Regrets. We often hear them when something goes wrong, or when a death occurs.
And in typical fashion, the messages that came soon after news broke that Hanapiah Nasir (main image right) had died on Sunday, followed by B. Satiananthan (left) this afternoon, were all about the regrets of not having met these two iconic individuals before they passed.
Hanapiah, a decorated former decathlon athlete who went on to coach some of the finest in Malaysia, succumbed to multiple organ failure due to leukaemia. He was 65.
Satiananthan, meanwhile, had been battling cancer. For a while, it seemed like it was in remission. Unfortunately, doctors detected a tumour and the former Harimau Malaya coach lost the battle at noon today. He too, was 65.
I too, am guilty of falling into that regret trap. My biggest regret was that I never got to ride alongside Hanapiah – an avid biker who once crashed, and suffered horrendous injuries, only to get back on his feet, more energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate about life than ever before. The Malaysian ‘Ironman’ would put Robocop to shame.
As for Satiananthan, the regret is that we took our phone conversations for granted, never realising that any one of them could have been our last.
But above all, the biggest regret is that the Malaysian sporting scene has not learnt from these two iconic, ‘say-it-as-it-is’ individuals who made headlines, stirred the hornet’s nest, and made waves along their respective journeys.
I’m reminded by my former boss, Frankie D’ Cruz who, in his tribute to Hanapiah earlier today, had quoted my column that appeared in 2013.
In my column, I wrote that I had met Hanapiah as we paid our last respects to national hurdler turned coach, Ishtiaq Mubarak. During that sad occasion in 2013, Hanapiah spoke about the current breed of athletes.
“If they can survive staying at Pulapol (quarters), they can be champions, lah. Lunch was just nasi (rice) and ikan goreng (fried fish) but we didn’t make a big deal out of it. We slept on the floor. Kalau sekarang, (if now)… hmph!” Hanapiah had said.
Satiananthan, just like Hanapiah, was a journalist’s delight as he often provided razor-sharp quotes that would make headlines on any given day.
He is best remembered for saying “M-League is not football” after Malaysia lost 5-0 to United Arab Emirates in 2009. Satiananthan was subsequently sacked as national coach but that didn’t stop him from voicing out what he felt was wrong – including when it came to unpaid salaries of coaches and players.
There were those who despised their “frankness” but Hanapiah and Satiananthan were always willing to lend an ear. They were not easily cowed into submission. They were rational men.
They would agree to disagree, harbour no ill-will against their critics, and would sometimes go and have a meal or two with them, even after a particularly boisterous exchange.
Hanapiah and Satiananthan embraced the true meaning of sportsmanship. They gave their heart and soul to the sports they loved.
No words can ever do justice in describing their contributions in igniting the spirit of those around them and motivating their players, fans, and even member of the press to embrace the joys of sports.
It may sound like a cliché to call both these fine gentlemen a class act. But it is true. They exuded class and dignity.
Above all, their integrity was beyond reproach. They towered above the rest. There will never be another Hanapiah and Satiananthan.
