I saw the MyTeam versus Malaysia match. It was quite an experience for me. I was rather familiar with the National Sports Complex at Bukit Jalil - I was a KL '98 veteran having seen athletics, gymnastics, diving, hockey and the closing ceremony as well as a couple of Disney on Ice shows. But this was my first football match in a stadium. And football is always different. It's in a league of it's own. And this was MyTeam at the peak of its popularity, akin to that idiot Mawi during the final AF concert. (Just for the record, I would have liked to use a Katherine McPhee-American Idol analogy but that would give you the impression that MyTeam were a worldwide thing. AF proves to be more precise.)
Tickets were cheap at RM 10 but hey, I'm not complaining. Atrash came along and we took the ironically irritating, menyusahkan, way getting there - the KTM, Putra and STAR. It got so bloody cramped as we neared Bukit Jalil. Kinda like a Tokyo tram during the rush hours.
Obviously the best seats are the ones perpendicular to the halfway-line, where the TV cameras are usually placed. But only one side was open to commoners - the other was for TM's guests who had these cute little passes around their necks. But we were having none of it. The stadium has never been full after Sukom '98 and damn well that whole area would be more than sufficient for people who get free tickets. We snuck in the other side. They closed the entrances but we followed a hell lot of others who slipped under the railings behind the royal box. Third from front bebeh. Tu pun sebab takut kantoi takde pass.
There was Spider who sang a few songs that I loved and hated at the same time. 'Laukku Dah Cukup Masin'. What the fuck? Dah la the speakers were blaring at full blast not 20 meters in front of me.
Then there was Sheila Majid who had the honors of singing the 'Negaraku' (just for the record, her role that night was compared to Shakira's and Wyclef Jean's in the World Cup's opening night on Malaysian radio). This was touching. The four rounds of Mexican wave tak jadi sebab stadium punya crowd tak consistant - full here, empty there, then only one or two jokers at the top tier. We don't have a well known cheer for either team (like England's 'Come on England!' or United's 'Glory, glory Man United!' or Liverpool's 'Come on you Reds!'). But we all rose and sang. I must say it was quite an emotional thing for me. I haven't sang the song in ages! But what got me was the fact that the whole stadium - all 50,000 present - sang the national anthem with Sheila Majid. Everyone was so happy and proud - they were smiling broadly, jumping, waving the Jalur Gemilang (me being one of them). That moment kinda gave you the impression that sports does promote unity. And in this case - one of the most popular reality TV stars as well as the national football team - the kind of unity that is imperative to all of us, the kind that fails to see race or religion or sex or ancestry.
I hate reality TV. Survivor was great. And Americal Idol. But only those two. others were flops. Or corny. Or plain 'asshole audience targeted' like AF. And who the hell is gonna support Malaysia if we - Malaysians - don't? I wore the only yellow shirt I had. A shit coincidence that it was a PLKN shirt. And I brought the Jalur Gemilang with me. To hell with MyTeam, come on Mesia!
FAM weren't very sporting in fielding the successful Under-23s. Sure, they beat Man United Academy 4-1. Sure, they're Malaysians too. But MyTeam's goal, from the very beginning, was to challenge the national senior squad. Yes, the one that outclassed Indonesia away to lead the Tiger Cup semi-final first leg 2-0. And lose the home tie 3-0. The one that gets so many chances in the box yet shoot everywhere on the wrong side of the post. Yet only three seniors - a defender, midfielder and striker each - played and even they were taken off at half-time. MyTeam have come a long way in scouting and talent searching and training and what not. At least treat them with respect. The goal they scored was comparable to EPL standards.
Nevertheless, the game started and Malaysia were on fire. Our wingers were providing generously. Four chances blown in the opening fifteen minutes. It was boring because people just took for granted that they'd squander whatever chance they had in front of goal.
The guy beside me stood up suddenly and yelled "apa ni? Main macam Malaysia!" and his friend told him "wei, memang Malaysia pun. Bodoh".
Our defence was never threatened. The ball was always nearer the MyTeam goal. They never entered our penalty box. But they were deadly when it came to the counter attack. And in the 23rd minute their luck paid off. And FAM got what they deserved for underestimating MyTeam. They scored from outside the box. He was unmarked and his shot curved and curled straight into the top corner of the far post, looping above the 'keeper. Much like Flether's header that beat Cech.
