KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- As is the norm during a football season,
mamak restaurants become the focus of fans and this can be seen since the Euro
2012 championship started on June 8.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Operators Association (Presma) president Noorul
Hassan Saul Hameed said patronage at mamak restaurants would go up 10 to 20 per
cent or even more if a match involved favourite teams like Spain and Germany.
"If the teams are not among the favourites, the increase is only around five
per cent," he told Bernama.
However, he said the high number of customers did not guarantee double
profits as most only ordered drinks and this often resulted in difficulties for
other customers to get seats.
He said other food outlets such as 24-hour fast food restaurants which had
also installed big screens for 2012 Euro, which would end on July 1, were not a
challenge to mamak restaurants.
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MAMAK-EURO 2 KUALA LUMPUR
He said mamak restaurants were preferred because of the open and relaxed
concept, reasonable prices, variety of food and excellent service.
Meanwhile, in KUANTAN, the heat from the Euro 2012 championship has been
increasingly felt at several spots, be they restaurants, hotels or famous
resorts like the Teluk Cempedak beach.
Early yesterday morning, during the matches between Italy and Spain and
Croatia and Ireland, these locations were thronged by football fans from the
state and Terengganu.
Shouts of "goal!", blowing of whistles, displaying banners of nations
participating in the once-in-four-years championship coloured the compound of
Restoran De'' Mall, Kuantan, one of the major locations in town crowded with
fans.
"I expect around 400 to 500 customers each night for Euro 2012," said
restaurant owner, Mohd Hanifa Abdul Hamid.
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EURO-EURO 3 KUALA LUMPUR
Asked about his most popular menu, Mohd Hanifa said most customers coming
for Euro 2012 matches liked nasi lemak with friend chicken, fried instant mee
and teh tarik.
A football diehard, Mohd Daniel Luqman, 25, who came to the premises as
early as 10pm to watch both the matches, said besides the satisfaction of
watching the matches on the big screen, it could also boost friendship.
The area around Teluk Cempedak was no less merry when a McDonald outlet also
provided a 60-inch flat screen television for the occasion.
Some fanatical fans turned up wearing jerseys of their favourite teams while
others had mufflers around their necks.
A technician at a factory in Kemaman, Mohd Farhan Abdul Rahim, said he was
lucky because he could view his favourite team Spain''s match on a big screen at
the premises because the one at the hotel he was staying nearby was not big
enough.
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MAMAK-EURO 4 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
Many women are also now ardent football fans who are often seen out with
friends or family members watching football matches on the big screen over a
couple of drinks and some food. They have their favourite teams too.
"I developed an interest in football since the 2010 World Cup and supported
Brazil, but this time, I hope Spain can enter the final again," said Sukinah
Daud, a marketing executive, here, when met at Euro Zone, MS Garden Hotel.
The atmosphere during the matches yesterday night was very lively at the
three locations and the supporters of the four teams appeared very excited in
cheering the teams of their choice.
Children were also not left behind in enlivening the excitement of the
Euro season with some, who came with their parents, donning the jerseys of their
favourite teams.
But, supporters of Spain and Italy had to be content with a 1-1 draw while
Croatia beat Ireland 3-1. Euro 2012 is held in Poland and Ukraine.
-- BERNAMA
NF SS3 MAM AZ MO
