So the world now knows Negeri Sembilan is the new Malaysia’s FA Cup champion. The stadium was like a huge microwave oven, boiling spectators to their wonders of what’s happening from time to time. The atmosphere is nothing short of astonishing. The first goal by Baddrol Bakhtiar at the 27th minute was like a nuclear blast sending shockwaves to the right side of the stadium (Kedah’s fan location at the right side) with fans cheering their hearts out. However at the 39th minute, Negeri’s Shaffik made the condition equal with 1-1 prolonging even to the 2nd half.
With 30 minutes added time, none of teams made any advancement. Then there’s the penalty shootout. Kedah may level itself at chess with Negeri Sembilan, however, she lost it at cards. Congratulations, Negeri Sembilan. A fellow blogger has already put up a review of the match at his blog (thanx loosecannon).
I’d like to steal a bit of this entry’s space to spell out my frustration as how I was treated by an FAM officer at that match. Many knows about FAM didn’t hand me my media pass timely on facebook/twitter. Here’s the story behind it. The media officer has already confirmed with me that my media pass is ready to be collected at Wisma FAM on Friday (finale was on Saturday). So I went over to the very venue once I touched down from Alor Setar. Arriving there, to my displeasure, the media officer told me that the pass has already being given to the Head of FAM Competitions, Haji Ahmad Fuad Daud and at that current moment he’s already heading to Bukit Jalil for a Press Conference; well, fine with me as I’m heading for the same conference as well.
So I arrived at Bukit Jalil for the conference. The media officer was there too. Haji Fuad popped out whilst having a conversation with the FAM’s General Secretary. I let them be, and after 5 minutes, Haji Fuad was nowhere to be found. The media officer contacted him to only learn that he’s on the way back to somewhere which I don’t know. So I collected Haji Fuad’s cell number from the media officer to follow up on my own.
I called Haji Fuad up after maghrib stating the predicament. He then rendered a clueless tone, as though the passes were not with him at all and will be checking again once he got back into his office. I kept my cool anyhow stating that I’ll follow up again tomorrow once he’s back to Wisma FAM. I called up again the morning after, again reintroducing myself and my predicament and whilst at it, he shut the call down without even a signal! How could he do that? How does a HAJI do that?! He may dress like a Haji with a label in the name but the similarities end there. For such an age man, that is just rude. Still, thinking that I have a responsibility to carry, I called him again and again (of course he didn’t pick the phone up) after that encounter putting the Great China Wall on my face.
Lucky as I was, before the team left the hotel for the stadium, he answered my call and stated that my passes are ready. The moment I arrived there, I called him again stating that we’ll be meeting in front of the stadium’s façade (it’s where the keris is). The moment I arrived at the façade, he wasn’t there. So I waited. He then passed by me while having a chat with a VIP of sorts. Respectfully, I let them to their chat for approximately 15 minutes. Oh yes, he saw me waiting there, practically the only non-moving structure at that VIP lounge standing only 2 meters from him. For 15 minutes I waited and not even a nod from him. I practically broke my back with all the equipments on my shoulder.
So when he ended the chat, to my shock, speedily he turned away to get another VIP to talk to outside the VIP lounge. I tailed and called him, he told me to just wait for him in the VIP lounge. So I waited, standing like a stray dog, waiting to be fed whilst watching where he’s going (I don’t wanna get my eyesight off him since he may just disappear). So he just took his own sweet time to keep mingling with all the VIPs in and out the lounge, passing by me without realizing I was there waiting for him. However after approximately 30 minutes of waiting, he finally came to pass me the passes. Glad as I was, I thanked him and without saying a welcome, he just turned away without a manner.
So I thought he’s just too busy with something to do (perhaps chatting is quite a task of sorts), so I took the opportunity to thank him in the stadium area instead. He just turned away not saying a word and not even a smile as though I’m a lower grade human being. How on earth can a human do that? HOW?! Sure he has all the designations and positions in FAM but are those the tickets for him to ignore a thank you statement? Is that a pass for him to make me wait for the media passes? I don’t deserve his smile because I’m not a Datuk or a Tan Sri?
FAM should stop appointing snobbish midgets into the organization. It’s no surprise that FAM being known as not a media-friendly institution among journalists nationwide.
Another thing that FAM missing while putting up all these great entertainment arrangement was that the people itself. Yes, as in the people who paid the tickets through their blood, sweat and tears. The audio visual arrangement was very bad. Only the VIPs can hear what’s coming out from the speakers and witness the dances/numbers. That’s because they’re directed directly to the grandstand but, how about other spectators who filled out the stadium area in other corners?
After all, the VIPs didn’t pay a single cent for entry, why the entertainment is only for them? FAM should think for the people at large, the people who have been giving breathe to the football industry. If there was to be any sort of programme before the match starts, it should also be accessible and appreciated by the actual people who pay. Entertain them as they’ve entertained to empty their pockets for you, FAM!
