The Malaysia Cup final was once the epic battle in the nation’s domestic league.
Images of fans waiting in long lines, rain or shine, to purchase tickets while others climbed over fences, were often splashed on the back pages of major dailies. The clash would dominate conversations for days, before and after every final.
The lines are missing today, thanks to the Internet. No need to take time off from work, or pay extra for a ticket that was bought by someone else. Purchases can be made via your smartphone, in between swiping your Instagram Stories, while sitting on your magnificent GBH throne at 2am – if multitasking is your thing.
This year’s Malaysia Cup final between clear favourites Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Sri Pahang FC is barely a week away. Yet, the ticket sales for the April 26 match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur have been described as “poor”. It was widely reported that Sri Pahang FC barely sold 9,000 tickets while some 15,000 fans of the Southern Tigers have booked their seats. That’s 24,000-odd supporters filling up a venue that has a seating capacity of 85,500.
Malaysians are known for getting things done at the eleventh hour – whether it’s paying their taxes or gearing up for a festivity. As such, the ticket sales could spike the minute the rendang and lemang from the very many open houses settle down.
The stakeholders are desperately luring the fans by telling them that for RM50 you get not only a football final but entertainment, fireworks and laser display. It remains to be seen if the sideshows will be a crowd-puller.
There are, however, legitimate concerns that require open and truthful conversations about why this is happening. Is it because the Malaysia Cup has lost its glamour, just like the Merdeka Tournament? Is JDT’s dominance so overwhelming that fans of other teams are already giving up even before the battle begins? Is it because Sri Pahang FC is sitting at the ninth spot in the Super League and its participation in the domestic scene next season remains unclear?
Or aren’t we invested in pure football, preferring highlights instead of spending all 90 minutes at the stadium (excluding the hours spent on the road before and after the match)?
The conversations today are fluid thanks to the colourful world we live in. From football, we will quickly talk about the eccentric decisions by world leaders that topple global economies, debate about a road rage incident, or be smitten by the fact someone rescues a puppy from a drain, complete with a video crew on standby. Perhaps we could conveniently blame the scenario on society’s short attention span.
Let’s be reminded that in 2021, Kuala Lumpur City FC did the “impossible” by defeating the mighty JDT 2-0 in the Malaysia Cup final that was also held at the National Stadium. So the “bola itu bulat” (the ball is round) philosophy – a rather naïve and simplistic way of saying anything can happen – is true.
The Sri Pahang FC players could paint their faces blue ala William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) in the 1995 movie ‘Braveheart’, or watch something more relatable such as the 2024 flick ‘The Underdoggs’ featuring Snoop Dogg to get all pumped up before the final.
Miracles do happen and even if they pull out next season due to the ironic realities of Malaysian football – the so-called most popular sport in the country that even receives the extraordinary attention of politicians that hunger popularity but consists of many teams that struggle to pay wages and secure sponsors – at least they enjoyed the magical moment in the Malaysia Cup final.
But it’s no fun when the fans themselves seem to not have faith in the team. “Till death do us part” becomes as insignificant as the final whistle to a team trailing 10-0 in a match.
On paper, JDT is going to win this match, because they can and they deserve it. Non-JDT fans will then have to bear with the chest-thumping, ego-centric postings on social media that will become great conversation starters, and inspiration to more memes.
As for Sri Pahang FC fans – the final is a great chance to chill at Pavilion Bukit Jalil before making their way to the arena while being hopeful of a David vs Goliath ending. Hope is real and gets us going. It did for Pakatan Harapan and look where they are today.
Nevertheless, the questions raised pertaining to the prestige of the Malaysia Cup and interest in local football must be looked into. Efforts must be made to find answers to make the Malaysia Cup the beautiful affair it once was.
Football is already suffering, no thanks to “highlights”, numerous other distractions, and something called Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Let’s try and save whatever we can of it, shall we?
