Bukit Jalil: Tens of thousands of hardcore Manchester United fans have transformed National Stadium in Bukit Jalil into a sea of red as they descended onto the stadium and its grounds ahead of their beloved club’s Maybank Challenge Cup match against the ASEAN All-Stars tonight.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the excitement of fans, local and throughout Southeast Asia, is quite understandable as the last time the 13-time Premier League champions came to Malaysia was in 2009. Many fans began arriving at the stadium as early as 1 pm, all decked in various versions of the Red Devils jersey and waving club flags joyously.
United fan Kyawswar, who hails from Myanmar, expressed his enthusiasm, sharing that this was his first opportunity to see his favorite team live and that he did not regret spending nearly USD 700 (RM2,954) to attend the match. “Manchester United has been my favorite team since childhood, ever since David Beckham captured our hearts as fans,” he stated. He also mentioned missing the chance to see them in Bangkok last year but was thrilled for the opportunity to attend this time.
Despite Manchester United’s recent struggles, Kyawswar remains loyal to the team. “Once a Red Devil, always a Red Devil. The team needs to improve. The individual players are talented, they just need to score more goals,” he remarked, confident in the team’s ability to overcome its challenges.
Fellow United fan Tanagra Fisa from Jakarta, Indonesia, shared her enthusiasm, highlighting the cost-saving benefit of attending the match in Malaysia rather than traveling to England. “I’m quite happy and excited to watch this match. This is the team I support, and it’s a great opportunity to see my favorite player, Garnacho (Alejandro Garnacho), up close,” she said.
Sports journalist Mohamad Zulfaizan Mansor from Berita Harian emphasized the significance of covering the event, acknowledging Manchester United’s enduring brand power and passionate fan base, even as a Liverpool fan himself. “It’s incredible to see the strong fan turnout, demonstrating how powerful Manchester United’s brand remains despite their current poor form,” he commented.
SAM vice-president Hazreen Mubarak highlighted the broader impact of hosting such a match, noting the potential economic benefits for Malaysia. “This kind of match concept is excellent and should continue. From a tourism perspective, it can attract fans from the region – not just to see United’s stars, but also their own national players,” he explained.
The match between United and the ASEAN All-Stars is set to kick off at 8.45 pm.