Tonight in Malaysia, Malaysia Cup reaches its pinnacle. Not many realized this, especially when the Champions League is getting more interesting as Liverpool hanging by a thread, and the billion pound sterling English Premier League enterprise look gorgeous as ever.
That's why I am here, to remind you that Malaysia have its own football life too. If you are Malaysian, WE HAVE OUR OWN FOOTBALL SCENE TO ENJOY. Sorry for the upper cases. At least there are a bit more decent than 'we have our own fucking football scene to enjoy for fuck sake'. And I've given a thought about that.
Well, there are so many cups in Malaysia of course and if you are oblivious about football, Malaysia Cup could be anything. It could be a national tennis championship, or a national hockey tournament.
For those who don't speak sports language might think Malaysia Cup is actually a cup, maybe too sacred that it is carefully kept in a steel room with guardians in their steel Medieval knight suit of armor protecting it.
Even if you get through the formidable line of defence, you have to be somewhat tech-savvy as you would have to have a password to crack the door of the room.
And extra brawn as the door is quite weighty, oh why the fuck I am digressing.
2008 Malaysia Cup final. Malaysian football's very own Liverpool-Man Utd rivalry: Selangor-Kedah. Two best teams in Malaysia, and two best states in the world. Kedah won that year, right in front of my eye.
Malaysia Cup and the news were Romeo and Juliet if my memory serves me right. I can still remember the run-up to the final was a frontpage material, and any hypes, interviews and possible lineups were much more interesting than politics. Nothing against Tun Dr M, of course.
Media used to give extra kick for Malaysia Cup's image and Malaysian football in general. RTM1 was forgiven for its boring entertainment when they broadcast live Malaysian football matches. Interested in making more money, the fledgling TV3 joined the fray and started broadcasting live Malaysian football matches over one hour long news.
News have to be edited, and sports news started earlier. That equals to news had to finish earlier to give way for Malaysian football.
Football could be a frontpage and backpage feat in a day. And European football could only make a feature after few pages of Malaysian football news. There were not just news, there were stories, opinions and articles from fervent Malaysian football columnists.
That was then, before the British made a comeback in the form of English Premier League.
Western imperialism was attributed to the famous Gold, Glory and Gospel. Now add Goal to that, for they have taken our football and exchange it with theirs.
So tonight, Kelantan will play Negri Sembilan for the Cup. Malaysia Cup final without Selangor is an awkward moment for me. Don't get me wrong, both Kelantan and Negri Sembilan deserve their place and played a good campaign this season. So, good luck to both teams.
And the hype I am getting are no longer in the form of broadsheet newspaper as I used to read with legs crossed back home, but from those online.
As I am writing this, kick-off is in 6 hours and no single news about Malaysia Cup could be found in the frontpage of The Star Online. Even the sports section bullets feature none of Malaysia Cup story. Yes, as I click to browse the proper sports section, Malaysia Cup story is remotely published as the seventh headline.
Well, I am not sure whether that is considered headline. Ironically, the headline is still football-related. But not in Malaysia and not even in Asia. It is about UEFA, European football's governing body. Local sports news featured is about 1Malaysia Racing Team, the so-called Holy Grail of Malaysians' love in sports.
Maybe I am too narrow to consider only The Star for this naked observation, as Utusan Online saved the blush. The first thing on the sports section was an article about Kelantan-Negri Sembilan duel, and the writer was clever to stir some emotion for both fans to go to stadium with. A clap for that.
Another clap easily goes to the news I've got from FAM that tickets for tonight's game are sold out. If it is true and those tickets turned into attendance, it is an overwhelming 87,000 football people! It is for sure a larger crowd than any Premier League matches.
Nice one Malaysians. I mean, Malaysian football fans that is. It is good to know that Malaysian football is very much alive in the hearts of many Malaysian football fans, although the market for Malaysian football is no longer (for now) in the hearts of Malaysian mainstream media.
Pakatan Rakyat have their March 8 to boast about real democracy taking place in Malaysia. Let's have our own Pakatan of Malaysian Football Fans to show that Malaysian football is still there to be loved.
Cheers and have a good game tonight.
Anyway, Selangor will be back stronger next season. And Liverpool too, of course.
hobin jang hobin! n9 is the champion!! yeah its good to have the feeling of the cup again and i hope of the same things next year and onwards. good luck selangor! nice article!