Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Red Army - update
It must be something about the colour red.
Some time ago, I penned a tribute to the Korean fans at the 2006 World Cup, easily the most memorable and exuberant supporter group at the event, in my view.
The Japanese fans provided something of a contrast in Germany; although they outnumbered the Australians in Kaiserslautern, you wouldn't have known it from the respective volume produced by the two fan groups. And after Tim Cahill's equalising goal, the Japanese contingent were not to be heard. At all.
With that in mind, I wasn't expecting truly great things from the fans of J-League club Urawa Red Diamonds last night, particularly considering that the match was taking place so far away from the supporters' home town.
How wrong I was.
Every home match for Sydney FC this season, up to now, has been just a game. Last night was a real occasion.
The Urawa army behind the southern goal was a magnificent sight, first and foremost. An unbroken sea of red shirts, waving elaborate banners with either impressive illustrations or elegant kanji script, with the occasional Brazilian flag to be glimpsed.
But that was as nothing compared with the sound. They roared their team on from start to finish, even after they had conceded that soft penalty to go 2-0 down. Were some of these guys in Kaiserslautern as well? It was hard to believe.
With all due respect to my friends in the Cove, I could hardly hear them all night. The occasional chant dealing with karaoke or whaling was discernible, but all too often they were drowned out by the co-ordinated wall of noise coming from the general direction of Randwick.
Best of all, the Urawa fans provided a wonderful image of fandom for the local media. The fans were enthusiastic but well-behaved, passionate without letting off flares. In the midst of increasing levels of hostility from the pro-eggball media (most latterly, some smug idiot on ABC News Radio who implied that all football fans were akin to the Tottenham thug who recently accosted Chelsea's Frank Lampard), such positive displays are truly welcome.
Urawa Red Diamonds, arigato gozaimasu.
Some time ago, I penned a tribute to the Korean fans at the 2006 World Cup, easily the most memorable and exuberant supporter group at the event, in my view.
The Japanese fans provided something of a contrast in Germany; although they outnumbered the Australians in Kaiserslautern, you wouldn't have known it from the respective volume produced by the two fan groups. And after Tim Cahill's equalising goal, the Japanese contingent were not to be heard. At all.
With that in mind, I wasn't expecting truly great things from the fans of J-League club Urawa Red Diamonds last night, particularly considering that the match was taking place so far away from the supporters' home town.
How wrong I was.
Every home match for Sydney FC this season, up to now, has been just a game. Last night was a real occasion.
The Urawa army behind the southern goal was a magnificent sight, first and foremost. An unbroken sea of red shirts, waving elaborate banners with either impressive illustrations or elegant kanji script, with the occasional Brazilian flag to be glimpsed.
But that was as nothing compared with the sound. They roared their team on from start to finish, even after they had conceded that soft penalty to go 2-0 down. Were some of these guys in Kaiserslautern as well? It was hard to believe.
With all due respect to my friends in the Cove, I could hardly hear them all night. The occasional chant dealing with karaoke or whaling was discernible, but all too often they were drowned out by the co-ordinated wall of noise coming from the general direction of Randwick.
Best of all, the Urawa fans provided a wonderful image of fandom for the local media. The fans were enthusiastic but well-behaved, passionate without letting off flares. In the midst of increasing levels of hostility from the pro-eggball media (most latterly, some smug idiot on ABC News Radio who implied that all football fans were akin to the Tottenham thug who recently accosted Chelsea's Frank Lampard), such positive displays are truly welcome.
Urawa Red Diamonds, arigato gozaimasu.
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Mikey
I saw that report on ABC re the fan. And I tuned in tonight to see them promptly show the balanced reporting of wonderful fans,as on display last night (although I have only seen fox highlights on the web).
What a surprise to find that there was no such report. not.
I saw that report on ABC re the fan. And I tuned in tonight to see them promptly show the balanced reporting of wonderful fans,as on display last night (although I have only seen fox highlights on the web).
What a surprise to find that there was no such report. not.
There was a "Urawa-Pride of Japan" banner in K-Town hung to the right of where i was sitting...so there was one or two there i dare say. Im still OS from then and I really wish i could have been there last night...the occasion of it all was what grabbed me, something maybe only a Victory game can bring out at the moment
....I saw that report on ABC re the fan. And I tuned in tonight to see them promptly show the balanced reporting of wonderful fans,as on display last night (although I have only seen fox highlights on the web).
What a surprise to find that there was no such report. not....
As you say, no surprise. For all the changes at the ABC over the last several years, their coverage of sport (in Sydney at least) is still geared very much towards the
North Shore cricket/rugby brigade.
But that will change. Eventually. ;-)
What a surprise to find that there was no such report. not....
As you say, no surprise. For all the changes at the ABC over the last several years, their coverage of sport (in Sydney at least) is still geared very much towards the
North Shore cricket/rugby brigade.
But that will change. Eventually. ;-)
As I said at Rank and Vile would happen if Urawa fans or similar would want to show this type of support at Telstra Dome in Melbourne. With the strict regulations there (poles only 1.6 m, flag sizes restricted, no drums etc.) They would get a shock.
# posted by 
: March 22, 2007 at 11:58 PM
: March 22, 2007 at 11:58 PM
I think I know where the voiceferous Japanese fans were during the World Cup - unable to get tickets, like much of our own.
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