By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Joeson Kunju (#9, left) and Muhammad Nur Alfilail (#15) stand out in the traditionally Chinese-dominant sport of basketball. Joeson is Chinese-Indian while Alfilail is Malay. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Senja-Cashew Community Centre, Sunday, May 18, 2014 — With basketball being a traditionally Chinese-dominated sport, the Eideas basketball team stood out with Joeson Kunju, a Chinese-Indian, and Muhammad Nur Alfilail, a Malay.
The Community Games provides a sporting channel to bridge and bond residents of different ages, races. The games require teams to consist of at least a single player of a different race.
The Eideas team is made up by a group of friends residing in Yishun, who used to represent Chong Pang Community Sports Club (CSC). “We always play basketball in the same neighbourhood. The group of us have been playing together for a minimum of five years at least. We made the decision to form this team because we managed to get support from a sponsor,” said Joeson.
“It makes it much easier because we do not need to go around sourcing for players of other races, so I have to say that we’re actually lucky that I am half-Indian,” laughed the 27-year-old, who is an interior designer by day.
The Eideas team boasts another non-Chinese player in 24-year-old Muhammad Nur Alfilail. The Singapore Polytechnic student said, “I feel very proud of myself because I’m one of the Malays who play the sport. I feel like I’m one of a kind. When I’m here and see that other players of the same race are playing, I feel happy.”
Consisting of working adults and students, the team makes it a point to meet up and train together once weekly at neighbourhood basketball courts in the Yishun vicinity. Off the court, the group of friends usually go out for drinks and play video games together.
Eideas finished in fourth place in the North West District, after conceding the game 86–90 to Woodgrove Tekong in the 3rd/4th playoff match.
Eideas Roster
Edwin Low Kwok Keng (#4), Pung Jiawei (#5), Wang Wei Jie (#6), Liao Shiming (#7), Lau Cheng Wei Andy (#8), Joeson Kunju (#9), Yeo Rong Tian Ron (#10), Chong Wei Li Willy (#11), Ng Kok Yong (#12), Tew Khon Ting Jonathan (#13), Tan Bing Han (#14), Muhammad Nur Alfilail Bin Mohamed Kamal (#15)
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