November 5, 2024

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My BEST Live Football Experience: MALAYSIA CUP FINAL 1996

Don’t ever brag about football if you haven’t watch a live football match. I always told off those who loved to brag about their favourite teams. Most Malaysians loved foreign football league such as English Premier League (EPL), Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, World Cup and Euro Cup. Many of them neglected the local football scene. Me myself is an avid England, Liverpool and Selangor FC supporter.

I never brought up to be a footballer. I wish I have the stamina and power but yet it never deter me to have a nice football game regardless of winning or losing. My last football game will be a futsal game a few years back. Going up in a public high school, I was influenced by our multi racial friends to watch local football. In the 90s, Malaysia’s football was having its peak with Singapore playing in our Malaysian League. Well, I’m a huge supporter of Selangor FC, our local state football club. Selangor FC is one of the most successful Malaysian football club in the history.

My first experience of live football comes in 1995, Malaysia Cup Final: Selangor beat Pahang 1 – 0. It was really an eye opener, though I couldn’t see the players clearly but the atmosphere was electric. Stadium Shah Alam really rocked. The football game ended with fireworks display that thrilled the crowd.  From there, I started to watch live local football matches with my fellow friends. After graduating high school in 1995, me and my fellow local football fan supporters went to our own ways.

We began to lost touch as everyone was busy with their lives. However, in 28th Dec 1996, me and my fellow Selangor FC friends were united. It was the Malaysia Cup Final 1996: Selangor vs. Sabah. Sabah’s Australian player Scott Ollerenshaw was the top scorer in the league and Sabah won the 1996 Malaysian League so Sabah was the favourite to win. Thus, the Malaysia Cup was played in Selangor FC’s homegrown of Stadium Shah Alam with the capacity crowd of 80,000 supporters! Basically it was our version of Barcelona’s Nou Camp.

We reached the mighty Shah Alam Stadium early, avoiding traffic jams. It will be easier to get parking space also.

This was us, me, Liew Wai Hong, Siew Haw Hoe, Steven Ng and Kung. Our friend, Affendi’s mum made the custom made hats for us. Kung and the rest did the custom made flag. We were ready for Shah Alam Stadium!

 

Got our tickets and it was free seating. The ticket cost around RM 10. We sat in the middle of the stadium, where all the actions were. There were a few confrontations between Selangor FC and Sabah FC supporters. The policemen were stationed so they kept a good eye on them. The tension was starting rising. Everyone were getting excited.

 

There was a short black out before the game. The floodlights seems to be faulty. Everyone in the stadium regardless which team supporter light up the stadium with their lighters. It was an amazing sight. The flood lights were restored shortly.

There were always random people in the stadium. A supporter like him wearing a mask scaring people is a common sight back then in our local football scene. I don’t really know the reason, but probably he felt he could be more popular with the mask. There were also some random people blowing fire, throwing toilet papers, distributing balloons and such. This are the things that makes live football so memorable.

Not forgetting the “sucky” food like the local “Ramli” burger and fried noodles. Regardless how bad the food taste, the focus was only on the football pitch.

The game eventually started. This how colourful the stadium was. It was a capacity crowd of 80,000 people!! This could put many foreign football clubs to shame. We had one of the biggest capacity stadium in the world! Once, I met a Japanese in a local football match that he was impressed by Selangor FC back then.

The game was fiery. The game ended extra time as 1 – 1. It was time for penalty shootout. It was Sabah FC first Malaysia Cup final outing. The whole stadium quiet down as the focus down to the football on the pitch. You can hear a mosquito flew over as it was dead silent. As Selangor FC beat Sabah FC through penalty 5-3, the whole Shah Alam Stadium erupted!

This was us cheering and celebrating. God knows who was the guy in blue and also the rest in the background. This is football! Strangers become friends. And friendship through football.

The sky was lighted by the amazing fireworks display. Crowds went nuts and jumping with joy while Sabah FC’s supporters left with sadness. Regardless, it was hell a great football match. No one should be sad that night, Sabah FC played very well.

We celebrated with our friends outside of the stadium. It was the best live football moment and experience of my life. Sadly, Selangor FC’s coach Ken Worden quit after that. England international Tony Cottee also left to Leicester City the next year. Then, the local league went downhill until today.

I have not seen my football friends for more than a year. Without football, we hardly see each other. Seriously, football really brings people and friends together.

I have no shame sharing this story as football is a beautiful game. Thank you.

0 thoughts on “My BEST Live Football Experience: MALAYSIA CUP FINAL 1996

  1. fuyoh! didnt know back in those days our crowd of football is like premier league..

    i don mind to wtach if the league with those kind of coach..but seriously..our country soccer sucks!

    1. Sometimes, money can buy a jersey or many you want in your life. But the experience we had was priceless. Sorry for unable to open house for u guys this year as I was in Argentina. I hope to see u all soon.

      Football is LIFE!

  2. Nice write up on your first LIVE football experience… Good luck in winning those ticket… Remember to belanja me makan if you won..

  3. Football is not a sport, is a CULTURE! I believe your passion in this will get you the goal that you desire.

  4. OMG! u looked so diff back then! hehe damnnnnnnnnn.. speaking of football, i went for the fifa world cup throphy tour .

    goodluck!

    1. Didn’t manage to go for the fifa world cup trophy tour as I was in Argentina.

      Yes, I was slimmer back then.

      Thanks for reading Jess!

