2100 HRS 9th December 2009

I've often been asked,

what if my son

chooses to support

Man U?

Made me think back

of watching football

with Dad.

Back in the 70s

Malaysia Cup

at the Kallang Stadium

when local passion

for football

was at its greatest.

60,000 fans

will be yelling ourselves

hoarse.

Our heroes

Quah Kim Song,

Dollah Kassim,

Siak Poh Leong,

Mohammad Noh,

Samad Alipichay.

Or more accurately

my heroes,

not Dad's.

Dad was Pahang born,

he always supported Pahang

I just didn't know that.

He merely joined me,

celebrated

when I celebrated,

consoled me

when I cried.

Until one night,

Singapore was playing Pahang.

We were thumping them

6-0

was the final score.

Each time we scored,

I was in ecstacy.

Until the last goal went in,

I turned to Dad,

to celebrate.

But I saw the look

on his face,

it was the look

of a broken man.

6 goals was even too much

even for that big man

to take.

I was too young

and stupid,

to know that

with each goal

it was like

a knife got stabbed

in his heart.

So if my son

were to support

Man U,

I will join him

and celebrate

his happiness,

be there for him

when he cries,

because

his happiness

will be my happiness,

and his tears

will be my tears,

even though

it can really hurt

sometimes.

Afterall,

we in Liverpool say,

YOU'D NEVER WALK ALONE