Road to Bukit Jalil

Alright. So, I will divide this post into 2 parts: Descriptive & artistic.

PART 1

It's a very complicated story. Bila dapat tahu bahawa MB Johor menyediakan 2000 tiket begi perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia 2014 (JDT vs PAH), saya pun tak berlengah. Daftarkan diri, & tunggu. Bila dimaklumkan yang saya dapat tiket tu, memang terujalah. But there was a catch: Saya kena tuntut tiket tu di KL pada hari yang sama saya ke Banting untuk Hari Keluarga. To make things short, bye-bye tiket. (T_T)

Tapi, dalam perjalanan balik ke (hostel di) KL, ada rakan RTF (Shazlien Aini a.k.a. Junpey) telefon. Dia kata dia ada tiket lebih. Pucuk dicita ulam mendatang katekooo...

Jadi, destinasi LRT saya bertukar dari Cempaka ke Bukit Jalil. Tiba di sana, masuk stadium la jawabnya. Huh, memang gempaklah.

I was 4 when I last came into this place.

Ingatkan banyak lagi tempat duduk, rupanya hampir-hampir terpaksa berdiri. Nasib baik ada tempat kosong.

Geng ex-SBP Johor (SAMURA, SAKTI, SMSJ)

Memang mendebokan *bunyi-Johor* setiap kali aksi menarik berlangsung. Nak dipendekkan cerita, saya keluar dari stadium selepas tamat 90 minit perlawanan (with the 2-2 score at that time) sebab tak nak bersesak nak balik, & sebab memang tak sanggup nak lihat masa tambahan. >_< 

Kesudahannya, dalam ketenangan bilik hostel, saya dapat tahu skor akhir melalui Twitter. Needless to say, we lost (the haters are gonna be extremely ecstatic, I'm sure). Huh, tapi nasib baik saya dah balik, kalau tak memang ala-ala drama sedih la sepanjang perjalanan nak balik hostel. Tahniah la ea Pahang.

PART 2

23 years. That's a very long period of time. Abah & Umi just got married at that time.

16 years. I was too little to remember what had happened in the arena during SUKOM '98.

So to be there once again after that long, it's just.. Wow.

I guess I don't have to explain just how high my statehood spirit is. Most people around me know it. I'm proud to show it in a moderate yet fashionable manner.

When this opportunity came, I told myself, "This is one of only few ways to make me connected with sports." As a superbly passive person (who only knows how to jog), what else can I do to show my sportsmanship spirit?

The answer: Be supportive whenever I can.

We lost. That's an undeniable reality. Plus, it came down to penalty shootout. Luck was definitely not on our side that night. But every time they score, an unexplainable feeling just made me enthralled with the atmosphere.

It's a bittersweet defeat to be honest. All 11 players have done their best, but the 12th player just takes it up a notch: B.O.S.

I dare to say, we have the best group of supporters in Malaysian football history (I defy those who denies that). Of course there are some hooligans here & there (which is totally unacceptable & intolerable). But still, they transform the way I see my home state, & for sure they transform the whole nation.

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The above pictures say it all. I rest my case.

In this matter, there's no such thing as 'menang sorak, kampung tergadai.' What have we lost? The trophy? Neh, that's just a bonus. The main thing here is that in a short amount of time, we went from zero to hero (thanks to TMJ). The whole world knows us. We make deals with world class soccer clubs. Our stadium is recognized as one of the best in the country. The list just goes on and on and on.

So, congrats Pahang. Some how you deserve it.

But I shall give a standing ovation & utmost respect to those whom it may concern with these three letters:

J.D.T.

I walked away from the arena with a great satisfaction, knowing that for a tinee tiny moment in my life at least, I've done what I should do: staying up close and personal behind the tiger, and having its back.

Setia Bersamamu.

Namun akhirnya, Selamanya hitam kuning.

Kerana mungkin ada sang belang di tanah selatan,

tetapi cuma ada satu harimau yang rangkaknya menjunjung harga nusa.