You complete us: D. Kenny Pallraj posing with his wife Ceazaan Moses and newborn son K. Ernest ahead of Christmas Day.
PETALING JAYA: Footballer D. Kenny Pallraj will remember this year’s Christmas for all the good reasons.
This will be the first time he is celebrating the special day with his son K. Ernest Pallraj, born on Oct 2, so he expects to have a gala time in his hometown Buntong together with his wife Ceazaan Moses and family members.
The Kuala Lumpur midfielder, who is currently recovering from a rib injury, said the family is looking forward to prayers and munching goodies during Christmas but he knows the full attention will be on his son.
“This is a blessing. I will never forget the moment I carried him for the first time. It was beautiful and I am a father now, life has indeed changed since I got married last year,” said the 31-year-old Kenny.
“I am wiser and calmer since he came into our lives. I am now putting family first. In the past, when I was single, it was different ... you wanted to have lots of fun and so on, but now, it is all for the family.
“Since the day I got to know we are going to have a baby, many positive things have happened in my life. I want to keep playing football until he can see me playing in the stadium. I want to make him proud.
“Ernest is the bundle of joy in our household. This Christmas would surely feel awesome with him and my wife around with my family members in Buntong, Perak.”
Marriage has also contributed much to Kenny’s growth as a person.
It’s even better than this!: KL player D. Kenny Pallraj (left) celebrating with Giancarlo Gallifuoco after the City Boys reached the AFC Cup final in 2022. But that joy is nothing compared to celebrating Christmas with his newborn son Ernest.
“This season has been positive for me. Why? I guess I feel more responsible and mature after marriage.
‘‘My thinking process is also different from how I was before.
“My wife played a huge role in guiding me and making decisions in life on how things need to be done.”
Those changes can also be seen in his football as he has become a mainstay in the City Boys side, showing his versatility by playing as a defensive midfielder or centreback.
Plus, coach Miroslav Kuljanac has played him as captain several times this season, knowing his experience could be vital for some of the young players in the team.
There is a little bump though in his momentum as he had to leave the Malaysia Cup quarter-final first leg against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) halfway due to a rib injury, which saw him miss the next two games.
But he will return to action next year when Kuala Lumpur take on Lions City Sailors in the AFF Club Championships on Jan 9.
“The aim is to return as soon as possible and recovery is going well. I’ve my wife to help me too, she is a doctor,” he jested.
“On the field, I have always given my best. This season, I have played regularly and I can see my performance has been improving year by year.
“This has to continue and knowing how football is evolving especially when it comes to tactics and intensity, I want to learn as well and stay relevant all the time.
“I cannot just rely on my same game style to adapt to different generations. I have to adapt, and if I don’t, then it would be hard to have longevity in the game.
“So I want to play for as long as I can. I am 31 now, and I did say I want to play until my son can see me strutting my stuff on the field.”
