Reflection: Sporting Culture

On June 4, 2021 - I participated in a Visi Sukan Negara 2030 Twitter Space program hosted by brother Yunus from Bahas Bola and together with sister Jamy from Women’s Social Football Malaysia and myself as panelist. During that one hour session brother Yunus asked several honest to good challenging questions, which I enjoyed. Getting difficult queries pushes me away from the comfort zone. Especially towards the end about where should we invest more, the sports or the athletes.

Do note that the Visi Sukan Negara 2030 is a Ministry of Youth And Sports initiative that was launched earlier this year.

I must be honest, I was reluctant to participate as I am heavily emotionally and mentally fatigued. And have been really distant from the football circle from quite some time. I haven’t even logged back in to the padangbolasepak twitter account from months, actually. Thankfully, there is an admin to autopilot until further notice. For those of you, who do not know this information.

But Yunus thought it would be good and fun to do something, especially during this “Total Lockdown“. So I agreed to participate, however I did mention to him that I will not be as diplomatic as I used to be to certain powers that be. To get the huge elephant in the room out there, this is the fourth lockdown that sports have endured. First being the first Movement Control Order, the next was Conditional Movement Control Order in October 2020, the following was, at the start of the year, and the one that we are currently in.

Basically, it took me quite awhile to become a bitter Gordon Bombay from film The Mighty Ducks, the first one. Yeah, that Ted Lasso hopefulness in me faded. That being said, the questions that brother Yunus asked sister Jamy and myself helped to re-recognise why we from sister Jamy, to brother Faiz Bobai, brother Nadzry Abu Bakar, Adam Nizam, Izrin Nabil, Mutiara, Hazim, the PBS-REKREASI team, Khairil, and so many more brothers and sisters do this. All about bringing people together, men, women, children, introverts, extroverts, underweight, overweight, and more. Thus solidifying a sporting culture in Malaysia that will contribute in nation building from the grassroots to the professional level.

That is what a lot of people in position of power do not understand this. Sports should be accessible to all. Sports should be valued to all. From especially the non-elite side, the grassroots and then work your way up to the professional level. Viewing professional sports is great. Commenting on professional sports is easy. Participating in sports, playing the game is way better. Because you invest more towards it. Time, money, physical energy, emotional and mental powers, distance, and other more factors.

That being that there aren’t just not enough organisers and administrators to accommodate the volume of people who wants to play. Because organising and administrating - is a thankless job and a lonely lifestyle. That’s why whenever I see people wanting to jump from participating in the playing to become an activist of organising and administrating. - I want to encourage them. That being said, it is alright if you feel that you can’t because you already have other commitment. However, those who over promise so that you can have the spotlight and then underdeliver and then no where to be seen. Have a reflection session, either we come together and commit to the work, or just stay in your lane.

Active listening and understanding people - plays a good progressive role as it is about valuing the relationship throughout the ecosystem. Getting constructive criticism as well as worthy suggestions, no matter how titanic or petit it may be. They help in putting more pieces on to this growing puzzle that we all are trying to solve. To build a better society through sports.

Speaking on criticisms. It will take time - but one will learn how to differentiate between objective criticism or manipulative criticism or just being spiteful due to “personal“ reasons or gains. People who do things out of spite, my advice try to communicate with them solve the problem. If they don’t want to communicate but still insult you and your work. Trust in your honesty that you are carrying out the responsibility Dengan Ikhlas - just keep going! History and the people you serve will testify.

Apologies for the tangent away from the Twitter Spaces Program. Back to sporting culture. This is getting too long, so I’ll cut it into a few more paragraphs.

Brother Yunus asked, “Where would we invest? The sports or the athlete.“

For me - invest in the sports. Spent millions on one athlete to get one gold medal for me does not make sense. Spending millions on sports that create opportunities to play and opportunities to work is so much worth while than getting one gold medal. Get the organising and administrating aspects right. Trust me the investment will foster greater sense of community, betterment of physical, mental, and emotional health, create a holistic economy within communities, educationally breeds greater curiosity, environmentally sparks improved care on our climate, and so much more. Solidify and cultivate from the grassroots onwards. Trust me that gold medal will come naturally, in waves.

Thank you for reading my ted talk.

Again thank you brother Yunus for the invitation. And sister Jamy for sharing her experience with women’s sports. Oppurtunity for you to write about those experiences are always welcome here on padangbolasepak.com

In that, I won’t be surprise if I don’t get invited again in the future under this Visi Sukan Negara banner as I made a few unfriendly remarks about the current powers that be. As there’s still no authentic exit strategy from this current pandemic and how to save and grow sports from the grassroots onwards.

Sincerest apologies for any spelling and grammatical mistakes. As it has been awhile since I wrote something this long and having anxiety since the start of the year. It has affective the quality of my writing significantly.