  5. When i saw back this all photos, all my friend are changed already… anyway is a good memory… but you all don’t ask me go…

    1. Well, every Malaysian will dream of Malaysia team entering World Cup. Just hope the dream will come true and we have a reason to spend our savings for the sake of supporting our own country.

      Thanks 4 comments.

  6. Well, I hope that your dream will come true… watching a live World Cup match “on-the-spot” ain’t difficult, you just need $$$… 🙂

    All the best! 🙂

    1. Hi Michelle, thanks for the sweet comment. I wish I have that much of $$$ going there.

      I met a Japanese producer from Fuji TV few years ago. He went to France 98 and spent around RM 50k for the whole trip. He told me it was the best thing of his life, I believe him.

      Thanks for the comments.

    1. Well, the league used to be lively because of the high profile star players such as Tony Cottee. Now, I don’t think Selangor has the cash to do such things anymore.

      Thanks

  7. Hey! Great entry 🙂 Football, by far is the greatest phenomenon. It unites strangers, even enemies to have common goals, enthusiasms and even emotions. Hope u can witness the sport and experience the unity of the game in South Africa!

    If u go, please pack me along! thanks! 😛

    Best of luck! 😀

  8. woah now i know why you can shoot me anytime when i showoff about my football knowledge. I know ur better den me because you damn GILA bola wei. lol. and nice write up abt ur history when ur supporting selangor team.

    and yes, football does brings people and friends together. =)

    thats how we both met !

    1. Yes, friends through football. The most beautiful game on earth and football brings friendship. See the connections?

      I was a huge fanatic when I was younger. Working now and married is kinda though to watch live games. Well, will make time for it one day.

  9. ohh, can please write another entry, win another ticket to bring Rachel along? 😀
    Start now 😛

    1. Thanks Wingz!! Hope to see u soon in one of those photography session. Thanks for reading and supporting.

  10. i like how honest this blog post is. especially the part where you wrote about how people claimed they love watching football but never been to a live match.
    To be honest I’ve never been to one and I do enjoy watching the game on TV. My only live match was when Manchester United came down to KL to play many-many years ago. (not the recent one)

    Nothing felt better than being in that stadium catching it live.
    Nothing beats that feeling.

    And yes, Malaysians are stereotyped to be lovers of the football game yet not even 50% of our people actually support our own team nor watch interstate matches.
    I am one of them who doesn’t watch either.
    So when I now know that you are one of those people, you have my utmost respect.

    Spoken like a true football fan, i can’t imagine anyone else that deserves to go and watch the World Cup.
    Bring home those wonderful experience for us okay? 🙂

    1. Kellster, thanks for the comments. I really hope I can win this, but without the support of you all, it won’t happen. Please vote for me!

    1. Of course its different. Thanks to Joshua, u went to Old Trafford! My goodness!

      My friend read this post and we chatted to see whether to go to watch Selangor for the FA cup but sadly they crashed out yesterday night.

      Thanks for reading my friend.

  11. It’s been 5 years since I last got interested in local football scene. Not like it used to be with David Mitchell, well even tony cottee was playing in Selangor

    1. David Mitchell was playing very well. However, Tony Cottee wasn’t up to his reputation. Too bad Selangor crashed out of the recent FA Cup, if not might be going there again. Thanks Daniel.

  12. Super Wilson for South Africa World Cup 2010!!!
    I totally agree with kellster. Even though I’m not much a football fan, there is a HUGE difference between watching in a stadium and watching via TV.
    We are rooting for u!

    1. Markovic!!! I missed our good old times in Wagga wagga Australia watching our World Cup 2002 live. I also missed u breaking the window in the hostel.

      Well, Croatia is not in, but Aussie got in. U watching this time around. Even New Zealand can get in!

  13. Hello there Wilson Ng, will support you all the way and and success to you on this upcoming event of your life….GO GO GO WILSON 🙂 Will watch it for you, not really fond of football but I’ll do now since you are here…success to you teman 🙂

  14. voted!! and congrats on the top 20!! go enjoy yourself watching world cup if you win ah.. don’t watch other cups around there ok.. :p

  15. Good luck!!!! all the best!!!

    I support Negeri Sembilan, HOBIN JANG HOBIN!!!!

    Too bad Selangor crashed out, they were beaten by NS in the semi-final. Maybe next time, haha. 😛

    And we are in the FA cup final, NS vs Kedah, which is happening this Saturday, and I’m going to the Bukit Jalil Stadium to watch it LIVE.

    GO NEGRI!!! HOBIN JANG HOBIN!!! Hantam dia orang kau kau!!!

  16. Hi Wilson…i’m not a fan of any football team…but my hubby do..(only if N9 won..he..he..& sometimes MU-like my son)in order to support him..i dont mind to woke up at 2pm just to fried for him & friends “cokodok pisang panas” + kopi o kau…Well…just want to hear them “shouting..”…he..he.

  17. YES…!!!YES!!!…………Negeri Sembilan WON>>>>>>>>>>
    “HOBEN JANG HOBEN…”………………..(he..he..if LOST…i’ll be…..)

    p/s–Harry Lee..WE WON……….WE ARE THE CAMPIONNNNN….

    1. Yup!!!! We WON!!!!

      HOBIN JANG HOBIN!!!!

      N9, Champions of the FA CUP 2010!!!!

      YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

    1. Hi Farhan,

      Bro, can’t make it tomorrow as I will be working in Sepang. Someone actually wants to sponsor me to watch the finals tomorrow. However I feel that Selangor will win tomorrow. Selangor Forever!

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