Malaysia Open part of ATP tour

From left Mandarin Oriental general manager Jonas Schuermann, deputy Sports Minister, Wee Jack Seng, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datin Paduka Rosmah Mansor, IMG Asia tennis chief, Nick Freyer and LTAM president, Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff

Now, the ball's ultimate destination is...

Tennis fans, make a date at Putra Stadium on Sept 28-Oct 4 for the Malaysia Open is now part of the ATP calendar. As I write this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is at the main table about to officially launch the tournament which offers a total cash prize money of US$960,000. Expected to feature are David Ferrer, Kei Nishikori, Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando Verdasco.

Updated - Najib was given a note prior to his speech that French Open runner-up Robin Soderling has confirmed his participation.

My only question to our beloved Prime Minister and my fellow Johannian, is why is tennis not part of the Malaysia Games or popularly known as Sukma in Malacca next year?

Updated - The PM did answer this from a question by Malay Mail's Haresh Deol: "We are going to review this." The Cabinet Committee on Sports Development, which may be chaired either by Najib or his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, may well put this on the agenda when they convene next.

Kenangan di Chiangmai

Empat serangkai, four musketeers le...

Lukman, loose cannon, Hishamuddin dan Rosli

"Sekarang, kita kena buat keputusan...siapa nak duduk sebilik dengan bos! Kaulah Lukman, kau hisap rokok, macam dia," aku dan Wak Jawa bersependapat.

"Aku dengan Wak tak hisap rokok, lagipun kitaorang bukan jenis bodek bos, hahahaha" gurauan kasar aku disambut dengan senyuman daripada Lukman. Dia sedar tak guna lawan cakap aku dan Wak Jawa yang memang dari awal nak pekenakan dia.

Beberapa hari kemudian, aku dan Wak Jawa sedar Lukman "happy" semacam.

"Eh, bukan main lagi kau dengan bos...aku dengar kau teman dia makan sampai dua tiga pagi, main snooker...wah bagus lah! Appraisal up lagi..." aku perli Lukman.

"Hah itulah, kau orang jugak suruh aku tidur sebilik dengan dia. Aku nak ozom kau tak nak," Lukman memulang paku buah keras!

Hishamuddin Aun belum bergelar Datuk ketika itu. Pada 1995, apabila dia, Lukman, Wak Jawa (Rosli Rahmat, jurugambar) dan aku ditugaskan membuat liputan Sukan SEA di Chiangmai, dia sports editor Berita Harian.

Beg ini muat untuk loose cannon dan konco-konconya

Setiba di bandar di utara Thailand itu, Hishamuddin yang kini menghitung hari-hari terakhir selaku the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Group Editor in Chief, berpesan ringkas: "Di sini, I'm your colleague. We work together as a team. Tidak ada bos, tidak ada anak buah."

Chiangmai tidak mungkin aku lupakan kerana itulah assignment terakhir aku di meja sukan Berita Harian. Beberapa minggu terdahulu, aku menerima surat pertukaran ke meja berita.

Menurut Hishamuddin, dia tidak tahu-menahu mengenai pertukaran aku.

"I was not consulted," katanya. Aku pula hairan kerana baru setahun jagung di meja sukan dan menikmati beban dan tanggungjawab selaku penulis bola sepak yang digalas bersama Ahmad Khawari Isa, musuh ketat aku ketika itu.

Sehingga kini aku percaya Khawari adalah Hishamuddin's blue-eyed boy, agaknya disebabkan mereka sama-sama datang dari Perak.

Di Chiangmai, aku melihat dengan lebih dekat etika kerja Hishamuddin, pendek kata par excellence. Kawan-kawan dari akhbar lain yang membuat liputan di Chiangmai memberitahu aku "bos kau tu sambil naik tuk-tuk boleh buat story." Ingat, ini zaman sebelum wikipedia, google dan wi-fi! Ini zaman kalau nak hantar story kena dial connection...603-2823604.

Aku pergi lebih awal disebabkan jadual bola sepak yang lazimnya bermula sebelum perasmian temasya. Malaysia tewas kepada Vietnam 2-0 tetapi kemudian seri 0-0 dengan tuan rumah Thailand yang diperkuatkan oleh playmaker licik Tawan Sripan dan penyerang hebatnya, Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang.

Hishamuddin hanya tiba beberapa hari kemudian dan sebagai anak buah yang respectful of the boss, sudah tentu memberi laluan kepada bos meliput perlawanan terakhir Malaysia menentang Indonesia.

Lagipun umum tidak dapat menidakkan hakikat Hishamuddin antara penulis bola sepak tersohor seangkatan dengan Fauzi Omar (kini Datuk) dan Lazarus Rokk di New Straits Times.

Anak didik Claude Le Roy tewas 3-0. Hishamuddin tidak berselindung dalam mengkritik Le Roy. Sebulan kemudian Le Roy membulat tekad meninggalkan Kuala Lumpur, manakala aku memulakan hidup baru di meja berita Berita Harian di bawah kendalian Ibrahim Yahaya, kini Datuk yang mengetuai RTM!

