SEPANG, July 17 (Bernama) -- Muhammad Haqqullah Ahmad Shahrul Zaman, named the most valuable player (MVP) in the Mid Season Cup (MSC) Mobile Legend Bang Bang (MLBB) 2024, has always had to prove to his parents that he made the right choice by venturing into e-sports.
The 18-year-old, better known as Sekys’, said the e-sports players had to produce the best results each time they competed in any tournament to win their parents’ hearts due to the stigma associated with the sport.
He admitted that he did not get his parents’ support when he first took up e-sports but, thanks to his hard work and ability to generate a side income, they have slowly but surely come to terms with it.
"If you want to venture into a field that you are keen on, then you must do it properly and never give up because this field (e-sports) is viewed negatively. But, when you show results, your parents will slowly accept (your involvement in e-sports).
"I too just completed my SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia), so I had to be disciplined. You need to be disciplined if you want to juggle being a pro player and a student,” he told reporters upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.
Sekys is a member of Selangor Red Giants (SRG), which brought glory to the country when they ended a seven-year drought in international e-sports for Malaysia by defeating the Philippines Falcons AP Bren Sport 4-3 in the Mid Season Cup Mobile Legend Bang Bang (MLBB) 2024 in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (July 14).
The victory saw SRG bag the trophy and US$1 million in cash (about RM4.67 million).
They received a rapturous welcome from local e-sports fans when they arrived at the KLIA. Also present to welcome them home were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and state Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi.
Meanwhile, the Terengganu-born Sekys, also the SRG jungler, refused to brag about his MVP success as he feels there is still room for improvement.
"There will surely be some pressure on us (in future tournaments) but we will continue to do our best,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Najwan called on the SRG management to provide financial guidance to the players to manage their finances well.
He also announced that the Selangor government, through the state government subsidiary, the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), had set aside RM200,000 for the team to prepare for the MLBB 2024.
-- BERNAMA
