Kuala lumpur: "We want to play and definitely defend Kedah's name," declared Peter Nieketien, as the legendary Nigerian midfielder returned to Malaysian soil for the first time in 31 years ahead of the highly anticipated Langkawi Merdeka Cup Nostalgia 1993.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the tournament promises to be a historic reunion, bringing together icons from the golden era of 1993 to relive a storied rivalry and rekindle the deep-rooted camaraderie between football legends and supporters from Malaysia and Singapore, set to take place this Saturday at Stadium LADA.
Nieketien, who arrived with fellow legend Olubunmi Adigun at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today, praised the scale of the homecoming, emphasising its significance not just for the fans but for the players themselves. "We are very happy that the organisers are doing this massive thing. It has not been done before, even in our country. We have not had opportunities for legends to be invited after 33 years to come back and see themselves together again," he said.
Despite the decades spent far from Malaysian shores, Nieketien stressed that his heart has never left Kedah, insisting he can rightfully call himself a citizen of the state, especially after being conferred the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) award.
Olubunmi Adigun views the Langkawi Merdeka Cup invitation as proof that their contributions to Malaysian football have not been forgotten, convinced that their legacy earned them a place in this historic reunion. "If we had not done well when we came, they wouldn't remember any of us. So the bottom line is that we did a very good job, and that's why they invited us to come again," he said.
Reflecting on the nature of the upcoming match in Langkawi, Adigun acknowledged that while the competitive spirit still burns, the event is mainly a celebration of the sport's ability to bring people together. "Football is just a friendly game, right? We are not going to fight. We are just going to play. The tempo might not be what it used to be, but you can see that these people, they still have something under their sleeves," he said.
Adigun recalled the 1993 season with great pride, calling it a time when their squad was virtually untouchable. The reunion carried instant emotional weight as the duo unexpectedly ran into former teammate Tibor Szaban at the immigration gates, marking their first meeting in over 33 years.