While many Selangor FC fans may have known about the renovation work undertaken on the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium (MBPJ Stadium) pitch some months ago, perhaps not many have realized that work has also been done on another part of the venue; one that is used by the team before they even get on the field.

The dressing room is an important part of the matchday for all football teams. More than simply a room for players to change into their playing attire, it is also where they and their head coach group up for one last time to squeeze in tactical commands and morale-boosting pep talks.  

Knowing the importance of this hallowed space, the club decided to undertake a modest uplifting work on one of the stadium's two dressing rooms before the 2021 season began, with the design portion of the work performed internally.

The southern dressing room of the MBPJ Stadium has since been designated Selangor FC's dressing room, with co-tenant Petaling Jaya City FC occupying its northern counterpart.

The changes made are simple, yet subliminally effective. Its western wall is decorated with images of past Red Giants luminaries such as Azman Adnan, Rufino Segovia, and Bambang Pamungkas. But on the opposing wall, only words; an evergreen reminder from the greatest of them all, the late Mokhtar Dahari. 

"We don't fear anyone, only ourselves."

A succinct piece of advice by Malaysia and Selangor legend for the current Red Giants stars, that footballing victory can only be attained by first overcoming their own fears and doubts.

The northern and southern walls however are only minimally adorned with gray industrial concrete slabs, hinting at the club's current rebuilding process under chairman, HRH Tengku Amir Shah ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. An illuminated Selangor FC crest is hung on the northern end, the highest and brightest piece of decoration in the dressing room, reminding everyone inside of their true north.

All the decorations; the crest, images, and Mokhtar's quote, are situated around two meters from the floor, ensuring that the players are under constant reminder of their loyalty and target once they step inside the dressing room.

On the more practical side of things, player benches have been placed along each wall, with a treatment table dominating the middle of the room. The work was also designed so that the furnishings can simply be taken down and moved, should the club find a more permanent home in the coming years.

But with Selangor FC having committed its 2022 season to the MBPJ Stadium recently, fans can expect more crucial renovation work to be performed by the club on the ground, with the cooperation of MBPJ as well as Petaling Jaya City FC. In time, it will no doubt turn into a fortress, where opponents dread coming to face the famed Red Giants.

Prepared by Zulhilmi Zainal