The boisterous shouts in various languages – Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin with a Kelantanese accent – from the young people eagerly chasing the ball in the middle of the field is heartwarming, igniting a sense of harmony that is deeply rooted in this village community.
For 17-year-old K Maadef Kannan, affectionately known as Madi, football is not just a game but a bridge that connects him with his Malay and Chinese friends.
“This is true independence – not just about waving the Jalur Gemilang, but living like a family, accepting one another as we are,” he told Bernama recently.
Admitting that he was initially shy to join the sport as he was the only Indian footballer in the village, Madi said the team spirit shown by all the players has made that reluctance disappear.
“My Malay and Chinese friends treat me like family. From there, I realised that unity is not something you wait for others to create; we are the ones who create it ourselves,” he said.
Madi added that Malaysians should not build racial walls but instead go in pursuit of a common goal – just like in a football game.
Every time a tournament is held, the atmosphere in the village is akin to that of a small festival, as people of different races gather at the field, some bringing their young children or selling drinks in plastic bags, cheering the players on.
“It’s funny when the Indian aunties try to cheer using the Kelantanese accent. But that’s the beauty of it: we laugh together, we don’t feel like strangers, we feel like one big family,” Madi added.
His friend, Noor Ramli Saifulddin, 18, shared that Madi’s presence has brought a new spirit to their team.
“We’ve become close. Sometimes we ride motorcycles to the field together, and sometimes we ask Madi to teach us Tamil words. When you have friends from different races, life becomes more vibrant,” he said.
Another player, Chai Chun Kit, 20, said football taught him the meaning of mutual respect and harmony, as every game demands teamwork regardless of race or religion.
“On the field, there is no difference between who is Malay, Chinese or Indian. The important thing is we take care of our team, we take care of our friends. To me, that is the true meaning of freedom.”