04/07/2026
Wow, so cool to read about Ehsan's experience playing in our recently concluded MCCH Community Football League (MCFL) 2026! 🤩 It's amazing to see the next generation getting involved and having such a blast. I can only imagine the excitement he felt stepping onto the field. Huge shoutout to Din Amri for raising such a talented young star! 🌟 Keep up the great work, Ehsan!
Original link: https://www.g90l.com/pitch-side-journal/the-summer-evening-with-orkid/
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Away from the organised structure of FA youth leagues lies community football, a separate world of the sport I was previously oblivious to. Here, local communities set up their own versions of grassroots. Away from the eyes of scouts and the rigid rules of the FA, community leagues offer a whole new opportunity to experience the game without half as much of the pressure.
My first experience of community league football came when, on one random Thursday, my mom got a call from her Malaysian friend that is active in the MCCH community (Malaysian Community of Cheetham Hill). One of their teams, Team Orkid, was short of a player and was going into Gameweek 2 with seven players in an 8-a-side tournament. One of the many advantages of community leagues, especially with the MCCH, is the wildcard rule. If necessary, teams can bring along an unsigned player, something that would breach FA rules in organised grassroots, forcing teams to play one or two men down. Not in the MCCH. Here, the rules are only as strict as the community deems necessary.
So, I was the wildcard for Orkid's Gameweek 2, filling numbers to properly establish the 8-a-side format. Arriving on that Friday night, I was excited; this would only be my second time playing with other Malaysians like myself, the first time being proper organised football with TSS Selangor. I warmed up with my new teammates, fitting into a spare shirt that Raf—the captain of Team Orkid—handed me. We watched as the other game wrapped up, and I quickly realised none of them were really my age. They all looked like uni students, undergraduates, postgraduates, and even some uncles as well. It was a mix of people who, if it were not for this football league, might never have even met—fathers touching 30 years old, and kids like me, still in high school.
"The flexibility and community spirit of the MCCH fascinated me and only made me more excited for the game."
Before I knew it, the first game ended and we were all joined up on the pitch ready for our kick-off. I wasn't entirely prepared, as my warm-up consisted of a few rondos and some half-hearted stretching, so I got off to a pretty shaky start. However, with time I grew into the game and loved every second. Playing alongside my Malaysian brothers and uncles was something entirely new to me. I felt like I belonged. Outside of the annual summer trip back to Malaysia, I hadn't been exposed much to my heritage.
"I was surrounded by people just like me: Malaysians who simply love football."
The game was at a standstill, with neither team yet to break the deadlock at 0-0. Suddenly a corner came flying into our box, but it was well defended by our team to spark a counter-attack. Luckily enough, the ball fell to my feet. Using a burst of youth against the heavier legs of the older defenders, I drove past them, storming up the pitch and slotting the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 Orkid! My first game with my first goal; I was enjoying the moment and my confidence began to soar.
Half-time came and went, and in the second half, my confidence only grew. Collecting the ball from deep, driving up the pitch, and throwing in a few flicks and tricks, I was thoroughly enjoying the MCCH experience.
However, I probably should have been a bit more clinical with my chances.
In the closing minutes, the ball was pulled across our box for a tap-in and a late equaliser by the opposition. 1-1. What I thought was a game we were dominating and on track to win confidently turned into us scraping a point. Then the whistle blew, just as our team was looking to launch one last attack.
"Even if we did miss out on what could have been a possible three points, I came off the pitch no sadder than if we had won. I wasn't there for the league standings. I was there for the experience, the fun, and the familiar faces. Thank you to Raf and the rest of MCCH for giving me this opportunity to play amongst my abang and uncles."
