Football - Malaysians Love It!

Football is the world’s most widely played, and loved, sport. Yes, the popularity of the sport is even ahead of basketball. Approximately 3.5 billion people play, watch or have some sort of affinity and association with ‘the beautiful game’, which is essentially half of the world’s population. This is not including spin-offs that have their roots in football, such as rugby, American football, Australian Rules football and even handball. We understand the world’s love for football here on Lazada Malaysia, so let’s key you in on some history.

Football can trace its lineage as far back as the ancient Chinese, who have records showing how people would kick a round object from one person to another in a circle. Football in its modern form has its roots in middle to late 16th century England, where people would actually run through streets, kicking or carrying a filled-up pig’s bladder sewn up with leather, from one place to another ( a ‘goal’ essentially). Are you glad that we actually have a proper football ball to kick around these days?

The most common, and popular form, of football is known as association football, and was only properly codified and given rules in the mid-1800s, in English public schools. Various schools had different rules, and it was only when the Football Association (FA) was introduced in 1863. The FA then did some attempt to unify the various ‘codes’ of football. Followers of the 'rugby football' rules splintered off to form their own Rugby Football Union. The FA finally published the Laws of The Game in the same year of its formation (which had its roots in Cambridge football rules from 1847). The Football League was introduced in 1888, and is the world’s oldest football league competition. The FA Cup is also the world’s oldest national cup competition, having been in existence since 1871.

By far the most popular descendant of football currently played is futsal (indoor 5 a side football), that is usually played on rubber or wooden flooring, and sometimes artificial grass. Futsal was properly codified in 1930, but has only risen to prominence in the past decade.

Taking Care of Yourself with Proper Football Equipment

Football is simple. All you need is, essentially, an open space, something to mark the goalposts, and a football ball. And of course, the right footwear.

Football boots in their current incarnation only came into prominence in the 1954 World Cup, when a German by the name of Adi Dassler put screw-in studs in the boots of the German national teams' players, allowing them to run without fear of sliding or falling over on muddy football pitches. Adi Dassler then founded Adidas in 1948, the world-renowned sports apparel and footwear maker.

Nike (named after the Greek Goddess of victory) is Adidas’ biggest competitor in the footballing arena. It's an American company that was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman as Blue Ribbon Sports, later changing its name to Nike in 1978. Nike pioneered the modern day futsal shoe, as a natural evolution of its running footwear line, as well as the growing popularity of football's 5 a side indoor incarnation.

Football Equipment to Bring the Best Performance Out of You

Here at Lazada.com.my, we know that to take your footballing and futsalling experience to the next level, you need the right football equipment. With everything from goalposts to footballs, all your needs can be covered here. Football balls come in two sizes – 4 (futsal) or 5 (football). Goalposts and other training equipment also come in different sizes depending on your needs and space restrictions.