Di Chiangmai, Lukman dan aku diberi kebebasan menulis dan mengkritik namun pada dasarnya kami buat straightforward reporting tetapi menerusi gaya intro yang pelbagai.

Ini kerana apabila Hishamuddin menggantikan Mohd Zian Johari selaku sports editor pada 1 April 1994, dia melakukan satu revolusi kecil.

Dia gemar chop and change story kami. Sesetengah daripada rakan-rakan aku tidak puas hati. Apa tidaknya, hampir 100 peratus tulisan diubah dengan sentuhan Hishamuddin. Kesudahannya, dia menjelaskan sebabnya.

"We have to think ahead of the rest. Zaman straightforward reporting dah berlalu. Kita tidak mahu baca Selangor menewaskan Pahang 2-0 lagi. Intro harus berbeza, lebih kreatif dan mesti beat angle Malay Mail," Hishamuddin memberi arahan kepada anak-anak buahnya. Mendengar dengan tekun dua penolongnya, A Ghafar Ismail (kini Pengarang Eksekutif Harian Metro) dan Badrulhisham Othman (sekarang Ketua Penyunting Berita Harian).

Loose cannon dan bekas wartawan New Straits Times, Dan Guen Chin, dihambat waktu memikirkan intro di pusat media di Chiangmai. Fikiran aku juga diasak persoalan sama ada artikel 10 perenggan aku akan dicincang oleh Hishamuddin atau tidak.

Di bawah Hishamuddin, memang banyak yang aku dan rakan-rakan lain pelajari, khususnya dari segi penulisan. Dia banyak memberi peluang aku mengutip pengalaman berharga, dengan mengirim aku ke Piala Thomas 1994 di Jakarta, Kejohanan Jemputan Bawah 21 Toulon, Perancis pada Jun 1995 dan Sukan SEA di Chiangmai.

Di Chiangmai, Hishamuddin tidak perlu bersusah-payah meng-edit story kami. Aku sudahpun memahami kehendaknya sambil menulis mengikut citarasa Hishamuddin. Aku terkenang ketika aku menghulurkan laptop untuk reviu yang aku nukilkan pada penghujung temasya di Chiangmai, Hishamuddin memberi lampu hijau dan sekadar menambah dua perenggan terakhir.

Bersambung...bagaimana aku dilabel sebagai orang Zian Johari.

Flip-flop FAM

Tony Mariadass, my ex-boss, represented St Johns in inter-school and inter-district tournaments, became a journalist specialising in football and bowling and later managed the Malay Mail football team. So he is in a position to comment on the FA of Malaysia's flip-flop tendencies. Read here. Similarly Christopher Raj has an intimate knowledge of the game as he was once attached to the FAM as a media officer, went on to become a stringer at Malay Mail before broadening his horizons as a regional media officer. Echoing TonyM's sentiments, Chris scoffed at FAM's suggestions to review the format of the league yet again here.

Coaching Latifah

At one point, Datin Latifah Sidek, was about to call it quits and surrender her fate to God.

There were severe complications following a second surgery for her kidney transplant in China in April.

She was nursed back to health thanks largely to the love, care, attention and some form of psychological coaching from her husband, badminton legend Datuk Misbun Sidek.

"At that point of time, I felt she was about to give up the battle," said Misbun.

"She refused to take her medicines, did not bother to speak to the kids and was ready to throw in the towel.

"Like a coach having to coax and cajole his protege, I told her "I'm going back, if you want to follow me, come. If not you can stay." Thankfully she responded positively."

Misbun recalled following the second surgery, doctors too had given Latifah little chance of survival.

"We were taken through a journey that took 12 hours to reach Guangzhou by ambulance. Upon arrival, she suddenly showed signs of recovery," said Misbun after a visit by Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek a short while ago. Also present were National Sports Institute (ISN) director-general, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz, BA of Malaysia (BAM) secretary, Ganga Rao, BAM general manager, Kenny Goh and Misbun's younger brother, Jalani, who lives next door.

Ahmad Shabery makes a point, with (from left) Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz, Latifah, Misbun, Ganga Rao and Jalani listening intently

Latifah's favourite dish is her husband's telur tomato (omelette with tomatoes)

True to form, Misbun's backyard has a badminton court. An indoor badminton court is in the pipeline, budget permitting, in his attempt to re-create the Kanchung Darat, Banting, effect which nurtured the Sidek clan.

Misbun with blogger asampedas

In between keeping vigil and providing moral support for Latifah, Misbun took time to cook. Armed with a portable stove which is a compulsory tool each time he goes overseas, cooking provided a welcomed relief for Misbun.

"It was in the toilet, of all place, that I cooked telur tomato, which is now her favourite dish," said Misbun.

When they came back last week, their kids gave them a surprise welcome.

