Harimaus Indeed

Even though I do not follow football (neither local nor foreign), reading about our team’s recent victory in the AFF Suzuki Cup, made me teary eyed because it sort of reflected what I felt needed to be done in this country. We need to let the young people in, show their talent and give them room to grow, instead of stifling them. The young are our hope for the future.

While I did not watch the game, our family’s Indonesian maid did. Even she was disgusted at her national team’s performance and was on the phone with her friends back home about it. She complained that they were kicking legs, not kicking the ball.

I think that what our national coach said is right. This is a victory, and we should celebrate it. However, we must also see this as just the first step, in a long journey, to return the pride to your national squad. I have grown sick of hearing the old farts wax lyrical on the good old days of Mokhtar Dahari, Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun – where ate EPL teams and Asian giants for lunch.

It is about time that we made a concerted effort, to claw back to our rightful place, as one of the top teams of the region.

PS: I hope that our hockey team would watch and learn.

PPS: With the general elections rumoured to be be around the corner, I hope that our politicians do not exploit the situation and ruin things. But that’s just wishful thinking.