In sharp contrast to the flak hurled against the games’ Malaysian organisers over an erroneously published flag of Indonesia last week, various reports lauded both the players and coaching staff of Harimau Malaya, as the Malaysian team is known, for being sporting and compassionate.
Malaysia won the match 1-0, thanks to an 87th minute header by striker N Thanabalan, which ignited euphoric scenes among fans at the already tense and packed Shah Alam Stadium.
In its report titled “Tears of Indonesia’s national team in the embrace of Malaysian players’, Jakarta-based Bola.com described poignant moments of Malaysian players placing their arms on the shoulders of the disappointed Indonesians, some of whom were seen crouched over and weeping.
“Malaysian striker Muhammad Jafri Muhammad Firdaus Chew approached (Indonesian midfielder) Saddil Ramdani who was sobbing. Jafri tried to uplift and pacify Saddil,” the report said.
“It did not end there. One after the other, the Malaysian officials, including coach Ong Kim Swee were also consoling the Indonesian players who were limp with sadness on the field,” it added.
The report also described Malaysia’s two goalkeepers Muhammad Haziq Nadzli and Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim approaching their Indonesian counterpart Satria Tama to comfort him.
“They extended their arms over the shoulders of Satria who was sitting quietly in grief over the defeat,” the report said.
“Malaysian captain Muhammad Adib Zainuddin exchanged shirts with (Indonesian captain) Evan Dimas as a sign of sportsmanship between the two teams after the contest,” it added.
It also said Ong had after the game, commended the Indonesian team for putting up a strong performance, especially in the first half.
The Indosport journal reported that there were many other positive gestures made by the Malaysians that were not recorded on camera.
“What is certain is that the Harimau Muda (young Malaysian tigers) proved that they could be good hosts for the under-22 Indonesian team on the field,” it said.
It added that gratitude and appreciation should also be extended to the Malaysian fan group known as “Ultras Malaya” for their conduct.
Online magazine Brilio.net said several online Malaysian fan pages had praised the Indonesians for their performance despite the rivalry.
It said a Facebook post titled “Tidak perlu sedih Indonesia” (No need to be sad Indonesia) by popular Malaysian football commentary platform Axello Tacts had gone viral among social media users in Indonesia.
The post eulogised the Indonesian players’ impressive outing, especially after the national team had been banned by world football governing body Fifa for two years till May last year.
“What is the meaning of Southeast Asian football without Malaysia versus Indonesia? We are rivals, not enemies,” the post said.
In a commentary, Jakarta-based Bintang.com editor Nizar Zulmi said both sides had demonstrated a high degree of concentration and sportsmanship without a single yellow card needed to be shown by the referee in the match.
The reaction of the Indonesian press came as welcome relief after some negative news related to the football tournament at the ongoing 29th SEA Games.
On Aug 21, two Myanmar fans were reportedly punched and kicked outside the Shah Alam Stadium following the match between Malaysia and Myanmar. One of them needed to be admitted to hospital, police said.
Earlier, some Malaysian fans were condemned by the games’ organising committee and other quarters for chanting “Singapore dogs” during Malaysia’s Group A match against Singapore in Shah Alam on Aug 16.