Shebby to walk the talk in 'EPL Land'

By Kongster

HERE is something for you to chew on... Shebby Singh's mouth has made him more famous than his legs.

The footballer-turned-TV pundit will be going where no Malaysian has gone before - to "EPL Land" where a different type of challenge awaits him.

Shebby, a commentator for Astro's ESPN channel, made the international news recently when he was appointed director of football by former English league champion Blackburn Rovers.

As a player in the 1980s, Shebby wasn't a big name in Asia, but today he is a recognisable face in the continent, thanks to his TV fame.

Indeed, Shebby's no-holds-barred talk must have impressed the bosses at Blackburn. They see the Malaysian as the man to guide the Rovers back into the Premier League. By the way, among Shebby's rivals will be Cardiff City, which is owned by Tan Sri Vincent Tan.

Shebby's fans think he is fantastic but his critics say he talks too much with his shrill and fervent style of commentary.

Anyway, I like the forthright views and enthusiasm shown by Shebby in his commentary although some Malaysian TV viewers feel like giving him the red card.

I have heard people shouting at the idiot box with words like "Shut up Shebby!" But they still watch him, week in, week out during the EPL season.

This is all part of the EPL circus, people getting their kicks out of bashing Shebby for his unabashed views.

Maybe, they are just jealous because Shebby has the chance to pretend to be manager of famous football clubs and tell the very managers, and the whole world, what they did wrong and what they should have done instead -- right after their teams lose.

Shebby being Shebby, has the audacity to put himself in the boots of Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, by declaring "If I were Ferguson, I would do this or that."

Whatever it is, Shebby has the gift of the gab to go with his on camera persona. It is not easy to make people hate you or love you. You got to make fans pay attention to you first.

For a man who was once banned from football for life, Shebby is having the last word on those who tried to shut him up for all eternity.

In 1983, Shebby, then known as Serbegeth Singh, was banned for life by the Johor Football Association for leaving the state to join the Kuala Lumpur team without its permission.

Shebby appealed against the ban, and it was lifted. He later became part of the all-conquering KL team that won the prestigious Malaysia Cup three times.

As a young defender with the KL team, Shebby was already showing the traits of a good talker.

When reporters wanted to interview the KL players, their usual reply was "go and see Shebby, he got plenty to say."

While Shebby's teammates were mostly either monosyllabic or hopelessly dull, he was the most articulate player in the team, the one with the quotable quotes.

Unlike some dispassionate commentators, Shebby is never shabby in his punditry. He gives it his best shot in all his earnestness; always giving us an earful with his mouthful of comments.

Abu Bakar Atan, who has made his mark as a TV3 football commentator, said: "Shebby is one of a kind. I'm happy for him that he is going to join Blackburn.

"When he was a player with KL, Shebby was already reading widely. He would want to know the latest in international football, and we used to share magazines like World Soccer."

Now, Shebby is going to walk the talk in "EPL Land". I wish him all the best. kongster@nstp.com.my

Shebby to walk the talk in 'EPL Land'

HERE is something for you to chew on... Shebby Singh's mouth has made him more famous than his legs.

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