We were just got back from the Shah Alam stadium earlier this evening together with thousands other fans of Perak who were eager to witness the new faces in the team in anticipation of the 2004 Super League. Most of us at the stadium were a mix of fans living in the Klang Valley who for most part didn't have the opportunities to catch Perak friendlies in Ipoh and fans from Perak that came in driving as well as those three busses as reported in the newspaper.
The MBSA that manages the Shah Alam Stadium was put to test of their management capability when an unexpected thousand of Perak fans came for the friendly match. The situation at the front gate for tickets was chaotic. Lines were long and there were only a few of them selling tickets at RM5. After we got ours, we quickly entered the stadium sitting in front of a long row of 'strong' people from the Perak Fan Club management.
Damn the stadium management that they let in the crowd after us for free because of tickets unavailability. And to show the unprofessional part of the stadium management, the tickets we got was from the 2003 unfinished ticket of an event in Kuala Selangor stadium.
As it was raining heavily an hour earlier to the match, there were ponds of water on the field. And we just didn't get it as to why the irrigation system failed to divert the water into the drain that there was still too much water on the field until the end of the game. Since there were so many ponds of water, the game was quite fun to watch as it was like a bloopers you sometimes saw on TV.
For most of the game, Perak had so many chances, but failed to convert them to goal. Frank Seator, V. Saravanan, Surendram and Nantha Kumar had so many shots on goal. Meanwhile, our hero Khalid Jamlus didn't play last night.
This friendly match was also a platform for the Perak FA to test out their new impart players. And Perak really have done a great job in the selection process this season. Frank Seator is still dangerous with Saravanan at the front end. Surendram probably from President Cup together with Asmawi Bakirin were very effective in the winger position.
And Nantha Kumar, Ahmad Shahrul Azhar, together with a new import from Argentina (Ricardo Silva - jersey 13) were just amazing. As Sharul Azhar made way for Ricardo in second half I was particularly awed and fascinated with this player's dribbling and passing skills as well as his maneuver of balls from center to front and back.
The defensive side was just as good as last season or probably better in some ways. Shamsol Saad with this new import also from Aregntina, Luciano Gouz (? jersey 4) and two others (will get their name later) were a good barricade before Hamsani who made some spectacular save last night.
Since the stadium was wet, Perak one-touch passing was effective in some ways that Selangor players really had some hard time defending. Most of us at the stadium had the consensus that Selangor FA had done a really bad job in the selection of their players for this season. Let me not get into details on that!
Although it was a level game, we returned home happy knowing that this season debut of the Super League looks like another promising year for Perak. Besides, after their training in Australia, the team will be in the Asia Cup. Hopefully, this year the FC will win more cups into their collection and maintain the status of the best football team in the country as well as making its way into the continent arena!
[Picture: The Star]
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