Immediately afterwards, Malaysia stormed to their goal only for a mishap to go unseen. The stadium was roaring after the amateurs took the lead. Before we knew it, our striker collided with their 'keeper and MyTeam's captain pushed him. Right in front of the ref. Straight red. The fans were furious. Calls of 'ref kayu' reverberated along with the usual 'buto ah' and 'bapak kau'. There were many middle fingers shown.
Then one of our players was sent off. And oh how unlucky he was. The exit tunnel was beneath the royal box, just beside where I was seated. That player walked out to a crowd in frenzy. Everyone reached to the railing to see him off. With a harsh word or two. And a finger, of course. They were jumping and celebrating as if they were Scousers when Xabi Alonso equalized in Istanbul.
What struck me was that we are all Malaysians. And those men on the field were of the same nationality too. Why antagonize people who fight under our name? It would be perfectly understandable if this was a Malaysia versus Singapore clash. To hell with them anyway. But this was - supposedly - a friendly match between Malaysians. Don't hate them, help them. If this condition continues - every Malaysian player attracting boos and cat calls everytime they get the ball - who's gonna back them? Tak malu ke kita ni? That's our team there and here we are saying 'pukimak kau ah!' as we throw a bottle at the player with the ball.
An English daily highlighted this matter in its article entitled 'The Majority Got It Wrong'. Oh how true.
I stood there and sang the 'Negaraku' with pride. Atrash and I draped ourselves with our flag and cheered on as the boys in yellow came on field. Somehow, I was happy that I was supporting the team. I look at the people and places around me and think 'hey this country's kinda screwed up' but then again it's a hell lot better than anywhere else. I love this country. And say what I may about the people or places or things, I don't think I'd be happier elsewhere. Yes, I do look forward to studying abroad, gaining valuable experience in the fields of working and studying. But I can't see myself migrating elsewhere. I can't see me living abroad till the end of my days. I wanna grow up here. Work here. Get a life here. Get married here. Have children here. Grow old here. Die here.
To all you MyTeam supporters, yes you have your rights to choose whoever you wish to back. But to those of you out there who insult, condemn, harass and blatantly maki hamun representatives of yourselves, do think it over again, please.
Don't just sing the 'Negaraku' because it's a song. Don't just wave the 'Jalur Gemilang' because it's a flag.
Tickets were cheap at RM 10 but hey, I'm not complaining. Atrash came along and we took the ironically irritating, menyusahkan, way getting there - the KTM, Putra and STAR. It got so bloody cramped as we neared Bukit Jalil. Kinda like a Tokyo tram during the rush hours.
Obviously the best seats are the ones perpendicular to the halfway-line, where the TV cameras are usually placed. But only one side was open to commoners - the other was for TM's guests who had these cute little passes around their necks. But we were having none of it. The stadium has never been full after Sukom '98 and damn well that whole area would be more than sufficient for people who get free tickets. We snuck in the other side. They closed the entrances but we followed a hell lot of others who slipped under the railings behind the royal box. Third from front bebeh. Tu pun sebab takut kantoi takde pass.
There was Spider who sang a few songs that I loved and hated at the same time. 'Laukku Dah Cukup Masin'. What the fuck? Dah la the speakers were blaring at full blast not 20 meters in front of me.
Then there was Sheila Majid who had the honors of singing the 'Negaraku' (just for the record, her role that night was compared to Shakira's and Wyclef Jean's in the World Cup's opening night on Malaysian radio). This was touching. The four rounds of Mexican wave tak jadi sebab stadium punya crowd tak consistant - full here, empty there, then only one or two jokers at the top tier. We don't have a well known cheer for either team (like England's 'Come on England!' or United's 'Glory, glory Man United!' or Liverpool's 'Come on you Reds!'). But we all rose and sang. I must say it was quite an emotional thing for me. I haven't sang the song in ages! But what got me was the fact that the whole stadium - all 50,000 present - sang the national anthem with Sheila Majid. Everyone was so happy and proud - they were smiling broadly, jumping, waving the Jalur Gemilang (me being one of them). That moment kinda gave you the impression that sports does promote unity. And in this case - one of the most popular reality TV stars as well as the national football team - the kind of unity that is imperative to all of us, the kind that fails to see race or religion or sex or ancestry.
