DRIVEN BY PATRIOTISM, POPOPOJIE RISES AS LEADING E-SPORTS CONTENT CREATOR

By Farah Najihah Zuraimi

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- In a bid to defend the nation's pride and shake off the stigma of being labelled a "clown team" in the 2021 MLBB Southeast Asia Cup, Muhammad Fauzi Ramli, 33, managed to turn his life around and emerge as an influential content creator and live-stream host in the local e-sports scene.

As the saying goes, “You can tell a rooster’s luck by its spurs, but a man’s fate is unknown”, the journey of this Perak-born individual, better known as Popopojie in the e-sports world, was far from easy, especially since he once faced discrimination and bullying.

Popopojie said the e-sports space is a “free” world which offers him an opportunity to chase his dreams without feeling restricted or burdened by negative societal perceptions.

“I took up online games around 2017. At first, my mother was very sceptical, saying mobile gaming was a waste of time, money, and had no future. But at that point, I was determined to prove to her that the gaming world had value and could become a career.

“But the journey wasn’t easy, until things started to look up in 2021. At the time, there was a clash between foreign and Malaysian players. I wondered, why all the insults? After Malaysia won a round, I made a video -- and unexpectedly, it went viral,” he told Bernama recently.

The former data analyst at a well-known sports brand said that after the viral video, he began receiving various offers in the e-sports world, ranging from hundreds to thousands of ringgit.

Popopojie said that was a pivotal moment that led to a growing following, eventually allowing him to build a community of hundreds of thousands of followers actively engaging with him online.

“There was a time I did a one-week event for RM200, but I took it positively. Sure, the amount was small, but I saw it as a chance to network and meet people who might become future clients.

“I also often offered added value that others might not. But to be honest, there were times I regretted it. Still, I know there’s so much more I dream of in e-sports, and it’s a journey that takes time,” said the content creator, who cites hosts Datuk Aznil Nawawi and Nabil Ahmad as his idols.

To him, family -- especially the prayers of his mother, Fauziah Ahmad, 76 — is a constant source of strength through life’s hardships, and giving up is not an option as everyone has sacrificed so much.

Far from satisfied with his achievements, Popopojie remains eager to move forward with confidence, believing he still has much to contribute to the development of the country’s e-sports industry.

Popopojie hopes that more parents will give their children the freedom to explore the field, especially since e-sports has been gazetted as a high-performance core sport, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on April 14.

He believes everyone has their own strengths -- some excel academically, others are practically gifted -- which is why space and support are crucial in helping young people discover their true interests.

“To me, today’s generation must move with the times. If passion is nurtured correctly, it can lead someone to incredible success.

“I also hope e-sports can be introduced as part of the co-curriculum in schools, because we need to give every youth the chance to try and explore this field,” he added.

-- BERNAMA