As a professional football club, JDT is certainly what we must aspire to be. But unless you’re funded by U2’s Bono and the World Bank, you’re better off finding a new role model – one that eats rice and tempeh, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakaria.
Author: Muhammad Yunus Zakariah
Kemaman-based Muhammad Yunus Zakariah is the Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship Sales of IMC Sports and Entertainment. He has worked on the licensing and partnership sales of Sporting CP (Portugal), Petronas Sepang Racing Team, Pahang Rangers, Terengganu FC and Kerteh FC. He is also the Founder and Managing Editor of Bahas Bola.
Forget Covid-19, economy, or politics. Our real problem is morals, rather, the lack of it
We should never make the convenient and lazy assumption that a mere change in leadership would result in a push-back against the moral decay at the top of government, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Trust deficit makes it hard to ‘sell’ idea of National Sports Vision 2030
The capacity to implement policies depends essentially on trust. Without trust in a minister or ministry, support for any form of blueprint, regardless how brilliant it may be, will be difficult to mobilise, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Twitter the place for healthy, meaningful debates? Yeah, right …
We follow like-minded people on Twitter and block those who are inconsistent with our thoughts and virtues. We ignore those who do not belong in our opinion bubble. We avoid conflicts rather than resolve them through well-mannered debates, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Fan ownership in football a double-edged sword
Granting fans a voice of some kind – directly or through the state – is sensible in theory, but should be introduced with caution, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Deplorable Covid-19 quarantine centres – either clean them up or let those infected stay home
Quarantine centres in Sabah, and Terengganu especially, are in need of some good upkeep. If the powers-that-be have no money to clean them up, get those infected with Covid-19 to stay home instead, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
European Super League would have sowed seeds of financial carelessness
The Covid-19 pandemic has conditioned people in football to rethink and modify their spending patterns. The European Super League, on the other hand, would have had them overlook this.
Gegenpressing, Brazilians and injuries – Terengganu’s win over JDT is pure luck
The only real ‘solution’ in trying to overcome Johor Darul Ta’zim is to play every match against them with fingers crossed.
To play in M-League, should football clubs have women’s teams?
Just because football clubs in Malaysia are mostly run by a group of daft administrators, it does not mean that women’s football should continue to be out of the equation.
It’s no wonder we have narcissists running football clubs
The lack of governance and transparency in state government funding for football clubs are somewhat an endorsement that reinforces the malpractices and financial transgression of the teams, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Sports should be about fun … and more fun
The joy of winning a gold medal is intoxicating. But strangely, the euphoria does not do anything to cure the gaping economic wound of the people or boost their financial wellness.
Inject debating into football to help strengthen decision-making process
Football desperately needs a platform where policies and ideas can be tested – a debate-like platform where civil engagements take place, and where members of the community participate in the design of the policies that affect them.
The beauty of supporting Real Chukai, Kerteh FC instead of an EPL team
Kemaman-based Muhammad Yunus Zakariah often wonders why many Malaysians glorify the English Premier League as he finds happiness with and feels connected to Real Chukai FC and Kerteh FC.