REPORTING FROM MALANG
A SUNDAY MARKET� hawker in the Malang town centre proudly showed off his merchandise.
On a hanger was a back-facing blue Arema Malang jersey, glistening in the golden afternoon sun.
It read: Noh Alam Shah.
A recent online poll by the official Arema Malang supporters, who call themselves Aremania, was conducted to find out who was the fans' favourite.
The result: Noh Alam Shah.
Ten minutes had passed in the Arema Malang-Persija Jakarta match yesterday when the capacity crowd at Kanjuruhan Stadium roared its loudest yet.
Someone had just attempted an audacious bicycle-kick at the edge of the penalty box.
HOT PROPERTIES: Even before their Arema debuts, the Sunday market in Malang was awash with stalls selling the replica shirts of Lions stars, Alam Shah and Muhd Ridhuan. TNP PICTURE: GARY LIM
The player: Noh Alam Shah.
In the province of Malang,� in the eastern part of Java, Noh Alam Shah fever has hit its football-crazy population.
Yesterday, he put in a fine performance to help Arema to a 1-0 home win over Persija Jakarta, thanks to a goal by midfielder Fahrudin.
A man privy to the ground sentiments is Alex Zulfikar, 25, a photographer for the official Aremania website and quite naturally, an Arema� fan.
On the poll mentioned above, he said: 'Alam Shah won the poll, which 200 fans participated,� hands down.
'Everyone here is ecstatic when news of him joining Arema came through.
'He is a great striker. He has a huge reputation here, after his goal-scoring exploits in the Tiger Cup and Suzuki Cup.'
It isn't certain how he forged this special connection with the Arema fans.
Some say it's his never-say-die attitude on the field. Others believe� it's down to his goal-scoring record.
But Arema's media officer Dar Magi, 34, is sure that it is Alam� Shah's respect for the Aremania that turned� him into� an idol.
He said: 'Alam Shah heard of Aremania even before he joined us.
'He watched a movie called The Conductors, which featured the Aremania.
'The fans were very impressed when they learnt about this.
'It made him an instant hit.'
According to Alam Shah, he received the DVD from a friend in Jakarta just before a Suzuki Cup game last December.
And he certainly liked what he saw.
Passion
He said: 'I immediately told myself, that one day, I want to play for Arema Malang.
'They were just fantastic.'
He added that since he arrived in Malang a month ago, he sees his photo appear in the local newspaper Malang Post every day.
Such is the fans' passion.
Seeing is believing.
Two hours before the match began yesterday, the 35,000 capacity stadium was packed to the rafters.
An additional 10,000 fans without tickets were believed to� have been� let in, too.
Many in the over-crowded stands made their way down to pitch level to avoid the crush.
At some point during the match, a young man suddenly stood up and shouted at the top of his voice: 'Alam Shah, I love you!'
Alam Shah� said: 'I know expectations on me to perform are high. But I believe that as long as I put in my best, the fans will appreciate my efforts.'
After the game, close to 100 fans sneaked into the area outside the changing room,� many waiting for Alam Shah to appear.
The moment he emerged, someone stopped him and asked him to pose for photographs.
Alam Shah obliged the first few requests, before� the security personnel escorted him straight to the team bus waiting at the� stadium entrance.
He� said: 'If I stop for another fan, then I� won't be able to walk at all.'
Alam Shah has certainly found his way into the Aremania's hearts.
He admitted: 'I fell� in love with Malang and its people even before I joined them.'
It is obvious the Malang population is reciprocating, too.
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