Saturday, February 28, 2009

A commenter who calls himself freethinker posted the following comment (unedited) under the riff raff ref posting. I have taken the liberty to highlight it as food for thought.

Dear friends................After what I have read of all the comments that being written in this blog, I was so dissapointed and shame. Some of U are using peoples identity and nicknames to critisize things that we realy don't know what actually happened. Calm dowm, relax and be rational. Don't judge the book by its cover. From my point of view, FAM takde masaalah. Yang bermasaalahnya kita sendiri yang buat. Melalak tak tentu hala tuju. Let the own organisation handle themselve. Solve their own problems. They have lots of talented people are working own it. How to develope football in Malaysia. They have their own guidelines. They folowed the rules and guidelines which been given to them. They are experience and educated enough to handle. We as the public got no right to judge them. But we have the right to suggest but not critics what they have done to develope football in our country. Just because we loose to UAE last match, we start to critises them in an anger manner. Same goes to our referees department. As we know the department has done alot to develope our young referee. Lots of activities has been carryout. We have to admit that. Don't just because of personel interest we start to critics the department and individuals itself. Since those days, people like Dato' George, Late Nazri, Rodzali and all the committee members has done a lot to develope and upgrading the referees so that they will gain respect from other nations. We should thanks them and appreciate what they have done and volunteer themselves for the sake of football. So we should give them a clap rather than slapping them. After late Nazri left the department, move to AFC, Rodzali has carried out his duty well and excellence. To me he did not do anything wrong. Everything he did were agreed by the committee members. On attitude wise, everybody has their own behaviour and personality. If we think it is not nice or feel uncomfortable with his caracter, to me the best solution is to ignore it and think what he has done right. As far as we know he is still in the referree department in FAM and need to carryout his duty as a developer for the referrees. We knew Colonel Kamaruddin has joined FAM as the HOD in the referree department, we should support him also, so do Rodzali and the committee members. For Colonel, although you are well known and established, no doubt you have the experiences to head the department, but still you have to respect the guidelines, rules and regulations that being made to run the department. PLEASE SIT TOGETHER AND DISCUSS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND YOUR ASSISTANT (RODZALI). Don't leave him alone because I am sure he has all the ideas how to make things easier. I believe Rodzali has workout lots of things to develope the referees in future. Late Nazri has tought him alot and let him implement it for the benefit of others. We hope over lovely brother (Nazri) will rest in peace. Al-Fatihah.

Garis Tepi dalam Kosmo! hari ini

Jangan marah apabila membaca kolumku di Kosmo! Aku berusaha agar tidak "kurang ajar". Klik di sini. Juga baca sama ada FAM boleh pilih siapa yang kritik secara peribadi atau tidak di sini dan siapakah wartawan dalam bilik pada hari pertama Azzuddin Ahmad melapor diri di Wisma FAM di sini. New Straits Times too has a stinging comment piece here

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Reduan kena gantung setahun

UPDATED 7.0am, February 27.

Please click here for a very sarcastic piece by Berita Harian and here for a direct report and here for the invitation for a former national skipper and a former FIFA referee to attend the disciplinary hearing the next time around.


DIKEMAS KINI, 8.0pm, 26 Februari.

Reduan Abdullah digantung setahun berkuatkuasa serta-merta dan dikenakan denda RM4,000 kerana didapati bersalah mengkritik FAM. Dia diberi ruang mengemukakan rayuan terhadap penggantungan itu (bukan denda) dalam tempoh 14 hari.

Yang jatuh hukum bekas bek tengah kebangsaan, Kamaruddin Abdullah, yang juga seorang peguam. Setiausaha Agung Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad diarah keluar ketika jawatankuasa bersidang membuat keputusan petang tadi.

Kemungkinan besar naib pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil Datuk Soh Chin Aun dan ketua jabatan pengadil Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari dipanggil menghadap lembaga disiplin tidak lama lagi.

Kelakarnya, Chin Aun selaku pemangku pengerusi pun tidak boleh bercakap dengan media? Kena minta kebenaran Tuanku atau SMS urusetia dahulu? Nampaknya FAM sudah berlagak angkuh. Sedarlah wahai tetuan di FAM, bola sepak sukar dipasarkan sekarang. Ini bukan tindakan bijak.

FAM, FA Mengarut.

I was wrong. Instead of six months, Reduan Abdullah has been slapped with a one-year suspension with immediate effect. He has 14 days to lodge an appeal. I sense that this draconian act is a way of deterring stakeholders, particularly those connected to the league directly, from speaking to the Press. Perhaps I should lead a campaign for the Press to stop covering FAM! Another thing, acting chairman of the referee's committee, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, may also be summoned to face the disciplinary committee for his remarks made in Berita Harian. He was speaking in his capacity as the deputy chairman! If nobody is allowed to speak to the Press, let's boycott FAM!


