It’s ON!!!!……….

Yepp.. you heard me right, EPL is backkk!!! Surely all footie fans of the EPL will be in a buzz. Those who didn’t pay their satellite TV on time, will surely ensure that they will not get disconnected during these ‘football mad’ season hehehe.. (however, you can always go to the mamak stalls etc. If you really miss out paying and you haven’t get re-connected on time)

But for Liverpool’s fans, don’t worry if you are one of those guys mentioned above (hope not lah!!) because we have our very own Sabah’s Liverpool Supporter’s Club outlet for watching live games – Eclipse at Donggongon town and Jade at Api-api centre. (Kindly note that this is a pub though..). So, you Liverpool fans out there, you don’t have to ‘wonder’ whether Liverpool’s match will be shown or not at these places – as long as Liverpool’s are playing, you will get to watch our team in play Live!!. Also for those don’ t have Astro, this should be good news to you all..

Also, I am proud to inform that we are the FIRST official football supporters club in Sabah. Thanks to the wonderful works of our founders. You can visit our Facebook page and get to know the founders and the committee members and of course, link-up with other Sabahan Liverpool supporters, if you haven’t done so.

Okay.. so about Liverpool FC, despite the indifferent pre-season matches,  the now-concluded Xabi Alonso transfer saga and injuries to our skipper and centre-backs, the want-away Mascherano, I, as always keep my faith.

Of course I want the team to be champions again. Who doesn’t? if you are a supporter of the Top Four of EPL clubs, and you don’t have that hope, you are a useless fan of your club.

And if you don’t believe and keep the faith on your team, stick with them through high and lows, thick and thin… geroff and don’t become a supporter of your club!! You are not a real supporter in this case.. I despise these kinds of people. Supporter konon..ceh!!

So anyway, I keep my faith on the team and hopefully we will win no. 19 this season. Yeah yeah.. ManU’s supporters will definitely give me stick for this but that is normal for someone who supports a club who didn’t win the league for almost 20 years!! But mind you, I am a real and passionate supporter of Liverpool, my blood is Red, my hearts beats for Liverpool.. Liverpool till I die!! Hehehe

So, as I said earlier, despite the indifferent pre-season and no big-name signings, I say to you all footie fans – BRING IT ON!! We’ll take it head on!!

And of coure to all Sabahan’s Liverpool supporters, hear this :-

 Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

(and yes, you will not watch the game alone again… hehehehe)

Good news indeed to Liverpool’s fans in Penampang, KK and places nearby. Hopefully, soon we will be able to “open up” outlets in other towns, all over Sabah, and make our presence felt.

Let us enjoy the time together with fellow Liverpool’s supporters - watch games, sing Liverpool’s songs, celebrate goals, feel the sadness if we lose (touch wood!!), berate the ref for bad decisions, mock other teams (hehehe), banters and of course get to know each other a little bit well and etc lahhh kan.. hehehe

Bah!!

P/s: To other supporters… all the best for the new season.. whatever we may “gaduh-gaduh” during the season, let me remind you that it’s just a banter.. bukan mau cari gaduh butul-butul bah.. hehehe..(it’s because we’re passionate with our Club)

Exciting Season Ahead..

Yuppp.. in about two weeks time, Liverpool FC will kick-off the season at White Hart Lane. It’s the time I’ve been waiting for. Of course, for a real footie fan, life is “eat, sleep and live” football ha ha ha..

The off-season was of course a real bore, but lucky there are some friendlies shown on the satellite TV towards the end of off-season.

I didn’t manage to go to Singapore to watch the Red men play to a 5 nil win. That would have been a great experience. But of course there are many things that is beyond my control, so I was unable to see them first hand. (Maybe next time..)

Nevertheless, the excitement of the new season is getting stronger and unbearable because of the newly established Official Liverpool Supporters Club of Sabah.

Yes, it’s true. we Liverpool supporters in Sabah will never walk or rather watch TV alone again because we have our very own Fans club here. Although it is still in early stages of formation but the excitement is already there.

I didn’t know about the first gathering though, but thanks to Facebook, a friend tipped me off on the 2nd gathering. So, I attended the 2nd gathering on 31st August 2009 at Eclipse in Donggongon.

I came alone since my friend Terry is in Semporna. I was a bit ‘lonely’ at first since i don’t know anyone. but with the knowledge that I am meeting people who have the same passion as me, I just “barge” into the place. LOL.

I sat there less than a minute and I was greeted by one of the organising team, Alex. I believe I was one of the early birds (except the organising team), so I chatted with Alex and get to know him.. (Thanks to Alex – the Vice President (Sponsorship))

Soon, people with Liverpool tops starts filling the place. And that is where the excitement started. I know a few of them also like Roland who is my senior at school. I also had the privilege of getting to know Jude and Grace. Jude happened to be a super-senior in school and he is the elder brother of Roland, while Grace is the elder sister of a senior in school too.

