PASSION

“One must always practise with passion.” I always say, “whether you intend to win or mere participate.” I might add.

Passion to do anything is a winning factor in accomplishing a project, a game, a job or staging a protest.

I know of one lawyer who is not very accomplished. He is Ah Jong. He is slow and slurs in speech. His written submissions that I once received was verbose. During his first pre-trial management case, he surprised his opponent by producing his expert witness a blind and limp masuer.

Was it a good strategy? I wonder.

So two weekends prior trial, I met him up off court on the Simpang Tiga football pitch. The fixture was The Professionals verses the Ex Army Association. The Ex Army, a heavy weight and towards half time, was leading six nil. The loosing team was us, the Professionals and by now have exhausted all the reserves and most of them could barely walk in the field.

The one team mate we had who seemed to have tireless legs and fearless spirit throughout the gruelling 90 minutes was this super Jong, the mid fielder. Ah Jong defended vehelmly the team and very often prevented easy goals from the other side. The saves seemed to be from near impossible position. He kept running and constantly feeding the balls to our attackers. He could have been the goal keeper if not due to his unimpressive height.

While I felt I could lie down and stopped dead, our energised friend persisted with all his might. The stronger team's tackles were relentless and punishing out running the weaker team of professionals. We were doomed.

The game ended quite light heartedly. At stoppage time everybody expected another easy goal from the fitter team making a eight nil by just walking towards our goal keeper.

Where were all the defenders? All disappeared by weak knees or intimidation? I was frustrated.

A sudden rain took over and all participants slowed down with joy or with mixture of joy and relief that the game is soon to be over. But not just yet! I could see that our hard working centre mid fielder, the skinniest of the squad ran with such determination power and passion and suddenly he stole the ball from the opponent's feet and never let go. There was a slight hint of smile from his jaw and a bit of Steven Gerrad's grace and confidence, slowly but steadily delivered the ball in the opponent's net.

The score was 7:1. Hullyluyah!

Later, the captain of the winning team congratulate our man of the match and remarked, “ that was some good foot works.”

“Yeah! Shear love of it. We lawyers love to fight till drop dead.” Our scorer's replied with laughs.

The rest of us burst with laughters and cheers emitting the unmistakable sweaty sense of satisfaction of having played a harsh hard and wonderful sport.

...................................
Liew Shau Jin (ABS)

20.03.2006.

NOTES:

1. Simpang Tiga football pitch – unofficial football ground free for anybody but now replaced by high rise shophouses.

2. Steven Gerrad - current Liverpool Football Club Skipper, a famous English Premiership League team, most good looking footballer, Englishman.