FESPIC - Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Others

How I ended up in PLPP Bangi

When I signed up for the volunteering service, never had I thought I would go this far. The 10 days experience here really changed my life. Facing with uncertainty, as the reporting day for duty coincide with the last paper of my exam. All my friends withdrew once they knew there won’t be any payment. Even Chen Hung was not that enthusiastic and only agreed to come with me the day before. And he only packed his stuff on that day of reporting itself. It’s was quite tough for both of us as we had a tough exam by our very own maniac professor at 12pm till 3pm that day. With one hour left before the closing time for check in at 4pm, it’s really difficult considering we didn’t have our lunch! But all the sudden, I was assigned back to PLPP, Bangi (venue for goalball). The procedure on how I get the venue is a crazy account. With around 500 people in the hall, we were asked to choose our preferred hotel of 10. Everybody was scrambling and hustling to get into the line of the respective hotel.

We were in this group of 15 people for the Grand Season Hotel. They were all…….. Pathetic I must say. Can’t believe they were university student. Seriously. I can’t elaborate more. You got to see it to believe it. Once in the group we need to fill in either team A or B with each team consists 7 or 8 people. We were puzzled to what the meaning behind team A and B. Initially, we thought it’s something on different shift. I filled up the team B sheet and my group was discussing the time shift already when all the sudden the coordinator, Hamimah told us that all those who filled up team B will go on duty at the venue. We were fooled by her arrangement again. We were lost again. This time we had to search for venue. It’s like auction again. I was really frustrated. But there was blessing in disguise when my future person in charge, Mr. Azman standing in front of me shouting PLPP… BANGI…GOALBALL.

Without any hesitations, we quickly filled up our name. I didn’t care what goalball is, for as long as I’m out from my group and got a venue for duty. After being told that the event will only start on 24^th, (extra one day rest before duty) we decided to hang around in the vicinity of UPM for supper as we didn’t have dinner (not provided). We chat till 4am that night. But a morning call by Mr. Azman made us must report to duty at 8am on 25^th owing to the fact that teams were coming for practice session. He had made a mistake in seeing the timetable. After spending just one night with Chen Hung as my fourth roommates in university life, I soon headed back to my hostel in UKM. In a nick of time, I, Chen Hung and Syed packed our stuff and say goodbye to UPM.

What is Goalball?

Though to explain. Watch this

Blue Thursday

First day, it’s multi-tasking job for us. To be exact our transportation here doesn’t require much energy-sapping as most of the athletes are just visually impaired. They don’t require any wheelchairs compared to other venue. My duty? Make them come and go back safely to their hotel. The first three days of our presence is the most crucial. Most of the teams not yet used to the place and how the procedure works. However, back to my first day, no one brief or instruct us of our job. We just bring the arriving team to the training hall before they get to train at the competition hall based on their allocated time schedule.

There, we were told to fix the line and net (the technical officials mistakenly thought us as their staffs). We did it anyway. Then, came the team meeting where my friend on the request of Chinese Taipei coach helped him out with the translation. We even accompanied one coach to buy reload card from the shop nearby. From water boy to runner boy… we attended any request of help. But our efforts were all in vain when we were mistakenly called up to the meeting for technical volunteer. There, I raised up the issue of no proper briefing for us. Everyone in the room was laughing and thinking that we were there for nothing and did nothing that day. It was quite disheartening. All the running, all the efforts to help the teams went down the drain. We were so disappointed being treated like that.

We left the meeting room. The technical staffs never helped us out when there were request by the contingents and pushed the responsibility around. I remembered how I was told to find the venue manager to sort out the water issue by the technical official only to be told to go back to the technical staff. We were the one who ran around under scorching sun trying to solve everything out while they were sitting inside the air-conditioned room. It was the day when the first day of your job can be blue in color. Blue Thursday……

China

They were the dark horse of the whole event and they certainly lived up to their billing. Their LO is the most enthusiastic LO I ever witnessed. Sometimes I wondered her actual nationality? Miss Lai, I think the China team was very lucky to have you as their LO. That’s from the bottom of heart. Because of her, I had the privilege to enter one of their players’ room. Speaking with their players was quite embarrassing though. Now only I knew that my mother tongue (Cantonese) was originated from a small province in China named Guangdong. And I always thought Cantonese language came from Hong Kong. Hey, I’ve spoken to one of their interpreter and she said my Mandarin not too bad either. One thing I respect about China was their commitment to the country. When I praised their player, Liang Liang (Yup that is his name) of his marvelous performance, he promptly diverted the compliment to his country and told me it was his duty to make his country proud. So, to all the footballers out there who earn 120K per week, are you listening?

