Selamat Kembali, Penyokong!
Credit: FAM
11th March 2020, Malaysia Super League matchday 3. Let’s recap a bit on what went down on that night.
Four matches were played on that night. Four matches filled with passionate fans cheering on for their team to get the win over their opponents. Fans enjoy the atmosphere of a game without any worry whatsoever. They were treated to some entertaining matches during that time with the most notable result being 10-men Terengganu snatching a point deep into stoppage time to draw 3-3 against Selangor. Other results include newcomers UiTM holding Kedah 1-1, Perak enjoying a 2-0 win over Petaling Jaya City and FELDA United just managing to hold on to their lead to win 3-2 despite an attempted Melaka United comeback late on.
Regardless of whether their team won or lost, the fans would surely come back and cheer on. But why is 11th March significant for the Malaysian football community? It’s because on that night of 11th March, it would be the last time we see fans entering the stadiums. The Coronavirus pandemic situation was getting worse and the decision was made to play matchday 4 without any fans before the Super League was suspended indefinitely. While the league eventually resumed in a shortened season, the entry of fans however remained forbidden for their safety..
Fast forward more than one year later after what is surely heavy discussions between the relevant authorities, we can finally say this in the style of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson”
“FINALLY, THE FANS HAS COME BACK INTO STADIUMS!”
Barring the cruelest April Fools’ joke of all time, fans will be able to enter stadiums effective tomorrow starting with the Friday night match between Johor Darul Takzim & Melaka United while Kuala Lumpur City hosts Sabah on the next night. Keep in mind though that those two matches will be the only matches to permit fans as they are chosen as a trial run to see if the protocols in place are enough to ensure the safety of the fans entering.
Even so, it is an astonishing great feeling that fans are finally allowed back. After all, the fans are the soul of football. Take them out or disregard them, then what on earth is football anymore? The cheers, the banter, the music and the excitement would amp up any football match.
Even though we have perhaps got used to the sight of watching football matches without any fans for a year now, it still didn’t feel right without the sight of the people who give life to the beautiful game we love. There would surely be envy countries who have allowed fans back in such as Japan and South Korea. While it’s hard to measure the patience of fans wanting to go back to a stadium, ultimately the patience has paid off.
Granted just like any common sense country still dealing with the pandemic, there is a limit of how many fans will get to experience that all too familiar feeling of watching 22 men on the field going at it to win the match. Still, it’s better than having no fans at all. The players will surely be buoyed for having the fans to spur them on that extra mile.
To end this short reflection, a reminder to fans going to the stadiums to wear a mask and adhere to the SOPs at all times. Other than that, happy comeback, fans. Enjoy the live matches.