The Red Devils arrive to rock Bukit Jalil
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's favourite EPL club, Manchester United, are back here after 16 years. How does it feel to be at Bukit Jalil? Timesport's Farah Azharie and Faizal Salim take readers to the National Stadium.
Fans from Limbang to Kajang and across Malaysia are turning the stadium into a sea of red in Manchester United's friendly match against the Asean All Stars.
The organisers said a total of 62,000 tickets had been sold for the match until Tuesday, while Cheras District Police Chief ACP Aidil Bolhassan said about 70,000 fans were expected to attend the match.
Excited fans start arriving at the stadium as early as 3pm. Despite the searing 33 degrees Celsius weather, it has done little to dampen the spirits of the fans who patiently wait at the stadium gates to open at 5pm.
Farhan Izhar, 40, from Kajang, was a bachelor when he attended United's matches here in 2009. Now married with four children, he is watching the Red Devils again today.
"I bring my family along because I want them to experience the atmosphere when United come to Malaysia," says Farhan, who is accompanied by his wife, Rubiena Awg Amin (41), and four children, Riffat (12), Raqeeb (10), Raneea (9) and Railene (6).
Meanwhile as soon as friends Frederick Lalung (51), Roger Samuel Meripa (42) heard that United were coming to Malaysia, they immediately planned their travel from Limbang, Sarawak.
"We are diehard United fans, no matter what the results are, we will always stand behind our club," says Frederick.
As of 6.15pm, the talked about sea of red expected at the stadium is yet to materialise. Despite claims of 70,000 tickets sold earlier in the day, only a trickle of fans have arrived to take their seats.
With pre-match rehearsals still in full swing and kickoff set for 8.45pm, fans appear to be arriving, typically, late.
As the Manchester United stars arrive and make their way into the stadium, captain Bruno Fernandes and midfielder Manuel Ugarte look to be in high spirits. With wide smiles, they acknowledge the media gathered at the mixed zone.
However, the rest of the United squad appear locked in their own worlds. Alejandro Garnacho walks through with oversized sunglasses and earphones.
Asean All Stars captain Sergio Aguero is all smiles, greeting everyone along the route to the dressing room.
As of 7.30pm, fans continue to pour into the stadium, with seats being rapidly taken up.
In comparison, the Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta'zim and Sri Pahang last month drew a crowd of 56,000. Tickets for that match were priced from RM50 to RM200. Tickets for the Manchester United match today is from RM50 to RM1,500.
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