Pernah

"Ma, nk beli boot bola. boleh dak?"

"Ko nak buat apa?"

"Nak main bola la, wakil sekolah. Abang tarak boot"

"Pi tanya ayah."

I still remember the first time I bought a pair of football boots with my mother. It was because I was selected to represent the school in a football tournament. I was 10 back then, I had previously owned 2 pairs of football boots but they were bought at a carboot sale in England and I never really tried them on. Ayah just bought them because they we cheap and he thought I might need them later in life. Unfortunately, I grew out of those boots and needed a new pair. Hence the beginning.

We rolled up in the car and mama took me to the Bata shop in Batu Pahat, Johor. I didn't have any preferences back then, all I knew was that I was feeling giddy and excited because I was about to buy my first ever self-selected pair of boots.

I paced up and down the shop, looking at various pairs of boots. Ooooh, that one looks nice. Nah, this one is  better! Just look at the colour, black and electric green. And look, its even light as well, as I weighed it in my palm.

"Ma, nak yang ni boleh? Harga dia RM69.90"

"Uih, awat mahal sgt? Yang murah sikit tak dak ka? Ko bukan nak main untuk Johor pon, wakil sekolah ja"

Reluctantly, I replaced the boot on its display shelf and sulked in my heart. I knew mama was going to say no. Whatever, I'm just gonna grab another thats cheaper. As I looked on the shelves of Power branded boots, my sight landed on another pair, the same black and electric green colour, but cheaper. Instantly, I pointed it to mama.

"Yang ni ok ma?"

"Yang ni berapa plak harga?"

"RM39.90. Ok dak?

"Ko betoi ka nk yang ni? Pi try tgk ada size ka x"

Yes! I love you mama! hehehe. I was really happy and nervously tried on for size. I finally found it, size 5 black and electric green Power football boots. I put them on and walked up and down the isle, testing for comfort and the right fit.

"Ok kot ni, tak sakit apa pon, ketat pon dak"

"Ok, jom bayaq" said mama.

That was the first time I bought a pair of football boots and I was so happy. I went on to score a few goals in tournament. We lost in the semis, which I scored again. I played in central midfield for my primary school team and that was my footballing history kicked off.

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I was 13, and I badly wanted to go to a school called Sekolah Tunku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh. The reason behind this was because Faiz, the son of the Tok Kadi went to STAR and he was a cool guy, so I thought all cool people went there. He was in Form 5 back then, compared to me who just finished my UPSR. However, I ended up in MCKK, a school I've never heard of nor have I heard of any other boarding school. Oh, I did apply for Sekolah Agama Johor and got an offer. But mama and ayah said I can go to MCKK so I just nodded and ended up spending 5years of my life there.

At MCKK, I arrived with a pair of black PVC shoes and black sport shoes. I loved football and wanted to play football there because the first sight of the school that awed me was its flat, even and beautifully laid green fields. Just the right place where I want to be kicking the ball. However, I didn't have my football boots mainly because I didn't bring them, and also because I ripped them up playing football in primary school. But since all I did back in Form1 was endless push-ups and squats, I didn't really have time to think about that. Life as a fresher was about keeping to the schedule, tangan belakang and pandang bawah. That was it.

Anyway, Cikgu Yop Zain Abdan (now principle at Bandar Penawar Sports School) who was PK HEM and also coach for the senior team held trials to select the Under-13 football team to play against Victory Institution, KL. It was part of the annual meet held between MCKK-VI where 2 teams would contest each other, Under-13 and Under-18 football teams. I gave my best at the trials and was selected. However, it bothers me knowing that I don't have any boots and half of my team mates do. Anyway, I informed Cikgu Yop about my predicaments and he said not to worry, we'll sort things out.

3days before the match (which was played on home soil), Cikgu Yop turned up at training with a heap of football boots. He said pick one your size and wear them. We were going to train with our full attire. As I browsed, my eyes fell on a pair of boots that looked just about my size. Yes, this is it. I held out a long arm to retrieve it and the moment I touched it, my whole perception changed. I was awed, it was a pair of NIKE  R9 football boots that couldve weighed only a few hundred grams. Lightweight, yet tough and contoured to the shape of the feet. It was totally ergonomic. I slipped them on and trained with them for the following 3days and even wore them during the match. I stored them with pride under my bed in the dormitories, it was a dream come true.

Imagine the gold is black, the black is blue

 

Despite coming on as a substitute for the team against VI, I ran my socks off playing that day and was acknowledged by many seniors. That day onwards, people knew who Mukhlis was. The tough part was parting with the boots after the match. I had to returm them to the owner and found out that they belonged to my Form3 senior, Paan. He was a star in the middle of the park and was the playmaker for his batch. I really felt honoured!

As time passed by, I badly needed a pair of boots so out of desperation, I bought an Ambros boot. It costs me RM69.90 and felt like I spent a fortune. It lasted for 4 months and was ripped to shreds due to the cheap material it was made from. I immediately reminisced my moments with Paan's pair of NIKEs. What a feeling.

In Form 2, I played for the Under-14 football team and participated in the SBP North Zone football tournament held at SAINA. I needed a pair of boots as my own since I had been borrowing from friends who played rugby as they didn't have any tournament and was not in urgent need of their boots.Coincidentally, Muhammad Md Hashim, my Form 5 senior (who was a winger, extremely fast, played for Perak in the Piala Premier, MSSM and Perak SUKMA team, had a twin who also played football in the same team but was a central midfielder) wanted to get new boots and was looking for potential buyers for his old ones. They were a pair of white Kronos real leather boots, and I snatched that opportunity. Another reason was because they were white (which makes me stand out on the field) and also the fact that I've been eyeballing the same pair in the shops which cost RM300+. The ownership changed over to me for RM120 and I was at the top of my game. I played in all matches during the tournament at SAINA, and we were the 5th batch to win the tournament in a row, so the trophy was permanently presented to MCKK on the year we championed the tournament. By now, I was in the regular 1st team line up, playing as central defender aka stopper.
 

