the years.
In life, you always want to be different and not deemed as a cliche. However, in football, nothing is cliche. You live and breath it. In my case, though, football was not really my first love. When I was a child, Hot Wheels diecast cars was an addiction. and marvel at every creation.My folks thought that I would be fascinated by chassis, turbos and engines because I was intrigued by the design of every car created by Hot Wheels.
At one point, whenever I cried, my uncle would bring me to a nearby Hot Wheels factory in Bukit Mertajam just to get rejected diecast cars. A trip to the shopping mall, I would be wheeling and dealing with my folks to get those diecast cars.
Expensive, but a few years later, there was no need for them to spend any money. Instead, they had to listen to my constant chatter on my new love.
Once I moved to Ipoh, it was wheels to balls. I wondered how it happened, but I just could not let go of it. Look, what I meant was football, not those balls, you naughty nutsacks!
It was in 1996 when my father brought me to the stadium because tickets after half time are free. At the time, Perak Stadium was a cauldron, and every match would be filled to the brim.
I did not understand what was happening. I kept asking my father questions about football, but he just told me to sit back and enjoy.
Those words will always ring my ears. I have always enjoyed games in our very own Mecca, and for years, I follow the team fervently and even made some friends thanks to Perak.
My father did not even need to teach me about the game. Perak taught me what football was, and maybe, because of them, I got into sports writing.
Instead of just enjoying the game, it is very much part of my life now. In the past, players like V. Saravanan, Khalid Jamlus and Ahmad Shahrul Azhar were God-like, but these days I get to speak to them on the game.
It is not surprising to see my arms getting hurt most times because I pinch them all the time!
In 1997, my aunt got me a jersey because it looked cool. It was a regular RM10 jersey with the name Dennis Bergkamp on it.
As a seven-year-old kid, the sports pages were my favourite, and I came across that name again. I got to know the greatness of Bergkamp and my love affair with Arsenal started since then.
Instead of basking in the flashiness of Ronaldo (Brazilian phenom), I was more intrigued with the way the ice-cool Dutchman carried himself in games.
The newspaper reports were enough to give me a sense of imagination. I did not get the chance to watch live English Premier League games, so those reports gave me an insight on how matches go.
Interestingly, I only watched the live footage of David Bergkamp's goal against Newcastle on March 2, 2002, on YouTube. We did not have any sports channels back then, and it was through reports that I could imagine the beauty of these goals.
Then came the vivacious Thierry Henry, the ever-inspiring Tony Adams, the smouldering Patrick Vieira and twinkle-toed Santi Cazorla. Every Arsenal player has hit a note with me. Some were symphonies, while some were on par with Justin Bieber.
Through Bergkamp, I learned about the art of football and understood the values set by Johan Cruyff, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and now, Jurgen Klopp. Football is not one-dimensional these days. Every day is a lesson.
That is when I decided that writing is the best way for me to express my love and respect for the game.
Some of my relatives were sceptical of my interest, but I knew I would play a part in the beautiful game someday.
Instead of just producing reports, I get to address civic issues through the game. What amazes me all the time is the depth possessed by some coaches and footballers. Whenever I speak to them, it is a lesson. Look, I am no professional when it comes to tactics, training drills or even psychology, but I like to read and learn.
Some do not see football as a viable option, but if I see any talented kid on the field, I would just tell them to work hard and do justice to the game they love.
Instead of saying passion and love, I would rather say that football is very much our life these days. I admit, at one point, it did engulf me, but as you grow older, the game itself with set your responsibilities.
Football has kept me sane and crazy. To be honest, it is a love-hate relationship, but I want to endure this for the rest of my life.
Has it been worth it? Just like my father said, "Just sit back and enjoy."
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.