 “Are you aware of the latest news?”. My wife asked me looking concerned. “No, what about the latest news”. I casually replied. “They suspended the English Premier League till and WHO declared the situation as a global pandemic!” At this point, even though my body was tired and jetlagged from the long-haul flight but it did not stop my mind from racing wildly. Uncertainties emerge with regards to my groups in April and May at the front and back of my mind till we got home. I had just concluded an Anfield Expedition trip back in March and we have just arrived in Singapore. And to hear that news upon returning is a huge blow to Matchday Affairs. And I thought, if WHO is already declaring as a global pandemic which is unprecedented, then it is a big deal and we have to be ready for the worse as the other countries worldwide might tighten their measures or even close their doors to tourist, specifically in UK. In addition to that, we had just missed the Stay Home Notice deadline that the Singapore government had just implemented at that time. I had a long discussion with my wife for the next few days about how should we approach this unfortunate but delicate situation. Calling off the trip before the actual departure might be too harsh because this was a massive decision that can lead to major repercussions if not handled properly.  We then took into consideration TWO (2) major and decisive factor affecting travelling overseas as a whole. Firstly, if we were to decide and carry on April’s and May’s trip, it will do more harm than good. It might risk many of our customers’ lives and most importantly their love ones as well. The last thing we want is to be a source or a cluster of Covid-19 virus. We feel that it is imperative that we should place safety as the most critical concern to our customers. Secondly, the government had already implemented the 14 Day Stay Home Notice after returning back from overseas. Should we travel to the UK, then upon returning home, our customers have to serve SHN for 14 days. Most of the customers either won’t have any more leave balance to spare or have very limited leave balance. In which case, they might be forced to take unpaid leave by their employers, an option which would be unfavorable to them. We had to decide quickly if we were to call off the April’s and May’s trip because our customers by then had already started to ask what will happen to their payment if its indeed called off. If we decide to call off the trips, more often than not, the customers would expect to be refunded, which is more so in this case, because the services haven’t been fulfilled. So, we had to factor our expenses which includes our booking of hotels, flights, transportations and most importantly match tickets. At the same time, we have to consider about the customers happiness, our brand reputation and the values that we have as a company. After a few days of careful deliberation, we decided to call off both the trips and refund the bulk of what have been paid by our customers even though all our expenses are in limbo. Because we are ultimately a business that is all about helping football fans to make their dreams come true and to deliver memorable and unforgettable experiences. We put utmost importance in our relationship with the customers and the last thing we want is to induce elements of dislike and unhappiness. With the uncertainties creeping in on the economy, maybe the refunds might help them financially in these troubled and challenging times. And even though that this situation happened due to an uncontrollable circumstance and we might suffer a huge loss from this, we strongly believed that it’s not correct if we use it as a convenient reason for not refunding our customers. They have already entrusted us with a huge responsibility and paying huge amount of money to realised their dreams. We feel it would be unfair to the customers to hold their hard-earned money when the services are not being fulfilled. Fast tracked time to the current moment, we were very glad that we had decided then to refund the customers because most of them are affected by these troubled and challenging time. And personally, for me, I would be lying if I didn’t feel the pinch of refunding the customers but at the same time, I felt the burden of responsibility lightened once I had disbursed the refunds.
And we will always hold on dearly to this principle; “Money lost can still be earned in the future, but it will be difficult to earn the trusts of the customers once its lost” Even though we are unsure when the travel industry would resume, we have decided that to choose this path for Matchday Affairs. Last but not least, we hope to have your unwavering support in the future once football is safe to resume. Watch this space for more football fans stories with Matchday Affairs! Cheers Mirza Salim Founder of Matchday Affairs #matchdayaffairsfansstories #makingfansdreamcometrue #anfieldexpedition #oldtraffordexperience #matchdayaffairs #YNWA #GGMU #SGUnited  The referee had blown the final whistle and Anfield erupted and went into euphoria! Liverpool just qualified for the Champions League KO stages! We celebrated and congratulated each other and even hugged strangers, Yes! Hugging strangers! As we made our way out from the stands to the exit of the stadium.
