Unity The Goal As ‘Coach Mano’ Finds Joy In Football Clinic

By Muhamad Adzhar Tajuddin

IPOH, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- While many his age choose to enjoy the quiet days of retirement, R. Manoharan has taken a different path -- devoting his time to coaching youths of all races in pursuit of their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

Known as “Coach Mano”, the 69-year-old from Hutan Melintang, Perak, has dedicated his time and energy to the sport, even setting up a free football clinic called Mano FC, which he has run for the past 29 years. And he is doing it out of his passion for the sport and his dream of fostering unity through football.

Sharing the story behind the founding of his football clinic, the former civil servant said it started by chance, driven by a desire to steer young people away from negative influences that could ruin their future.

“As I recall, it began around 1996, when I would often spend time either playing football or jogging at this field (Taman Pertama field). That’s when a few teenagers approached me and asked if I could teach them how to play football.

“Thinking about the social problems like drugs at the time, I immediately agreed to their request,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.

What began with just 11 youths from the Taman Pertama area soon gained momentum, with Coach Mano’s free coaching service becoming a topic of discussion and drawing attention. Today, about 40 children and youths aged between nine and 17 from across Perak train under his guidance.

“To me, this is a blessing. My experience and knowledge as an amateur player in community leagues around Perak can now be put to good use in coaching young players, whether they are Malay, Indian, Chinese or Sikh,” he said.

Among the many young players he has trained are some of Malaysia’s notable football names, including V. Saravanan, Khalid Jamlus and former national player Kenny Pallraj.

“Those three are my greatest success stories, and to this day, whenever they have time, they’ll drop by the field or call me just to catch up,” he said.

Manoharan’s football clinic is held every weekend and during school holidays, from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Training sessions focus on basic football techniques such as kicking, control, juggling and off-the-ball movement.

Despite having to fund the initiative from his own pocket, Manoharan has never hesitated to send his players to various competitions to assess their progress.

“Even if it costs me thousands of ringgit to join a tournament, I don’t mind. What matters most is seeing how well they can apply what they’ve learned in real matches,” said Manoharan, who also receives financial support from the players’ parents.

Asked about the role of sports in fostering unity, Manoharan is convinced that sports can be a catalyst for togetherness if properly harnessed.

He emphasised that the bonding created in cheering on a team and the experience of laughing and sweating together on the field are values rarely found elsewhere, except in the world of sports.

“For example, in football, when Malay, Indian and Chinese kids cheer and hug each other after the national team wins, at that moment, no one is thinking about race. That’s the true Malaysian spirit.

“That kind of spirit emerges spontaneously, and it helps build close bonds between people. That’s where we can see how a sport like football can be the best bridge to foster patriotism,” he said.

One of his trainees, 14-year-old Alif Muizzuddin, said the training provided by Coach Mano had helped him improve his performance, especially in terms of technique and exposure through participating in various tournaments.

“It’s really fun training here. Even though Coach Mano isn’t fierce, he’s strict and teaches us a lot about how to improve our technique, especially ball control and my role as a midfielder,” he said.

The student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) ACS Ipoh, who idolises Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo, also expressed admiration for Manoharan’s tireless efforts to teach football without charging a fee.

For Rashviin Abdullah, 16, a student at SMK Saint Michael Ipoh, football not only helps him avoid wasting time on unproductive activities but also teaches him discipline through structured training routines, punctuality, following the coach’s instructions and commitment to the team.

“For example, the coach sets 4.30 pm as the time to be on the field. So as players, we have to be punctual and follow the instructions. This is one form of commitment that teaches us the meaning of discipline.

“I don’t mind if I don’t become a famous or top player — what matters more is becoming a disciplined and good person,” said Rashviin, who aspires to join the military.

-- BERNAMA