A big fan of the Harimau Malaya team, who sold his motorcycle to go watch them play in Doha, Qatar, got not one but two new motorcycles as a surprise gift.
This superfan, Derrick Gan, became famous when pictures and videos showed him crying tears of joy. It happened when our Malaysian footballer Arif Aiman Hanapi scored a penalty, putting Malaysia ahead 2-1 against South Korea in the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group E football match on January 25th.
Mencari dana ke Qatar! Malaysia Road to Asia! Tumpang lalu adik nak lepaskan motor demi negara tercinta... 1st major tournament in Malaysia's history! Ade sesiape sudi tolong x? 🤣 Pape roger 🫰🏼
Posted by Derrick Gan on Wednesday, 27 December 2023
Even though the match ended in a 3-3 draw, which was a great result considering Malaysia's lower FIFA ranking compared to South Korea, people noticed Gan's strong support. After the game, people on the internet realised he was the superfan who shared on Facebook a month ago that he sold his motorcycle for RM4,500 to fund his trip to Qatar.
According to Bernama, Gan made the tough decision to sell his motorcycle when he realised his savings of RM1,500 over a year weren't enough for the overall expenses of the Qatar trip, including the flight, food, and stay, which were around RM6,000. Even though it was his only motorcycle, Gan didn't mind selling it because he really wanted to be in Qatar to cheer for Harimau Malaya in this special football match.
Netizens started calling Gan "Abang Rambut Perang" with affection, declaring him Harimau Malaya's biggest fan. In recognition of his sacrifice and strong support, he was given a new motorcycle from Modenas in collaboration with ERA, a local Malay-language radio station.
When Gan returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on January 27th, Modenas CEO Roslan Roskan and ERA announcer Radin, surprised him with the new motorcycle. The radio station also arranged a special video call with national goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi to encourage Gan.
But the appreciation didn't stop there. National footballer Faisal Halim, with support from his sponsor Blast Active, personally handed Gan a Yamaha LC135 motorcycle. Faisal, who is a Blast ambassador, explained that the motorcycle was bought with the initial funds he got from Blast.
He was moved to see Gan shedding tears of excitement during the match against South Korea and wanted to give him the motorcycle as a gift from the Blast community.
As the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup journey came to an end for Malaysia, and though they did not make it to the next round, the pride and admiration for the Malaysian team echoed loudly. Derrick Gan's passionate support, marked by the sacrifice of his motorcycle, became a symbol of the unwavering spirit of Malaysian fans.
In the face of adversity, Malaysians stood tall, showcasing immense pride for Harimau Malaya. Well done to the team and the dedicated supporters who exemplify the true essence of Malaysian sportsmanship.
