One of my many dreams has been to watch a live English Premier League (EPL) match, and this was made possible during my recent visit to the UK, thanks to my ever-thoughtful son.

We walked from Stratford to the London Stadium, located close to Westfield, a West Ham United stadium, to watch an EPL match between West Ham United and Brighton.

My son is a Liverpool fan, and is himself very much into the sport of football himself. I am of the opposite when it comes to football.

However, despite not being a fan of football or any particular team, I was truly amazed and impressed at how the entire match was organised.

The entire event was very professionally run.

A diverse crowd of 62,000 spectators of all ages and sizes gathered at the stadium 40 minutes before the match.

My son took me on a tour, showcasing the track and stadium used during the 2012 London Olympics, accompanied by the West Ham United anthem; I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, echoing in the air… Pretty bubbles in the air, they fly so high (high), they reach the sky…

Despite being winter, the pitch boasted an oasis of lush green; its hybrid carpet being part grass and part synthetic.

In comparison with our sad-looking Bukit Jalil and Stadium Merdeka pitches back home, we have much to learn from the EPL stadium management team on how to maintain a pitch.

Although the match ended with a scoreless draw, Brighton got my vote for their wonderful play, monopolizing the second half of the game with their razor-sharp passes and several attempts to attack.

The absence of Ghana Forward Kudus made West Ham weak at Brighton’s goalmouth.

After the match, the thousands of spectators dispersed in about 20 minutes through Westfield, finding their way through the tubes and trains and topping them up to the brim.

This game and its execution truly fascinated me. It also made me wonder how Malaysians could become fanatic fans of English football teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but not have an inkling of the same excitement towards our local football teams.

Over 180 countries worldwide watch the EPL. Fans in Okene, Nigeria, dance in red and white kits on the town’s annual Arsenal Day.

Nations like Macedonia, Mongolia and Mexico, cities like Bangkok and our very own Kuala Lumpur have supporters and fan clubs for the EPL teams, and these clubs go crazy with enthusiasm and excitement during the premier league season.

The premier league clubs earned more than five billion pounds in the 2015-2016 season, as mentioned by Deloitte, a consulting firm.

The league contributed 0.33% to the country’s economy, a little less than the BP which contributed 0.42%, and much more than Tesco at 0.18%.

The EPL has no doubt achieved immense success and global fame for many many years.

Malaysian football clubs may be able to emulate such success by adopting some of the following factors:

1. Competitive balance

The EPL is known for its competitive balance, where any team can potentially win against any other team on any given day.

This unpredictability keeps fans engaged and invested throughout the season.

Malaysian football should follow this lead and keep our local fans interested and filled with anticipation during our local league championship.

2. Global fan base

The EPL has successfully marketed itself globally and attracted fans from various countries.

This is another point on which other countries and leagues, including Malaysia, can focus on international marketing and broadcasting to expand their reach and attract a diverse fan base.

3. High-quality football

The EPL showcases high-quality football with talented players, top-notch coaching, and exciting matches. Investing in player development, coaching infrastructure and enhancing the overall quality of the game can attract more viewers and sponsors.

Malaysia has already set up the Bukit Jalil Sports Academy with adequate sports facilities and has taken similar steps in selecting potential players and importing good trainers and coaches.

The government must allocate adequate funds for the Malaysian Football Association (MFA) to speed up promoting and boosting our local football arena to all corners of the globe.

4. Media coverage and broadcasting

The EPL has secured lucrative broadcasting deals, ensuring extensive media coverage worldwide. All other leagues can work on negotiating favorable broadcasting contracts to increase visibility and revenue.

We could do this on our home ground, too, with MFA and Astro working hand in hand in pursuit of this similar goal.

5. Fan engagement

The EPL places a strong emphasis on fan engagement, both in stadium and through various digital platforms. All other leagues can focus on enhancing the fan experience, creating interactive content, and leveraging social media to connect with supporters.

We should do the same back home, enabling the public to have more contact and interaction with our local players, thus creating the opportunity to boost our fan base for our local football teams and players.

6. Commercial partnerships

The EPL has successfully attracted major commercial partnerships and sponsorships. Other leagues can seek out strategic partnerships with reputable brands to boost financial stability and enhance the league’s overall image.

Malaysia lacks nothing in this aspect. We have many commercial organisations who will stand as the sponsor and go all out to support our local football teams with the promise that our teams seriously respect their support and in return perform up to their utmost best to maintain their sponsor’s good name.

7. Stadium atmosphere

The passionate and vibrant atmosphere in English stadiums adds to the overall appeal of the league.

Encouraging fan attendance, creating fan-friendly environments, and building iconic stadiums can contribute to a unique and memorable experience the recent decision to build a better stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor, is a great move by the state government, as this is a booster for football development in Selangor, and indirectly in Malaysia.

8. Financial fair play

The EPL has implemented financial regulations to ensure clubs operate within sustainable financial limits, other leagues can consider adopting similar measures to maintain a level playing field and prevent financial imbalances.

With the economy still in recovery mode, our nation must also abide by such rules to maintain a balance in the game.

9. Innovation and adaptability

The EPL has been quick to embrace technological advancements, with VAR (Video Assistant Referee) being a notable example. Other leagues can stay innovative, adopting new technologies and improving the overall football experience.

Malaysia must always have its eye on the ball in keeping up with the latest methods in upgrading and improving the sport.

10. Youth development

A focus on youth development helps in producing talented local players, fostering a connection between the community and the clubs. Other leagues can invest in grassroots football and youth academies to nurture home-grown talent.

This includes Malaysia, where more sports schools and academies must be built with good infrastructure and appropriate facilities to encourage and improve the skills of our many talented youths in the world of football, and other types of sports, too.

The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) has succeeded as the most professional football club in Malaysia. This is an excellent achievement.

More clubs in our nation can study the EPL success story and build a football empire for Asia, as we were once the best football nation in Asia and even in the world.

We have produced greats like Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun, Arumugam, and Chow Chee Keong. We were ranked number 23 in Asia by FIFA, but during our heydays, we had beaten almost all the top 22 teams in the likes of Japan, Iran, South Korea, UAE, China, Vietnam, India, Thailand and North Korea.

Rather than solely depending on the government, each football club in our country must strive and work towards the betterment of our football.

Much has to be done to be where the EPL is today. Vince Lombardi once said, “Football is like life; it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.”

(Ravindran Raman Kutty is an active social worker.)