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SHAH ALAM - Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor says he felt like he was back in his younger days when given the chance to play alongside a line-up of Kedah legends from the 1990s against Singapore on Saturday night.
He said the opportunity to take part in the Langkawi Merdeka Cup Nostalgia 1993 football match at Stadium Langkawi was a deeply meaningful and unforgettable experience.
"I'm now fifty-two compared with nineteen when I watched Kedah win the Malaysia Cup in 1993.
"(Playing alongside them) I felt young, just that I couldn't get past Singapore's defence because they were fit and tall.
"But I felt thrilled at this age to be able to play with them. They're old too, but they've still got skill," he said after the match.
In a light-hearted tone, he said that if he had managed to score a goal in the match, he might also be worthy of the "legend" title.
The nostalgia match, which brought together Kedah and Singapore legends once more, saw the republic's team win 2-1 through goals from Saswadimata Dasuki and Lim Tong Hai.
However, the result was merely a repeat of the 1993 Malaysia Cup final, in which Kedah emerged champions after beating Singapore 2-0 with goals from Radhi Mat Din and Lee Kin Hong at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.
The nostalgia-filled event also saw nearly ten thousand spectators flock to Stadium Langkawi to relive the glory days of 1990s football.
Also playing alongside the Kedah legends were Kedah Malay Football Association (PBMK) patron Datuk Zuraidi Rahim and former Kedah captain Radhi Mat Din, along with Gurun state assemblyman Baddrol Bakhtiar.
Sanusi said the match gave the younger generation a chance to get to know sporting figures who once made a name for themselves and brought pride to the state.
"At the very least, young people now know who the 1993 players were. They're all football legends who once brought glory to the state's name.
"I hope they stay healthy and can get through their fifties and sixties in good condition, since they're all former athletes," he said.
He also hoped the former players could serve as examples and role models to encourage young people to be more active in sport.
"I hope they become role models for young people today so they play on the field. Don't play in your room.
"Playing football actually means playing on the field, not on your mobile phone. That's not football," he said jokingly.
Meanwhile, Zuraidi said the match marked the start of efforts to help restore the glory of football in Kedah, particularly in talent development.
He said choosing Langkawi as the venue over Stadium Darul Aman would also help boost the tourism economy of the resort island.
"I told the Menteri Besar that Kedah will see a major shift in football in this state, given the thousands of Langkawi residents hungry for sports entertainment," he said.
