Ugly taunts....

Last evening, I went to watch the men's hockey semi-final match at Bukit Serindit Stadium and I was pleasantly surprised to see a huge crowd there to cheer on the Melaka team. As the main seating arena was already filled with adrenaline-pumping mixture of young, old, men, women and children plus air-horn, kompang frenzy, drums beating & flag waving enthusiasts, I just picked my spot at the metal stairs railings to watch the match. I must say that by the time I arrived at the stadium , the match had started and the score was tied at one a piece for Melaka and Perak team. However, I noted that the playing field metal and brick wall perimeter fence was cramped with supporters from the home team. I am glad that finally there was a good crowd at the stadium but I did not like the things that came out from the mouths of these supporters.

I guess, in all fairness, we would have pockets of verbal abuse specialists in the crowd but I didn't expect it to be that bad. Sure, as sportsmen/sportswomen, rowdy and abusive crowds are part and parcel of any sports but to see people actually stooping so low to degrade players is just too much. In this particular match, there was simply no escape for the visiting and the home team players. The worst part of all is that this group of rowdy, noisy and abusive people are actually wearing SUKMA tags! To me, they should be exemplary in their support but not being abusive. Sure, we want our team to win but at what cost - degrading someone else's son /daughter and making fun of others? To me, that is pure madness.

Then I saw the unthinkable happened. These rowdy buggers with their SUKMA tags dangling around their necks actually climbed onto the ledge of the perimeter wall , shouted obscenities and hurled abuses to the players and the umpire. I don't mind the passion and overzealousness of supporters but this is just ridiculous. Come on, these players are within the 23 - 18 years of age brackets. What type of message do we , as supporters, want to show these youths - that it is okay to hurl hurtful father & mother remarks plus some flowery obscenities? Yunno, I could see that some players are visibly rattled by the hecklers and it is just not right to do such things. I mean, these are young youths,man. They do deserve a chance to play the game the best they could. Afterall, no players wants to play to lose, right? Everyone wants to win and bring glory to the state but there has got to be a winner and loser in any competition,right?

A father of two young children who was beside me was equally disgusted as I was when he told me that this is the failure of our society and culture today. He just shook his head and we both agreed in unison that this type of mentality should not exist in the first place. He then went on to criticised the organising committee to pick people like these goons as pegawais who potray nothing about sportsmanship and sports integrity. This Malay learned man walked away with his two children reminding them not to emulate those goons who are not doing any good to the game. Anyway, I finished watching the match and Melaka team ended up as winners of the tie and reaching the Finals. I looked at the Perak team players and I really feel for them. To lose to the host state is bad enough but to be ridiculed, heckled and sometimes, at the receiving end at hurtful remarks, it hurts ,man. I applauded the Perak team openly even though I know I could cause an uproar or ruckus from the Melaka rowdies but I didn't care less and I don't give a two hoots,actually! To me, they were worthy challengers and they should keep their heads up high. It is bad enough that their state is in political turmoil. Give them a break-dah!~