Melaka United FC

“Anyone interested to watch Malacca team play?” was what my WhatsApp message read on Tuesday, 26/7/2016 while I was typing furiously and squeezing every ounce of idea in my work that day. The message was followed by an incredibly green colored knotted fist with words emblazoned “Perlawanan Piala Malaysia 2016 – Melaka Vs Felda United ” followed by details of the venue, date and kickoff time. My mind screamed “Now, seriously?” and then followed by the throwing of my specs on the table, looking up, hands outstretched to the back of my head thinking, “Why not?”. That started my “little adventure” of asking my friend, Fook Meng to order the tickets and started doing some little searched on Google for the team sheet facts and so on. Hey, not bad, not bad at all .… currently ,1^st in the current Malaysian Premier League 2016, man! Woo hoo! Well done, Melaka United!

So, together with friends, Errol, Capt.Edwin, Josephine and Jocelyn, we trudged along the conspicuously jammed road leading to Stadium Hang Jebat, home of Melaka United to meet up with Fook Meng who was waiting for us with our Grandstand tickets for the match. I must admit that as we got nearer to the stadium, one could feel the eclectic feeling and the thunderous support for the Melaka team. The sounds and atmosphere superceded the sights even before we stepped into the stadium. I must admit that we were late due to the horrendously blocked parking areas at the stadium, traffic crawl and we had to park way back near the Aquatic Centre which was a long way to walk.

To me, the excitement of going back to the stadium to watch a live football match was incredulously exciting and exhilarating indeed. As we walked the steps up to the grandstand of our seats, the noise, the shouts, the drums sounds, the supporters’ chants were all very evidently exciting and such wonderful feeling. Gosh! It was like the old days when I used to go to Kubu Stadium in Melaka town to watch the likes of Soh Chin Aun, G.Torairaju, RamliJunid, Wong Kow Fu and other legends play.

As we reached the top of the grandstand seats, the scenery was fantastic and the atmosphere for a football match was even better. Sentiments and emotions racked up way up high as supporters clapped, jeered and the long “oooohhhhhs” and “aaahhhhhhhss” plus unsupported football tactics are exchanged between us, the supporters. It was really heart-warming to see so many supporters at the stadium. All in all, mid way through the night, thirteen thousand (13,000) fans and supporters watched the match. This was announced by the announcer of the night through the loudspeakers and not my evaluation at all.

Sure, it was no EPL like match but the spirit of competitiveness and the hunger for success was clearly noted on the field and on the faces of every Melaka United players and  supporters including me. After all, born and breed Malaccan lar….sure lar must support my home state team, Melaka United.

I guess, I enjoyed the atmosphere more than ever together with my group of friends who shared the same sentiment of enjoyment at watching a live football match. Yeah, nothing beats going to the stadium to watch a football match, I tell you!

Anyway, the best part of all was that we were all like some country bumpkins taking out our handphones for selfies, wefies and all that including yours truly. I guess, this is indeed a rare event as most of us are so absorbed in our work and time that we really have forgotten  to take a kit-kat break for football matches like this. I guess, to me, it wasn’t so much about the match but football had that kind of magic that makes one feel relaxed, absorbed and sometimes fanatic in certain ways. I was also puzzled with myself when suddenly I would clap my hands, or shout some insults when the referee’s decision did not go to Melaka United way or shout some obscenities even without realising it! Yup, football brings out the bets in a person.

Yup, football does that to you. It’s that magic and that “madness” when you are at the stadium,man! I tell you, the experience is so different rather than slouching at that lazy man sofa of yours watching the match, popping kacang putih in your mouth and holding a can of Coca-cola. I guess, the floodlights, the drum sounds and the Melaka supporters chants & songs made it all a carnival like atmosphere of fun and football.

Yeah, it sucks that Melaka United lost that night by a solitary goal through a near post  glancing header during the corner kick but it was an alright night outing of a good football match as far as I was concerned. Like all sporting event, there will be a winner and a loser. It is all part and parcel of a football match too. I think, the important thing is to give it all in the field and to work hard towards building the team.

 

For a supporter like me, I am just happy to be part of the supporters’ statistic for that night as it was really a great experience and I would definitely be back at the stadium to watch another football match.

Ole Melaka United!

Kenduri.....

En.Nordin, my roti canai seller and me

Dad always reminded me that there is always a need to be humble, kind, courteous and mixed freely with people from all walks of life. According to my late Dad, the world would be a better place if everyone is nicer to one another. That’s why I never shy away from mixing freely with anyone and this was aptly taught by Dad since I was very young. I guess, Dad had his share of open houses kenduri/makans with the rich and high end group of people including the lower income group of people too who would often come calling for car repairs in those early years. Anyway, Dad was strict that we ( my sister, brother and I ) behaved ourselves and not eat like gluttonous imps when at people’s houses and this I learnt very well as deep reddish rotan marks would remind us grimly if we misbehaved. I must admit, we rarely gave Dad a hard time as we are really well-behaved and ate what we could eat as Dad always reminded us that we may poor but let us not behave undignified or like some gluttons or hoodlums from some slums or else we will never be respected in our lives. We were always clean and we do know how to behave ourselves. For that, I am so thankful to Dad and mom for the wonderful mannerism path. 

Last night, my family and I was invited for a Hari Raya makan/kenduri held by my roti canai seller, En.Nordin & his family. Last year, En.Nordin invited me to his place but he did not leave me any address and so, this year, his wife left an address for Soon Ling so that we could go for the kenduri/makan. I guess, I must say that I came to know about En.Nordin’s stall sometime in 2014. I was using the Durian Daun road for work each morning and his stall would always be filled with customers. So, out of curiosity one day, I decided to stop by and ordered the roti canai fare. ( 2 roti kosong and 1 teh tarik kurang manis ). From that day onwards, I was taken in by the crispy, less oily and nicely “tepuk” roti canai ! I guess, I must admit that the food was not only nice but very budget friendly for ordinary working folks like me. Besides roti canai, nasi lemak, pre-cooked beehoon goreng or mee goreng, putu mayam, traditional kuih -muih and mee kari are often offered for the morning crowd. Usually by 10.00am, everything would have been sold out and that would often signalled the good food fare that this honest family are offering.

Let’s just say that I like En.Nordin and his family as a whole because they are hardworking, honest and truly prihatin/caring people. Sure, it is a business but they never took advantage of the economic situation to raise prices or putting a squeeze to the customers to be extremely rich in which they really could if they wanted to, actually,looking at the shockingly high prices in essentials today. Instead, prices remained the same and regulars like me are comfortable with the prices of the food they offered.

Coming back to the kenduri, my family and I made our way to En.Nordin’s house in the low cost housing area in Semabok Dalam. Upon reaching there, there was one huge tent and a large crowd there. We greeted En.Nordin and his wife, Leha and they were happy to see us there. Even the happy-go-lucky helper, Jaafar and a few other workers were around as we greeted one another and bersalaman wishing them "Selamat Hari Raya." We joked and had great  conversations with one another as we sat at the table. The food fares were chicken rendang, lamb rendang, soto, ketupat and roti canai, of course. This time, it was Nordin’s younger brother doing the rot canai fare while Jaafar was attending to the cooking of the roti canai.

As we were waiting for the roti canai, Soon Ling informed me that we were the only Chinese at the kenduri. Looking back at that time, I felt sad as I remembered during those early years of growing up, going to people’s houses of different races were a norm, friendly and so much warmth. Where have all these pleasantries and hospitality gone? It is such a sad thing as our younger generation are not able to see that closeness and harmonious life we used to live in. Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations were such harmonious and lively occasions whereby people from all races and walks of life will come by during these festivities.

Nowadays, the gap really divides us and it is so sad indeed. I wish the leaders of this country would see what the divide they have caused by continuously flaming and stoking the racial & religious flames and unrest amongst the people. I felt very sad indeed as the rot always starts from the top and it will continue to do so. I guess, the damage of divide will always be a scar to this gentle country of us. Moronic politicians & propaganda machineries in the govt. are the top list of people who divided this country so much. They are guilty as hell bent for doing such things and fracturing the goodwill we have had all these years. It is really so heartbreaking to see such things happening. 

Anyway, my family and I find solace of goodwill all around at En.Nordin’s feast. Never out of food as these simple kampong folks always encouraged us to eat some more or even have another drink of sirap. It was good reminiscing of the old days and the old ways. As I spoke to the older generation of people that night, I realised that this kenduri celebrations are also beginning to fade away as the younger generation of Malays are closing up on this type of social events. Many felt that there was just too much work while some felt it was a waste of time. To En.Nordin and the older generation, this was a good tradition to meet the kampong folks, blessings & thankfulness for a good year and a good tradition of social gathering closing the ranks between the young and old, rich and poor, have and have nots and lastly, celebrations for Hari Raya. I applaud at their openness in sharing such hope and keeping the tradition alive despite the grim fact that the racial poison had penetrated through the layers of society clouding their minds and actions at times. As we sat round the table, we each hoped for a better future and racial closeness like the ones in our early days for our children and our children’s children in our beloved country. 

I thanked En.Nordin and Leha that night and confessed that I had not been to a Malay kenduri or keramaian for some donkey years and last night was so special as it evoked the beautiful times I used to have during my early younger days with the kampong folks. I told En.Nordin that I hope that he would invite me again next year and to that he answered, “ As long as I am alive,my friend. You and family are always welcomed. Insyaallah!”

