Foul-Play!

When I was in my very early teens, I used to wonder what is it that my Dad has seen, where is it coming from, when he often whispered to no one in particular, but kind of mumbled to himself, ‘what I have seen is unsurpassable’. I must confess it was agonizing… his plight. I loved him very much. The source of his grief astounded me as an innocent child. I could not imagine that fellow humans could plot ways and means to drain others of their dignity, for I later found out that he was a victim of slanderous and veiled attacks from the ones he most trusted. He was a good human being and perhaps, he paid the price for just that.

Anyway, I am here, as an observer of a certain event, to make a point… I came across a twitter page which was nauseatingly malicious and mortifying of a footballer, named Azeem Azam. I had heard of this left-winger, who, if I recall correctly, was touted as being in the mould of Ryan Giggs. Honestly, I did not quite follow his exploits but I was intrigued to read some of the stuff online that reeked of conspiracy. There is something staggering about the allegation, an element of farce.

I did a little bit of research, made some inquiries with my sources in UK and was appalled at the demolition of Azeem, shrewdly contrived by this wannabe trainer, ‘trainwithtran’! As if spate of injuries weren’t enough to puncture Azeem’s flight path into eminence, Mr Tran compounded his troubles with his devious designs that almost sounds hilarious.

I knew Azeem started out with Nottingham Forest as a 13-year-old kid. My nephew is the same age and it amazes me to no end to see him dribbling in his living room in the middle of the night, honing his skills, because there is a trial the next morning for State team selection. Azeem couldn’t have been different… in spirit at least. One of my fellow journalists with Telegraph in the UK filled me in with Azeem’s career graph and I learnt he sustained a career-threatening ligament injury at Leeds. That was just the start for the poor bloke. Anyway, I don’t want to delve too much into his professional expedition, although it’s quite absorbing to study his struggle, his great effort. Maybe some other time…

When an individual attempts to lift himself up above the others, there are those who want to drag him down. Sounds familiar? Azeem’s case had begun to get quite interesting for a journalist like me who, thank God, has seen enough to spot a glitch. An English born footballer of foreign descent, Azeem apparently ended up in a wrong place for the right reasons. I guess all he wanted was to be able to play football, so he joins this training facility in Baker Street, London, by the name of Trainwithtran. By the way, I checked it out and found its promotional pages a little silly, what with its loud proclamations. In fact, John Tran appeared to be a pretty slick guy on the surface – no I didn’t have the honour of a face-off but was educated by my few informed mates in London. I am no one to judge but I do make informed and responsible opinions. I get paid for that in my business.

It didn’t surprise me at all that Azeem found out Tran was just a gym instructor, no qualified Master Trainer! It’s really a shame to hear of genuine people being ripped off for material gains. That’s what it was in the end. After Azeem pulled out, since there was no progress in his recovery, smart-boy Tran shot him a bill of some 70k+ and threatened him of dire consequences if the same was not paid. Would you believe this? I mean, it is not just unacceptable, it is repulsive, foul. I know of people who are too scared to be dragged into the dark side of light and they meekly surrender, pay up. Perhaps, that is where Azeem surprised Tran. He fought back. But then, slander is the revenge of a coward. And it was evident in its most ugly form in twitter pages and some of the other articles that I read during my research.

Smear campaigns are nothing new in today’s world. Its edge is sharper than the sword and no doubt, Azeem is being bruised and scarred. I would go to the extent of saying its worse than cannibalism! But disparaging crusades cannot destroy an honest, trying man. I don’t really know why I am getting slightly emotional here but I guess I can’t help it as I have seen what libel can do to a man, very early in life, at close quarters.

Tran’s gory indulgence in defamation of character is not stamped with God’s authority. His word cannot and should not be believed without hearing the words, almost a clamorous plea, of Azeem. Tran’s prolonged insult is a kick in the pants of a man who hardly did anything to deserve it. And who are these people who are echoing Tran’s misplaced sentiments on social pages? Don’t they have a life or are they being paid to slur and stain? You think it’s as dark as it can get. Then you realise there’s someone out there who can make it darker.

None of us should endure such tragedy. Slander-mongers, and those who listen to vilifications, if I had my way, would all be strung up. The lying lips that utter destructive words designed to end the integrity of others should be dealt with iron hands. It is not theirs to tear down.

I can almost get into Azeem’s head and imagine him thinking, ‘my God! Is it for long, is it forever, is it for eternity?’ I can also imagine him slide to his knees and in a whisper, say: Please let this be over.

The confusion must be frightening, total. Can we even begin to imagine the plight of a cornered man? Whose career could very well be shot down? I think the courts must take a stand and protect the dignity of a person who is being shredded apart.

This unrelenting defamatory circulation engineered by Tran must end and he should get a move on with his life. Do some real rehabilitation!

I am still doing my research into this affair, much to the objection of my editor. He wants me to focus on the London Olympics. His standing instructions are to wait for the Azeem story to develop and then do a piece for ESPN. But I needed to get a feel of this whole sordid business.

I know Azeem fairly well by now. No matter what happens, he will keep his head held high.

Life will throw everything but the kitchen sink in your path, and then it will throw the kitchen sink. I believe if Azeem lets them stop him from fighting his cause, then he is not doing his job, and failing to do his job will cause regrets that will paralyse him more than a bad knee.