Any ’90s kid will know how much of a cultural event global-scale sporting tournaments were to the community at large, with the Olympics and the World Cup never failing to get us to sit attentively in front of the TV – even at the wee hours of the morning. For us growing up back then, football stars like Ronaldinho, David Beckham, and Messi were our pop stars, enjoying the same level of fame as Hollywood celebs and leading pop singers even to those of us who might not be diehard football fans.
For Hazim ‘Zeem’ Ahmad, growing up watching Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho on TV juggling and doing freestyle tricks with a ball (yes, we’re thinking of those Pepsi ads from the early 2000s) was the start of an obsession – one that would soon take him across the globe.
Hazim, better known in the community by his nickname Zeem, is not a new name to the Malaysian and international freestyling scene. He’s represented Malaysia at multiple world-level competitions for both freestyle and street football, bringing home medals and letting his moves – and easy going attitude – do the talking for him.
Picking up the ball
Zeem’s journey with freestyle started at the tender age of eight years old. Inspired by those iconic ads of Ronaldinho, he picked up a ball and tried his hands at replicating the tricks he saw. But the true start was when he met the legendary Dr. Freestyler (real name: Mohd Shuhaimi Mohd Khizari, or fondly known as Amy), one of the pioneering names of the performance sport in Malaysia. “The first time we met, he was training, and he called up to anyone who wanted to show off their skills. So my brother and I took the chance and from there it took off,” he explains.
What followed was Zeem’s first foray into the world of freestyle performance alongside Dr. Freestyler, where they would travel and perform across the country opening for futsal tournaments and many more events. Unfortunately, they lost contact in 2009, prompting the former’s short hiatus from freestyling.
“A year later in 2010, I saw a few Malaysian freestylers doing an ad for TV. I saw that and I thought I have that talent, and I regretted stopping. So I started freestyling again, but this time with a different mindset: I wanted to compete, I wanted to win and not only do freestyle as a performance,” he says.
“Performing is good for making money but there’s no goal. I personally like to battle, and the atmosphere and vibe that comes with it. Battles can make you better because you’re competing with others and you need to show off everything you have,” he explains, giving us a glimpse into the determination and passion he holds for the sport.
And that was the turning point for young Zeem, as he set his sights on the global stage and the rest of the world. “I focused on freestyle tournaments, and from there I built a name for myself until I went global,” he shares.
Setting up the scene
Freestyle football in Malaysia generally consists of two parts. The first is freestyle, which is more performative and sees freestylers showing off their best moves in 30 second matches across three rounds. Then there’s street football or panna, which are 1v1 matches that have participants scoring goals for points, with the ultimate aim of scoring an ‘ole’ (where the ball goes through the opponent’s legs) for an instant win.
In local freestyle tournaments, it’s common to see both freestyle and panna categories being represented, with participants generally specialising in one sport. Zeem however, is an all-rounder that’s skilled at both.
There’s a heavy emphasis on dance and performance in freestyle, so we wondered how Zeem would categorise it – a sport or an art form? He gives a knowing smile upon hearing the question, answering without hesitation, “It’s everything actually, because it’s freestyle so you can do whatever you want.”
He elaborates, “For me, it’s art because I like the aspect of body movements. That’s why every time before training, and when I want to start freestyling, I always watch dance videos to get inspiration from them, the way they move. I start to experiment and think what it would be like to put the ball [on different places of my body] while performing.”
“But it’s also very much a sport, of course,” he continues after a brief pause. “It’s hard to choose between them.”
Shaking up the world stage
The first time Zeem won a medal, it felt unreal. He reflects, “I couldn’t believe it at first. I didn’t think about winning, only about giving my all. I was satisfied either way because I did my best, but then I actually won, and it was unexpected. I joined another competition a few months later, and I won again, and then again.”
His commitment to always going all-out at these tournaments are what set him up for success. This mindset took him from his first local competition circa 2011 right to the 2016 World Street Soccer Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark in the span of just five years. “That tournament was particularly memorable because it was by invite-only. They invited only the best in the world, and I was chosen to be there,” he beams.
