Harimau Muda

(They are awesome!)

21/11/2011 was indeed a meaningful day to us, Malaysians. Sea Games!

Malaysia- Indonesia! Tough game with mixed feelings and emotions! I saw people crying before the final result was even predicted! Stressed, excited, overjoyed! All sorta feelings! And I'm still excited as I write this out. :D

You never know what it is like to watch football matches, till the second you get your ass on the couch, hoping for a goal from your team, whispering silent prayers to yourself, with your hands getting all numb! The moment of glory when the goal strikes, and all you do is to scream your heart out, do the happy dance and sing anything to do with the game! At least, that's what I do.

Back to the game, it was a very tough one. Scary moments every now and then. Tricks that left huge question marks. Offsides that we first loved, then hated. Ong Kim Swee’s priceless expression! I was overjoyed.

But, there was something I wasn’t happy of. You know what beats me? The fact that even our own people puts our players down. I saw discouraging comments via Facebook and Twitter which made my smile turn upside down. All I wanted to question is where is the moral support that we all should be giving? We all want the Tigers or better known as the “Harimau Muda” to win the match. Then why discourage?

Even sadder, is that, all those discouraging comments came from well known public figures. Yes, local artists. Being a public figure, they should at least show some fake appreciation and support. Yes, again I mean, FAKE it! Even personally if you think it WAS not possible for the Tigers to win, do not publish anything via social networks.

What I came across Facebook was a status update saying that the particular person’s instinct says that the score is to be Indonesia 3 and Malaysia 1. Bad innit? Why is that you don’t have the faith in your own people than you have in the opposition?

And then another local artist on Twitter came up with two tweets.

The first one reads: “There goes 2 tigers crash into each other! #harimaumalaya come on la! Don't play like clumsy smurfs la!”… He just topped it up to the annoyance I had towards the Garuda’s. And all I could do is to mutter some “nice” words.

The second tweet proved his “intelligence”. For God sake, he tweeted asking “Why they never show #harimaumalaya coach Rajagopal at all?” I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. You talk big, and then you ask such a silly question? Incase if anyone of you are not aware of the answer, the mere fact of Rajagopal not being there is because, this is the youth team playing. Under 30 years of age which is coached by Ong Kim Swee! Now you know why they say the empty cans makes more noise?

Then came the moment of joy and victory when we scored the goal, which made us the hero of that night! And I was over-joyed! Watched the match at home with my brothers, end we ended up dancing after the victory. Over-whelmed moment! Screamed my heart out when our hero received the trophy! Its just a wonderful-sport-spirited-moment!

I just wish that people, especially public figures to be a little supportive and give in your full support for the team. Its easy to sit here and type your “predictions”. Yeah, we need more Paul’s. Get your ass on the ground and do what they are doing. Then voice up!

I don’t care if you think I’m a hypocrite for supporting the Tigers and writing this out, all I know is that they deserve full support and love from each and every one of us. Unless you’re a fanatic, then please don’t voice out your opinions. Its social network and people around the world are reading it. Embarrassing innit for others to see such views from the insiders?

However, a special congratulations and thanks a million to Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Badrool Bakhtiar, credits to you both for your hard work and sacrifice. Our national goal keeper! Man, wasn’t he good! Im still in awe watching him! Watching him perform that way was just INCREDIBLE! I am soo proud of him! Proud of Harimau Muda, and proud of all those who had faith in them!

Even though, we had a few of them with yellow cards every now and then. Then, Gurusamy and Thamil was no where to be seen on the second half. But here he is. Isn’t Fahmi a stunner! And,doesn’t he look tad bit Chinese? *raises eyebrows* I wonder what his parentage is. Oh well!! We’ve gotta congratulate our boys! Congrats,Harimau Malaya, I’m proud of you. Very proud actually. You’ll have my support from now onwards!

With lotsa love, supporter of Harimau Muda, Lyana.