AT the heart of Kampung Rawa along Jalan Sungai Pinang lies Gembira Futsal, a community-centric futsal hub run by a passionate entrepreneur, Rakesh Cyril Rajendran, 34, who has poured his heart and soul into the sport he grew up with.
In an exclusive interview with Buletin Mutiara, Rakesh shared that his journey began at Gembira Parade back in 2009, where he first worked at the original Gembira Futsal court as a teenager.
At the time, the court was managed by a different owner. However, in 2011, Rakesh and his cousin saw an opportunity to take over the business and decided to run it themselves.
When his cousin eventually stepped away, Rakesh continued the operations solo.
“Over the years, we have organised various futsal tournaments in collaboration with both government and private agencies,” he said, adding that Gembira Futsal became a well-loved venue among local futsal enthusiasts.
However, due to rising rental costs at the original location, Rakesh made the difficult decision to relocate.
In April this year, Gembira Futsal found a new home at Jalan Sungai Pinang, Kampung Rawa that is built entirely from scratch.
“The new setup is an outdoor futsal court, and it cost nearly RM200,000 to establish, including rental, maintenance, and infrastructure.
“The new venue features two futsal courts with high-quality artificial grass surfaces, ideal for five-a-side matches,” Rakesh said.
Gembira Futsal now operates daily from 8pm to 1am, though Rakesh mentioned the hours are flexible depending on bookings.
Court rental is priced at RM90 per hour, while students enjoy a discounted rate of RM60 per hour.
According to Rakesh, what sets Gembira Futsal apart is its openness to alternative sports like dodgeball.
“Many of our regulars actually prefer playing dodgeball here.
“They enjoy the experience more on artificial grass compared to rubber turf,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Rakesh has big plans.
“I definitely want to open a second futsal centre in the future, but this time I’m aiming for an indoor facility in a suitable location,” he shared.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal