The pictures from Amsterdam Tournament

The day I am no longer a football virgin

Occasion: Amsterdam Tournament 2006, Inter-Porto and MU-Ajax
Date: 5th of July 2006
Time: 19.00 (kick off time for the first match) to the end, approximately 00.00
Venue: Amsterdam ArenA
Mates: Fonz and A. Padma
Overall Rating: -B

The build up
After a few years of bullying from / following Fonz around to watch Premier League I have finally experienced my first football live match! Rather giddy with anticipation, mind you I am starting to love this game; I was rather disappointed with the underserved Rooney’s red card which makes him not available for the second match against Ajax. I want to see him and most of the first team in action! After all it’s a good opportunity for us to analyse our team’s future performance.
Amsterdam
After a brunch in Wing Kee, we went to Amsterdam early so we can hang around the city, hoping that we are lucky enough to get bargains from Zipper or Episode. I did though but I still hope that they have a smaller size for the Burberry trench coat I have been eyeing for awhile. The spirit was quite high after spotting several fellow United fans on the centrum, typically around the Irish Pubs. A’Dam itself was quite crowded due to the Gay Parade which coincidently happened on the same day. Overall everyone was quite content especially after several puffs at the Noon.
Arriving there
Departed to the stadium via metro after we met up with Padma’s friend: Migeul. The line was bursting with supporters, mainly Ajax’s and United’s, few were Porto’s or Internazionale’s. The atmosphere was euphoric even if it is only a friendly match. Surviving the security check line was easy enough and like the rest of the mass we obediently climbed to our seats. Nonetheless I can’t shake my paranoia of falling from the chairs.
The game
Interesting enough although there are not enough stars after all it is my first. My 45€ is adequately spent for 2 matches. Rather tiring but I still can’t believe that finally I watched a real football match! Yay! The sensation is completely different. You can hear people screaming and singing to support their respective team. We even witnessed a fight erupted on another stand, thankfully it was not big. Shame that most of the United’s players were not from the first team, it will be really great. Exhilarating! Ecstatic! However ArenA’s food sucks (plus it is rather expensive).
The closure
United turned out to be the winner of the tournament with heavy price: Carrick and Rio Ferdinand injured, Scholes and Rooney’s red cards….not a good premonition? Anyway one of the most interesting parts is when we were on our journey back to Amsterdam CS. Another brawl!!! Yoohoo!!! I was not that excited when this happened because it was really near in a very cramped metro. At first it was only between the Dutch Ajax supporters then the English meddled in. Never before I have seen real people being strangled! Terrifying for sure but thank goodness nothing serious happened. Most of them were intoxicated with alcohol which stemmed their aggressive behaviours. They were singing, banging, and cheering, celebrating United’s victory. Fascinating eh? I am officialy addicted.