Fever pitch at National Stadium as big screen unites fans
KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of home football fans flooded the Bukit Jalil National Stadium to catch the second Group E match of the 2023 Asian Cup between Harimau Malaya and Bahrain on the big screen here on Saturday night.
Bernama checks showed people converging on the stadium as early as 8 pm with each proudly wearing the trademark yellow shirt that is the unmistakable identity of the Harimau Malaya squad.
The spirited atmosphere of noisy, cheering fans reverberated in the hallowed stadium as soon as the match kicked off at 10.30pm on Saturday night.
Parents too were also seen not missing the opportunity, giving up the regular armchair TV night to bring their children to feel the big match presence of watching this historic match together with the flood of fans.
Anuar Mohd Nor, 58, said he brought his wife and four children to the stadium to feel the warmth and strong support exuded for the home squad led by South Korean coach Kim Pan Gon who is leading the country’s fight in Qatar.
“We hope Malaysia win tonight, I came with my children and wife to feel the camaraderie, the fighting spirit even though we can‘t physically be with Harimau Malaya in Qatar,” he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) chairman Datuk Hans Isaac said national fans should not miss the opportunity to watch the tussle on the big screen to throw their voice of support behind the national team, ringing from Kuala Lumpur to Qatar.
“I think tonight more than 2,000 spectators are present here, which is a crucial game so Harimau Malaya really need patriotic support for the mustwin mission,” he said.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) has staged big screen ‘live’ screenings in 16 venues across the country, including the National Stadium.
After the action against Bahrain, Harimau Malaya are scheduled to meet two-time champions South Korea in the final match of Group E on Jan 25.
For the record, this is Malaysia’s fourth appearance in the Asian Cup after qualifying on merit in 1976 in Iran, 1980 in Kuwait and as co-hosts in 2007 but have never made it past the group stage.