Faiz’s wake-up call

Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
My View - The Sun Daily
January 24, 2017

 WHILE football associations in Malaysia are undergoing many challenges ranging from financial difficulties to leadership deficit and alleged corruption, an unknown lad from a Kedah kampung emerged to light up the gloom when he won the FIFA Puskás Award.

Mild-mannered Mohd Faiz Subri was catapulted into the world football arena. It took by surprise the local football fraternity which was busy pointing fingers as it continued to slide further.

The award is named after legendary Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskás (1927-2006). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Puskás scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for his country and was also the striker for Real Madrid in the late 1950s and the 1960s.

The prestigious award aims to recognise the player, male or female, voted to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or "most beautiful" goal of the year.

Mohd Faiz clinched the coverted award for 2016 with his "remarkable swerving free kick emerging as the best goal of the year" after it gathered more than 2 million votes (about 60% of the total) on FIFA.com from fans across the world. His breath-taking kick beat that of Brazilian Marlone into the second place, and Venezuelan Daniuska Rodriguez in third. Faiz collected his award to stay alongside world famous names like Cristiano Ronaldo (winner in 2009), Hamit Altintop (2010), Neymar (2011), Miroslav Stoch (2012), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2013), James Rodriguez (2014) and Wendell Lira (2015).

The jaguh kampung although recognised as an icon the world over remained humble and grounded when he wished to put on the baju Melayu for the occasion. With FAM's approval and others providing the outfit he was set to do so when receiving the prize. It would have been a sight to behold for the first Asian to do so. However it was not to be. The reason – the cold weather.

To me this was disappointing, not so much with Faiz who was perhaps too preoccupied to think out of the ordinary, but more with those around him who could have come up with better advice to make his dream come true. If the cold weather was the concern: thermal undergarments would have made Faiz just as comfortable as wearing a three-piece suit. Alternatively, an over-coat could been designed for him in the hulubalang style to be fitted just like the long winter jacket that many had worn that night. In fact, it would have made the baju Melayu even more complete, elegant and appealing to the fans who voted for him. If Miss Universe Malaysia can be made to wear a specially designed "Twin Tower" outfit, Faiz deserved no less.

Based on the voting trend for him we had ample time to tailor one for him.

So it is very sad we missed a golden opportunity that could have further enhanced Malaysia's unique cultural identity and the much needed visibility worldwide by our football hero.

Sadder still Faiz seemingly was not properly coached to deliver his "acceptance" speech. Granted public speaking can be daunting on such an occasion even for the professionals, but it can be overcome if the right technique was rehearsed over and over again. Just like the game, practice makes perfect. For example, he could have been given a few well-written sentences in simple English to read and memorise. Or have it printed on a hand-held card. This would have taken away the need to nervously "search" for the prepared text in his cellphone, as broadcast live that night. It would have reduced the unnecessary tension that had caused his "speech" to be less legible. As a result his once-in-a-lifetime important message did not come out impressively to inspire the audience and fans alike. Another rare opportunity was squandered.

With a little imagination and courage, the accompanying officials could have even "persuaded" the FIFA media centre to flash subtitles in English as Faiz made his speech which could have been in Bahasa Malaysia. Imagine the world famous 2016 FIFA Puskás recipient addressing the world in his national costume and in his national language (like those who spoke in French, German and Spanish). What a memorable night. The last time I proudly recall seeing something close to this was when Tan Sri Razali Ismail presided at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

FIFA can be likened to a UN for football nations and Faiz has almost single-handedly made Malaysia's dream come true by putting the country on the world map.

It is only befitting that Malaysians, especially those around Faiz, ensured that his dream was also met – to at least wear the majestic Malay(sian) outfit.

Regretfully, we failed to live up to his simple expectation due to the lack of attention to strategic details in making a world of difference.

If a gem like Faiz is to follow a future trajectory that is as unique as his captivating kick, Malaysia must be more attentive on all fronts so that our jaguh kampung will be better ushered into the global space through a very well thought out detailed plan. It seems what Faiz had to undergo as a youth is a good wake-up call to all who are interested to score meaningful goals for the ambitious TN50 which kicked off last week.