By Anne Das
Though the Perak team narrowly missed out on a spot in the Malaysian Chinese Football Association (MCFA) Cup final, striker Mak Chee Weng remains a shining example of determination and resilience. The team fell 1-0 in the semifinals on Friday, but Chee Weng’s story continues to inspire.
What makes Chee Weng stand out is his remarkable ability to excel despite being deaf and mute. At 1.69 metres tall, this Ipoh native leads the tournament with seven goals, although his top scorer title is under threat from Selangor’s Derrick Chua Jingye, who has six goals and will compete in the final against Negeri Sembilan. Derrick scored in Selangor’s 4-1 win over Penang in the semifinals.
Chee Weng shared his disappointment via WhatsApp, with the assistance of his coach, A. Pugelenthi: “I’m very sad that I couldn’t help my team reach the final. I had many chances against Selangor but wasn’t lucky enough to score. We fought hard for an equaliser and a penalty shootout, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Despite this setback, Chee Weng remains positive. “I haven’t lost confidence. I’ll give my best in the third-place match against Penang. Playing in the final would have been the perfect end to my five years with Perak in the MCFA Cup. This year, we made it past the Group stages to the semifinals for the first time. I’m confident we’ll come back stronger next year to reach the final and win the title after 23 years.”
Chee Weng’s focus is firmly on his team’s success rather than personal accolades. “If I win the top scorer title, it will be a blessing. Right now, my priority is to help Perak secure the third spot. Whether I score or win the top scorer’s title doesn’t matter.”
Coach Pugelenthi lauds Chee Weng’s dedication: “Chee Weng is a hardworking player. His disability adds a layer of challenge to coaching, but we communicate through sign language and WhatsApp to ensure he understands my instructions.”
The MCFA Cup proves its inclusivity by embracing players from all walks of life. Chee Weng’s achievements reflect his perseverance. He has represented Perak and Malaysia in numerous international events.
This includes the Taoyuan Asia Pacific Deaf Football Games in 2015, the ASEAN Deaf Football Championship in 2016, the 2018 SUKMA Futsal, the Asia Pacific Deaf Championship in Thailand in 2019, the Asia Pacific Deaflympics Football qualifying round in 2021, the All-Star Football Charity Match in Kuala Lumpur in 2021, the 4th Asia Pacific Futsal Championship in Tehran in 2023, and the 4th World Deaf Football Championship last year in Kuala Lumpur.
Chee Weng’s journey is a powerful example of overcoming adversity and serves as an inspiration to our nation.
