Written By: Shahrom Asmani
(ex-football reporter for several magazines and newspapers).
This 39-year old Football Crazy Person has been in love with football ever since he attended Singapore National Team’s matches at Kallang Stadium in the roaring 80’s. Has been a goalkeeper for a good part of the decade for a variety of teams but joined WaF4H last year because of the team’s mission and values.
WaF4H (Walking Football4Health) does not only allow participants to play football, holistically, the team concentrates on various other aspects as well such as food, nutrition and personal well-being. Hopefully WaF4H can lengthen this writer’s career, be it in the football field or in the part-time writing arena as well.
Walking Football4Health Gets Invited to AFC Grassroots Football Day Once Again
The 2019 edition of AFC Grassroots Football Day will once again see the Walking Football4Health (WaF4H) team pit their skills against their Malaysian counterparts in a Veteran’s Walking Football Charity Match.
The Malaysian team will consist of luminaries such as Raja Muda Selangor His Royal Highness Tengku Amir Shah, Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) President Dato’ Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin and FAM Technical Director Peter De Roo.
VIP Guest players such as Joe Flizzow and Zizan Razak will add to the glitz and glamour of a very famous lineup.
If that’s not enough, the Malaysian team lineup will also have the likes of FIFA Technical Consultant Dato’ Yap and Malaysian footballing legends such as Dato’ Soh Chin Aun and Dato’ Santokh Singh.
Besides the usual fun-filled activities such as performances from Malaysian Freestyle Footballer in addition to the highly-anticipated Charity Match, FAM President Dato’ Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin will also use the opportunity to officially launch the FAM Grassroots Charter.
The evergreen Hamdi Bakri in action against Datuk Santokh Singh and the Malaysian team in 2018
The match in 2018 saw the Malaysians narrowly edging WaF4H 2-1 in a tense and nail-biting affair that enabled the spectators to see that Walking Football can be a hugely competitive sport.
Datuk Soh Chin Aun and Peter De Roo scored in either half to give the Malaysians a two-goal advantage before WaF4H coach Masykur Malek pulled one back for the visitors to make it an interesting affair in the final few minutes.
Alas, the Malaysians managed to grab a deserved victory, but this time around WaF4H is more than ready to take up the challenge as they visit the Kompleks Sukan PKNS, Petaling Jaya, on 4th May 2019.
WaF4H coach Masazhari Yayit is not too concerned about the result at the end of the day.
He said, “If we win it is a bonus. However, I would rather we concentrate more on how we perform on the day itself and ensure that we play entertaining walking football.”
“Furthermore, we want to take this friendly match as good training for those who are selected to represent WaF4H in the International Walking Football Federation World Cup in June,” he further commented.
Even though the Men’s team lost, WaF4H showed they are still one big, happy family
One of those selected to represent WaF4H in June is none other than 59-year old Jonet Bin Mohd Yusof.
It will be the first time that Jonet will play against Malaysia in the AFC Grassroots Football Day friendly but he is more than ready to pick up the challenge.
Jonet said, “I am very excited to face against some of the Malaysian legends in the match. Furthermore, it enables me to test my footballing skills as well as my physical fitness in a tough match.”
“I am very optimistic about our chances. It is 50-50 to be honest. But what is more important is the spirit of sportsmanship and the passion that each and every WaF4H player or supporter must have when watching or playing the game.”
“The extra trainings that we attend in preparation for this friendly match will enable the players to be match ready. However, each individual player must have the responsibility to conduct their individual trainings on their own as well so as to increase their level of performance on the actual match day itself,”Jonet concluded.
WaF4H’s second coach, 41-year old Masykur Bin Abdul Malek, is raring to go up against the Malaysians for the second time.
He said, “To win or to lose is part and parcel of the game. Just enjoy the game and do your best on the field.”
Masykur Training Hard to Compete Against Malaysia this May
The coach scored WaF4H’s only goal in the 2-1 loss, something that he really cherished till this very day.
He fondly remembered, “I was very happy to have scored the goal against the Malaysian team.”
“That was the very first goal that I scored after having not played for a few years due to injury,” Masykur said.
Masykur referred to his cervical myelopathy condition which he suffered nearly a decade ago. The condition happens when the cervical spinal cord is compressed. He was not able to move, let alone walk properly.
However, after being treated by specialist doctors and undergoing a specialized rehabilitation program designed by fitness research specialist Dee Dee Mahmood, Masykur was able to participate in the Walking Football program last year.
Besides his coaching skills, the team really needs Masykur to have his shooting boots on for WaF4H to have a good chance against the Malaysian team.
There will be an exciting addition to the 2019 program.
The WaF4H women’s team will have a friendly match as well against a Malaysian team that will have the likes of FAM Women’s Exco Members Dato’ Suraya and Sharizah Umamah and Gol and Gincu actress Intan Serah.
This will be a match that no one wants to miss as well.
WaF4H sees the importance of such an event as one of the ways WaF4H can cross the boundaries of countries to spread the importance of Walking Football, Dee Dee Mahmood’s research initiative under Edith Cowan University and supported by International Sports Academy and Eunos CSC.
These are exciting times for the young sport to spread its wings to Malaysia, but rest assured, the only thing that will run through the minds of the WaF4H players is the re-match against Malaysia on the 4th May.
The match may not be on the same level as the legendary Causeway challenges during the heady Malaysian Cup days, but try telling that to the WaF4H men on 4th May.