Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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

15 comments:

Tukang Urut said...

Tahniah kpd anak-anak Malaysia yang mampu mencipta nama di pentas antarabangsa itu walaupun di luar padang.

Kalau nak harapkan anak Malaysia beraksi dalam padang, entah le bila....

Insya Alllah Subkhiddin mungkin dapat beraksi dalam padang pada world Cup kelak.


Tukang Urut
Kg. Pisang

Anonymous said...

Umbrella carrier or ball carrier? hahaha
All hail the new Malay Mail Sports Editor and SAM deputy president

The Mole

kajang-today said...

it's water carrier like your beloved Frenchman Didier Deschamps being described by enfant terrible Eric Cantona!!!!

Ali Cafe said...

rizal will be the new sports editor with maybe one or no reporters under him..that's going to be fun..hahahahaha

Unknown said...

The picture & scenario in the train looks familiar..wonder who else in that train 7 where were they from?

teachuhman said...

Rizal

Like I always said before, our officials have been there and will continue to be there by virtue of their excellent performance.
Sad to say, I do not believe our team will be anywhere near there other than the spectators box in the immediate future.
The way things are going , I think it will be a long time or maybe I may never get to see them perform in any such prestigious stage at all.
Kudos to our men in the international scene who are the pride of our nation. They prove "Malaysia Boleh" without shouting , carrying banners or wearing headbands. These are men of substance who unfortunately do not receive the credit due.
Our hearts and prayers are with them and I hope more will join them too. Let us also include a silent prayer for our national team and hope they too will somehow find form and perform. I guess that's about all we can do for them now.
God help Rajagopal and his men.

Anonymous said...

welcome to the team.

for the game. for the world.

mamak putih said...

while teams have to go through the world cup qualifiers, etc... rizal has certainly place himself for a place in next years' world cup...only later to be known in what status... lu memamg pandai cari makan...

mamak putih said...

continue.... according to sources, loose cannon could be the first msian to be confirm of his hotel room and tickets for the world cup next year... but he is keeping it close to his heart...

rizal hashim said...

Kajang-today, despite Cantona's genius, Deschamps won the whole works - Serie A, UEFA Champions League with Juve, the World Cup'98 and Euro 2000. Cantona? Apart from the nothing to shout about English Premiership, ada lainkah? Ilek...I think a lot of people underestimated Deschamps' technical ability. Though he may have lacked Cantona's technical mastery of the ball, Deschamps could deliver a pin-point pass over 50m after breaking up or intercepting an opponent's move, which was his forte. Above all, he was a true leader of men, whereas Cantona was an individual who led by merely being himself!

rizal hashim said...

Muhammad Hakimi,

I think the picture must have been taken by Zainal Abidin Rawop, who was also part of the delegation to study the Japanese development model in 1999.

rizal hashim said...

Teachuhman, a silent prayer for us all and Rajagobal and his merry men...

teachuhman said...

Rizal

Carrying umbrellas heh, after giving it much thought, realised that it is really quite true that you can go places by just doing a lot of 'carrying'.
I mean like being the kit man, carrying your own weight, carrying the burden of responsibility, carrying out your duty and so on...hmmm any other 'carrying' possible?
In your case... I must say you do carry the stories well.
Keep it up
Yes Deschamps is greater than Cantona

Anonymous said...

RIZAL THE UMBRELLA CARRIER @ HISAP MAN

bRO LAMA TAK DENGAR CERITA

HARIOUS

Anonymous said...

I'll go for Deschamps anytime, any club & anywhere. Cantona who??