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POWERED BY BOOKS
StarMag, Feb 26, 2006
WITH a full schedule not merely as an ESPN STAR Sports football pundit but also general manager of Blondal All-Turf and now head coach of reality football TV show myTEAM, it is amazing that Shebby Singh has time to sleep, let alone read books.
Remarkably, he does find the time to read. This former Malaysian footballer says that everyone should read or make it a hobby at least. “I believe reading is knowledge and knowledge is power. There is so much to gain from reading. At worst, you can while away time!” says Shebby.
Reading is something he has done since his childhood. “I grew up a very poor kid and used to borrow books from my classmates. Enid Blyton was the most popular author – her Famous Five series was among my favourites. Not to mention the Dandy and Beano comics.”
Shebby’s fondest memories of reading involve living in a world of fantasy and make believe, and being an additional character in the books he read. This broadened his imagination and was also inspirational to him.
When he was about 10, he chanced upon A Slave to Soccer, an autobiography by Ronnie Clayton, the Blackburn Rovers player who also captained England.
“That was it. After that, I only ever wanted to be a footballer and play at the highest possible level for my country,” Shebby recalls.
“I achieved that dream which was inspired by a footballer from a far away land, someone whom not many people have heard of or remember today.”
Today, Shebby reads Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum and John Grisham, to name a few, and shares their books with his children – affectionately nicknamed Gaggsy and Nutsy – who are avid readers.
“My daughter Natassha’s (Nutsy) collection of Dan Brown books has been a good read as well,” he adds.
The only genres Shebby does not like are science fiction and horror as he finds them “meaningless”.
As expected, sports autobiographies are a favourite genre. Among those that he’s read are the autobiographies of football legends Sir Alex Ferguson, Glenn Hoddle, Roy Keane, the late (ITV commentator) Brian Moore, Kevin Keegan, the late Sir Bobby Moore, Paul Gascoigne and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Surprisingly, his favourite autobiography is not that of a sports personality, but that of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and anti-apartheid champion.
What is he reading now?
Shebby has just gotten hold of The Godfather Returns by Mark Winegardner. “My son finished it in three days, and I am looking forward to renewing my relationship with the Corleones!”
How does he even find the time to read?
“All the travelling that I do gives me plenty of time to read. I must say the fastest I have finished a book is in three days!”
Copyright Star Publications (M) Bhd
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