FOOTBALL’S ability to bring people together was seen at the inaugural Jom Sepak viewing party at The MET Corporate Towers in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
The community event brought together business leaders, tenants, partners and football fans for a World Cup viewing session featuring former footballers Abbas Saad and Fandi Ahmad.
Veteran journalist and former media executive Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan was also among the invited guests.
Hosted by the property developer, the 8am session centred on the World Cup Group A match between Mexico and South Korea, with Abbas and Fandi providing pre-match and half-time analysis alongside TV host and commentator Ben Ibrahim.
Abbas said major tournaments such as the World Cup created a mutual experience that encouraged people from different backgrounds to interact naturally.
“From a Malaysian perspective, you can see fans of different races, religions and walks of life sitting together to watch a World Cup match.
“For 90 minutes, people are united by a shared experience.
“Conversations start naturally, whether it is debating tactics, discussing a player’s performance or simply celebrating a memorable moment.
“The World Cup especially amplifies this because it is a global event that captures the attention of billions.
“Even people who do not normally follow football become part of the conversation.
“It creates common ground and in today’s world, finding common ground is incredibly valuable,” Abbas said.
Fandi said watching football together often helped break down barriers that exist in professional settings.
“I think football reminds business leaders of the value of teamwork, communication and resilience.
“When people watch a match together, titles and job roles tend to fade into the background, making conversations more natural and genuine.
“It often opens the door to stronger relationships both on and off the pitch,” he said.
Triterra chief executive officer Christopher Lim said the company organised Jom Sepak as a platform for people to connect in a more relaxed environment.
He said football helped create an atmosphere where conversations flowed more naturally than in conventional networking sessions.
“The best part is seeing everyone more relaxed with smiles on their faces.
“Football is on their mind. It is a beautiful game and it breaks the ice naturally,” he said.
“This is exactly what we want to achieve – breaking barriers across boundaries, generations and cultures.
“We should take advantage of opportunities to unite people and the business fraternity through events like these.”
Lim said the initiative was also part of Triterra’s efforts to create more opportunities for interaction among tenants, business partners and the wider Mont Kiara community.
He said the company wanted The MET Corporate Towers to serve as more than a workplace by hosting activities that encouraged people from different industries and backgrounds to connect in a less formal setting.
He added that Jom Sepak was one of several community-focused initiatives planned for the development.
Five such sessions are scheduled to take place throughout June and July.