China’s Coach

He was cool as cucumber. With his strict look, it scared me to even approach him for a chat. His big sized make me wonder whether he was a basketball player or coach before. Nevertheless, he reminded me of Confucius’s teaching. Filial piety. He portrayed a fatherly figure to all his players. The players respect and listen to him. The last day when China team emerged as champion was the most shocking scene. He smiled for the first time in 10 days. He even posed with peace sign during photographing. On why I said he portrayed as father to the players was the scene when I saw him patted on his player’s head and face. It reminisced of those days when a young child with his father patting on his head saying good boy…. Those were the days. He was generous enough to swap T-shirt with the New Zealand’s coach once he overheard the request and ask them with sign language whether they mind it’s a soiled shirt.

Iran

This team when they arrived caused me big headache. They arrived with 15 minutes left for their scheduled training session both men and women. They scolded the bus driver for not knowing the venue. Poor guy. Their coach who can speak English reminded me of the scientist from Discovery Channel’s Human Body. His thick spectacles and moustache. Their LO, Faris only with the team on the second day because of some unfortunate mismanagement. Yet he was very helpful to them. I wonder whether the Iranian gave him one gold bar at the end of the day. Because the collar pin from Iran was said to have some percentage of gold powder in it. About the team, no one expected their men team to reach the final. Seriously. Their attack was not the strongest and their defense is nothing to shout about.

I’m very afraid of their women team all the time. Why? Whenever they were preparing to enter the hall, you will be shocked there is earthquake in Malaysia. They stamped their feet loud while marched to the entrance. With their altered version of Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life which sounds something like this………. One, Two, Three, Iran, Iran, Iran… it sent warning to you (like the ambulance sounding the siren) to clear the way for them. Another unforgettable moment with the women team was when I chauffeured them from the competition venue to the training ground. It was raining heavily. One of their players opened the driver seat where I was seating and tried to get in. I was shocked. Luckily her coach stopped her or else…… Her coach explained that their country was left hand drive and the player mistaken.

Japan

Hah… The team which I preferred most. Their people are so polite and friendly. My favorite team, both the men and women. Let’s start with the men. Well, they have this so called good looking player named Hanai. To me he’s just like any other Japanese chap. Maybe it was his long hair that made him special. If he had curly hair, then it will be different story. All the volunteer girls loved him. Not a powerful player but deceptive I must said. His trickery is very much to savor. He purposely bounces the ball so that the opponents will guess it’s a high ball but they didn’t realize the ball still with him and he quickly rolled to them. Most of his trickery didn’t bear in goal. However, produced a heroic performance on the 3^rd placing playoff. He scored one of the slowest push-goal ever against the Korean. His goal must have wrecked the Korean players. Their women too have a gem in their number 2 player.

The name is something like Utare. She was the architect (sorry engineer) of all the Japanese attack. With her soft-tone and tapping on the floor, she was the reason of Japan’s good coordination. She tapped the floor from the middle to give signal to their player of how many seconds left and to let their players of where they are standing. She praised her teammate whoever blocked the ball. Good leader I must say. One thing, she might the only player that doesn’t attack in the whole competition! Their LO, Ina is the one I least worry about the transportation. Just one miss call and the bus will be there. That’s the promise the management at the troublesome Palm Garden hotel especially for her. Haha... Abang Din...

Mrs. Nobuko

Luckily, the Japanese was accompanied by their interpreter Mrs. Nobuko Yoshino. Chatting with her was very worthy of note. She’s 50s something and used to be a flight attendant. No wonder her English is excellent. She explained her name to me. “Nobuko” means “trustworthy child” (she told me I can trust her) and “Yoshino” means “cherry blossom” or “sakura flower”. Well, I was too not to be outdone and explained my name to her. She was overwhelmed when she knew the meaning of my name until the first syllable of my surname “Au” which I explained that it doesn’t have any meaning and it’s mean Australia’s “Au”. I was shocked when one of her three children married to a Chinese! You know the history between China and Japan… But it’s sad to witness some sentiment during their match by the other country supporters. By the way, thank Mrs. Nobuko for your gift. A Japanese fan (but made in China). Isn’t it ironic? But it was your words on it that was very meaningful.

