Ex-national footballers get heroes welcome in Malaysia
A THREE -WEEK ALL expenses paid trip to Malaysia last month as guests of Kedah FC, has earned two former St Vincent and the Grenadines footballers legendary status.
The recipients of the honour were Marlon James and Cornelius Huggins, who were part of the celebrations of the club’s historic back to back double treble during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 Malaysia season.
Kedah had thus won the Malaysian Cup, the Super League, and FA Cup consecutively.
As part of the commemoration, Kedah was able to reunite the team to be engaged in a Charity Match.
Reflecting on the honour, James, speaking on behalf of Huggins, exuded delight in the occasion where they were able to be again in the company of players with whom they shared the dressing room for many years.
“ It was the first time we were seeing one another for some seventeen years, and it was also a joy to reconnect with the fans who came out to the match and attended the training sessions,” James recounted.
Reiterating that he and Huggins were heralded as heroes in the club’s history, James told SEARCHLIGHT: “ We were well treated from the moment we touched down in Malaysia to the time we left. Everyone who experienced the glory days of the club when we played were honoured to see us, hence made our stay the best”.
This, he said reflected in the attendance at the match involving past Malaysian players.
“When we got into Malaysia the ticket sales went up for the charity. Such was the reception that an additional match was put in our honour,” James revealed.
On the downside of the trip, James said that amount of flying took a toll on his body, but the discomfort was worth it for the adoring Kedah fans and the Kedah FC administration.
Both James and Huggins made sterling contributions to Kedah’s success in the mid-2000s.
James was one of the club’s prolific goal scorers, while Huggins’ defensive prowess kept the opponents at bay.
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