Devil in disguise

  • Putrajaya tells Dong Zong to adapt for UEC approval
    Putrajaya tells Dong Zong to adapt for UEC approval

    PUTRAJAYA, May 21 – The United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) must be “prepared to make changes” and meet conditions set by the Ministry of Education if the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is to be recognised, the government said today.

  • MACC panel wants ministers, MBs, banned from government projects
    MACC panel wants ministers, MBs, banned from government projects

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – The MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) proposed today that all government administrators and their family members at both federal and state levels be barred from bidding for government projects.

  • After elections, Najib has serious economic concerns on his plate
    After elections, Najib has serious economic concerns on his plate

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s newly re-elected Barisan Nasional (BN) government faces what the Financial Times today called the serious economic problem of weakening exports.

  • Adam's father gets to meet him at Jinjang lockup
    Adam's father gets to meet him at Jinjang lockup

    Adam Adli Abdul Halim has been subjected to interrogation for two days in a row and was not even given a pillow or a blanket to sleep, said lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who visited student activist today.

  • Ambiga, Bersih crew to pass baton to new leadership soon
    Ambiga, Bersih crew to pass baton to new leadership soon

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and the rest of Bersih 2.0’s 20-member steering committee are soon expected to relinquish their posts to make way for new blood in the leadership of the polls watchdog movement.

KUALA LUMPUR: Manchester -- home to the English Premier League trophy next weekend.

The place that could either be a sea of, more likely, BLUE or should the unexpected happen, it will turn RED.

For Manchester City it will be their first English Premier League title and also their first top-flight title since 1986. For Manchester United, despite having won numerous times over the last two decades, this will be their sweetest yet as they would have beaten City to it.

Also, with all the money City invested, United want this ever-so badly. But they would have themselves to blame for not securing their record 20th title.

Back to City, do they deserve to be crowned 2011-2012 English Premier League champions?

They certainly do, considering the talent they have at the club. No team, with the likely exception of Real Madrid and Barcelona, appear to be stronger than them.

But there are some loose ends at the club -- City have too much money to spend, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez.

The two are good players but with their attitude, it's hard not to wish for them to be crying come Sunday night.

Anyway, Manchester is certainly the place to be on Sunday and the days leading to it. It will be a celebration like no other. A celebration, that I will be there to witness.

You may want to know what a United fan is doing at Etihad Stadium, the last place a Red Devil should be? As my sister pointed out to me yesterday morning: "No United fan would want to be in your position."

Only a fool would turn down such opportunity, especially those who feel so connected to the club as if they were born and bred in Old Trafford.

It is not carved in stone that the trophy will go to Etihad. So, I could still be hopping on a bus or train to the red half of Manchester.

There is also the private tour of the Etihad Stadium to look forward to, and an interview with David Platt and two ex-players on Thursday.

On Friday, there will be a visit to Carrington training ground, a tour of the Manchester City academy, an interview with Mark Allen and Roberto Mancini's official Press conference.

Old Trafford and catching up with friends are on the cards during free-time.

While the rivalry of the two clubs is one of the biggest in English football, it is funny how it wasn't like this some hundred years ago before the Second World War.

There was a financial scandal leading to the FA suspending 17 players and banning them from representing City ever again. When the suspensions ended in January 1907, four players (Jimmy Bannister, Herbert Burgess, Billy Meredith and Sandy Turnbull) joined United, and they helped United gain their first league title in 1908.

In contrast to modern antipathy, the transfers were generally welcomed. It was seen as helping a fellow Manchester club.

That said, things have changed drastically since.

And I daresay, I shall be a stranger on the blue side of Manchester.

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