Wednesday, February 7, 2007

i feel like a looser

Couple of months ago, I had a colleague from India call me out of no where asking me stuff about Manchester United. Now, you have to understand that Sumeet (not his real name) being an Indian from India has no interest at all in football. As we all know, India is known for cricket and hockey and I know Sumeet doesn't like football at all. So I thought, why on earth does he want to know all about Manchester United, asking who's the best player, who's usually on the 1st eleven, who's the goal keeper, what's Alex Ferguson's favorite formation, etc etc. I really thought Sumeet was really trying to get interested in football, so I being a hardcore Man Utd fan wanting to share my enthusiasm with him told him everything I knew about the club in detail.

Today, I got an email from him. His email address to me was from this address; sumeetprash@manutd.com.uk. I thought "wow!! Sumeet is really into Man Utd now". The content of his email went like this:

Dear Mark,

How are you? I just wanted you to know that I've resigned from CSC and am now in Machester working as an AS400 administrator for Manchester United Holdings Ltd. The working environment here is better than CSC. I get free tickets to all Manchester games in Old Trafford. Attire to work is strictly Manchester United clothings, so I've gotten free Manchester United jersey, t-shirts, tie and slacks. I've also got free dinner sessions with the Alex Ferguson and the players once every 6 months. It's really wonderful here.

I really want to thank you for helping me get this job. Remember 3 months ago I called you and asked you about Manchester United? Part of the interview required me to know a lot about the club and you really helped me out there. In fact they asked me more about the club that AS400 technical questions. I truly thank you for helping me out.

I wish you well, I hope we can keep in contact. Thanks to you, I am now very interested in soccer. I'll get you inside scope in future

Regards

My reaction after reading that email *bang head on table multiple times*, *slams keyboard on head*

I thought for a moment that Sumeet could be pulling my leg and talking bull to me. So I went to Syam (not his real name also), another colleague of mine based in Singapore to tell him of this stupid story, and so our conversation went like this:

Me: Hey Syam, you know what this stupid @#%$# Sumeet did to me, he went and registered a Man Utd email account and emailed telling me he's working in Manchester United Holdings

Syam: Yeah, yeah...... off course I know... I was actually recommended the job first... but I couldn't take it so I recommended Sumeet

Me: *not wanting to be con a second time*.... yeah, yeah, yeah... you think I stupid is it?? Trying to con me ah??

Syam: Serious Mark, I have a friend in UK, he provides solution to the Manchester Company and he was asked if he knew anybody that could do AS400 administration... and he called me to ask if I was interested. So I submitted and actually got it but in the end I couldn't take it so I passed it on to Sumeet lar.

Me: Yeah!!! YEAH!!!! who you trying to bluff lar.......

Syam: Serious lar Mark!!! come I show you the email I sent to my friend in UK to forward to MU holdings.

*he really showed me the email*, I was speechless for 1 minute and finally asked:

Me: OOOOOIIIIII!!!!!!!! Why didn't you recommend me!!!!! You know I'm MU Fan lar!!! and I would jump at working UK!!!!!!!

Syam: But you not AS400 expert what!!

Me: I CAN ALWAYS READ UP AGAIN LAR!!!!! Anyway, why did you not take it lar???

Syam: Ai yah!! you know what.....!! I was getting married than what..... anyway wife wasn't keen to relocate lar.....

Me: WAH!!! you gave up the chance to work in the world's biggest football club??

Syam: Ai yah Mark!!! You will only faham lar when you're in my position than...... not all like you can drop everything and leave lar......

It did get me thinking quite a bit, what if I was presented with that opportunity. What would I have actually done? I came out with 3 possible option and not sure which I would have taken

a: Call off the wedding and move to Manchester. I mean, wife can always find again but a job opportunity in Manchester United Holding? I can't imagine living my whole life wondering and end up blaming my wife.

b: Go on with the wedding and force the wife relocate. I am sure after much much much persuasion, she would give in. I mean which normal couple would give up their marriage in 1 month.

c: Give up chance of a lifetime for love? and pray that such opportunity comes by again.

I can't know which option I would take 'cos I don't have a fiancee to know what's it like to be in love and choosing to work in my favorite football club. For now, I am still wondering if Syam and Sumeet is taking me on a ride.

What would you have done if put in such a situation?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

ill definately pick option "b" man.
Ill device a master-con-plan to CON-vince my wife after marriage la. dun tell her so early about the plan first. do the right thing at the right time, and ull have 2 birds hit with one stone! muahaha.