PERSPECTIVE: Malaysian footballer celebrating Xmas at home in Perth.

ANON

The Sports Section of Today's Star... back page news of XMas celebrations by Footballer

JUNIOR EDSTAL, the Naturalised Malaysian Australian celebrating Xmas "at home in Perth"

Something started bothering me. I had a look at the narrative and realized the oddity.....those following the development of the Malaysian National Football Team, especially those selected for the forthcoming tournament consist of more or less 40 to 50% Naturalised players.

We won't go into details about their playing career. The fact that they opted for Malaysia....where some teams are not able to pay monthly salaries rather than the more lucrative leagues in neighboring countries of Asia and Europe.... are indicator of their quality and standard...never mind that drop of Malaysian blood from past dubious liaisons with Malaysian Partners...a loving "family"....all smiles in anticipation of Christmas Celebrations. at HOME IN PERTH.... celebrating WITH HIS PARTNER....not spouse or wife. Different family values, maybe.

My thoughts are not so much on the current squad which FAM hopes will be their "quick fix to success" problem....but more on other local centrebacks playing in the current Malaysian league. Maybe there are a dozen of them hoping to represent Malaysia in the future....and spending their Xmas with their families in Ipoh, Penang, Seremban Melaka, Kuching, Tawau....all overlooked due to the presence of an Aussie who lives with his partner, and ply his trade here, and returns to Australia for festivities.

That was the matter that was troubling me.

As for the Star's choice of photos to glamourize......maybe Avineshwaran and his Sports Editors saw a bigger but different picture of the future of football in Malaysia....worrying!

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