The month of August was a month of full of activities in my 'kampung' Kota Bharu, Gopeng, Perak in those days - in the 70s. I wonder whether it's still being celebrated like those old days ....
There would be an inter-football games among the "hastily formed" football clubs coming August such as Kg Teja FC, Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Changkat Lenggong FC and so on. It's multi racial indeed & normally it's a 1 day affair. The dominant teams were Sanglop Estate FC, Kg Teja FG & Kota Bahru FC with Sanglop Estate usually emerged as the champion most of the times.
My elder brother - I called him "Abang" (Bakhtiar) played as a striker in Kg Bahru FC and ended up being tackled time & again to the dismay of the supporters including myself. I was in my lower primary then ... I could still remember the goal keeper of Kg Bahru FC, Dollah Sham. He's a good keeper actually but his antics at the goal post always amused the supporters.
The thing about him is this. He's a good keeper with good agility & reflexes but most of the time over acting especially in saving any strike from the opponents. Though he had safely caught the ball, he would somehow or rather did his "over acrobatic" dive - but luckily still within the penalty box as he rolled over & over with the ball safely tuck close to his chest!!! These acrobatic antics of him would normally occurred especially when there were female supporters - "anak-anak dara Kg Kota Bahru" cheering him at the edge of the goal post area.... He's no longer active the last I heard as he is now the Penghulu of KG Kota Bahru.
The most eagerly waited event of the Merdeka month in Kota Bharu was at the end of the month of August - it's carnival time with the "Malam Kugiran"... There would be a stage built at the "kawasan lapang" in front of the "Dewan Orang Ramai" near the school ....
It's really was a carnival atmosphere with the whole population of Kg Bahru & nearby "kampungs" - Kg Changkat Lenggong, Kg Lalang, Kg Sg Batu & of course the champ - Sanglop Estate would be there...
I could not remember whether it was a "kugiran" from one of the "kampungs" but definitely it was not from Kg Kota Bahru. The event of the night was normally broke up into several segments with the first being a segment by the students of Kg Bahru Primary School. I remember my other elder brother - Asri & gang performed a short drama on stage...
Then, it was time for the "local talents" to perform & there he was - my "Abang" sang a Bee Gees songs - I think it was " Words" & "1st of May"...
Every year in this 'Merdeka Month" during this night, everybody would be waiting for a particular persona. He called himself on stage as " Uda Dara Manja" & hailed from Kg Changkat Lenggong.
So you might be asking what so special about this guy eh? Well the way he dressed - it's awesome in that era of time. Tight pants & three piece jackets - green & with black shirt & red muffler around his his neck - of course "bling - bling"!!!
If you are still not convince on why "Uda Dara Manja" was the "star" of the night, read this ... The way he dressed, his hair style and even his voice were a mirror image of the 60s singer A Ramli. Of course he would only sing A ramli's songs!!!! It was said that he did performed together with A Ramli in a fun fare held in Gopeng in the 70s. It was said that even A Ramli was impressed with his vocal prowess & I think A Ramli might even be confused for a while seeing "himself" that night in Gopeng!!!!
The event would ended at the stroke of midnight with the cry of "Merdeka" by those present .....
I really missed those days of Merdeka celebration in my "kampung" as I feel it was very genuine & multi racial - the "kampung" folks were simple people but with a big heart & full of "Merdeka" spirit!!!
Till the next post ....
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