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 A recent interview with 2003 World Championships Rookie Doubles champion,
Alex Ooi, disclosed that the champion is just another Happy-Go-Lucky lad
wanting to have fun playing foosball.
Alex Ooi and Ng Eu Hock was the first Malaysian pair to win the Rookie
Doubles title during the World Championships in US back in 2003. Today, Alex is still
a top contender in the local foosball scene and recently won the 2006 Nationals
Open Doubles with his partner Joel Lim.
FCM: Do give us a quick explanation of why your nick name of Youngboy?
AO: Youngboy eh? Well it all started when I first came to KL from Penang. That was like around 8 years ago. During that
time, the *cough* "legendary" *cough* Boy Ng Eu Hock (aka KL Boy) was
King of the Hill with his Pull Shot heard all over Malaysia. I mean, seriously when I
was in Penang, I would hear stories about how
fast, and loud the so-called Ah Boy's pullshot was.
So when I finally moved to KL, I had to check it out especially since I was
shooting a pull at that time, albeit a "long-happy" pull. Anyway, to
cut a long story short, I had the privilege to know Henry Long, who happened to
be the person who I can safely call "mentor" and he also introduced
me to all the foosers at that time like Ray Ng, Sean Yeap, Ben Tan, Ben Neo,
Thomas, Aunnie, Albert Cheok, Kenny, Calvin Ko, Noel, and many more who until
today has remained good friends of mine. Then he introduced me to Ah Boy(Eu
Hock), Mr Botak Boy, which of course I eagerly played a game with him and
showed him MY PULL. HAHAHAHA
Test power la you know...needless to say, he just played like it was no big
deal until the last ball then he got possession and slammed the longest and
hardest pull shot I've ever seen or heard of at that time. So because I was up
and coming with a pullshot, the entire gang also called me boy but of course
kiasu Ah Boy cannot have another "boy" around, so instead, they
called me Young Boy.
Fast forward 5 years, the two "Boys" went on to be the first
Malaysian to win a world title which, I must say I could not have asked for a
better partner (by the way, we have NEVER partnered each other before prior to
winning the worlds so it was surprising how it worked out somehow, maybe we
were lucky?)
FCM: Where were you born & raised?
AO:Penang
FCM: How old were you when you first started foosing and where was the
place?
AO: Around 18 and it was at Zulus I think, this pub by the beach in Penang.
 FCM: What was your first major tournament ever played?
AO: Not too sure what's major because every tournament is quite major for me
back then. So I would say Dynasty and I think that was Player's Championships?
Not too sure. lol
FCM: What was your first Major title ever won?
AO: Again not too sure what are major but most memorable would be Rookie
Doubles / Singles in Penang the year after my
first tournament. World's 2003 rookie doubles with Ah Boy, World's 2003 2nd
place Semi Pro doubles (again with Tom Goff, whom I've never met but manage to hook up after corresponding a few times over the internet)
FCM: What is your primary position?
AO: Striker
FCM: Which do you like better?
AO: I am indifferent although I would really like to be a defender for a
kick ass striker, so I can just tumpang glamour. lol
FCM: What are your primary & secondary shot as a forward? As a goalie?
AO: Snake. Don't need a secondary. Although I do whip out pulls, push
kicks, tic tac when I am goofing around. As a goalie, it's pull, pull kick,
push, push kick. No more.
FCM: How about your passing series. What is your primary? Do you have more
than one?
AO: Brush. But I guess it's flexible enough to execute other varieties of
the brush.
FCM: What would you like to advice the future champions?
AO: Honestly, there is no one size fits all advice I can give. You have the
conventional "work harder, play smarter, practice etc etc etc".
Ultimately you need ask,” Do you think enough about the game to be good at
it?" eh?
FCM: Where do you see foosball heading to in 5 or 10 years time?
AO: I can't tell how it'll be like but I sure hope that we see more players
making waves at the international front. We need to catch up to other countries
instead of being a "jaguh kampung"
FCM: Why did you foos anyway? What was the reason?
AO: Not sure. Maybe coz it's fun?
FCM: As an enthusiast yourself, what would your advise to FCM?
AO: Keep up the good work.
RESULTS DATABASE
2003 World Championships - Rookie Doubles (with NG EU BOY HOCK)
Beat JOHNNY MEJIA / JUNIOR ARTURO ENRIQUEZ (65th or better)
Beat PHIL KENNEDY / MARTIN GRIMES (33rd or better)
Beat SHANE DARBY / TOM HENSIEK (17th or better)
Beat JOE RUMBOLO / MONICA STEAGAL (9th or better)
Beat VU CAO / INKEO 'MEL" KHANTHAVONG (5th or better)
Beat ANTHONY ORTEGA / ROBERT SANTOS (Winners Bracket Final)
Beat ANTHONY ORTEGA / ROBERT SANTOS (Finals)
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