"It was like a surprise party for us," said Misbun.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei's victory over Taufik Hidayat in the recent Indonesian Open too gave Misbun and the rest of the country, something to celebrate, though I must say Chong Wei must start winning the major ones.

FAM Con-gress

FA of Malaysia's annual congress on Sunday is set to be smooth-sailing and little to write about. Even if president Sultan Ahmad Shah takes the affiliates to task for what has been generally perceived as poor management on the part of a number of State FAs.

On the agenda is the amendments made to the FAM constitution, which will be known as FAM Statutes, pertaining to the abolishment of the Council and be replaced by an executive committee comprising purely elected members.

Jo's big day

"Hey, TJ, I've got a backpage story for Sunday Mail for you to work with," I told TJ Khoo, our sub at the sports desk. The norm then was to submit our stories for the now defunct Sunday paper either late Friday or early the next day.

"By the time you reach the office tomorrow, you can read it in the system," I told the former Sun sports editor enthusiastically. I was making the phone call from Athens, Greece, as I was covering the Olympic Games at its birthplace.

The reason for my enthusiasm then was our musically-inclined speed merchant, Josiah Ng. I wrote a preview-cum-profile of the Manila-born rider ahead of his highly anticipated Olympic debut at the age of 24, telling the readers of his parents' objection of his passion towards cycling because they wanted him to join them in the healthcare industry, the accident in Aigle weeks before Athens, and his love for violins and gadgets. He eventually finished fifth in the keirin event, the closest ever for a Malaysian to the Olympic medal in a sport other than badminton!

Backpage of Sunday Mail, Aug 22, 2004

Arguably the man who injected renewed vigour into track cycling that resulted in the emergence of a pool of sprinters, Josiah is tying the knot next week.

Jo's wedding invitation card

Read here, here and here .

Josiah and I spoke about Aigle, Fred Magne, Mark Whitehead, Shane Kelly and a host of other things...as a result, I wrote this article after the race

Hamdan Saaid, then with Bernama, with loose cannon minutes before the keirin final at the velodrome in Maroussi, Athens.

Josiah (right) in the adrenaline-pumping race of his life, with eventual bronze medallist Shane Kelly while Mickael Bourgain curses his luck

Netball on TV

Netball on mainstream TV? True...the 9th Asian Championship clash between hosts Malaysia and India was shown live over TV1 around 5.0pm. Kudos to RTM, for the netball administrators have long suffered in silence over the lack of media attention. It was funny though, listening to football commentator Zainal Abidin Rawop describing the moves made by our girls as they thrashed India 75-18. Read here. More than 12 hours earlier, TV1 showed the European Under-21 football match between Germany and Finland. Not bad, RTM. Too bad it clashed with Italy's 1-0 defeat to Egypt in the Confederations Cup.

Aid for Pak Alwi

Pak Alwi Ahmad's sheer upper body strength enables him to carry Choy Mow Thim over his shoulders all those years ago. Mow Thim finished second in the 200km road race in the 1965 SEAP Games. Picture by Lim Ghee Haw (NSTP Resource Centre).

Today, Pak Alwi is bed-ridden. Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, paid him a visit on Thursday. Pic courtesy of blogger asampedas.

Our prayers are with Pak Alwi. His son Rosman was one of cycling's icons in the early 1980s. Read here and here. Pak Alwi's Alfa GTA still lingers on my mind. Read here

Reality TV to tap talent

KidSoccer and Cari Jaguh for badminton - these are the two reality TV shows being lined-up to satiate our thirst in tapping talent at grassroot level. The Sports Ministry and Media Prima are currently on the negotiating table to have the two programs shown by October.

I was a member of the panel of judges tasked to pick the best player in each position for Tv3's SoccerKids program last year. Read here and one of those who shone on that day was R. Dhaanushan who also participated in TV2's recent series, SoccerStars, which offered a brief attachment at Chelsea for the winner of the grand prize. Read about Dhaanushan here.

Takziah buat Khawari

Izinkan aku menghulurkan salam takziah kepada bekas rakan seperjuangan di Berita Harian, Ahmad Khawari Isa, atas pemergian bapanya, hanya beberapa hari sebelum kita menyambut Hari Bapa. Ku doakan agar roh bapanya ditempatkan di kalangan para solihin, terlepas daripada seksa kubur dan dianugerahi taman syurga. Al-Fatihah.

Lapang sasar buat pelancong, kata Tun M

Klik di sini mengenai cadangan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad agar Lapangan Sasar Antarabangsa Langkawi (LISRAM) dijadikan tempat pelancong berjinak-jinak dengan sukan ini. Tidaklah LISRAM menjadi gajah putih yang menjadi tuan rumah sekali sekala.

Four minutes of pleasure

Please spare four minutes of your time and click Bolatoday, noktahhitam, Harimau Malaya and
youtube. Though some suggest US-based Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as a potential Mokhtar Dahari in the making, one glance would tell you he's very much similar, in terms of size and technical skills, to Wong Choon Wah, the nation's foremost left-footed playmaker who saw action in the Munich Olympics in 1972.

