IT was certainly a treat for Malaysians to play host to three top football teams from England in July. Football fans reciprocated by flooding the Bukit Jalil stadium for all three matches. The showing was proof of the scale and extent of interest among Malaysians towards English football, thanks also to the era of satellite television which has brought the top league games right into living rooms of Malaysians.

Caught up in the fever, sales of replica jersey have soared; it is commonplace to see the jerseys of the top football teams on the backs of many fans in the country. Cementing Malaysians love for the sport further was when fans packed the stadium for the return leg of a World Cup qualifier between Malaysia and Singapore, which some have described as the rebirth of Malaysian football in the country.