In Form 3, I played for 2 teams: the Under-15s and the Under-18s. I felt proud because at 15, you're meant to play for the under-15s. But along with a few teamates (Ayee, Cen, Katu, Palie), we broke into the senior team displacing other seniors. By this time, I bought my 1st pair of brand new Adidas boots from Syafiq Ahmad Shah's dad who runs a sports business. It was a boot with a gradient colour change from the front to the heel, blue to black. It had white Adidas stripes on the side and I was looking good. Unfortunately, fate decided that my boot was stolen from me after 3weeks in possession of it. It was really sad, even sadder because a week after I lost mine, Tampin (a senior in Form 4) started wearing the same ones, making me believe he stole them from me. But I had no proof so all I could do was to swallow it. I survived through form 3 by borrowing Che Ohm's Blue NIKE Mercurial Vapors (back then, they were ridiculously expensive) and glad that he lent me them. Thanks Che Ohm!

Form 4 was the most successful year in my footballing history. We got 2nd place at the 100Plus state level tournament only to lose to SMK Anderson, Ipoh who went on to become the runners up at National Level, and reached the semi-final for the Premier Cup, losing in the semis to King Edwards of Taiping when Fahim (my central defensive partner and senior) missed a penalty in the shootout. The whole of Form 4 was great, people say its the honeymoon year. Oh, not to forget I also played rugby after my arm was given the all-clear after fracturing my radius in Form 1. This year saw me borrow Alep Adha's Nike boots, the same ones that I had worn in Form 1 which I borrowed from Paan Yasin. Alep's was black and maroon, and I had quite an experience with them because they gave me blisters soo bad that both my heals bled like I carved them with a knife. But then again, beggers cant be choosers so I just ensured there were at least a plaster and some gauze between my heel and the pair of boots. After sometime, causing wear and tear to Alep's boots, he wanted them back simply because he needed them to play in, and I finally bought myself a pair of Adidas with black tips and silver/darkpurple heels and with silver Adidas stripes on the side. They weren't fancy, but they were Adidas and they did the job. Cikgu Rosman bought the exact same pair and I first noticed them when he was on the pitch at a training session with us.
 

This was also the year that made me drool when Ayee bought a red pair of Adidas Predator Mania World Cup 2002 edition. I also saw Mat Rock, koleq's rugby fullback don them. How i wished I could afford such footwear. People who dont do sports might not understand but I assure you, good footwear gives you that much needed extra edge than others. This was also the year Dodot arrive at koleq in Form 4, he was MSSMs Under-15 Best Player of the tournament for 2 years running. He played for Selangor before he arrived in Perak. His brother played for MPPJ, thus the reason behind his Adidas Predator Mania, Lotto Sheva Speed boots and Nike Mercurial Vapors. But if you cant afford it, you cant do nought. I just looked and admired and wished that one day, I can afford them.

Form 5, I finally managed to save up enough money to get my own good pair of boots. This time, I bought a blue/purple pair of Adidas Predators and I wore them till I ripped them apart. They lasted for almost 2 years, up until I was in KMB. I cant remember how many times I sent them to the cobblers to get sewn and repaired. They were good memories. But their lifespan came to an end and all I could do was to borrow my little brother's boots and running shoes thus the pairs that I wore throughout KMB. I owe you Munir!

Now, I am almost 23 (in June I will be), and I still have never worn a first grade full spec football boot. Not that I don't want to, but I don't think I'm good enough to wear them. I got myself another Adidas Predators in my 1st year in Uni and they've lasted since, only because I seldom play with my my boots. Now, its more astro turf shoes and artificial grass boots. My first turf shoes were the white Umbros and that got worn out so I gave them to my brother. In replacement, I got myself a pair of CTR360 Trequattista turfs which has now lost most of its sole. I needed more grip on the artificial grass that I play on so a few days ago, I succumbed to Junction 32 and got myself a pair of NIKE CTR360 Libretto. There were Maestris, Trequartistas and all sorts but I thought, this is adequate for me.

 

NIke CTR360 Trequartista TF

Nike CTR360 Libretto AG

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My brothers always asked me, are there any football boots that you can get us? Never would I say no, because I know how it feels like to yearn to wear that snazzy pair of boots and do your best on the pitch. Not only are my brothers gifted footballers, they play it with passion as well. I bought my brothers NIKE Mercurial Vapors IV and VI, NIKE Total 90 Laser II and III. Of course I can get them cheap ones, but I still remember how I felt when I asked Kak Muna dulu.

"Na, kalo abg nk boot bola Nike Mercurial Vapor boleh x?"


"Ish abg, mahal la. kalo over GBP50 mhl sgt la"


"Ok la kalo cmtu..."

And I would shut my mouth because I know, if she can't afford it, theres no use pursueing it. I have lived my whole life knowing what I can afford and what I can't and surpressing my desire is an intergral part of me. But anyway little brothers, I don't mind what I get for myself but I always want the best for the both of you. Oh, and to my 5 sisters too.

Sebab abang pernah rasa perasaan teringin tu.