Yellow House 4 x 100 quartet
Wafiy, Saharafi, Arun, Ikmal
The crowd was cheering their hearts out, Arun was the anchorman and it was the last race of the day. Winning this one would make everything else so sweet. Amidst screams of encouragement, and shouts of happiness and joy, Arun dashes past the finish line like a gladiator in shining armour, and claims victory with his fist clenched high up in the air.
It was at this moment that something caught my eye, it was Wafiy, he was running after Arun. Then it happened, a hug, Wafiy hugged him saying aloud, "kita menang, Kita menang". At that moment I felt that it was all worth it, every drop of blood, sweat and tear I shed, It was all worth it. I had succeeded. The boys won the race but I won the battle. What the politicians , leaders and preachers failed to do was simply achieved by a simple sporting event.
I came to my senses when Ikmal and Sharafi caught up with the celebrating pair, they have become heroes. Arun the star, the name that will be remembered by many hopeful minds imagining and dreaming that one day they too will win a race like Arun, and many a giggling girl now wish how proud they would be just to walk beside these champions.
A moment that transcended race, creed or religion. A moment so rare, a moment that I wish would spread like wildfire and ignite the spirit of every other Malaysian, a moment that I wish could last forever.
How I wish if only the grown ups could learn to share and remember this feeling, remember what we had, remember the true spirit of sport, remember that we are one, remember we are Malaysians.
15 comments:
Congratulatins Yellow.. Maybe Red next year..
Sorry Cikgu Khai,
Since 1965 - 1970 I'll like blue becauce blue always win.
Keep up BLUE u alway the 1st and best.What u think ROS ? It's true
When we decided the segregate our residential areas, we blew what was the best chance to live together in harmony. As for me, I was lucky to be schooled in St Johns, so I had a great childhood and mixed around with friends irrespective of their background, SJI had kids from Kg Baru, Bangsar, Damansara, Keramat, Setapak playing and learning and mucking about together. We had the sons of Ministers, civil servants, businessmen being put in the same class. School was the great leveller! Nowadays...
Rizal
Agree with u, Was schooled in ACS S'ban myself. We never really saw ourselves as different ethnics, just mates, we played and studied together.we had fun, laughter and grew up learning the ropes from each other.At home, after school it was the same, we played in the neighbouring playgrounds and fields.Where are the fields? The common building grounds for the future generation?
I am sad the kids in my school do not enjoy what I did. Hope things change, I try, and will go on trying. God help me.
great blog u have here. congrats. i like to read all your stories. teachers are good story tellers do u realise that? keepup the good work. visit mine if u please www.engoasis.blogspot.com.
Salam Mak Hj Rahmah
Can call you that now right? since u are not my boss anymore. I actually miss you last year and all the witty replies to my naughty messages.
Please drop in freely and share your thoughts with me.
Thanks
Naim...i like to read ur blog. we tend to share the same exprience.I was really upset wit ur decision of tossing a coin in tarik tali event.For two days i almost cannot sleep well. i think its not the students' fault. it should goes to the technical fault. But as time goes by i understand that decision had make the event runs smoothly and finish it on time.Forgive me naim for being so childish and hate u for two days but i am ok now. next time plz don't ever toss a coin when it comes to judge the strength of people. we are not in the roman era.
dEAR REIMA,
Thanks for dropping by, the 'coin toss' has always been viewed as a cruel way to finding a solution in deadlock situations.
I knew that you were not aware that it is a common practice in almost all sporting events. I was not all hurt or insulted or perturbed by your reaction but tell you the truth, many of the guys had a good laugh at your expense. The funny thing was that there were many ridiculous decisions made in the earlier events by other officials and nobody protested. You see, ignorance make people into fools.
I have lots of experience in people hating my decisions as you know that I have been thrust in many situations like that before. Your's was "kira taik gigi" only.
I know you know my heart and I know that you are a dedicated teacher. Thanks. Glad to have you as a colleague. Keep dropping by.
Betul tu cikgu, memang taik gigi, he has been given worse treatment as the man in black, can you imagine every single decision made being scrutinised by thousands! Yes the toss of coin is a standard practice in the event of an impasse, i think cikgu naim teringat zaman dia toss coin depan kapten bola!
Rizal,
Thanks for coming to my support.N they better believe you as you are sort of an authority in sports(sendiri lantik punya).
Come to Banting next week, you may see me in action in the stadium again, not as the man in black but 'red' this time.
Well said indeed. Keep on writing cg. Naim. I might cedok one of your articles for the school mag, eh? But, will certainly ask for your permission first. Can ah?
On Malaysian kids nowadays .. I don't know whether my observation is true or not. When I'm in good classes, they seems to mix around with each other better than when I was in weak classes. And why is that?? Hmm...
Not really Capitt, something's really wrong with society, we have become more suspicious and skeptical of one another.
I believe one of the main reasons are
the politicians and their narrow agendas.
We have to do something and repair the damage. It is a tough job considering the current issues.
I hope, school through its' many activities will somehow help us here
Politics eh? When it comes to "politician politics" .. I have to reserve my comments, Cg Naim. Not that I'm afraid.. but, I am very confused with this topic. A topic that I'm never fond of. Seems very hay-wired here.
What you say is true though. Everyone is skeptical towards each other. And I thought I heard "unity in diversity", but no one walks the talks.
Capitt
I grew up not seeing my friends as of different races, married into a different race and religion, I am sad that the kids and even adults today can't seem to even sit together to have a simple meal. In most classrooms we have to force students to sit with students of other ethnic backgrounds.
That is why that "hug" was so special, I thank God Almighty that I was able to witness it, right there in our school, right in front of my eyes, and they were my boys, my footballers.
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