From Klang Valley fields to international tournaments, Solomon Yau’s–or better known as Sol–journey in Flag Football is a story of resilience, rediscovery and relentless passion. He may have stumbled into the sport by chance, but his commitment is anything but accidental.
Solomon Yau, 25, never set out to be a Flag Football player. In fact, back in 2020, he didn’t even know the sport existed in Malaysia. At the time, his weekends were filled with basketball and captainball pick-up games across the Klang Valley. That changed one day during a casual conversation with a fellow player and friend, Nicholas Choo.
“He just asked if I had ever tried Flag Football before,” Sol says. “I mentioned how I always wanted to try rugby and how I was a huge NFL fan, but didn’t think there was anything like that here in Malaysia.”
Nicholas told him about an upcoming Flag Football open day. Sol showed up–and he never left.
Sol’s competitive nature and spirit didn’t take long to kick in. Coming from a background in basketball, he was already familiar with pushing physical and mental limits. But it wasn’t until after the pandemic–during friendly matches like Ramadhan Rumble and the Malaysia American Football Association (MAFA) Cup in 2022–did he start taking the sport seriously.
“I fell deeper in love with the game. The atmosphere, the physicality, the team camaraderie. It all just clicked.” he says.
There was a clear fire in the way he spoke. He’s driven by more than just wins and trophies. For him, it’s about growth–both as an athlete and a person. “I love a challenge. Flag Football gave me something new to master, something to push myself in again.”
Yet passion doesn’t always make the grind easy. For Sol, balancing a full-time job with intense training schedules is something he wrestles with daily.
“It’s tough. Not everyone gets it,” he admits. “You’ve still got to pay the bills, you've got responsibilities. But you also know these moments are fleeting. So, if you’re gonna do it, do it fully.”
“The comfort food in Malaysia is just too good,” he laughs, explaining that his diet might not be as dialled in, but he is strict about recovery. From foam rolling to proper stretching, he’s learned to respect his body–especially after a hectic 2023 that left him physically and mentally drained.
“I hit burnout hard,” he says, shaking his head as he recalls. “Five tournaments in one year, plus National Selections, plus being the Assistant Physio… it was bound to happen. But I took the time off I needed. And it taught me that sometimes, powering through isn’t strength–resting is.”
Sol’s proudest moments don’t always come from victory, but rather transformation. He talks fondly about tournaments like the 2024 Lepak Langkawi, where he played with international teammates and had to rise to a new level.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be there,” he laughs. “But winning gold alongside players from Korea, the UK, India–even local talents I really respect, it made me see how much more there is to this game.”
But it isn’t all glory. He also opened up about the 2024 Breakout Tournament, when a personal heartbreak collided with a string of bad performances on the field.
“I snapped, letting my emotions boil over. It was the first time I ever felt that kind of emotional weight while playing. But I had this moment with my coach, Krish. We sat down, watched the semi-finals and he told me that the game is life–ups and downs, and we just have to keep showing up.” Sol recalls.
And that’s what Solomon Yau did. Even after injuries and emotional setbacks, he keeps showing up.
“The love of the game pulls you back.” He says. “And that first ball you catch after being sidelined? That’s the moment when you know you’re back.”
After months stuck on the sidelines, juggling his full-time job as a Senior/Head Physiotherapist and watching games through phone screens–Sol finally laced up once again for the 2025 Breakout Tournament. But this time, he came back not just to play–but to reclaim his love for the game. New team, new fire. And he delivered.
Not only did they clinch 3rd place–his first podium since 2024–but he also broke a three-year touchdown drought, crossing the line with everything he’d held in for so long. Bronze never felt so golden.
I asked him what he would say to his younger self. “Fail some more. You never know when it’ll be a success.” he says.
He lives by a handful of quotes, but one stands out above the rest; Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
At the moment, Sol isn’t sure what the future holds. The dream of representing Malaysia at the LA 2028 Olympics still lingers, but for now, his focus is on being the best version of himself. For his teammates and for the newcomers he hopes to inspire.
“I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, and maybe one day someone will stand on mine.”
Alrissa Mariam (alrissamram@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.