Kammys Musing

Growing up in Melaka I was never really into sports.
Can’t run fast in athletics, nor skilled enough in football/soccer.
I hated the physical contact, the slide, tussling for the ball.
The fact that I started wearing glasses at year 6 didn’t help either.

I got into high school in Kuala Kangsar. In my first year they had this football league and it was compulsory to join a team. Bummer. Not this again.

Then came the call to join a basketball training session.
I reasoned out that if I’m not good with my legs, I should try my hands.
Teenagers are good with their hands, right?

We did not have a full time coach so the basketball basics were taught by the seniors. Some of them are still close friends to this day.

Dribbling, passing, shooting.
The mantra ingrained in us was to love the ball like its your own.
The ball should be one with your hands. Don’t sit on the ball.
Take it to sleep (some of us did).

Occasionally some ex-students/old boys would come back to part some words of wisdom, brag their skills to us juniors, or both. Must be the testosterone.

Some even had a team name like “POWER & GLORY“.
If that doesn’t wet your 13 year old curiosity pants, I don’t know what will.

I used a Pallas Jazz white shoes; the toe box area would start to tear after heavy usage. We were not poor but having a new shoes every time you damage one is not a priority.
I tried sowing it and later apply liquid chalk to whiten it.
I found that as it dries and hardened, the liquid chalk also has adhesive effect, albeit a temporary one. I bought a new shoe eventually.

Certain Sundays, we will go for an early morning jog. From the school, up the hill to the Iskandariah Palace and back, about 6km return trip. Fondly called ‘sloping’, maybe because the Bukit Chandan is a hilly area.

I remember running with mist still lingering around the area, cool air filling our chest. We’ll take a rest by the river, have a chat and run back to the school for breakfast. Once I accidentally farted and the seniors jokingly asked me to wash my bum in the river.

One hell of a way to make an impression.

Stay hungry, stay safe.