As families prepare for FunFam SportFest 2026, former Team Singapore athletes Shakir Juanda and Ervika Trinny Kamarol Zaman share how the simple act of playing together helps families grow together.
Long before medals, rankings and trophies, there are the parents who make time to show up — driving to practice, cheering from the sidelines and turning ordinary weekends into memories their children will carry for years to come.
For Shakir and Ervika, it is in these everyday moments of playing together that their families often grow together.
For Shakir, sport has long been the thread connecting three generations of his family.
That unwavering support left a lasting impression.
Now retired, Shakir sees history repeating itself in a new way.
Every Saturday, his two boys head to silat training. Rather than dropping them off, he joins them — practising together and continuing a family tradition rooted in discipline, dedication and encouragement.
After training, they often gather for dinner.
“It’s become a ritual we all look forward to,” he shares. “Seeing that continuity, that same spirit of encouragement passed down over the dinner table and on the mat, is something I hold very close.”
For Shakir, the most valuable lessons from sport are not about winning.
“Sport gave me three things: discipline, dedication and determination,” he says. “Those values shaped who I am, and they’re what I want to pass on to my children.”
Today, they bring him to class twice a week. But instead of waiting on the sidelines, they train alongside him.
“That time has become more than just physical activity,” she says. “It’s our family bonding time.”
For Ervika, sport is not simply about building strength or skill. It is about creating a space where the family can support one another, grow together and make memories that extend beyond the training mat.
She is also mindful of how children experience sport for the first time.
“At this stage, it should be a period of exploration rather than pressure,” she explains. “I want my children to discover what they enjoy and build a natural love for being active.”
If they eventually decide to pursue sport more seriously, structure and discipline can come later. What matters most is preserving the enjoyment that drew them to sport in the first place.
Both parents agree that some of sport’s most important lessons have nothing to do with winning.
Ervika hopes her children understand that setbacks are part of the journey.
“It’s okay to fall. It’s okay to feel disappointed,” she says. “What matters is having the courage to get back up and try again.”
She wants them to know that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it.
For Shakir, the lesson is similar.
Sport taught him that perseverance and consistency matter more than any single result. Those are the qualities he believes will help his children navigate not only sport, but life itself.
In a world filled with screens and digital distractions, both parents believe the answer starts with example.
Shakir makes a conscious effort to put devices aside and initiate activities as a family. Whether it is going for walks, fishing or simply talking together at home, he believes quality time is less about what you do and more about being fully present.
Ervika takes a similar approach.
Her family stays active through walks in the park, swimming, bike rides and playful games at home. They do not eliminate screen time entirely, but strive to make movement a normal and enjoyable part of everyday life.
“The goal is to make staying active feel like something they want to do, not something they have to do,” she says.
Ask these former athletes what makes them superheroes in their children’s eyes, and their answers are strikingly simple.
Making time.
Showing up.
Training together.
Getting back up after setbacks.
Turning ordinary moments into family rituals.
The real superpower is not found in medals or titles, but in the values parents pass on and the memories they create along the way.
Join the Fun at FunFam SportFest 2026
FunFam SportFest 2026 celebrates these same everyday acts of connection.
Over two days, families can discover new sports, pick up tips for healthier living and create meaningful moments together.
Because every simple sporting moment brings families closer. Sometimes messy, always worth it.
FunFam SportFest 2026
📅 30–31 May 2026
📍 Singapore EXPO Hall 3
Bring the family and create memories that will last long after the final whistle.