Uncomfortable journey to stadium for Malaysian players for SEA Games final

Though the Malaysian players hate it, they are expected to take the Barracuda armoured vehicles from their hotel to the Bung Karno Stadium here for today’s Sea Games football final against Indonesia.

Team manager Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said yesterday the players were advised to use the armoured vehicles for their own safety in view of about 100,000 hostile Indonesian fans on the route to the stadium. On Thursday, the Malaysian team complained that they had a “suffocating” trip to the stadium for a group match against Indonesia

after going in two Barracudas, which saw 10 players crammed into each vehicle.

Defender Fadhli Shas said the players fought for air and space inside the Barracudas.

“When we arrived by bus, the people outside were banging on the sides. It was dangerous but we were expecting it and made us more determined to win,” said Fadhli.