Barely 11, Wan Kuzain has been labelled as the star from MidWest. Born and bred in Illinois, he currently plays as a striker and attacking midfielder for SISC/Force soccer club, where he is the club's all time leading goal scorer. Kuzain is considered one of the most skillful, creative and dynamic attacking players in his club.

While it's still premature to label him as the answer to our woes, FA of Malaysia and the other relevant stakeholders must keep tabs on him. I think we have to work out a mechanism which will allow Wan Kuzain to pursue his career overseas and recalled for national duty as and when required.

Also our authorities must speak to parents of Yokohama FC's Tam Sheang Tsung to find out whether or not he intends to come back and wear the yellow jersey one day. Read here. It's obvious if he does make the grade as a pro, Sheang Tsung may have the option of playing for his adopted country.

YAKEB is for athletes

The New Straits Times caption reads - YAKEB patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (centre) launches the “1Ringgit 1Malaysia” campaign at Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama yesterday. Also present (from left): Gp MTB 1 Express CEO Datuk Zulkifli Amin Mamat, YAKEB executive chairman Datuk Mumtaz Jaffar, Deputy Sports Minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim, The Group CEO of Television Networks and Media Prima Bhd International, Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, Media Prima Bhd executive chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar, NSTP Bhd CEO Datuk Anthony Firdauz Bujang and members of YAKEB. — Pic: Abdullah Yusof. It would have been more meaningful if the names of the ex-athletes (in white t-shirt) were mentioned as well, such as former cyclist-turned-administrator, Shahruddin Jaafar (kneeling on Rosmah's right), P. Mariappan (on wheelchair), former national bowler Allan Lee who is an avid follower of the international football scene, N.A. Rosli (fourth from right) who had the distinction of representing Malaysia in cycling and race walking and ex-cyclist, Ng Joo Pong. But I guess the VIPs take precedent, lah.

The return of Malaysian footballing exiles

Haziq Zikri Elias plays for Stevenage

Is it Izzat? Yup, that's him alright, the one on the left. He has impressed the Chelsea coaches but problem is, he's coming back to Malaysia...Pic NST

Six-year old Muhammad Izzat Daniel, as reported by Zaharah Othman in the New Straits Times here, has probably the talent to hack it as a football pro.

Problem is, he's returning to Malaysia for good and chances are, his potential may not be realised due to the domestic environment which does little to encourage excellence, unless there is a concerted effort by the relevant stakeholders to help him attend the Chelsea academy in August.

There's someone on the horizons though. Haziq Zikri Elias is returning from his English exile to answer the call-up from Harimau Muda chief coach, Ong Kim Swee. He's expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Zikri has been playing in England since 1997 and is currently on Stevenage Borough FC's books in the Football Conference Youth League.

Discovered by Robert Alberts and Kim Swee while on tour in Brickendonbury and later Slovakia two years ago, Zikri will be out to stamp his mark. He and four other 18-year olds, D. Saarvindran, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Mohd Fakhururazi Musa and Mohd Khairul Izzuwan Rosli, have been called up to beef up Kim Swee's training squad.

Zikri had been back before when his offensive skills in the later stages of the tournament helped Kim Swee's Under-17 squad lift the Youth Cup (Piala Belia) in 2007.

Our trio in South Africa

The Condeferations Cup is traditionally treated as the dress rehearsal for the real thing, the World Cup. The three Malaysians heavily involved behind the scenes in the ongoing tournament are most likely to make it to the World Cup finals next year.

Windsor John, as pointed out by jaihomalaysia.blogspot.com, is certain to be there again in 2010 as chief general co-ordinator. He's currently in South Africa as the supremo, where his report to FIFA will determine whether the Bafana Bafana is ready to stage the biggest show on earth next year.

By virtue of being a member of the elite FIFA Stadium and Security Committee, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan is one of the security officers, while Dr Gurcharan Singh is a regular member of the medical team at FIFA tournaments. The group could have been bigger by one if only Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh is there as one of the referees.

Windsor, then team administrator of the Olympic team helmed by Claude Le Roy, and loose cannon with Arc de Trimpohe as the backdrop in June 1995. I showed him around gay Paree...

Windsor, FIFA development officer for Asia, at his office in PJ, 2009. He'll be able to tell you the routine footballers like Zidane or Roberto Carlos go through in the dressing rooms.

Dell (left), loose cannon and the late Datuk Paduka Ahmad Basri Mohd Akil travelling by train in Japan a decade ago. Notice despite being accused of having an ego the size of a shopping complex, loose cannon acts as the umbrella-carrier

Hit the road Joe, says OCM

Former Utusan Malaysia sports editor-turned-blogger Joe Marcose who works part-time as the media officer at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), has been told that he is surplus to requirements. Joe's last day is supposed to be on July 15 but he is at liberty to leave sooner. I wonder whether or not he has been made a scapegoat by certain sections of OCM in the wake of the recent elections. Curiously the love letter issued to Joe came two weeks after his posting here.

