4 months in
August 1, 2024It’s been four months in and nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. I went in knowing that it wouldn’t be easy but this last two weeks have been extremely frustrating. I want to be honest even as I pen down some thoughts; I feel it is important to share my perspective so that others would also have a lil’ peek into what being a general manager in a football club entails. I’ve learnt a lot in the time I’ve stepped up - from PR/crisis management, to delicately balancing my own ethos and values as a person vis-a-vis the financial “viability” of the club at a more macro level, to even better time management + priorities.
1. PR/crisis management + empathy
The most recent incident to rock the local football scene was the racist episode that happened at one of our home games. At the club’s end, I had to launch a full scale internal investigation - getting statements, speaking with ‘witnesses’, working with our fan group, meeting up with the affected player, working closely with the football association. It’s been a lot of work for a moment of folly and stupidity by a few guys.
Of course there is gravity in this situation, the perpetrators deserve to be punished but you know what? I feel sorry for both parties. Sorry that Salif Cisse had to go through this unpleasant incident. It was unsolicited and uncalled for, but Salif was the bigger person, choosing not to engage or react. I also feel sorry for the perpetrators because I sense their remorse. I sense their regret and I know they are struggling mentally as well. There’s backlash in the football community, calling for ‘naming and shaming’, ‘life time bans’ etc. It’s a different story if they are recalcitrants, or unrepentant. But they’ve been cooperative, wanting to meet the affected player to apologise and willing to accept whatever punishment meted. My hope is for us to be a forgiving community, and to welcome back as soon as they serve their dues. These are my views and articulated in my own personal capacity.
2. New experiences and fan club
On a separate thread, one thing I’ve been trying to do is to get our youth players and COE parents more involved with the club. We’ve decided to invite COE parents on a rotational basis to the VIP lounge during home games to enjoy a different experience and meet with our committee members. It is also an opportunity to thank some of these parents who have been serving as reps and assisting me with some task.
One of my u13 kids who was gifted this experience texted me that “it was very good - the football game, the padded seats and the amazing view”, but “I prefer the stands cause can get closer to the ultra eagles” :’) Shoutout to the UEs for taking care of the young ones and giving them this special experience. I just want to put it out there that the good folks at UE were NOT involved in the racist incident. Most unfortunately, many associate the perpetrators with them but you’re hearing this from me, they are two separate entities and I trust the fellas at UE.
3. “Good” people and “bad” people
Few evenings back, I had news of an in-principal approval for a big contract I’ve been working on; stressing about it for weeks on end. Yet, I couldn’t feel happy about this good news. It really hit me when I sat on the sofa with K and told him this bitter irony - that I am upset because I can’t be happy with this small win. I have so much on my plate, but more so because I cannot separate my warm, empathetic being from how cold and insensitive people can be because of the drive for economic numbers. I will never make a good businessman fr. It is my strength and my weakness - that I am an emotional creature who cares deeply about people, it makes it difficult for me to be ‘docile’ and accept that I have to compromise because of other macro factors. Young me would have just packed my bag and leave. I did that in 2015. I refused to work in an environment where people had little empathy for anyone.
Now in 2024, I need to constantly remind myself that there are “good” people and “bad” people”. Humans are not innately bad, rather, we are driven by different agendas, egos, intentions. If I can try to understand or see from the POV of these “bad” people, it makes things a bit more palatable. Maybe.
At the end of the day, it’s up to me whether I choose to see this glass as half-empty or half-full, and I hope to have more half-fulls moving forward.
4. Kindess isn’t expensive
I’ve resigned to the fact that I won’t be rich. I say yes to too many things (my fault). And while I don’t need to be rich, I hope to always have kindness in my heart. Few days back, I asked someone with *good* financial ability to make a small contribution for a cause but was instead met with so many questions, doubts and hesitation. It disgusted me. I thought about Mel and family, and how even in their single room rental flat, they would be the first to offer their only meal to anyone out there asking. Wealth destroys many of us.
Speaking of kindness, I didn’t really wanna broadcast this initially but as a segway from the above topic, I thought it might be gentle reminder to us that kindness doesn’t need to be expensive.
There was a troubled gentleman who randomly poured out this long spiel about his family issues on a football telegram chat I follow. It was a strange place to be sharing some thing so, so personal which is why this desperation for an outlet and cry for help kept echoing in my head. The one thing that hit me was when he said something along the lines of how local football is the one thing keeping him alive. I reached out and offered a pair of tix - honestly, it’s a very small effort at my end but I’m reminded that sometimes these small little things can mean a lot to people. If you’re reading this, do some thing small today ;)
It’s been a long piece, but trust me, I do have a lot more running in my head. In two weeks, I resume my lecturing responsibilities in NUS and NAFA. The youth league restarts as well. It’s not gonna be easy, but one week at a time.
Psalm 54:4