Smoking

Let’s see. The official smokes. The referee smokes. The team manager smokes. The team coach smokes. The bus driver smokes. My in-charge supervisor smokes. My colleague there who is just Form 3 smokes! Even the players themselves smoke!! Smoke. Smoke. Smoke. With different countries, come different scent of smoke that will choke you to dead. I was searching for fresh air to breathe there. If it was other people I can forgive them but to know the fact that the players puffing before and after the game and before and after entering the bus is something sore to the eye. Don’t they know smoking is bad for life especially for athletes? Sighed…

Lunch issue

On my first day there, we were mistakenly recognized as technical volunteers. But after something bad happened on that day (long story) the relationship between the technical and transportation department turned sour. Things became worse when lunch issue crept in. The technical officials informed us on the third day that there won’t be anymore food for the transportation volunteers and the lunch is only for their technical volunteers. Before this, we get our lunch because there was extra left. Hmmm… sound likes beggars… Soon, all hell broke loose when Mr. Azman told us to boycott them and our allowance will continue to be counted. Torn between volunteer spirit and Mr. Azman’s instruction, I chose to continue.

I coaxed my friends to stay. So the next day, it was really VOLUNTEER spirit. With the heart that the show must go on, we carried on with the duty. I even took over from my Mr. Azman’s duty by contacting the hotel’s in-charge person to send bus and fetch the athletes. Mr. Azman was reluctant to let me know this number at first. To know their hand phone number you need to befriend the bus driver from the respective hotel;p Nobody knew that we worked the last two days without our person in-charged. I was saddened when I knew some of my colleagues happily skipped the duty once being told. One boy told me directly that he didn’t want to come due to the fact he’s lazy to wake up early to catch the bus to here. Sighed…

Korea

I had some bond with this team. Not with the players but the LO and their coaches. They were late for training and for the team manager’s meeting on the first day. With limited communication, I helped them to the technical officials. Their LO was a Korean that live in Malaysia. You know the small so-called Korean town at Ampang. Her name is Cheon. Just reached here 9 months ago. Her age? 15 years old. Every bus drivers had mistaken her as a Malaysian Chinese. I pitied her. She was young and was torn between her original duty and her own country. Some of her request is beyond the limit. Not her fault though. But I was annoyed by the way how the transportation people at the hotel treated her. It could be dealt in a more professional ways. So the last few days, I try my best to help her and explained to every bus drivers that she don’t understand Bahasa Malaysia. After some chat, I get to know she study in the area where I live. Talk about coincidence. Two years study here and off to US. One of the comical moment was when their team coach asked me about their tradition, “You eat kimchi?” I replied... “Well I watch Daejangeum… I know kimchi… But I never try it before”.

Water issue

RO water vending machine gives you RM 0.20 per liter. Recently, they even give free trial in my hostel for 3 days too. Yet I can’t find any drinking water at the venue itself. Well, this issue started to arise on the first training day when the New Zealand’s manager asked for drinkable water. It was hot and they were not used to it. It was a simple request yet the officials can’t and don’t want to help me solve this issue for them. They told me to inform the manager that there was no water for the team. You know tai-chi? It was pushing around the responsibility. Well, here was the starting point of my conflict with the technical officials. With heavy heart, I was scratching my head for a solution. At one point, I wanted to dig my own pocket and buy some mineral water for them but my intention was put off by my friends. How am I going to answer the manager’s sarcastic question “Young men, you mean Malaysia can’t provide any drinking water for us?”

Finally, I managed to come out with solution. I remembered that the technical secretariat room has a water dispenser machine. I told the manager that I can’t bring the water to them because it’s a water dispenser machine. I ask them whether they had bottles with them so they can follow me to fill up in the room. Of course the technical officials can’t do anything when the team manager came in. Fuh… Then the same happened for Korean. Well, they missed the manager’s meeting about the water is LO’s responsibility to bring from hotel. What to do? I again had to accompany them to take the water. This time, we managed to get one whole box of water. So easy? No way. The technical officials told them that they loaned them one box of water and by tomorrow they must returned one box back. They told me to make sure that they return one. Oh my… I was really ashamed to walk back to the team and explained it to the Korean’s LO. Can’t they just spare one box to them? Sighed… But, the Cheon forgot to bring back the next day, and I just told her to forget about it. The officials won’t remember it anymore.

Qatar

Qatar was a funny team. Their coach is a Tunisian. Yeah, he smokes. They had one player that is very big-sized (watched Big Momma House?). He was the laziest player on the court. While most of the player will be on their defensive position guarding, he just laid and sat there lazily. Their LO, Safiyah told me that most of them sick and can’t adapt to the time zone here. Though he might be lazy on the court but the hall turned ooh ahh when he shocked the crowd on his game against Lebanon. He single-handed them a white wash 10-0 thumping with his bouncing ball attack. At one point he was substituted out by his coach so that he could get a breather. The team suddenly can’t find the extra edge in attack when he was off. Soon the score became 9-0 and the coach decided to unleash the guy back and he scored the match winning goal on his first touch. I asked Safiyah why he was so strong in a short while. She jokingly told me that it was maybe their coach’s tactics of not letting him eat his breakfast before the game and he vent his anger on the Lebanese.