SAM - Saya Anak Malaysia

Datuk Lee Chong Wei being bestowed the SAM Award on Friday night did not come as a surprise. It will be a surprise though if Abu Bakar Atan is re-elected as the SAM president in the elections in July. SAM by the way stands for Sportswriters Association of Malaysia, please excuse the heading.

The SAM awards night on Friday may well be Bakar's (second from left) final public appearance as the president. The TV3 presenter could be on his way out unless he strikes a compromise with his would be challenger in the upcoming SAM elections in July. And if that happens, it goes against the members' wishes. Pic courtesy of Arnaz M Khairul's facebook, without permission.

Berita Harian's Ahmad Khawari Isa is seen here with French legend and UEFA president, Michel Platini, pic courtesy loose cannon. Perhaps Khawari can shed some light on the elections.

From Wisma OCM to the IOC

Now that the dust of the elections has settled, Olympic Council of Malaysia's chiefs Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, Datuk Abdullah Sani Karim and Low Beng Choo depart for Lausanne today to lobby for their non-Olympic sports to be included in the 2016 Games.

Tunku Imran and Sani will be lobbying for squash, whereas Beng Choo is garnering support for softball to be reinstated.

Softball is competing not only against squash but also baseball, golf, karate, roller sports and rugby sevens for a maximum of two spots on the 2016 Games program. The IOC fat cats, however, can choose to deny entry to all seven. The Executive Board will create a two-sport shortlist in August before it goes to a full member vote in Copenhagen in October.

In 2005 squash received the highest number of votes among new sports (softball was seeking reinstatement) but failed to receive the minimum required to be added to the program.

Golf, with Europe Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie leading its bid, and rugby sevens, are widely seen as the two front-runners.

Lobbyists for squash claim cost-effective venues also play a part. Squash's ability to use minimal space and infrastructure is certainly an advantage and the thought of a glasscourt being placed in a location in one of the winning 2016 bid cities - Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo - is appealing. If that happens, Nicol David stands the brightest chance of becoming the country's first Olympic gold medallist!

Oh, by the way, OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi may have landed himself into trouble after launching a scathing attack on the losers in the recent elections.

In his weekly report, Kok Chi said the fact that the incumbent office bearers and Sani Karim were returned, was based on their good track records, honesty, integrity and dedication. On the other hand, the candidates who challenged the incumbents, were incompatible to their call for change, as almost all the candidates who challenged the incumbents have served and held high and senior positions in sports organizations, but have failed to contribute any or minimum benefits to sports development or the organizations they served.

Does that mean hockey's M.P. Haridas and fencing's Latifah Ya'cob had done nothing to contribute to their respective sports?

GM Mike

Former national defender Maninderjit Singh, known as Mike within the hockey circles, is poised to be made the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) general manager, according to S.S Dhaliwal here. Earlier this week, Mike made available to the Press his thoughts on Asian hockey and its standing in the eyes of the world. To understand Mike's psyche, read Gandhi's blog here.

Galacticos part deux or Pateticos?

I have a feeling Galacticos mark II will not satisfy the Madridistas and Madrilenos who are so accustomed to watching a dazzling collection of megastars winning by playing entertaining football.

Great books for purists but too intellectual and heavy for the average ManYoo and Liverpool fan

Battlestar Galacticos II, returning with a vengeance, SO FOOT, May 2009, courtesy of Azam and Risya from their trip to Paris

Who is the better player, the one holding the shirt, the most expensive in the history of the game until Cristiano Ronaldo came along, or the one on the right, whom many claim to be the greatest ever?

Can he emulate Zidane and di Stefano?

Sure Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two of the best offensive midfielders around, and if Franck Ribery is bound for Madrid as widely reported, they will form an awesome triumvirate but with Fabio Cannavaro past his peak and no sound defensive system and machine-like individuals to carry the piano for all the pianists, Real Madrid may not be so Royal come the new season. The team lack the balance compared to treble champions from another country, Barca of Catalonia.

Florentino Perez took four seasons to assemble the Galacticos, beginning with Luis Figo in 2001, subsequently followed by Zidane, Ronaldo and Becks. Even then by their high standards, Real were a team to reckon with, having won the UEFA Champions League in 1998 and 2000.

In Roberto Carlos, Michel Salgado and Guti, Real had the artisans to support the artists who were on top of their game. The UEFA Champions League title in 2002 was the zenith for Perez and Co.

When Makelele left in 2003, the team lost its most crucial member whose job was to sweep their troubles away. Ronaldo the Phenom and Beckham added a different dimension to the team but Makelele proved irreplaceable. Who would win the ball for Zidane to supply the ammunition to?

And so it marked the beginning of the end for Perez's dream team in terms of winning honours.