And though he doesn’t consider himself a pioneer of the sport in the local scene (he considers himself the third generation), it’s undeniable that Zeem blazed a trail for Malaysia in the global scale. But once he reached his initial goal of bringing Malaysia’s name to a global stage, Zeem didn’t rest on his laurels. He set his sights on a new target: signing on as a Red Bull athlete.
“The 2016 World Street Soccer Championship in Copenhagen was particularly memorable – they invited only the best in the world, and I was chosen to be there.”
Following in the footsteps of his idol, Séan Garnier from France – a veritable pioneer of freestyle – who is himself a Red Bull athlete, Zeem started researching more into what it would be like to be one himself. “Séan Garnier and Red Bull have become synonymous, and when you look at your idol you tend to want to follow them too. Because I like to watch other extreme sports like BMX, skate, and dance as well, I found the powerhouses were all Red Bull athletes,” Zeem explains.
His first step through the door came with a DM from Red Bull Malaysia in 2014, as his competitive career was really taking off, a moment which Zeem still remembers vividly. Several years of collaboration ensued, but Zeem wanted more than just cartons of energy drink and unofficial partnerships. And so he started pushing and asking directly what he need to do for Red Bull to sign him, once again putting that passionate determination into getting what he wants.
“I even dreamed of being a Red Bull athlete several times, and I would wake up crying because I wanted it so much,” he reveals. Then in 2022, he got his big break when Neymar Jr chose him to play for the Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five tournament, where he was one among five players called to play in Qatar on Neymar’s team. From there, he made himself known to the Red Bull global hotshots, alongside booking a job with his idol Séan Garnier that very same year too.
“I even dreamed of being a Red Bull athlete several times, and I would wake up crying because I wanted it so much.”
“Finally, in 2023, they called me and I signed on. It was Tunku Abdul Rahman who gave me the cap and said ‘welcome to the family’. And that was it, setel semua,” Zeem recounts with a smile. It was a goal that took close to 10 years, but since then, it’s been a dream come true, and today Zeem is the only Malaysian freestyle football Red Bull athlete.
It’s not just the backing from a huge body like Red Bull that gets Zeem excited, but it’s the fact that the brand offers such a huge platform for a sport that’s still underrated in Malaysia. And yes, Red Bull might be known for pulling off crazy stunts, but Zeem reveals that all these ideas and plans come from the athletes themselves – all wanting to challenge themselves further, and all readily embraced and supported by Red Bull.
Speaking of crazy stunts, Zeem has some ideas cooking for the near future. “There are plans currently with Tunku Abdul Rahman, who is a racer himself, to combine football and racing into something exciting. And we’re looking to collaborate with Red Bull global on this,” he teases. No dates or official announcements available yet, so you’ll have to stay tuned to Zeem’s channels for more on this exclusive project.
“I hope to see more Malaysian Red Bull athletes in the future, from all the different fields and in extreme sports too, as our journeys are very much intertwined,” he adds.
Shaping up the future of freestyle
Ever the visionary, Zeem has also thought about what his legacy will be. During the global lockdowns in 2021, he started teaching the younger generation – some of whom have already done shows and performances today. The ‘school’ is known as Zeem Academy, and Zeem himself, along with fellow Malaysian freestylers, would be on-site to teach their skills to eager students.
There was a short break in programming once COVID restrictions lifted and global travel resumed, but Zeem Academy has opened its doors for admission once again. “I feel like I have to develop more talents and start at a younger age, from primary school level, so we can change the mentality around freestyle and street football,” he explains, passionate about bringing the country’s participation in this sport to new heights.
He continues, “I’m trying to make freestyle football a lifestyle, something you just do, and continue to do because you love it. Zeem Academy is a space for that, plus it helps the freestyling economy by giving them opportunities to work and share knowledge with a new generation.”
“I feel like I have to develop more talents and start at a younger age, from primary school level, so we can change the mentality around freestyle and street football.”
