While football fans must be allowed to grieve over the three Malaysian footballers who were attacked just days apart, supporters must unite and show no fear to criminals, as football must go on, writes former Perak CEO Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Author: Muhammad Yunus Zakariah
Kemaman-based Muhammad Yunus Zakariah is the former Perak FC chief executive officer. Yunus currently runs his own boutique agency and has been in sports marketing since 2006, primarily in the field of corporate partnerships and sponsorship sales. Yunus has worked on projects involving Sporting CP (Portugal), Petronas Sepang Racing Team, Pahang Rangers, Terengganu FC, Kerteh FC among others. He is also the founder and managing editor of Bahas Bola.
Even footballers need safe, healthy spaces
Former footballer Azmeer Yusof’s allegation that he was “victimised” by former teammates has sparked a debate. It is important for stakeholders to ensure that athletes have a safe and healthy environment to thrive in, writes former Perak FC CEO Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Esti Puji Lestari, United City FC chairwoman, was once told by men to ‘fear women in sports’
When Esti Puji Lestari was a juvenile in the football industry, she was told by men to fear women in sports administration. She tells Muhammad Yunus Zakariah that it was an unsettling narrative for her, as she says many women in sports are insecure with each other, and that shouldn’t be the case.
Rethink pumping money into elite sports, focus on inspiring active lifestyle among Malaysians instead
The Malaysian government has spent billions of ringgit, and come up with various initiatives on elite sports over the years, but public health in the country continues to be in the gutters, with Malaysia constantly ranking as the most obese nation in Southeast Asia, writes former Perak FC CEO, Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Kerteh FC Supporters Cooperative paves way in community football club ownership, financial sustainability
Kerteh FC’s Supporters Cooperative Bhd is an important initiative, and former Perak FC CEO Muhammad Yunus Zakariah believes the cooperative society will create greater inclusivity and affinity in the community, and generate a significant amount of annual revenue for the club.
Kemaman needs a ‘Jawan’ to get oil money from Federal govt
Pas uses the routine excuse of the lack of resources, conveniently blaming the Federal government for denying Terengganu oil royalty. Ahead of the Dec 2 by-election, voters in Kemaman will now decide to either vote for a familiar face, or one close to Putrajaya who will be able to get the money, writes Kemaman-based Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Want to sell a football club? Here’s how Perak did it not too long ago
Former Perak FC CEO Muhammad Yunus Zakariah writes about what needs to be done to sell an ailing football club, prompted by queries he received from representatives of several clubs playing in the Malaysian league.
‘Snubbing APEC a missed opportunity to be heard globally’
The point of an inter-governmental forum such as APEC, is to encourage the free flow of ideas and prompt discussions about major concerns from member economies. No one benefits from advocating a boycott that could silence their leader from voicing out their nation’s discontent on a global platform, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Data sharing strategies must include all
It is all too easy to call for “data-driven cultures”, but actually defining and building such cultures is far beyond the comprehension of most data professionals, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Netflix’s ‘Beckham’: A story of how hate drove a person to footballing excellence
In a world where narratives of mental health seem to dominate reason, it was quite fascinating to see how hate drove former England captain David Beckham to excel further, as revealed in Netflix’s four-part docuseries ‘Beckham’, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Politically mature? Not until we stop treating our politics like a popularity contest
Malaysian politics is likely to be in danger of becoming more juvenile with show people entering the mix, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Making big, boring decisions for football clubs to remain sustainable
One must put thought towards the commodification of his or her football team, and give equal importance to the investments made at the office (off-the-pitch), if not more, to be sustainable, writes former Perak FC CEO, Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Arguments for the protection of children against marriage or labour must also apply to young footballers
Children do not have the same political or economic capacity as adults. The inherent imbalance makes them distinctly vulnerable and ill-equipped to enter into any form of contract, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.