I don't see Gago, Higuain, Marcelo, Mamadou Diarra, Huntelaar, Robben, Sneijder, van der Vaart (if the Dutch duo do not go to Bayern Munich), Kaka and Ronaldo gelling immediately. They will be an exciting ensemble of stars to watch but Barca, with the two initiators Xavi and Iniesta dictating the tempo in the middle of the park , remain the side to beat. They have players with character and the winning mentality that Real lack, I must say. And unlike Real, Barca have an established starting line-up with specific duties, like Messi and Henry flanking Eto'o while Toure does the dirty work in midfield.

By tradition Real are expected not only to dominate La Liga but also the Champions League. There will be pockets of sheer magic here and there but eventually the White Angels assembled for a second time by Perez may have feet of clay!

Top manager

Guess who is among the top 20 managers from the civil sector over the years?

A must have book

Not so expensive

To be mentioned in the same breath as Tan Sri Abdul Jamil Rais, Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, Tan Sri Hashim Aman, Tan Sri Ishak Tadin, Raja Tan Sri Muhammad Alias, Tan Sri Zain Azraai Zainal Abidin, Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali and Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is indeed a recognition for Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, National Sports Council (NSC)'s longest-serving director-general who retired in 2005.

Under the series Siri Tokoh Malaysia (Malaysia's Eminent Figures), a documentation of several high-profile leaders in various fields, Medium Publications saw it fit to include Malaccan-born Mazlan as one of the country's top managers in the civil service. I chanced upon the book yesterday at MPH, after a fruitful meeting with Anwardi "Abang Didi" Jamil.

Funny though a certain politician did not think too highly of Mazlan and in fact went to great lengths to tarnish his reputation. INGAT, we are all answerable to God!

Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek too seems disinterested in fully tapping into Mazlan's experience and way of thinking. Well perhaps Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin will.

Excerpts from the book: -

"Pintu pejabatnya sentiasa terbuka kepada wartawan" kata Awang Selamat dalam kolum Utusan Malaysia.

"Pada peringkat sekolah rendah, Mazlan pernah berjalan kaki sejauh lima kilometer setiap hari sambil menggalas beg berisi buku. Sebelah tangan lagi menjinjing bungkusan berisi nasi lemak yang dijual kepada rakan-rakan dengan harga lima sen sebungkus"

"Apa yang ketara di MSN ialah budaya kerja yang amat berbeza kerana kami menitikberatkan keputusan. Adalah biasa bagi kakitangan kami melaporkan diri di pejabat seawal 7.15 pagi dan ada di kalangan mereka pulang jam 9.00 malam," katanya kepada media.

1Malaysia...

The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia circa 1970

The national football team in the 70s

The Olympic Council of Malaysia, or Federation of Malaya Olympic Council (FMOC) as it was known prior to 1963

Again the national football team in the 1970s

The OCM chieftains

Sports is a unifying force that creates a giant impact on society. Sports reflects upon our society in so many different and unique ways. Sports embodies the 1Malaysia concept. Malaysia Boleh!

Mabuk kepayang

Bagaimanakah agaknya seorang bekas pemain yang cukup berdisiplin tinggi, komited, hebat dan berketokohan seperti Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin berdepan dengan cabaran-cabaran sebegini? Bacalah di sini. Gelagat pemain atau pegawai mabuk ketika pulang ke asrama Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) bukan perkara baru. Agaknya harus diwujudkan peraturan "curfew".

MyTeam, whose team...

End of the road for MyTeam? Kesian...Please read here. Shall I take you down memory lane, to May 29, 2006, when YB Khairy Jamaluddin made the phone call to the NSTP top bosses for allowing Rizal Hashim so much space in criticising MyTeam the reality show and the team? Well, credit to the bosses then for they simply laughed it off...If I'm not mistaken the major complaint was the heading lah...and I would not be surprised if at that time they questioned my audacity to write negatively on an event attended by Pak Lah...I know as the Prime Minister, Pak Lah had never been to an international football match before.

Sorry lah, crumpled...

As usual these itchy fingers of mine had to hog the keyboard to express my reservations when something new is introduced as a vehicle to promote one or two individuals. Granted the reality show succeeded in stirring some interest into football, with everybody at the mamak stalls being seduced by the idea of a bunch of wannabes beating the players developed by FA of Malaysia (in reality the players are all products of the States and clubs) and the trials of which speed was the main criterion, drew large crowds everywhere but in the end, the players selected for the reality show were those who failed to impress the M-League selectors or scouts!

Monday, May 29, 2006

Study the idea behind MyTeam's formation and I believe its noble intention was not only to create a larger pool of talent but its raison d'etre was to promote Khairy, with the full might of TV3 and Telekom Malaysia, of which I have been a user/customer since the days when one had only six numbers to dial (so I must have say...), behind it. Not forgetting Kalimullah Hassan's New Straits Times...oh you should see the depths Harian Metro would go to just to please the Prime Minister's son-in-law! FAM had to give in and allow the exhibition match to take place while MyTeam even went to Old Trafford to polish their shooting boots and gain some pointers on how to beat the Malaysian side.

