KUALA LUMPUR – Derrick Gan’s unwavering dedication to Harimau Malaya has not only captured the hearts of fans but also led to an extraordinary sequence of events that saw him being gifted not one, but three motorcycles.
The avid supporter gained widespread attention when he made a selfless sacrifice, selling his Yamaha LC 5S motorcycle to fund his journey to Qatar in support of the national football squad during the 2023 Asian Cup.
His story went viral, prompting social media influencer Ahmad Alhafiz Najmi to promise him a new motorcycle.
Upon Derrick’s return from Qatar at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday, he was pleasantly surprised with another bike, this time from Modenas, thanks to the efforts of local private radio station ERA.
Today brought yet another unexpected gift for Derrick, as the country’s top striker, Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, fulfilled his promise to present a new motorcycle to the ecstatic superfan.
In a video shared by Astro Arena, Derrick was lost for words when he met his favourite footballer at the Astro headquarters today.
“As a player, I am touched to see your support for us during the match with South Korea.
“As an ambassador of Blast Active and the (sponsorship money I received), I bought this bike for you,” said Faisal in the video.
Derrick became an overnight sensation when news about how he was willing to sell his motorcycle to finance his trip to watch Harimau Malaya in action at the Asian Cup in Doha went viral.
His emotional reactions, including tears of joy during the sensational 3-3 draw, also went viral among local fans and netizens.
Affectionately dubbed “abang rambut perang” (the blonde-haired brother), Derrick’s dedication as a superfan is widely admired across Malaysia.
Last Friday, Derrick disclosed that he received RM4,500 from the sale of his motorcycle, which he had advertised on Facebook in December. – January 28, 2024