We started off by singing the legendary song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to the top of our lungs. At this moment I feel really proud singing it with my fellow Kopites, I normally sing it on my own at home during matches (of course most of them are those “muted” version ha ha ha). This will not be the first I am singing it though…

There are prizes to be won that night sponsored by Carlsberg that night. My eagerness and effort to attend this gathering was rewarded as I manage to find the ‘treasure’ and won a shirt – Liverpool-printed shirt sponsored by Carlsberg. As for the trivia questions, I didn’t really joined in because I was already satisfied with what I get, besides I was busy taking photos myself. I did “study” before coming though as I want to win those Liverpool’s merchandise – by reading some facts and statistics of Liverpool he he

However, the grand prize was what everyone is targeting – a long-sleeved Liverpool Adidas home jersey, which in the market worth RM250 bucks!! That is a lot of money!! The trivia question asked was very hard, I never heard about that one either. The question was “which country is the flower on Shankly’s gate belongs to..??”. It was so difficult that many are just “shooting”.. in the end a fellow Kopites who actually helping others for the previous trivia question answered it. Well, salute to Patrick, he deserves the grand prize!!

Picture shows Patrick wearing the jersey he won. He was asked to don the jersey straight away that night. He is flanked by the emcees, Clifford (who happened to be Lab Papa’s geng karas) and Perry, who is also our Ambassador.

Well, they are many prizes given away that night.. I myself am satisfied with what I won. But that is beside the case, whether I win something or not it doesn’t matter, my main intention and ‘hearts desire’ is to watch Liverpool games in the coming season with fellow Liverpudlians, discuss the games, on-goings in the club etc. The is the very reason I am joining the club.

For those of you fellow Kopites who come across this blog, there’ll be another “pre-season warm-up gathering” (as Patrick put it) 8 pm this Saturday, 8th August 2009 at Jade Cafe, Api-Api Centre (Above Restoran Banu II, which is next to EON car sales centre).

Check out for updates in the Club’s Facebook fan page here. The page is called Borneo Liverpool Fan Club, if you can’t find it via the link.

Well, well, well what an exciting season this will be…

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone… you’ll never walk alone

We mowed them good time…

Watch this..

It made me laugh, I nearly vomitted… hahahaha

Credit to my mate Kevin Cassar.. yeah!!

Liverpool mowed them at their own turf….good time!!!

Steven Gerard week...

LSCM (Liverpool Supporters Club of Malaysia) has posted an article about Steven Gerard's 10th Year Anniversary from his first team appearance..

So, to all fans of Setevie G, you can read all about him here.

YNWA

Bummer!!!! Bummer!!! Bummer!!!

Okay... I just read Chegu Carol's blog with the same title... i wanted a different title actually, but well... this one's reflect my kind of feeling after watching Liverpool's game this morning. BUMMER!!!!

Liverpool played like @#$% this morning against Club Atletico de Madrid. If I am not a fan or not a 'TRUE LIVERPOOL FAN', i will just close the TV at half time.. they suck!!! I would like to berate Benayoun, Arbeloa & Dossena. C'mon Rafa, you should have played Kuyt and Babel from the beginning... Aurelio should have played instead of Dossena too...

Benayoun did nothing to help the attack. everytime he gets the ball, he either lose it staraight away or pass to the rainbow...

Dossena should not even in the line-up.. where was the 'quality crosses' needed? Keano is dying to score but the services is not coming...

Arbeloa.. not consistent.. keeps doing mistake.. always leave his position... what is this man!!!!

Should have won the game at least with two goals!! they didn't take their chances well and the services for the attackers are poor...

Argghhhh... though it's 1-1 draw game, Liverpool should have topped the table... what is this my beloved Liverpool!!!

Bummer!!!!!! Bummer!!! Bummer!!!

Liverpool v Atletico Madrid...

Tomorrow morning at 2.45am (Malaysian time), Liverpool will face Atletico Madrid in Vicente Calderon - the home of Atletico, in Champions League Group D match.

As usual, I will be up against my no. 1 enemy - sleepy hombidai. But last season, I've never missed any early morning Liverpool matches like this one.. so, before I battle with my nerves watching my beloved team against another team who is favourite to advance to the next stage, I must battle my 'sleepiness' first.

I have never 'lost' the battle when the team playing is Liverpool. (The other day, tried to watch England match.. I ended up watching a different match, as I slept the whole England game.. hahaha)

So.. my hope and prediction - Liverpool to win (of course!) against Fernando Torres ex-club. Robbie Keane to score. C'mon Keano!!!