Now tell me how many from the team really made the cut? If MyTeam had real faith in the concept, why did the management take over the UPB Plantations side and employ established players to play in the Premier League and the following season, the Super League?

The harsh reality is staring at our face - our football structure and the following/fan base are State-based. It's hard to see Kelantanese supporting Kelantan TNB when the better option is to go and watch the Kelantan State team!

When Selangor MPPJ reigned supreme with marksman extraordinaire Juan Manuel Arostegui demolishing all and sundry in 2003, was the PJ Stadium packed to the brim?

So for all future sons or sons-in-law of whoever our Prime Minister is, if you are interested in forming a football team kononnya untuk mengubah wajah bola sepak Malaysia, bacalah dulu sejarah dan lanskap bola sepak tempatan...kalau tidakpun, tanyalah pakar-pakar! Above all, respect people and accept criticism once you enter the world of sports!

Wenger's ways

UPDATED, June 10, 17.51.

There was a time when journalists looked forward to any event organised by Castrol. Credit must be given to the then Castrol PR Manager, Tan Cheng Looi, for keeping the Press happy not only in terms of the flow of information but also the due respect accorded to this bunch of underpaid journos.

Castrol was a major player in sports in the 90s, sponsoring the first local cycling pro outfit managed by 1991 Manila SEA Games bronze medallist, Wan Maizan Ahmad Radzi, Wan Zaleha's younger sister apart from investing heavily in motorsports.

The last time I dealt with Castrol was in 2003 when Real Madrid-bound David Beckham came to our shores. Almost 4,000 people came to see Beckham in the flesh at the KLBA Stadium in Cheras and the PC was fairly light-hearted but lasted, unfortunately for most present, less than 10 minutes. Beckham was introduced to the Press by the master of ceremony (a local PR guy who then had the gall to pose four questions himself and even answered on Beckham's behalf on a few occasions) as the world's greatest footballer, which drew an embarrassed look even from the former England captain.

Which brings us to the national Under-20 team's session with Arsenal supremo, Arsene Wenger at Dataran Merdeka on Tuesday. Apparently the NSTP group was not invited for the dinner the night before which was supposedly reserved for certain sections of the media.

I was told these days PR practicioners tend to be selective. Also during the meet the press session, I was told the media from Indonesia and Thailand, no doubt invited for the all-sponsored trip by Castrol, were given exclusive interviews with Le Professeur. Questions from the floor came mostly from Castrol people or the PR agency...it was bad PR, if you asked me!

Shabby treatment the local media is subjected to by the PR people is nothing new. We remain second class citizens in our own backyard.

In the case of Beckham's visit, the Press were asked by the PR people to send in questions and were reminded to follow certain "rules" imposed.

Among them, the media could not ask about his old club, his new club, his family and even his endorsement deals. Journalists were told to be there as early as 12.30pm even though the timing of Beckham's arrival was shrouded in mystery. Photographers could only take photos in the stadium if they accepted the "terms and conditions" that included not getting within 200 feet of the man. Well, what to do...

Original posting, Sunday June 7

Arsenal supremo Arsene Wenger will be making his way to Kuala Lumpur for the second time since 1999 with a coaching clinic and meet-the-fan session scheduled at Dataran Merdeka on Tuesday. Shortly after Arsenal's victory over Abdul Rahman Ibrahim's national outfit at the National Stadium over a decade ago, I tried to elicit a hearty response from the man from Alsace with this question: "Arsene, having worked with some of the best players in Europe like Klinsmann, Djorkaeff, Bergkamp, Overmars and Vieira, who do you think is the best among them?"
Typical of the Frenchman, he did not give a direct answer and simply said he has had the good fortune of working with great professionals.
Having transformed the Gunners into a respectable and championship-winning side from the days when they were tagged boring, boring, Arsenal, Wenger may need a new challenge. The 59-year old who arrived at Highbury in 1996 should broaden his horizons further.

Stimulate yourselves!

NSC director-general, Datuk Zolkples Embong, who underwent a triple bypass surgery last Saturday, has had to inherit a statutory body that owes NSAs money. This picture was taken Thursday night. Earlier Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin visited Zol and I'm certain the stadium laying in ruins at Gong Badak was a topic of conversation between them.

Malay Mail ran a good story on Thursday that not a single sen from the staggering RM210 million allocated to the Sports Ministry from the economic stimulus package would reach the high-performance sports family. Read here.

This is precisely the reason why I fought a certain politician's tendency to mess around with the National Sports Council's coffers not too long ago. The NSC, established under the NSC Act in 1971, can source for their own funds and is not entirely dependant on Government funding. Due to NSC's frugal policy, it had close to RM300 million in the bank up until 2005. But in recent years it has earned the dubious reputation of being profligate and financially reckless and extragavant. I shall continue this little bit of story soon by reminding politicians, past, present and future, of NSC's history.

Malaysian sports hit the roof!

Nice on paper

Nice in reality

Not so nice, yesterday...where has the roof gone?

It's OK, don't panic - there were no casualties.

