Friday, July 17, 2009
RIP
There was an expectant buzz in Jakarta this morning as we looked forward to a long weekend. A long weekend culminating in Manchester United playing a one off friendly against an Indonesian All Star XI on Monday at the Bung Karno Stadium.
Local sports tabloids filled their columns excitedly with every snippet about Manchester United's visit they could find. TV stations breathlessly waited to bring their every movement from the moment they landed at Halim Airport on their private jet from KL to checking in at the Ritz Carlton to Gary Neville buttering his toast to training sessions to the game itself.
For weeks now Rio and co have been looking menacingly down on Jakarta's interminable jams asking just one question. Mau? Want? You wanna a ticket for the game.
Some of this enthusiasim was even rubbing off on me, hoary old cynic that I am. I even mentally prepared a slightly mocking piece detailing the players schedule while in town, where they would go for lunch, which bars they would hit, who would be going on the pull down Blok M. That sort of drivel. All that stopped me was my body rebelling against last night's ale intake.
I lay on the bed groaning at the world scanning the papers. A couple of stories said that there were still several thousand tickets available so I texted the Ibu and said that if she had time today, could she go down to the stadium and try and get a couple for Monday.
I then dragged my complaining body to work.
Next thing I know I'm getting a text from the Ibu saying that United may cancel their visit because their hotel had been bombed. Kinda stopped me in my tracks that did.
United's visit was more than just that of an English side visiting the fourth largest country in the world. It was perhaps a signal from the rest of the world that Indonesia's troubles were finally over. That a decade of riots, earthquakes, tsunamis and bombings was behind them and Indonesia could once again be looked upon as a normal country and not a synonym for disaster.
During that 10 year period English football has been cashing in on South East Asia's love affair with it. Thailand and Malaysia became essential stopovers on brand building tours and yet all the while the nation with the most passionate league, the nation with the largest market was all but forgotten.
China and South Korea were added to the places to visit yet all the while the archipelago to the south was overlooked. Indonesia's image, the incessant travel warnings, had given the place pariah status.
But things started changing. Slowly. In 2007 Indonesia co hosted the Asian Cup. Later that year German club side Borussia Dortmund came a-calling, playing on a rain sodden pitch in front of 33,000. And 6 months later Bayern Munchen arrived, doubling the gate at the iconic Bung Karno Stadium.
And then United. It's difficult to describe the enthusiasm the news of their impending visit generated among young and old. The club are boringly massive here. There is a Red Shop in a mall in Jakarta. There are Man U cafes in Jakarta and Bandung. There are two unofficial supporters clubs with thousands of members who know all the words to all the songs and sing Oh Manchester is wonderful with all the gusto of someone who has visited Old Trafford through computer games and MUTV subscription. There is a bank that offers a Manchester United credit card. The official magazine is translated into Indonesian.
You get the point?
Fans were buying new SIM cards just to get their hands on valuable tickets. Disappointment over Ronaldo's move to Madrid was tempered by the acquition of Michael Owen who is also considered 'famous' here. (Famous = good).
The two blasts this morning ended the dream, perhaps for another 10 years. A pointless friendly had been rendered even more pointless by the callous disregard shown by a group of twats in the name of their 'cause.'
This long weekend is looking decidely less memorable now...
Local sports tabloids filled their columns excitedly with every snippet about Manchester United's visit they could find. TV stations breathlessly waited to bring their every movement from the moment they landed at Halim Airport on their private jet from KL to checking in at the Ritz Carlton to Gary Neville buttering his toast to training sessions to the game itself.
For weeks now Rio and co have been looking menacingly down on Jakarta's interminable jams asking just one question. Mau? Want? You wanna a ticket for the game.
Some of this enthusiasim was even rubbing off on me, hoary old cynic that I am. I even mentally prepared a slightly mocking piece detailing the players schedule while in town, where they would go for lunch, which bars they would hit, who would be going on the pull down Blok M. That sort of drivel. All that stopped me was my body rebelling against last night's ale intake.
I lay on the bed groaning at the world scanning the papers. A couple of stories said that there were still several thousand tickets available so I texted the Ibu and said that if she had time today, could she go down to the stadium and try and get a couple for Monday.
I then dragged my complaining body to work.
Next thing I know I'm getting a text from the Ibu saying that United may cancel their visit because their hotel had been bombed. Kinda stopped me in my tracks that did.
United's visit was more than just that of an English side visiting the fourth largest country in the world. It was perhaps a signal from the rest of the world that Indonesia's troubles were finally over. That a decade of riots, earthquakes, tsunamis and bombings was behind them and Indonesia could once again be looked upon as a normal country and not a synonym for disaster.
During that 10 year period English football has been cashing in on South East Asia's love affair with it. Thailand and Malaysia became essential stopovers on brand building tours and yet all the while the nation with the most passionate league, the nation with the largest market was all but forgotten.
China and South Korea were added to the places to visit yet all the while the archipelago to the south was overlooked. Indonesia's image, the incessant travel warnings, had given the place pariah status.
But things started changing. Slowly. In 2007 Indonesia co hosted the Asian Cup. Later that year German club side Borussia Dortmund came a-calling, playing on a rain sodden pitch in front of 33,000. And 6 months later Bayern Munchen arrived, doubling the gate at the iconic Bung Karno Stadium.
And then United. It's difficult to describe the enthusiasm the news of their impending visit generated among young and old. The club are boringly massive here. There is a Red Shop in a mall in Jakarta. There are Man U cafes in Jakarta and Bandung. There are two unofficial supporters clubs with thousands of members who know all the words to all the songs and sing Oh Manchester is wonderful with all the gusto of someone who has visited Old Trafford through computer games and MUTV subscription. There is a bank that offers a Manchester United credit card. The official magazine is translated into Indonesian.
You get the point?
Fans were buying new SIM cards just to get their hands on valuable tickets. Disappointment over Ronaldo's move to Madrid was tempered by the acquition of Michael Owen who is also considered 'famous' here. (Famous = good).
The two blasts this morning ended the dream, perhaps for another 10 years. A pointless friendly had been rendered even more pointless by the callous disregard shown by a group of twats in the name of their 'cause.'
This long weekend is looking decidely less memorable now...
# posted by Me @ 6:56 PM 
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Match could be moved to Malaysia...
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B08717BAA%2DDDEA%2D4D3E%2D9D36%2D81620D41AC8C%7D&redirectorid=news_story&newsid=6636388
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http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B08717BAA%2DDDEA%2D4D3E%2D9D36%2D81620D41AC8C%7D&redirectorid=news_story&newsid=6636388
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