Too bad he is injured. It would be interesting to see his reaction if he scores against hi former team - where the fans still idolises him.

Read one comment in the net by a 'Rojiblancos' fan - "Fernando Torres is Atletico. He means very much to the club... forgetting him will be like Liverpool fans forgetting Ian Rush..."

Go Reds!!!!

Torres didn't want to rot at manure....

Last night match between Liverpool and Manchester City (the other half of Manure) was like The Miracle of Istanbul 2005 Revisited, almost.

To enlighten those of you who do not know what Istanbul 2005 was, it's the Final of Champions League 2005 between AC Milan and Liverpool. At half-time, Liverpool were three nil down. And majority of people, even Liverpool's own fans like myself think that it's all gone, Liverpool is going to lose that Final because AC Milan was the favourite to win the Cup.

But in the second half, there was a dramatic come back by Liverpool and after extra time, the game is tied at 3-3. Then Liverpool went on to win on penalties. Liverpool fans dubbed the game as the Miracle of Istanbul. Who would've thought any team can come back from 3 nil down and against a great team like AC Milan!! Read more here and another story.

On last night's game, Liverpool's play was good, got a few chances of scoring too but made a number of mistakes are done, which led to Man City leading 2 zero at half time.

In the second half, Liverpool's player showed character and managed to get two good goals from Torres. At the dying minute, Dirk Kuyt got the winner that breaks the home fans (Man City). Of course, some may say it was helped by the sending-off of one Man City player but again in my opinion, it was due to the great character and desire by Liverpool's player to carry on to win. This is what we Liverpool's fans want, winning when we are not playing well. Some may say also that this is what Champion's is made of.

As usual, my friend Henry will send me text messages during the game, either to taunt me or praise my team, but usually is the former. Last night's was the second time he send the same message - "Torres should play for Manure...". I know what Henry means - that Liverpool's No. 9, Fernando Torres, should play for a great team - Manure, as Henry consider Liverpool not that great.

The first time he send me the text, I answered - "all his life, Torres wanted to play for Liverpool.." and that Alex Ferguson didn't bat an eye for Torres when he was in Athletico Madrid in La Liga. My last night's reply was - "Torres didn't want to rot at Manure...". Hahaha.. that was my ultimate answer to Henry.

I do believe that LFC's No.9 wanted to play for Liverpool all his life due to many factors - Rafael Benitez is one of Spain's great managers, there are a lot of Spanish players at Liverpool, Liverpool's rich history, to play with Steven Gerrard, who is currently one of the best and great player around, etc. He was once spotted wearing an armband with "You'll Never Walk Alone" printed on it when he was playing his last games for Athletico Madrid.

Thus, one creative LFC fan penned the now famous Torres Song, where it starts like this :

His armband proved he was a Red, Torres, Torres,

"You'll never walk alone" it says Torres, Torres..etc

Though Fernando Torres will never really admit about the 'armband issue' (he was reported to say that it was given by a friend) and we will never know, it was not important. The important thing now is that he is now a Red and Liverpool's No. 9!!!

(Henry - siapa suruh Alex F tidak peduli sama Fernando Torres dulu.. sekarang menyesal pun tiada guna.. kah kah kah!!!)

The Reds won the mother of all derbies...

Yesireee!!!!

Liverpool won against the Blue-side of Merseyside, Everton hands down. Two well taken and superb goals by none other than Liverpool's Number 9 - Fernando Torres...

Overall, this was a great passing game of Liverpool and controlled the game, though Everton does create some goal-scoring opportunities for themselves.

Another thing to note is that a great derby does not become a great derby without a red card. So off you go Tim Cahill...

What a great feeling last Saturday, though the 7.45pm kick-off did spoiled my dinner but a big fan like me will never miss a big game like this.

For the record, last season 2007-2008, I've never missed any Liverpool live games on TV. I will try to keep this record intact this year and hope Liverpool's title ambition will materialise sooner than later and lift No.19!!

Walk on all you Reds out there...

Music to my cochlea...

I was watching Ben 10 cartoon last weekend as I have nothing better to watch (aside from playing Diablo II : Lord of Destruction).. then one of the cartoon chief baddies say this “music to my cochlea..” when he was very happy as his baddiness is in progress in one of the scene…

These words – music to ears – are one of the few that my Red-devil friend, Henry, used to tease me when my Liverpool lost or play poorly. I hate those very words as he said it to me last season, when we lost to Manures at Anfield… ceisshh

On Sept. 13, we beat Manures good time… so Henry, that is “music to my cochlea…” hahahaha

But Henry is a good friend. He is not the typical Manure fans I meet around the globe. Typical – when their team lose (esp. to Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea), they always give many excuses and reasons, same like their manager – Alex F. Just look at what Alex F said in the news when they lost last Saturday… I am cheesed off with his remarks etc. Common lah Uncle Alex… just admit you lost to a better team. At least Henry my friend shakes my hand when I meet him in the office the other. Gentlemen, that Henry.