It's OK, don't panic - the incident could have occurred during a football match or an opening ceremony witnessed by a 60,000-odd crowd but there was no such thing.

It's OK, don't panic - the authorities are investigating it.

It's OK, don't panic - no heads will roll.

It's OK, don't panic - this is nothing compared to Ibrox' 71, Heysel'85, Hillsborough'89, Bastia'92, Accra'2001 where human lives became collateral damage.

It's OK, don't panic - because disasters of this nature do occur elsewhere and they often claim innocent lives.

It's OK, don't panic - because from now onwards, all contractors, consultants, architects and civil engineers involved in a project of such nature may be encouraged to stay at the site upon completion for at least a year to show the world that the building is safe and secure!

Infos -

Client/Owner: Terengganu State Government
Architecture Firm: Senibahri Arkitek
Principal Architect: Ar. Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah
Project Architect: Badrul Hisham
Main Contractor (Main stadium): Bina Structur-Genggam Mercu-Emarcon JV
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers (Main stadium): Public Works Department, Terengganu
Civil & Structural Engineers (Main stadium): AZM Engineers- MA Consult-Protech Consultant consortium

Personally I liked the design of the main stadium, which is part of the impressive Terengganu Sports Complex which was first mooted by Wan Mokhtar Ahmad's Government in 1995 with an original cost of RM200 million.

The two sweeping crescent-shaped roofs with a three-dimensional star mounted on the smaller roof were inspired by the official flag of the State. I'm not qualified to comment on the structure but I believe the authorities would go to the bottom of this.

I think many of us have lost faith in the system and for the powers-that-be to restore a semblance of the credibility they once had, the investigation must be conducted in a transparent manner and the guilty party or parties, if there were any, be severely reprimanded. The public perception as of now is that a stadium built by using a substantial amount of the rakyat's money (or maybe oil royalty money) has bitten the dust. Money down the drainage system! I'm sure most of us hit the roof upon being told of this roof debacle.

No average Joe...

Former Utusan Malaysia sports editor Joe Marcose gives us some insight into the world of Malaysian sports at http://joemarcose.blogspot.com. He's no average Joe, mind you...when he's not running the media department of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), Father Joseph Marcose delivers sermons as a pastor in Shah Alam.

Interim measure

With Datuk Zolkples Embong having to undergo rehabilitation after a coronary bypass surgery on Saturday and is only expected to return to full recovery after three months, the National Sports Council (NSC) will need someone to take charge in the interim. The most senior officer after Zol is Ahmad Shapawi Ismail but he is away on sabbatical leave in Gloucestershire. So that leaves Jalil Abdullah as the most senior officer at the NSC.

Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek has a few options available - let the Secretary-General Datuk Yasin Salleh or his deputy to take charge as a stop-gap measure, appoint Jalil or the Ministry has someone qualified right under its noses, Sports Advisory Panel chairman, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, who ran the NSC like a tight ship for 12 years.

The need for a succession plan

Anak Malaysia (left) and loose cannon

Thong Poh Nyen served as secretary from 1961 to 1992

For many years I've posed Datuk Sieh Kok Chi the question of who is his anointed successor, and why has he not identify someone for him to groom to fill his big shoes.

The VI old boy, an engineer by profession, said when he became the OCM secretary in 1992, it was because he had familiarised himself with the way things were being done by Thong Poh Nyen, his predecessor who had headed the OCM secretariat for a record 31 years. In short he had the initiative to learn the ropes.

There were several names bandied about as potential OCM honorary secretary over the years, such as Low Beng Choo, Wong Ah Jit, Phua Tai Neng, T. Kumar and Ganga Rao. On Saturday though, shortly after the delegates voted in virtually the 2007-2009 line-up to run OCM for the next two years, Kok Chi responded to my question that among the names he had in mind was Datuk Naim Mohamad, MNCF deputy president. Naim calls himself anak malaysia in his blog http://datuknaim.blogspot.com. I was told he played a role in campaigning for the status quo and the secretary's post could be the reward come 2011.

"Even you, Rizal, you can come in and I can be your mentor," Kok Chi said.

While Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar claimed the OCM Cabinet were reflective of the 1Malaysia concept, it's timely for them to start scouting for talent among the younger set of officials among the NSAs who can one day occupy the seats at OCM just as the NSAs are pressured to keep on unearthing sporting talent.

Note: Though I'm all for freedom of expression, I notice some of the commenters resort to making derogatory remarks about certain individuals in OCM, some of whom have built a reputation locally and abroad and held in high esteem by the sporting circle. While I wish to encourage dissent and debate, it would be nice if everybody could kindly refrain from labelling others and instead put forward our arguments, thoughts or inside stories in a mature and intelligent manner. Comments that are in derogatory and defamatory in nature will be deleted. Sure sportsmen and sports officials are expected to practise sportsmanship and highly tolerant of criticisms but some of us do not deserved to be rubbished and their reputation tarnished just because of the OCM elections. Thank you.