From Thomas Samuel

Heroism is more often associated with people who put others first, even at their own peril. Their actions are not selfish and often in the interest of others, be it an individual, a community or even a nation.

In recent times, I have personally lost many of my heroes who have passed on too soon with so much knowledge, wisdom and experiences still to share. I will greatly miss doyens of the media fraternity and legends in their own right like Ahmad Talib, Wong Sai Wan and Lim Kok Wing. They deserve every bit of the tributes and recognition.

During these times of uncertainty and hardship to many, it is consoling to reminisce the great moments of people close and dear.

I wish, therefore, to humbly pay tribute to a ‘kampung hero’ who deserves mention for his selfless contributions to the misplaced youths of Sentul. It’s been more than a month since the passing of Gunasegaran P Sambosivam, or coach Guna.

Just like many other local village heroes, Guna may not be a familiar name to many people. However, if you mention “coach Guna from Flames Football Club in Sentul”, you will be surprised how many young and old current and former residents in and around Sentul and Jalan Ipoh know and adore this man.

Coach Guna, or Guna Anna (big brother) as he was fondly known, who celebrated his 65th birthday on April 6, breathed his last a month later. Guna met with a serious accident a year ago and had been bedridden since. His passing was a sad day for the community in Sentul and, in particular, the youths of yesteryear.

Many would have ended up in jail, maimed or even dead if not for the untiring sacrifices by this man in guiding and moulding these youths to focus their energy on sports and, in particular, football. Many of them are now responsible citizens.

Sentul was known to be a notorious place in the 1970s till the 1990s. Eight out of 10 Indian youths in Sentul would have been a member of the many gangs thriving during that time. Poverty, poor education and squatter settlements were the main reasons many got themselves involved in gangsterism, delinquency, fights, drugs and other negative elements.

Guna was the saviour to many of these youths who are now proud parents or grandparents and living decent and comfortable lives. Ask any one of them and they will sing praises of him and how he managed to snatch many of them from gangsterism and a life of crime.

Tharma Kumaran, 47, a successful businessman and politician, has this to say about him: “I am extremely indebted to Guna Anna for who I am today. If he did not pick me up from the streets of Sentul and disciplined me, I dread to think where I will be today.

“He will always remain in my heart for saving me from the clutches of evil. He was my guardian angel by being there every time I was getting into bad company. He took great care in protecting many of us. He treated us as his own children and our parents were more than grateful for his efforts to keep us safe.”

Faarhad Masraf, a successful football administrator now, was shocked to hear of Guna’s demise. “It’s a sad day for all of us in Sentul. I was 16 and mixing around with bad company when coach Guna picked me up to play football for the junior team of Flames Football Club. The rest is history as I got myself committed and involved in football and now it is my career.

“Coach Guna used to come to my house to pick me up for training and my father would walk me back after every training session at the Railway Recreation Club field at Jalan Ipoh. That was how carefully I was protected from being caught in the infamous web of notorious Sentul.”

Former deputy education minister P Kamalanathan was another close friend of Guna and was an active committee member of Flames Football Club for many years.

“Guna was instrumental in playing a big role to reform the youths of Sentul. He was very passionate about the welfare of the community and sacrificed his time, effort and money to help people in need. Every time there was a fire or a flood, Guna would be the first person at the scene to offer help. Together, we had gone around to seek donations for these victims from the business community in Sentul.”

I am blessed to have had a close and personal relationship with Guna over the years and I respect him as my big brother. We went through many challenges managing a football team and trying to keep our players and the youths of Sentul out of danger’s way. He was a brother, a friend and a soulmate whom I am going to miss terribly. His demise is a loss to the community and his acts of kindness are going to be tough to emulate.

Guna’s proudest moment was when a small ‘kampung’ football team achieved its greatest feat by emerging as the champions in the Selangor Super League in 2005. The coveted trophy was the highest achievement any football team in Selangor could achieve then. It meant that Flames FC was the best football team in the state. It was an exceptional feat after 25 years of hard work and spoke volumes of the passion and commitment Guna had put in to reach the pinnacle of success as the manager, coach and president of Flames FC.

Guna’s saddest moment was when the football team lost its playing field at Jalan Ipoh (formerly known as the Railway Recreation Club Jalan Ipoh) to development by a corporate entity. Both Guna, myself and the local community stood together to object to this takeover of a public playing field for more than 12 years. We walked in and out of the developer’s office many times to appeal for the field to be left alone for the benefit of the residents. We staged a couple of protests to convey our objections to the takeover of the field. We raised the matter in the media and lobbied for higher authority intervention to stop the takeover. But all these failed and the field was barricaded and fenced up in 2008.

It was a sad day for sports in Sentul as many youths, residents and senior citizens were deprived of a playing field or an open space for their daily recreational activities. Guna was heartbroken as he failed to save the field and took it personally that he had failed the youths and community in Sentul. Sentul was never the same again after we lost the field in the name of commercial development.

Guna’s passion to help others did not stop at Sentul. As an employee of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in Bangsar, he was a committee member of the TNB temple and was actively involved in Hindu temple matters around Bangsar. He was also a volunteer at the temple in Batu Caves.

Guna was also actively involved in the Football Association of Selangor.

Guna loved children and the youths. Four times a year, he used to collect donations from well-wishers and host orphanages to a sumptuous lunch where the children’s birthdays were celebrated. The children looked forward to these events with so much joy and hope.

To his wife, daughters and son, Appa – as you call him – was a wonderful man. He touched many lives and helped many people. On behalf of Flames Football Club, all your Appa’s friends and even the strangers he had touched in one way or another, we extend our deepest condolences.

Rest in peace, big brother Guna, till we meet again in God’s beautiful garden.

Thomas Samuel is a former honorary secretary of Flames Football Club, Sentul.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.