SocceRoo

With 3 boys, the natural thing for you to sign up for the kids, as a malay Malaysian is of course, FOOTBALL. 

The so called sukan kebangsaan.

Despite the flipside of Malaysia's football is not that superior. 

But what are we superior of really, when it comes to sport?

Critics aside, let's go back to how it started way back.

I've always loved to watch tennis back then. Even dreamed of sending my kids for tennis coaching. But the fees were expensive and we were exposed to football academy more than we were exposed to tennis' coaching. Had to grab whatever that came across first, since really, it was already quite late. We started to send Qaid and Qays for footbal training with PKNS Academy in 2015. Qaid was 8 years old while Qays was still 6 years old. We didn't realise it back then but looking back at it now, it was a very late start for Qaid. While this may not seem like a big problem then, but it actually is a big problem. He's been deprived of his foundation and phase years. He started when everyone else already had a huge head start. Being inferior to his mates, he developed some negative experience, especially when the academy comprise of a very large group from various background. Those that may have been a bit less educated and more ill mannered. But still he persist. Despite being sidelined and on reserve most of the time. Being called a nickname, which even got passed down to Qays. Having Qays to have gotten more game plays than him. And maybe, he wasn't that well suited for it himself. But I do regret for having to put him in such situation. He finally decided to stop practicing when he was in standard 6, at the same time to put more focus to UPSR. I do not agree with this decision so much, if it was just for that reason. But I have to agree with the approach for reasons that he wasn't that effective there. 

It was the exact opposite with Qays. Qays was thriving. He started off almost on equal ground with everyone else. He got a decent enough start and sufficient time to build himself up. He was recognised even when he was in PKNS. Few parents setup a small sub-team called Super Friends United (SFU), where the players were handpicked, and they will get more opportunities to play, rather than relying solely to the academy. Training was still as usual, but we would go for tournaments on our own. When Qaid decided to stop, Qays proposed to move to Sime Darby, where his school friends played. There were 3-4 of them. It was nearby and the fees were much cheaper as well. It was a pleasant and easy transition indeed. So from standard 4 onwards (well, 1 year plus only, since covid happened just 1 year plus later), Qays had the time of his life in Sime Darby. He was the first team (unlike in PKNS where he was only the alternate team), he played attacking position, and most importantly, he managed to win a few. He's a left footer and that has been his big plus points. All his friends were there. He was thriving. 

SDFC was definitely less dense and less competitive. But it suits us, the distance was so convenient. Qays got just what he needed. We didn't need him to be so great, we just need him to decent enough to play well and be able to secure good spots in boarding school. 

Covid happened and there was a big gap in football training. But when covid started to ease up in 2021, he managed to wrap up his primary years well. And he carried enough ammo to go to boarding school.

Just when we thought he could pursue his football (we really love watching him play), he decided to join rugby team. He cited reasons of no one was entertaining the F1 at that time and had decided to try rugby. Not long after, he joined his first rugby tournament held in Semashur. Of course, we jumped to the opportunity of going. We were delighted to see how he played. They survived few rounds but might have lost the final round to the finals I think. I remember him cried and he was comforted by the coaching team. That alone was a good enough indicator as well that he did something right. We even made a special trip to Taiping for King Edward's Rugby 7s game. At that time, we were not yet accustomed to outstation trips for the kids' tourney. But that seems to become a precedence and the rest is history.

Sometime at a later part of the year, he started to show concerns about staying with the rugby team. Football crew started to pick things up. They even had Balloon D'Or event similar to what the professional footballer had. Fancy suit and venue, awards, best footballer with various other categories etc. That may have indirectly triggered this concern even more. He said his heart was inclined towards football more. I asked him to think it through, to not rush into things. He's been doing great in rugby and it would be a waste to let it down the drain. 

And in between Ayah passed away. It was a devastating news for us, since it came as a sudden.

Back to Qays, he had his last game for Serdang Rugby. He travelled to UPM Serdang with Sun. Sun's parents gracefully took care of him then. We were truly indebted. He had his last game, with some serious bruise on the face. It was just few days before our grand trip to London and Amsterdam. And he bid farewell to rugby ever since. 

When school reopened in March 2023 for his F2, he'd went on to make an appeal to become a team, and got accepted. Word of advise was given, for him to stay put and not move back and forth. He stayed. Within the first year, for the Ballon D'Or again, he was crowned the best defender or so. Only 2 were privileged enough to be rewarded from his form, the other being, none other than, Aqil Sufyan. 

The next natural thing to do of course, to sign Qaisar up on the same path as him. Started off in SDFC while he was 6 years old in 2019. Not long after that, covid happened. Once covid has eased up, I remember things were not really great for him initially. He was 8 years old when things started to pick up again. He managed to develop still. He liked to play with the wall on his own. But he didn't like to play with the others in the playground. This was the big difference with Qays. But he was blessed with a good coach, who saw through him. Despite his shyness. Qaisar started to really pick up and join tournament I guess when he was 10 years old. He was the first team, he played well and almost full time. Coach praised him. It went well all the way to 11 years old. Then things started to get lukewarm in this current year; standard 6 at 12 years old. There’s a new coach. Training started to get serious. Which was supposed to be good. But he doesn’t know everyone, and Qaisar is too quiet. He didn’t get selected t play for the league game. This has never being held in Sime Darby before. Not selected can be good and bad. We will have freedom to carry on with other obligations that we always have. But definitely not good for his self esteem and emotion.

At this point, football training can get unpredictable and out of control sometimes. When you think you have done what is right, it can create a dent in your kids’ emotion. You may have spent your time and effort on something that’s not producing the result that you expect, time that you might have spent better somewhere else. 

By now, pickleball is trending. It might have been the reason why tennis is also on the rise now. The game itself is exclusive, and not exactly accessible to everyone. So, the opportunity might be better, given the supposed limited competitor. But Qaisar and Naela are competitive than how Qaid and Qays have been. I swear if the same opportunity is given to Qaid and Qays, they would have jumped to the opportunities. When we have more means to send them to whatever places there are, the participants are not thrilled with the opportunity. 

Just when you think you had it figured out, you don’t. Your choices can prove you wrong. Just when you think you have secured the golden pass, it can easily taken back from you, without you even realise. One wrong move, can be just as costly as not doing anything at all. In the end, rizq is always in Allah’s hand. Making the right choices and decision is always a constant battle. May we be guided by him always.

Looking back, what Qays had when he was smaller was close to stellar. He managed to win some medals and trophies. I don't think Aita has won any up till now. But the school's football is something to be hoped for. Last year and this year, Aita's team managed to come closer towards the final. Nothing much can be hoped when your training only starts near tournament's time. With Qays in STAR, he's in the best place he can for football. But too good that the spot itself is super competitive. And the trainings and tournaments may mean that you might miss certain other opportunities. And it may be hard for you to shine. So, nothing can really fall so perfectly. We can only try to do the best we can, with whatever is put on us. 

Cheers