After an injury ended his professional football career, Mohd Yusri Abas found a new calling on TikTok. From an e-hailing driver to a full-time content creator and fashion livestreamer, he now earns a steady income doing something he loves – all while redefining what success means in the digital age.
Out of the Game, Into the Spotlight
IN an age where content is king and charisma sells, platforms like TikTok have become more than just sources of entertainment – they are launching pads for new careers, unexpected passions, and second chances. For some, it is a side hustle. For others, it is a lifeline.
TikTok is now more than just a social media platform for short-form entertainment – it is a tool for income generation and career reinvention. As short videos continue to capture attention better than their long-form counterparts, more and more users are capitalising on the platform’s reach.
“The first three seconds are crucial to capture your audience,” said TikTok creator, Mohd Yusri Abas, better known as @yuse_ollyz. Active on the platform since 2020, Yus recalled that he started out with just 8,000 followers, using only his phone to film content.
Today, he has over 145,000 followers, films with a professional camera, and earns a steady income through the platform. But his path to success was anything but easy.
Mohd Yusri Abas
Lowest point
Yus spent his 20s as a professional footballer with Malacca FC – a lifelong dream fuelled by his passion for the sport from a young age. His career was on the rise until everything changed at 31.
“I got injured, and I remember every moment vividly. It was the worst – it ended my professional sports career. Back then, football was all I knew. It was my livelihood and how I supported my family,” said the father of three.
That period marked his lowest point.
“I’d been playing football my whole life. Suddenly, I felt lost – like I’d lost my identity and purpose,” he admitted.
Encouraged by his wife to try something new, Yus became an e-hailing driver. But he was not content.
“It was the easiest way to earn money, but it wasn’t something I truly wanted to do – I just did it for the sake of earning,” he said.
He was reluctant to tell his family about the job, feeling ashamed and uncertain about his ability to provide.
“I had commitments. I had mouths to feed,” he lamented.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yus began creating content on TikTok purely for entertainment – a move that eventually led him to a new passion, and a career path he never expected.
A new beginning
Today, Yus is confident and charismatic in front of the camera – a natural, though he never used to be.
“I wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of a camera back then,” he said. “But I found myself growing into it.”
His journey as a TikTok Shop affiliate began when he discovered the platform’s now-famous ‘yellow bag’ shopping feature, which allows creators to sell products during livestreams. It was a lightbulb moment.
“I started in 2021, posting videos and trying to sell products. But the impact wasn’t the same as selling live. So the following year, even though I was still awkward, I pushed myself to promote products on live sessions,” he explained.
Yus began by selling random items before transitioning to fashion products – a move that paid off. His fashion livestreams attracted growing viewership and boosted his confidence.
On average, he earns a minimum of RM500 per day, with income rising to over RM12,000 during festive seasons.
“But to reach that level, you need consistency and a strong work ethic,” he said.
His daily routine is structured around his children’s school runs.
“I go live after sending them to school, again in the evening after picking them up, and then from 8:00 pm to 10:00 or 11:00 pm,” he added.
It’s tiring, he admits – his voice sometimes cracks from the long hours of talking – but he’s used to it.
“It’s been three years now. Even during Ramadan, I go live. It’s exhausting, but not as tiring as being on the football field. Plus, the working hours are flexible,” she admitted.
He rarely skips a day unless he’s on holiday – and even then, he records content to keep engagement alive.
“Once, I took a week-long holiday and saw my viewership drop. The way to get it back up is to go live consistently, every day.”
From one goal to another
Although he no longer scores goals on the field, Yus has set his sights on a new one – to provide for his family in a way that also brings him joy.
What began as a fallback plan has evolved into a passion, proving that the digital era can offer not just income, but a second chance. For people like Yus, it’s not only about technology; it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the drive to succeed.