To all manures fans… just be gentlemen like Henry. He is a Red Devil through and through, I tell you.

LIVERPOOL 2 – 1 MANURES

MUSIC TO MY COCHLEA….. hahahahahahahahahahaha

(although a bit late, I am still celebrating though as my cochlea are still vibrating from last Saturday game.. then continued on with a Champions League win against Marseille…)

 

note : and oh ya, my friend Rizwan is also cursing his team failure to dominate and win despite having a goal up in 3 minutes of kick-off...

That's why he is one of the best....

“That is why he is one of the best..” this is the very exact words I told my Munchester United-loving friend, Henry.

He can’t deny it. I also don’t need to explain further. Self-explanatory….

Stevie G – let’s make this Season.. OUR season.. WALK ON!!!

(and that’s why I named my son according to his name….)

The most expensive item in my wardrobe...

This is about the very, most expensive item in my wardrobe – yes, it’s my beloved Liverpool FC’s top a.k.a jersey, season 1996/98, in which point of time that my favorite player, Robbie ‘God’ Fowler rules and scorched the goals of opposing teams… (though we never won the EPL title… many thanks to the mancs..). Until today, more than 10 years later, this very jersey is still, and (maybe) will always be the most expensive shirt I ever bought..

I bought it, if my memories don’t fail me, sometimes middle of 1997. at that time, we can get original branded jerseys at around RM150 only. Nowadays, it’s almost double that price!!! At that time, I was really in love with this famous football club... that I sacrificed my lunches; dinners and suppers, just to save the money to get my hands on this top. But it took me quite a some time to save because I was studying at that time and money is also needed to buy materials for assignments, reports, every day activities, visits etc… but I never stopped saving and finally did manage to buy it (a big thanks to my sisters and brothers who supported me all through my university days.. without them, I would have never survived. So I am sorry I used some part of the money you all sent me to buy this jersey..!!)

After making sure I got my budget correct, one afternoon, I went off alone to Jaya Shopping Centre (but we usually call it Jaya Supermarket though), section 14, PJ. I think the name of the Shop was Sportstation. Got into a bus from H.U. and I am on my way to buy my most ‘expensive shirt’. My heart is thumping hard, excited that at long last, I will get my hands (or body, rather) on this dream shirt.

When I arrive at Jaya Supermarket, I thought I was actually running and not walking because it felt like I arrive at the shop in no time. So here I was at the entrance of the said shop and what luck!! They’re on sale... so I got a 10% discount on my, yes ‘MY’ very first Liverpool top. I bought the home (red) jersey and purposely took the XL size though I am not that ‘big’. (Something in my head tells me that I will get ‘bigger’ in few years to come). So, yes, at that moment of time I looked like a ‘hip-hop’ guy with this big Liverpool jersey on me (and I don’t like hip-hop). But, I don’t mind that, because, my dream has come through.

Since then, I always wear this Liverpool jersey anywhere, anytime because not only that I love this shirt very much but for being proud to show that I am a Liverpool FC’s supporter. I think I wear it almost every time, to lectures, to activities, to shopping malls, etc. I believe this makes most of my friend remember me as the guy who always wear a Liverpool jersey anywhere, any time (even until today I still wear my Liverpool tops most of the time). But don’t get me wrong, if the shirt needs to go to the laundry, it needs to go to the laundry..hehe (I am never comfortable of unwashed clothings..).

Well, that’s my story of my most expensive shirt ever bought at RM150 more than 10 years ago. Nowadays, although I am working, I can’t afford to buy original Liverpool tops because it costs almost RM300!! Besides, I have other commitments like paying bills, family etc.. Therefore, I resort to buying ‘replica kits’ a.k.a ‘ciplak’, which many of us may call them. But I usually get the ‘Grade A’ ones, which is about 99% almost similar to the original thing. Last year, I bought all of Liverpool tops at RM50 apiece. Imagine that if I buy the original ones, I can only get half-a-shirt!!

At the same time, I also think that a shirt is only a shirt if the wearer only wears it as a shirt to cover the body.. For me, wearing Liverpool top is a proud thing and it also gives a testament of my utmost support to Liverpool.. through rain or shine. I am proud to say that ‘I live and breath’ Liverpool FC!!! The cost of the jersey doesn’t matter or whether it is original or not… the ‘soul of the wearer’ is… IMHO.

So, my Season 96/98 will be my most expensive shirt ever… (though if I can afford it some other time.. I will get my hands on the new kits..huhu)..

(will post hombidai’s most expensive shirt picture later…)