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YOU could almost touch the tension around Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, when the VIVA Bahrain boys arrived on a tour of the Theatre of Dreams before another classic derby encounter with City, the football club’s noisy neighbours.
It was red versus blue and the city appeared to be awash with fans of both teams from the Gulf States.
There was a large contingent of Manchester City fans from Dubai sharing our Crowne Plaza City Centre Hotel, for example, obviously encouraged by the club’s trophy-winning transformation under the ownership of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Minister of Presidential Affairs and member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.
But our kingdom is predominantly red all over, with many fans snapping up VIVA Bahrain’s ‘one-of-a-kind’ Manchester United membership card. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) Group, its parent company, is United’s mobile partner and a leading telecom operator in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
On tour were a number of VIVA Bahrain’s latest lucky draw winners who were invited on a trip to watch the big match live, flying via Doha on Qatar Airways to Manchester Airport.
Even two of our group predicted a score-draw when last year’s Premiership champions came a-calling to play this season’s runaway leaders. The reaction was similar from stadium staff members to taxi drivers.
One cheeky trader was trying unsuccessfully to sell United scarves with the 20th champions title already recorded on the woollen neck attire but fans were not willing to tempt fate.
With such a pessimistic pre-match mentality it came as little surprise that second-placed City snatched a deserving 2-1 victory earning the Sky Blues bragging rights at Old Trafford for a second successive season.
Waleed Ishaq Saffy, CEO of Durrat Marina, was desperately hoping his side would fare better than the last time he made the trip three years ago when United were crushed 4-1 at home to Liverpool.
The 53-year-old was in strong voice, often leading the chorus singing the popular Glory, glory Man United anthem. He insists it’s his three-year-old daughter Fatooma’s favourite song too.
Don’t despair Waleed … who knows, it might be a case of third time lucky!
Abdulrahim Al Bastaki, 25, who works in IT for the Ministry of Health, was taking his first trip to the UK, and despite tears in his eyes created by the gusts of chilling icy wind blowing in from the north as he walked to and from the stadium in search of a taxi, he was quick to admit that the whole experience was like a dream come true, sentiments shared by Sayed Hassan Noamah, 22, building materials general manager with Gulf Eagle Group, who lives in Saar.
Paul Otteson, 59, Alba’s manager Line-6 Feasibility section, whose teenage daughter will soon be graduating from a leading US university, is a dedicated follower of United with a part of his heart still attached to his home side, Swansea.
He wonders whether the Premiership is yet prepared for the likely battle royal between the Welsh arch-rivals Swansea and Cardiff City if the latter makes it into the top flight, which looks likely as they currently lead The Championship, the second tier of English football.
Cardiff have been experiencing a few Welsh wobbles of their own of late but barring a catastrophic run of form both sides should be champions of their respective divisions when the final whistle of the season is blown.
A lacklustre performance by Welsh veteran Ryan Giggs put paid to United’s chances of reaching for the prize early as his attempted back-heel fell straight to the opposition allowing James Milner to crash home Manchester City’s first goal.
United’s reply was a freakish affair. United’s defender Phil Jones’ header caused the ball to strike the back of the head of City skipper Vincent Kompany before careering into the net. City substitute Sergio Aguero wrapped up the three points with a rasping drive.
Perhaps United are currently missing a bit of magic and a slice of good luck. There were plenty of both on show in the corporate suites where a halal menu was on offer to visiting executives from the Gulf region.
The spicy fare was interrupted by a visiting magician who managed to push a bottle of mineral water through the solid dining table as diners watched in awe.
Moments later Wilf McGuinness, a former United player and manager, popped in for a chat.
He signed for the club on the same day as England’s World Cup winning hero Bobby Charlton, and even made his international debut before a shattered broken leg finished his playing career in his early 20s.
He was invited to join the club’s coaching staff and travelled with the first team on every trip. However, an injury meant he was unable to accompany them on a European trip in 1958. The plane crashed after refuelling at Munich Airport. The accident claimed 23 lives, among them eight Manchester United players and three club officials.
“Some people suggest I was unlucky to finish playing so young, I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people alive,” he said.
Perhaps he should have been allowed to give a pep talk to the suicidal chap who climbed on top of a multi-storey car park, threatened to jump off, and had the emergency services blocking roads in central Manchester for several hours.
He couldn’t possibly have been a United or City fan; they’ve got far too much to live for this season.
