The story of MyTeam

Why is MyTeam successful?

PETALING JAYA: National team captain Mohd Kaironnisam Shahabuddin has signed up with Premier League outfit UPB-MyTeam for the new season that kicks off on Dec 22.

The 27-year-old defender was previously with Super League side Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) who were banned by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) from the M-League in September.

Other seasoned players in the team are former Selangor striker Harris Safwan Kamal and goalkeeper Faizal Abdul Rashid; and Negri Sembilan's striker Mohd Nizaruddin Yusop and defender Yosri Dermaraju.

Their Croatian coach Bojan Hodak have signed up compatriots Mijo Dadic, a defender and Marin Mikac, a former national Under-21 striker as the foreign players.

Ten of the players were identified through the MyTeam television reality show while three were retained from UPB, who played in the Premier League last season.

Club president and team manager Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday that expectations would be kept low for their debut season.

“The team is a blend of experience and enthusiasm,” he said when announcing the team.

“Based on the dedication and determination displayed by the players, I am optimistic that we can emerge as a competitive team over the next few years.”

“What is important is that we lay strong foundations for future sustainability. We have seen many clubs come and go. We hope that we are here to stay.”

In their seven friendly matches so far, MyTeam had beaten teams like Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, and Negri Sembilan. Their only loss was to the national Under-21 team.

Extra news...with Jason Lo (DJ and Rock Guitarist of Old Newspaper/Paper Lama song)

At this point of the interview, Lo mentioned MyTeam, and he became more animated as he talked about it.

“MyTeam was created by me and Khairy Jamaluddin – he is an old friend and we go back a long way. I was driving to work one day, and it hit me like a lightning bolt. I called Khairy – who is on the FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) board and told him we were going to every state in Malaysia. I wanted to run trials, find the best amateur football team and then play the Malaysian national team.”

Lo eventually was given a chance to present his idea to FAM, which was eventually accepted, and the subsequent television series and football match turned out to be a resounding success.

“We had 20,000 people for the trials and 60,000 packing the stadium when the match was played.”

How does Lo explain why MyTeam achieved the success that it did?

“Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and that’s what MyTeam offered on a plate.

“For example, our team captain was a boat driver who plied his route every day from Kuala Trengganu to Pulau Perhentian. We went to his hometown to interview his parents and colleagues, and that was the beauty of it.

“To me, it was never a football programme really, but a people programme. It was branded in such a way that it did not belong to any corporation or association, but belonged to the viewers instead.”

For Lo, the MyTeam experience was a personal milestone, not only because it indulged his love of football, but for what it brought to other people as well.

“It is all about belief, really. People do not believe in their dreams anymore. But in a few short months we gave the team a chance to live a dream. We brought them to Old Trafford, and they had the chance to play on that ground with people like Brian McClair and Dennis Irwin. It is something that the players and I will re-live for the rest of our lives.”

While football remains one of Lo’s passions, music is still the one thing that is closest to his heart.

“I have always loved football and Chelsea, but music is my first love. I have always wanted to do music. But these days it has kind of extended into a hobby because you need to survive. The idea was to have a successful business built around the music that provided funds to do our music.”

Lo explained that he still has musical ambitions to fulfil. “I dream to be the first Malaysian to have a number one hit on the Billboard charts. The second is to play at Wembley and finally, to make 20 albums in my lifetime.”

He realises that his goals will not be easily achieved, and he has to build his way up to achieve his ambitions.

“The only way to get to the stars is to walk – there are no rockets,” Lo stated.

Whatever transpires in his career, Lo will always have a positive outlook on life, it seems.

“What is important is not that I have achieved those goals but that I have done everything I can. Success is achieved when you reach a point, looking down from a mountain of achievement and realise you are not on the ground any more. Even if I have not reached my goals, hopefully I can say I came close to it.”

Source : TheStar Online Archives