More than 2,000 welcome Malaysia FA Cup champs LionsXII

SINGAPORE — Newly-crowned Malaysia FA Cup champions LionsXII received a warm welcome when they arrived at Changi Airport today (May 24). The team had flown in on SilkAir flight MI329, which landed at Terminal 2 at about 6.10pm. A crowd of more than 2,000 fans — many dressed in red — was there to greet them.

Mr Faraz Magnus, 34, was one of the fans waiting for LionsXII’s return. He was with his wife Amy Zainal, with whom he had gone to the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur to watch the Malaysia FA Cup final against Kelantan.

Describing the atmosphere at the stadium as amazing, Mr Faraz said: “We were very confident in the way the team played, we trust the players and they did what they were supposed to do. When they scored at the very last minute, we all jumped for joy. We were ecstatic, it was overwhelming.”

While waiting for the team to arrive, fans not only chanted the favourite LionsXII cheers, they also sang the National Anthem. Some even sang “Happy Birthday” for Fandi Ahmad, who turns 52 on May 29.

“Whether we win, we lose, we draw - we will still be there to support,” said Mdm Rose Puspah, 49, who also watched the match on Saturday evening. “I’m the third generation and I am here with the second and first generation - we are all fans.”

“It doesn’t matter if we win or we lose - the lion will still roar,” said Ms Sheila Gustarisha, 35, who included a stuffed lion in her welcome wagon.

Five-year-old Edham said: “I love that they scored very well.” His mother, Mdm Saeiah Hamzah, said he is learning how to play football now at Fandi Ahmad’s training academy and aspires to be like the LionsXII coach.

‘HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE’

Fandi Ahmad, whose background as a national player has earned him the title of Singapore’s “golden boy of football”, said the win is “even sweeter”, coming back as a coach.

“History has been made,” he said. “Our boys have discipline and they wanted the win badly.”

LionsXII captain Izwan Mahbud, who was awarded “Man of the Match” during the final against Kelantan, said his experience at Bukit Jalil National Stadium was “incredible”: “I thank God for giving us the opportunity right from the start. We believed in ourselves... It’s all because of hard work, dedication and sacrifice.

“Especially the older players, they really held the team together.”

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, who joined the crowd just before LionsXII’s arrival at Terminal 2, described the win as “amazing”: “You can see from the supporters here it is not just the younger generation, it’s all the Singaporeans. The win will motivate the athletes for the upcoming SEA Games as well. They did us proud.”

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong also joined in the festivities, and agreed that the win is a “huge motivation and boost for SEA Games”: “I’m sure if our athletes have the same grit and fighting spirit, we will have the same results.”

Mr Wong - who briefly held the Malaysia FA Cup trophy with Mr Tan when it arrived, added that it was “definitely a joyous day for Singapore and Singaporeans”.