MAS Veterans 1-8 ACS Jakarta FC

MAS Veterans 1-8 Aerowisata Catering Services FC
Stadion Lebak Bulus, Jakarta INDONESIA
30 July 2005

It was one of the worst performance in months as MAS Veterans was thrashed by Aerowisata Catering Service FC in a one-sided match. Strangely, the players have the same syndrome with Malaysian footballers - they found it difficult to adjust with foreign environment. Brilliant in their own backyard, but played badly when overseas. A post mortem can only point to one direction - and everybody knows what the main reason is. Anyhow, nobody in the team was complaining about the result, not even the team officials.

The team arrived on Friday afternoon and taken to Aerowisata Catering Services office for ice-breaking session. While refreshments were being served, the players did some introductions and most of them were looking forward for the match on the next day, even though some had already planned their nocturnal activities for the next two nights. After a group photo shot infront of the ACS office, the team checked-in at Ibis Hotel Mangga Dua which is located about 20km from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The rest of the day was free and the players wasted no time in finding out what Jakarta and its inhabitants could offer. A headcount check at 4AM revealed that only one player was in the hotel room. The rest were either at you-know-where or in you-know-who.

On Saturday afternoon, the team was taken by bus to the stadium for the friendly and lunch was served on the way. While Rosli was busy preparing for some match strategies, most of the players were either talking about their previous night experiences or flirting with the two gorgeous ladies from ACS - Leily and Lika. The team arrived at the stadium aroung 215PM, and again, they were served with some refreshments and pastries before the match.

The match was played in a very high tempo since ACS FC wanted to avenge their defeat to MAS Veterans two years ago. With their speedy forwards and smooth passing, ACS FC ripped MAS Veterans defence apart and slotted in eight goals altogether. Only for some misfirings and Razali's spaghetti legs prevented them from reaching the ideal dozen. MAS Veterans' answer was only via a penalty by Ramzan early in the first half to tie the score at 1-1. At half time, knowing that some of MAS Veterans players were nursing injuries, ACS FC provided a 'tukang-urut' for the team. This augurs well for the players, as many of them were seen begging to be substituted. At the final whistle, the tukang urut was the busiest man on and off the pitch.

After the match, the team was taken for a karaoke-dinner session at a nearby restaurant. Both MAS Veterans and ACS FC players had their bellies filled to the brim with sumptuous seafood dinner and later sang their heart out on the karaoke set. ACS FC not only had good football players, they also had good karaoke and dangdut singers that left MAS Veterans overawed by their stage performances. By 10PM, MAS Veterans bade farewell and promised ACS FC that they shall return for a re-match next year. After the 'Kapan-Kapan' song finale, the team was transported back to Ibis Hotel and the rest of the night was free and easy. Another headcount check at 5AM revealed that no player was in the hotel room for the whole night. They were either at you-know-where or in you-know-who....

On Sunday, the team flew back to KUL with lots of stories to tell.

Hats off to ACS FC for being a perfect host for MAS Veterans in Jakarta. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mahzan Mahfudz
Putrajaya

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