We bade him goodnight and we were on our way back home that night feeling blessed, honoured and most satisfied having transported back to a slice of our wonderful yesteryears and sharing of good Raya food fare.  When you are an old bloke like me, these things are special to your heart and no richness in this world that can outbid that feeling.  Welcome to my old ancient world, I guess.

P/s  En.Nordin’s shop is the one opposite the Durian Daun Malay cemetery in Melaka and blue metal structured shop. As far as I was concerned and my view as a BTEC fella ( BTEC means “boh tark enough chek” in Hokkien or “study not enough”  ) , his roti canai sardine and roti double ( double eggs with bawang/onions and chillies ) – really good while his roti canai kosong or roti canai tampal – superb!

Mindless thoughts....

Sipping my coffee and slumped on my usual soft fabric sofa seat, I was under the weather a bit lately. Never could understand a lot of matters in regards to what has been happening over the days and yet, I tried to remain positive and try not to screw up my head too much lest I end up in the 6’X4’ plot earlier than expected. The sweltering hot season ain’t helping one bit but I guess, this good ol’ goat still does have some good fight left in him. Anyway, not that I am not accustomed to such unnecessary stress level and sometimes unavoidable conditions but I guess, age is really catching up.

I am never one who would just give up on any matters that I am faced with but I guess, I have learnt to slow things down and do things in a slower pace. Sometimes it is workable but sometimes it doesn’t work at all which is an added burden for me. No matter what, I have weathered all these matters the best I could. I guess, life do throw you a lot of curve balls and sometimes you get to hit the ball out of the park but sometimes the balls hit you where it hurts. No matter what, the curve balls will keep on coming no matter what and no matter how hard you try to dodge them.

I have learnt over the years that what kept me sane was basically to take the bull by the horns and then dissect the damn bull one by one. It has thus far worked but it is extremely tiring. I am way past being nice or speaking nice but far more humbled than I used to be, I guess. I have always been respectful and humble in many ways as I have been taught that way by Dad but there are times I would just lose it and be like some intolerable ruffian on the streets. You wouldn’t want to be at the end of that! I guess, it is more tolerant now but sometimes, things just riled you up for the wrong reasons. The one bloody thing I hate the most is unfairness and corrupted ways. My blood seemed to boil faster than usual and unsavoury words would spew when it comes to corrupt ways or corrupted people. I won’t mince my words when I speak of the people in authorities like bosses in high places or even bosses in the Govt. offices/departments. Sure, they are some good apples in the bunch of rotten apples and that’s the way it is. These unscrupulous people are one bunch of special breed of nitwits and BTEC ( "bo tak enough chek" in Hokkien! ). Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhh…….just gotta pray more and hope that wickedness would be dealt with accordingly.

The worst part, the tag of being “the father” and “head of the house” doesn’t help my resume one bit! Nope, I ain’t running away from that honourable responsibility. It is an honour I will always cherished but sometimes, you would just marvelled at all the things you’ve gotta handle from time to time. Some are delicately sensitive, some are common sense while some can be tricky & a real nagging nuisance from time to time but most of the time, the issues you face are a real pain in the butt!  But it will always be an honour I cherish a lot! Still am a father – not running away from it.

I guess, being a father ain’t an easy job/responsibility. You’ve really have to juggle every balls available high up in the air so that you can come up with justified solutions. Sometimes, you just have no answer even though you’ve got to be “Mr. Know It All”. Guess, who is the dumb one,huh? I guess, every father would have gone through what I have gone through over the years and I really salute them.  There are days I wished the ground would open up and swallow me in while there are days I felt like I am at the pinnacle top of Mt.Everest. ( My one and only dream before I kick the damn bloody bucket! ). Yeah, I guess, as years goes by, it is rather hard to express what I want to say all this while and you tend to get a “quieter” dad!  BTW, for those who are seeking wisdom through parenthood books and so on, well, there is simply no manual to be a father, husband and friend! Everything is trial and error and the experience differs between individuals. Those so called book gurus who tells you about this and that, well, my answer is simply all “how siow” one!

Your greatest guru in your life is the experiences you go through and those experiences, including heartaches and joys, which are unique to you and you alone! I hope I am not dampening your spirit but as a father, you are expected to be stern, strong, firm yet friendly at the same time. It is tedious, balls breaking at times but the rewards can be quite an experience too, isn’t it? I guess, no one ever says to you that it would be a breeze, right? So, suck up, chin up and get on with the next situation. Cherish the hair on your head. They may /will thin out someday but on better days, you look good in them!!

So, there goes the ramblings and rumbling nonsense of an old man, right?  I guess, I must thank GOD for keeping me sane each day. Yeah, without GOD who am I and what would I have done with my life? Yeah, GOD won’t help me if I don’t even help myself when it comes to difficult situations, right? So, I am back to square one…..sip my coffee and start all over again! That’s the spirit, old boy! Live to fight another day! What you say, fellow old chaps? Let's give a good fight, shall we?