I hate reality TV. Survivor was great. And Americal Idol. But only those two. others were flops. Or corny. Or plain 'asshole audience targeted' like AF. And who the hell is gonna support Malaysia if we - Malaysians - don't? I wore the only yellow shirt I had. A shit coincidence that it was a PLKN shirt. And I brought the Jalur Gemilang with me. To hell with MyTeam, come on Mesia!
FAM weren't very sporting in fielding the successful Under-23s. Sure, they beat Man United Academy 4-1. Sure, they're Malaysians too. But MyTeam's goal, from the very beginning, was to challenge the national senior squad. Yes, the one that outclassed Indonesia away to lead the Tiger Cup semi-final first leg 2-0. And lose the home tie 3-0. The one that gets so many chances in the box yet shoot everywhere on the wrong side of the post. Yet only three seniors - a defender, midfielder and striker each - played and even they were taken off at half-time. MyTeam have come a long way in scouting and talent searching and training and what not. At least treat them with respect. The goal they scored was comparable to EPL standards.
Nevertheless, the game started and Malaysia were on fire. Our wingers were providing generously. Four chances blown in the opening fifteen minutes. It was boring because people just took for granted that they'd squander whatever chance they had in front of goal.
The guy beside me stood up suddenly and yelled "apa ni? Main macam Malaysia!" and his friend told him "wei, memang Malaysia pun. Bodoh".
Our defence was never threatened. The ball was always nearer the MyTeam goal. They never entered our penalty box. But they were deadly when it came to the counter attack. And in the 23rd minute their luck paid off. And FAM got what they deserved for underestimating MyTeam. They scored from outside the box. He was unmarked and his shot curved and curled straight into the top corner of the far post, looping above the 'keeper. Much like Flether's header that beat Cech.
Immediately afterwards, Malaysia stormed to their goal only for a mishap to go unseen. The stadium was roaring after the amateurs took the lead. Before we knew it, our striker collided with their 'keeper and MyTeam's captain pushed him. Right in front of the ref. Straight red. The fans were furious. Calls of 'ref kayu' reverberated along with the usual 'buto ah' and 'bapak kau'. There were many middle fingers shown.
Then one of our players was sent off. And oh how unlucky he was. The exit tunnel was beneath the royal box, just beside where I was seated. That player walked out to a crowd in frenzy. Everyone reached to the railing to see him off. With a harsh word or two. And a finger, of course. They were jumping and celebrating as if they were Scousers when Xabi Alonso equalized in Istanbul.
What struck me was that we are all Malaysians. And those men on the field were of the same nationality too. Why antagonize people who fight under our name? It would be perfectly understandable if this was a Malaysia versus Singapore clash. To hell with them anyway. But this was - supposedly - a friendly match between Malaysians. Don't hate them, help them. If this condition continues - every Malaysian player attracting boos and cat calls everytime they get the ball - who's gonna back them? Tak malu ke kita ni? That's our team there and here we are saying 'pukimak kau ah!' as we throw a bottle at the player with the ball.
An English daily highlighted this matter in its article entitled 'The Majority Got It Wrong'. Oh how true.
I stood there and sang the 'Negaraku' with pride. Atrash and I draped ourselves with our flag and cheered on as the boys in yellow came on field. Somehow, I was happy that I was supporting the team. I look at the people and places around me and think 'hey this country's kinda screwed up' but then again it's a hell lot better than anywhere else. I love this country. And say what I may about the people or places or things, I don't think I'd be happier elsewhere. Yes, I do look forward to studying abroad, gaining valuable experience in the fields of working and studying. But I can't see myself migrating elsewhere. I can't see me living abroad till the end of my days. I wanna grow up here. Work here. Get a life here. Get married here. Have children here. Grow old here. Die here.
To all you MyTeam supporters, yes you have your rights to choose whoever you wish to back. But to those of you out there who insult, condemn, harass and blatantly maki hamun representatives of yourselves, do think it over again, please.
Don't just sing the 'Negaraku' because it's a song. Don't just wave the 'Jalur Gemilang' because it's a flag.
