Malaysia declares national holiday after rare Cup success
Source: Agencies |
December 31, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MALAYSIA celebrated rare regional soccer success by declaring a public holiday today after beating Indonesia in a controversial cup final that tested relations between the arch-rivals.
Having won Sunday's home leg 3-0 in a match marred by allegations of cheating, the Malaysians came under enormous pressure in Jakarta before losing 1-2 on Wednesday night.
The 4-2 aggregate win gave Malaysia the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time. The tournament is contested every two years by 10 teams from the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak declared a public holiday today, calling the result the "greatest night in Malaysian football".
"Well done, Malaysian Tigers! You played well as a team and have made your country very proud. Congratulations!" he posted from his Twitter account.
Soccer has a fanatical following in both countries and around 85,000 watched the first leg at the national stadium in Kuala Lumpur, and a similar number in Jakarta.
Malaysian players said the atmosphere in the build-up to the second leg Jakarta "was like going to war".
"We came in armored vehicles (to the stadium). It was a different atmosphere altogether but we prevailed and did not succumb to pressure," Malaysian media quoted skipper Safiq Rahim as saying.
The first leg was marred by allegations that Malaysian fans had used laser pens to shine beams into the Indonesian players' eyes, distracting them at key moments.
At one point the Indonesians walked off the pitch in protest.
Neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia are long-standing regional rivals who have feuded over issues ranging from sea borders to cultural heritage.
Malaysia was a leading regional football power in the 1970s but has since fallen off the radar due to a lack of good players and investment in clubs.
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Having won Sunday's home leg 3-0 in a match marred by allegations of cheating, the Malaysians came under enormous pressure in Jakarta before losing 1-2 on Wednesday night.
The 4-2 aggregate win gave Malaysia the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time. The tournament is contested every two years by 10 teams from the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak declared a public holiday today, calling the result the "greatest night in Malaysian football".
"Well done, Malaysian Tigers! You played well as a team and have made your country very proud. Congratulations!" he posted from his Twitter account.
Soccer has a fanatical following in both countries and around 85,000 watched the first leg at the national stadium in Kuala Lumpur, and a similar number in Jakarta.
Malaysian players said the atmosphere in the build-up to the second leg Jakarta "was like going to war".
"We came in armored vehicles (to the stadium). It was a different atmosphere altogether but we prevailed and did not succumb to pressure," Malaysian media quoted skipper Safiq Rahim as saying.
The first leg was marred by allegations that Malaysian fans had used laser pens to shine beams into the Indonesian players' eyes, distracting them at key moments.
At one point the Indonesians walked off the pitch in protest.
Neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia are long-standing regional rivals who have feuded over issues ranging from sea borders to cultural heritage.
Malaysia was a leading regional football power in the 1970s but has since fallen off the radar due to a lack of good players and investment in clubs.
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