By JEFFEREY TAN

Kampar saw a plethora of people flooding the mamak stalls from the 8th of June to the 1st of July. The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship took the town by storm as students from UTAR and local residents swarmed these stalls to watch the screening of live matches.

The New Town of Kampar hosts four different mamak stalls just in the small square of shop houses; Ghani Corner, Haji Gany,  Al Bidayah Corner, and Maha Maju.

Here, their booming businesses can be evidently seen. They are the most favourable for watching football matches because they are opened 24 hours a day and they serve food.

Third year Biochemistry student, S.Puainthran Naidu said he only goes to the mamak to watch very competitive games. “I simply can’t describe the environment but it’s something you can’t get anywhere else,” he said. However, he remarked that the rain poses a big threat to those who want to watch the matches at these stalls.

When asked about the mamak stall appeal, Nurdiyana Ahmad Fadzil, a second year English Language student said she thinks she likes the crowd. “The more the merrier. We can shout out together and it feels like all of us are in the actual football match,” she said.

Chuah Chang En, third year Computer Science student shares Nurdiyana’s sentiments. He comments that the ability to shout together and share the joy with fellow team supporters makes the experience a whole lot different from just watching it at home.

As the championship progressed, the crowd increased. Chuah observed that there were always more people towards the end of football seasons or championships.

He related this to difficulty in getting good seats for the games. “The closer you get towards the end, the earlier you have to get to the stalls to grab the best seats,” he said.

True enough, as you leave after the final match of the championship, you see a sea of people pouring out onto the streets.

The sight bid farewell to a good month of football championship matches. But if you think it’s over, the Olympics around the corner may just prove to be another hit for the mamak screens.

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