“We have a few professional freestylers who have won competitions abroad, and so we give them a platform here to teach while they might not have a job as they’re training for their next tournament,” he reveals. “We represented Malaysia quite a lot and we’ve brought home big medals too. Through them and in the future, I want to make freestyle football and street football a core sport in Malaysia.”
His focus on competition – the very thing that drove him to change his mindset and really start making waves – is something he wants to instil and offer to the next generation too. “When you only do performance shows without competition, then what is the new generation training for?” he questions.
“Of course, freestyling is my platform, but it’s just one thing. I want the youth to be able to focus on the sport they like. So, that’s why we have a plan to create a sports hub that’s open to all – be it freestyle, BMX, skateboarding – all with the aim to develop professional athletes. We hope to have our own dedicated base with full facilities so kids have a space to come and train.”
Showing up for the next generation
Of course, with everything Zeem has accomplished so far, it’s not surprising that he’s a role model for young kids who dream to make a name in this sport. But for Zeem, this catches him off-guard. “Honestly, I feel shy, segan, when people say I’m their role model. I have mixed feelings about it,” he answers carefully, taking his time to organise his thoughts. “What I do, I don’t do with the intention to inspire others, I do it for myself. When people look at us and see us as ‘perfect’, it’s dangerous because people forget that we’re human and we also make mistakes,” he expounds.
“Some people have come up to me over the years to thank me, and there were a few who were very emotional about it… I’m flattered but I also want them to know not to put me on a pedestal,” he says.
It’s refreshing to see that despite the heights he’s climbed and the people he’s met, Zeem remains acutely aware of his influence and the power it wields. Through it all, this young athlete represents a generation and community of athletes that have long had to overcome obstacles and challenges to wrestle their own way in a sport that doesn’t get much attention from governing authorities. Knowing what it takes to get there – the pitfalls, the mistakes, the regrets – must be what makes Zeem unique in his industry.
Like many of us, he was a young dreamer that was inspired by a football legend, picked up a ball, and worked hard on a goal he set his mind on. Though he has mixed feelings about being an inspiration to others, his experience and determination makes him just the right guy to leave lasting advice to the upcoming generation.
“I want to make freestyle and street football a core sport in Malaysia.”
“If you’re interested in freestyle football and panna, I’d say to just keep going. You don’t even need a coach if you really want to learn. We all started without coaches, and we just picked up the ball and kept going. Go to YouTube, and nowadays it’s a little more advanced cause you can even drop by Zeem Academy to learn,” he cheekily answers. “There will be people who’ll make fun of you. Don’t be too hard on yourself and if things don’t come your way, just take it slow. But always keep going.”
He also emphasises the need to build strong personal branding, which gives you an edge when it comes to getting your name out there. “The fan base here is small, so even if you win the world championship, you won’t get mainstream media coming to interview you. It’s important to always promote yourself,” he advises.
When asked for advice not just for aspiring freestylers, but for all the next-gen talents who are looking to leave their mark, Zeem offers practical advice: “Go out and see the world. Don’t stay here, it’s a loss because Malaysia is small and there are so many more opportunities out there.”
“If you’re focused on athletics or if you want to be more creative, you have to travel to see and truly learn what we’re good at and where we’re lagging behind. When you come back to Malaysia, you’ll be years ahead in your experience, and that will help you start to make a change,” he concludes.
Stay up-to-date with Zeem Ahmad’s freestyle football exploits on his Instagram @zeemahmad, and follow @zeemacademy and his lifestyle brand @keepitstreet to see what else he’s up to.
Explore and read FirstClasse’s previous Inspire covers here.
Featured image: Zeem wears Onitsuka top and pants, with stylist’s own coat and his own shoes.
Editor: Natalie Khoo
Interview and words: Neda Al-Asedi
Creative direction: Driv
Art direction assistant and coordination: Imran Sulaiman
Photography: Wan Azmeera | A.M Studio
Photography assistant: Amir Imran
Videography: Khairul Irsyaduddin
Video concept and subtitles: Charmaine Loh
Styling: Natalie Khoo, assisted by Charmaine Loh
Grooming: Fiona Yip | HaloRoom