KUALA LUMPUR – An aboriginal 19-year-old boy of the Semai group from Perak, Zeroberto Zainal, has been chosen to join the Manchester City Football Club’s (MCFC) Cityzens Giving Programme.
It was more than a dream come true for him to train at the MCFC as he has taken to football since he was seven years old and has a dream to be a professional footballer one day.
During his training on June 18-26, Zeroberto not only learned and picked up football skills but also how to improve his communications skills to engage better with children who participate in football activities.
Describing himself as shy and introverted, Zeroberto revealed that the training had forced him to step out of his comfort zone to learn how to lead with confidence.
“The training required us to talk to one another a lot. We met many new people from different countries.
“We learnt and practised football together and it helped me to be more confident.
“On the football side, the skills taught by professional footballers were invaluable.
“It was really a dream come true and so unforgettable for me,” enthused Zeroberto.
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Zeroberto has been attending school and learning English at Dignity for Children Foundation (Dignity), a local NGO that offers quality education and holistic care to children in need, where they collaborate with MCFC on its Cityzens Giving Programme since 2015.
Through the project, MCFC funds Dignity’s Peace Camps and Football training and invites young leaders from the NGO to its Young Leader Summit held in Manchester annually – except for 2020 and 2021.
To date, 13 young leaders from Dignity had participated in the Summit.
This year, Dignity nominated three young leaders to the Summit, where Zeroberto is one of them.
The other two are Mindy Gan who works in Dignity’s education content creation and administration section and Choon Ken, a middle secondary teacher.
Although he did not get to see his idol Kevin De Bruyne, Zeroberto met Karen Bardsley, the goalkeeper for MCFC Women’s Team.
“Back home I played goalkeeper and sometimes as a defender. So, I am thrilled to meet Karen and get some tips from her.”
Zeroberto also plans to share what he learned in football training sessions with the students in Dignity, Kuala Lumpur.
“But, it is not just sharing football skills but also helping them to develop good character and leadership skills because these are as important as being able to play well.”
MCFC is the current champion of the English Premier League, having won the title six times over the past decade. – The Vibes, June 28, 2022
