Source: Daily_Mail
On tour with Chelsea: Malaysia remembers famous win over Blues
The Malaysians are getting accustomed to star names floodingthrough the airport at Kuala Lumpur. [LNB]Arsene Wenger and Arsenal followed byKenny Dalglish and Liverpool. This week it's Chelsea and new manager AndreVillas Boas.[LNB]Perhaps this was the reason for my own interrogation atpassport control. [LNB]'Are you related to Gary Barlow?' I had to admit I wasn't,fearing the customs officer was about to say: 'Well, you can't come in then.'[LNB] Memories: Hairuddin Omar (left) enjoyed playing against Chelsea in the summer of 2008[LNB]Chelsea are back in Kuala Lumpur. They were here three yearsago, and the Malaysian papers have stirring memories of a famous home win, withstriker Hairuddin Omar recounting his goal in the way Ronnie Radford must,every time there's an FA Cup giant-killing in the air.[LNB]Hairuddin said: 'Rosadi Talib sent a corner kick straightinto the six-yard box and I jumped above John Terry to head it past thegoalkeeper. It was one of the most memorable occasions of my career but I doubtJohn Terry will remember my face, let alone my name.'[LNB]Coach Ong Keim Swee will select a makeshift team from playersin the Malaysia Super League to play Chelsea under an All Stars banner butMalaysia's national team are busy preparing for a World Cup qualifier inSingapore on Saturday.[LNB] Leading by example: Chelsea skipper John Terry takes the ball for a run in training[LNB]It will be a weaker team than faced Liverpool and Arsenaland no-one holds out much hope in the World Cup campaign either. [LNB]'We neverqualify, it will be Japan and South Korea,' said a taxi driver, that trustybarometer for public opinion.[LNB]Still, World Cup fever, eh? The draw is made in Rio at theend of this month but these countries are contesting a play-off to get into thedraw. [LNB]Chelsea have been busy since their arrival on Monday withsigning session, meet-and-greets and a public training in the national stadiumwhich attracted about 15,000 supporters, fewer than Liverpool for thosecounting, but the hysteria was high.[LNB] Famous five: (from left) Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge, Patrick Van Aanholt, Ashley Cole and Salomon Kalou[LNB]Andre Villas Boas has been putting them through two sessionsa day, one early in the morning before the heat and humidity rises, and one inthe evening, when it starts to cool slightly.[LNB]It is hot work for Chelsea mascot Stamford the Lion too andthe costume goes in for daily cleaning at the team hotel. Shirts, shorts,pants, lion suit.[LNB]On Wednesday, five players - Ashley Cole, Nicolas Anelka,Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge and Patrick van Aanholt - visited a communityproject on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, an artificial pitch funded by theclub.[LNB] Watch and learn: Cole (left) and Van Aanholt give the kids at the community project a few tips[LNB]The Barclays Premier League is huge out here, they would devour the 39th Game idea were it to return the agenda. [LNB]According tothe locals, Manchester United and Liverpool are the most popular English teams,followed by Arsenal and Chelsea.[LNB]Keeping up with developments on the other side of the worldcannot be easy. One magazine advert for last week's Arsenal game featuredWilliam Gallas in an Arsenal kit, before his move to Tottenham.[LNB] Working up a sweat: New manager Andre Villas-Boas puts his Chelsea players through their paces in Malaysia[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMETerry dreams of becoming Chelsea boss after being inspired by Villas-BoasVillas-Boas' training secrets revealed! (Well, some of them...)Club-by-club guide to all the Barclays Premier League summer transfersAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]
