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United we stand! [Gulf Weekly (Bahrain)](Gulf Weekly (Bahrain) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Manchester United may have fallen from the dizzy heights of champions this season, but for one dedicated fan nothing can take him down from his VIVA high. Since manager Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement many die-hard supporters have been seeing red and fearing the club's golden era is over. United have struggled under new coach David Moyes' leadership, have been dumped out of the European Champions League and will finish outside the English Premiership's top four places for the first time in 23 years. While some fans may wish to hide away in shame, devoted Red Fahad 'Bahrain' Murad stands United in more ways than one. For more than 20 years, the 54-year-old investment company managing director has built a sporting shrine in honour of the club in his home in Jasra featuring autographed shirts, photographs, hats, balls and scarves along with other mementos such as miniature statues of the players and pillows. He said: "It is filled with Manchester United memorabilia collected over two decades and it is where my friends and I watch many of the games live on TV." He managed to expand his collection recently after winning a 'trip of a lifetime' thanks to holding mobile telecom company VIVA's Manchester United membership card. His lucky number was called and his prize was the chance to join United's first team squad members on a private jet travelling from the UK to the Champions League clash against Olympiakos in the Greek capital of Athens. He said: "I had the chance to talk to the players, pick up more signed mementos and take photographs to remember all the special moments. "I still find it hard to believe it really happened. Even as I waited in VIVA's office I thought someone must be playing a prank on me as everyone knows how much I love this team. "It wasn't until a nice young gentleman named Yousef congratulated me and gave me details about the trip that it became all too real. "It was an incredible opportunity to meet the players. I was ecstatic. I was in dreamland. I had no idea such a possibility existed and am so grateful to VIVA for making this a reality for the club's Number 1 fan!" Fahad remembers the first time he watched United play on an old black and white TV with his late father, Hasan. Red blood truly runs through the family veins as he now watches the games with his twin 18-year-old daughters, Sara, Reem and other members of his family. Reem once took part in the VIVA Manchester United Soccer School trip to the UK and was coached at Carrington where the first team trains. The dedicated family promises to support their favourite team through not only good times, but the bad ones too. Fahad said: "When I was with the players, I felt like a big kid. It brought me even closer to the club." Fahad chatted to one of his favourites, veteran Ryan Giggs, thanked Wayne Rooney for extending his United contract and also rubbed shoulders with striker Robin van Persie. He added: "I had heard van Persie was not too friendly but I found him to be extremely approachable and even had my photo taken with him. I also met the legendary Bobby Charlton. "Mickey Thomas, Albert 'the kit man' and Dennis Irwin were so delightful to mingle with. They kept referring to me as 'Bahrain' and asked me to join them for coffee as well as going for a walk in Athens. They were the perfect ambassadors for the club." Fahad was so thrilled to be a part of the experience that he did not let Olympiakos' 2-0 victory spoil his party … it's just been one of those seasons. He said: "The atmosphere of the game was unique and exciting, though the result was disappointing. But even that did not change the wonderful overall experience. "United may currently be in a period of transition, but there is no doubt that this is an amazing club with many amazing people and players. "I am one of those fans that will stick with this club in all types of weather. United will come good again and we'll cherish those times. I know from this experience that there remains a good team spirit at the club." United proved it by overcoming Olympiakos at Old Trafford in the return leg thanks to a van Persie hat-trick, before crashing out in the quarter-final stage to holders Bayern Munich. Fahad and his fellow United fans suffered a further blow this week when United lost 2-0 to Moyes' old club Everton, who are hoping to grab a top four spot at the end of the season and Champions League football instead of United. As GulfWeekly went to press, there was speculation in the UK media that Moyes was facing the axe. (c) 2014 Al Hilal Publishing & Marketing Group Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |