Ochirvaani Batbold, 26, a Mongolian Manchester United fan, was present at the dramatic FA Cup semi-final on April 21 at Wembley.
His method of travel was different from most of the 83,672 people who showed up there. He cycled from Mongolia, a distance of nearly 9,250km.
To complete that journey, the Mongolian guy had to cycle for 11 months. He started his journey on May 5, 2023 and attracted the attention of "Red Devils" fans, the online community in general as well as the media.
Over the past 11 months, he has traveled to more than 10 countries, including China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France and finally the UK.
Ochiro (Ochirvaani's nickname) had originally planned to travel to Manchester in December 2023, but a number of setbacks prevented him from making the trip. The passionate fan finally made it to his destination in April this year.
Ochiro loved football since he was a child, his favorite club was Manchester United, and his favorite player was Wayne Rooney. He wanted to become a professional football player, but he didn't have the ability. However, he is still a passionate football fan.
The first and possibly only match that Ochiro saw Manchester United play in person was the FA Cup semi-final on April 21.
This event is considered the most important match of the club's season so far. Because this is the last chance for them to be able to lift a title this season.
The match was full of drama, when the "Red Devils" led 3-0 then let the opponent equalize 3-3. They even conceded a goal in the last minutes of the second extra time. However, luck smiled on them when VAR determined the opponent player was offside. In the end, Manchester United won the psychological penalty shootout.
After this match, the "Red Devils" fans present at Wembley Stadium will surely find it difficult to feel secure about the final. They had to witness their team almost throw away a victory against an opponent ranked 20 places below them in the current overall rankings (7th in the Premier League compared to 8th in the English First Division). As for Ochiro, perhaps this was the most emotional match he has received.
After watching the match, Ochiro will probably visit Old Trafford - the home of MU - before returning to Mongolia. With the help of journalists and fans who have followed his challenging journey for the past 11 months, Ochiro will probably choose to fly instead of returning to the old route.
TB (according to Tuoi Tre)Source
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