As we were walking out of Anfield, we were all talking about that incredible save from Alisson Becker against Napoli, and Yes, it’s THAT SAVE which ultimately is the turning point in what was to be a successful Champions League campaign last season. We cannot believe that Alisson managed to make that save point blank. And we were extremely lucky enough to be seated near enough to witness the miracle of a save which actually earned Liverpool qualification through to the next round of the KO phase. As you guys probably know, that particular season, Liverpool went on to win the Champions League and Liverpool won it 6 TIMES! And as we were making our way out, suddenly out of nowhere, John Aldridge appeared before us. It’s the JOHN ALDRIDGE who was banging in the goals once upon a time for Liverpool! One of my customers instinctively took out his mobile and stop Aldo to take a picture with him. It was double joy for us that night! We were in high spirits and had a great result and best of all, we had the opportunity to take a picture with John Aldridge, a proper Liverpool Legend. Watch this space for more football fans stories with Matchday Affairs! Cheers Mirza Salim Founder of Matchday Affairs #matchdayaffairsfansstories #makingfansdreamcometrue #anfieldexpedition #matchdayaffairs #SGUnited  Experiencing matches LIVE IN ACTION is far from watching on Television because there IS NO replay when you watch the match LIVE in the flesh. But remembering the wonder goal that Mohamed Salah scored against Chelsea in April 2019 was an unforgettable experience that we had. Although no replay was shown (at least until we got back to the hotel), the way Anfield erupted celebrating the goal will be hard for me and my Dad to forget. Meet my Dad, Salim Kasimi. While he was not the biggest Liverpool fan, he appreciates the game of football being played and that’s why I decided to belanja him to go to Liverpool with me because my Dad was the person who introduced me to the game of football.  During the Malaysia Cup days, we would go to the National Stadium almost every week to catch the matches. My Dad usually would sacrifice his lunch time to buy the match tickets on weekdays at the National Stadium. There was once where we actually didn’t manage to get match tickets but still managed to get it the stadium. We sneaked past through the gates, where in those days, there was no turnstiles for the season ticket holders. Then again, those were the last few golden years of the Malaysia Cup at the old National stadium.  So, it was the least I could do and that was the closest experience I could get him in terms of being similar to the Malaysia Cup atmosphere. And when we went for the Anfield Stadium Tour, there was an opportunity for him to take a photo with the Champions League Trophy.
Because of Mohamed Salah’s magnificent goal, I had chosen for his photo to be with Mohamed Salah. I love you Dad! Watch this space for more football fans stories with Matchday Affairs! Cheers Mirza Salim Founder of Matchday Affairs #matchdayaffairsfansstories #makingfansdreamcometrue #anfieldexpedition #matchdayaffairs #SGUnited  I was thinking to myself while smiling gleefully and was grinning from ear to ear... As I went to the hotel room, my wife said "Why are you smiling so happily? You looked happier than in our wedding day!!!" I couldn't help but laughed at her comments. Truth be told, I was feeling ecstatic! Why? I had just managed to take a picture with Jurgen Klopp at the hotel lobby. There are 2 kids in front of where I stood and Jurgen Klopp just walk to them and took a picture with them. I called him, “Boss, do you mind a photo with me” in which he politely obliged. That’s the happiest day in my life… apart from my wedding day of course in which my wife will begged to differ.  I remembered clearly that day. It was a Saturday when we arrive at Liverpool from London. It was the first week of December 2018 and we were to be in the UK for a whole month. That December, we had 4 groups to manage, 3 Anfield Expedition groups and 1 Old Trafford Experience group but we purposely choose to arrive earlier to spend a few days of holiday before the real work starts. I knew that the Liverpool FC team would stay at that hotel before or after the match. I wasn’t entirely sure and the hotel staff wouldn’t disclose that information. Since there was a home match that weekend, I thought of booking into that hotel to check out how the rooms are and most important to do a little bit of “recon” for our future groups. Coincidentally, that period, we had just celebrated my 9th year wedding anniversary with my wife I had taken the trouble to arrange a surprise for her with the hotel staff, a set of flowers in the room for her upon checking in. They said that there’s a strong woman behind every man. That is what my wife; one of is the key supporting pillar of my life, through my ups and down. When I was down and out, she stood beside me and constantly motivating me. And because of my condition, I’m not allowed to have a driving license, so she is the one who drives me around all the time. It’s the other way around for most guys, most guys drive around their wives.  Even today as I’m writing this story, since the unfortunate situation that happened, where the suspension of the English Premier League creates lots of uncertainties in the business, my wife will always remind me that I’m not alone in this.
And had she not planted the seed in my head to help football fans in providing a solution, I don’t know whether there will be a Matchday Affairs today. I’m very thankful and grateful that I married the right lady! Watch this space for more stories with Matchday Affairs! Cheers Mirza Salim Founder of Matchday Affairs #matchdayaffairs #makingfansdreamcometrue #anfieldexpedition #YNWA #oldtraffordexperience #GGMU #SGUnited  After my recovery from my surgery in mid 2015, I told myself that I would like to visit Anfield one more time. I was toying with the idea but I hesitated to share it with my wife because the previous vacation to Europe was a nightmare. I was at fault at that time as I was a lousy traveler. So, I hesitated to tell her and wasn’t totally sure how she will react if I had suggested another Europe trip. A few months later, in January 2016, when I’ve just started working at Qu’ins Travel & Tours, I finally decide to tell her about my plans. Thankfully she agreed but on two conditions, that I’m the one who will be planning the itinerary and it must include a London leg on the trip. Having received the GREEN LIGHT from the Boss, I carried on with the research in attempt to find out more about the Liverpool and London, how and where to get match tickets, where is the best place to stay in Liverpool and London, what kind of public transportation is available. Obsessed in finding out more, I scoured the internet high and low every day. Yes! Every single day I was on my mobile for at least 2 hours. With technology at my fingertips, I thought that getting the information above can be quite easy. I was wrong! Planning for the trip can be tricky at times. The critical factor is how to get the match tickets and which kind of suppliers are the reliable ones. There are so many 3rd party websites that offer match tickets but none can really guarantee we will get the match tickets.  I imagine myself flying out all the way to the UK, all hype up and making my way to Liverpool. What if after I had purchased the match tickets online, the seller fails to show up? If the seller does show up, how do we ensure the seller will not give fake match tickets. All this concerns and worries are constantly floating and running around my mind. Then I come across this email at my workplace, there’s a convention for travel professionals and one of the thousands of participating partners in that convention offers match tickets! At last A breakthrough, I thought to myself. And I contacted them and told them about my concerns on getting match tickets from them. They brief me on the process and reassured me that they will deliver the match tickets.  That night, I discussed the matter with my wife and she suggested to me that since I’m already working with Qu’ins Travel and Tours, why not I try to create a solution to help the other fans who were in the same boat as I was previously.
So instead of planning and going for a vacation, in December 2016, me and my wife went on a recce trip for 2 weeks to the UK. Most importantly, we managed to catch a few matches to test the reliability and authenticity of the match tickets. We managed to learn more about Liverpool, Manchester and London, what form of transportation do each city use, where to get food especially halal eateries and so on… That is why and how the idea of Matchday Affairs was born. It’s basically a tool to help other football fans who wants to have an experience of a lifetime and who wants their dream to be finally realized. Watch this space for more stories with Matchday Affairs! Cheers Mirza Salim Founder of Matchday Affairs #makingfansdreamcometrue #anfieldexpedition #matchdayaffairs #SGUnited |
MATCHDAY AFFAIRS PTE LTD
IS MANAGED BY
QU'INS TRAVEL & TOURS PTE LTD | TA 1372
All Rights Reserved
IS MANAGED BY
QU'INS TRAVEL & TOURS PTE LTD | TA 1372
All Rights Reserved