Iraq

Well, nothing really happen with this team. One thing to mention was their coach’s thick spectacles. And their LO, Lili who the bus driver always asked me to send regards to her in the venue. They were the only team to have a member left out from the bus when the headed back to the hotel. The poor Iraqis was talking with the Jordan players when his team left. He was frightened when he noticed it out. Luckily, the Jordan team share the same hotel with them. One of Jordan player teasingly told him, “Never mind, from now on you become a Jordanian”.

Jordan

Apart from their country name shares the same name with my legendary basketball idol, I didn’t get enough chance to get know with them. Well, their LO, Ila study at UIA. At least it’s near my house. I’ll be going to their national career carnival there soon.

Lebanon

They were the latecomer in the event. When they arrived, there was lightning as it was about to rain. Their coach asked me is it bomb. There was one guy in this team which his real identity and purpose was under questioned. He was not the player. He was not the coach. He was not even the team manager. Sometimes, I wonder is he a Lebanese too? I think he came here to promote himself rather than supporting the team. He had this Bollywood actor’s good look. So, he was quite well-sought after by all the girls in the venue for photograph. Their LO is Syahila. I felt very guilty for not being able to trace the bus she took. She left her hand phone on the bus. Well, when she lost her hand phone I was just starting to jot down all the bus driver and plate number as I felt it’s better to recognized the bus driver if any cases. I tried to call her hand phone to help her out with hope that some players that took the bus will answer the call but to no avail. Soon, her battery dried out (or simcard being took out) cause it doesn’t go thru anymore.

Thailand

They were the most easy to handle team. On the first day, they nearly became the first team to be disqualified for not reporting to the secretariat room 30 minutes before the game. As their match was the first and they didn’t attend the team manager’s meeting the day before, they didn’t know the procedure. Luckily, I met one Thailand umpire and I told them that their team had arrived at the other hall. Yeah! One note about this team is that you don’t let their normal Asian built sized fools you. If they take off their shirts, you noticed six packed muscle and powerful biceps behind those thick clothes. Their LO, Wan was assigned quite late to them. On the day when the Thais were facing team Malaysia in the afternoon, they had just played a team in the morning. So they decided to stay at PLPP rather than going back to hotel. Their food was supposed to be delivered by the hotel’s van but it didn’t arrived. I was quite panicked. What if they report us of purposely starve them so they can’t beat Malaysia? But they didn’t complained. They played the game with empty stomach. Luckily (or sadly?), they beat Malaysia by a whisker 5-4. Their food only arrived after they finished the game. Salute to you team Thailand. Maybe gulping down some free Milo can stave away the hunger.

Chinese Taipei

They had this one long white hair player which reminds me of the Stormrider character. Still, I think it’s my friend Chen Hung who will remember team Chinese Taipei the most. As their LO, Susan needs to be with the team to classification venue at Hospital Besar, their coach requested our help for translation during the team manager’s meeting. Well, being the novice in Mandarin myself, it was my friend who helps him the most. But their coach reminds me how a humbled yet smart person can be. I remembered in the training hall, where the Koreans had arrived (they were due to play Chinese Taipei on that day) first on the training hall before them, the coach instructed their player to act while training. One of the players fell down theatrically reminisce of Cristiano Ronaldo. Oscar award to them.

Host country Malaysia

They look promising with their first training session. Their number one player has a beautiful technique of executing shots. Being the host, of course they will be a lot of cheering. But what sadden me most is the fact that the supporters not only intimidating the opponent but also our own player. When, we missed a penalty, the supporter was jeering our player. I found that unacceptable. Maybe he was trying to psyche up the player. But I don’t believe it helps. One of their player, Rau was very sporting in helping me out when he lent one training balls to the Iranian team (the training ball issue is another one long story). Then, the Malaysia teams turn nationality supporting the Iranian women team while they were waiting their bus. Their shouting and heckling really cause the Japan team to stumble and unable to play their rhythm.

Cheering

The Japanese has the best cheering of all. They are really polite when they shout the name of their opponent country before their country. Besides the Japanese women team sang song together before they entered the match. Nice tune. I was there listening when they belted it out. I mesmerized by their tone until the ground-shaking Ricky Martin’s tune shattered the harmonic atmosphere (The Iran women arrived). There was one funny scene when Japanese women team were cheering their men’s game against China. When the Chinese women’s player shouted “Chia You”. Their Japanese player too shouted “Chia You”. This went on for a while which created laughter in the hall.

Firework

The closing ceremony firework was very beatiful that night