Berhati-hati kalau menegur atau memberi buah fikiran membabitkan polisi Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM). Kalau anda jurulatih atau pegawai pasukan, penggantungan enam bulan hingga dua tahun secara automatik dikenakan jika didapati bersalah melanggar peraturan tatatertib FAM. Peraturan 18 melarang pemain atau pegawai membuat kenyataan akhbar sama ada melalui media massa atau elektronik tanpa kebenaran Persatuan.

Kesalahan 18.1 - Pemain digantung automatik tiga (3) bulan manakala Pegawai digantung automatik enam (6) bulan manakala Pasukan, Pegawai dan pemain (liga Super) dikenakan denda di antara RM1,000 dan RM8,000.

18.2 - Pemain atau Pegawai yang membuat kenyataan akhbar atau memberikan sumbangan kepada akhbar tanpa kebenaran Persatuan dan kenyataan tersebut adalah tidak tepat atau salah.

18.3 Pemain atau Pegawai yang membuat kenyataan akhbar atau memberikan sumbangan kepada akhbar mengenai pengurusan Persatuan tanpa kebenaran Persatuan atau kenyataan tersebut pada pendapat Jawatankuasa adalah mengaibkan, menghina, mengancam, menggugut atau mencemar imej Persatuan atau Pertandingan.

18.4 Pemain atau Pegawai yang membuat kenyataan akhbar atau memberikan sumbangan kepada akhbar tanpa kebenaran Persatuan atau kenyataan tersebut pada pendapat Jawatankuasa adalah untuk bermusuhan, mencemar atau memperlekehkan mana-mana Pegawai Persatuan.

Mangsa pertama peraturan yang kejam ini barangkali bekas pemain kebangsaan dan midfielder Selangor, Reduan Abdullah. Jurulatih Felda United itu dihadapkan ke Lembaga Disiplin FAM hari ini atas tuduhan membuat kenyataan akhbar

Kata-katanya terungkap dalam laporan Harian Metro pada 20 Februari lalu.

Dia dipetik sebagai berkata: "Mana dia pegawai FAM kerana badan induk kebangsaan itu sepatutnya memantau pelaksanaan ujian berkenaan. Apabila tiada pemantauan FAM, maka pemain yang gagal di dalam ujian itu tetap juga mendapat lesen untuk bermain."

"Semuanya diserah bulat-bulat kepada FA negeri atau kelab. Itulah sebabnya ada pasukan yang tetap meluluskan pemain mereka walaupun pada hakikatnya pemain itu gagal di dalam ujian. Perkara-perkara sebeginilah yang membuatkan imej bola sepak kita semakin lama semakin buruk."

Beliau yang juga bekas pemain kebangsaan itu berkata FAM juga tidak menetapkan tahap-tahap tertentu yang perlu dilepasi setiap pemain yang menjalani ujian yo-yo dan menyifatkan ia sebagai usaha yang sia-sia.

"Sepatutnya, FAM perlu menentukan apakah tahap yang perlu dilepasi setiap pemain yang menjalani ujian yo-yo dan bukannya mengarahkan FA negeri atau kelab mengadakan ujian itu tanpa sebarang pengawasan atau tahap tertentu.

"Kami di FA negeri atau kelab, tertanya-tanya perlukah kami mengadakan ujian ini jika ia tidak mendatangkan sebarang faedah kepada kami.

"Saya tidak menafikan ada pasukan negeri atau kelab yang sengaja meluluskan pemain kerana tetap mahu menggunakan khidmat pemain itu," katanya yang mewakili negara dari 1973 hingga 1978 itu.

Ini teguran yang membina, yang meminta FAM memantau ujian kecergasan sebelum mengeluarkan lesen pemain.

Keesokannya, Harian Metro mendapat ulasan setiausaha agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Lt Jen (B) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad.

BERANG apabila dianggap sebagai tidak bertanggungjawab, Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad semalam bingkas mempertahankan tindakan badan induk kebangsaan itu berhubung isu ujian yo-yo.

"Takkan semua benda kami perlu pantau. Persatuan bola sepak (FA) negeri atau kelab perlu sama-sama memikul tanggungjawab memastikan pemain mereka lulus ujian berkenaan tanpa ada sebarang masalah membabitkan ketelusan.

"Saya kecewa dan kesal apabila FAM dituduh sebagai tidak bertanggungjawab dan bersikap seolah-olah lepas tangan dalam hal ini. Bagi saya, tuduhan itu langsung tidak berasas kerana apa gunanya pengurusan di FA negeri dan kelab jika perkara kecil sekalipun tidak dapat diuruskan dengan baik," katanya.

Badan induk kebangsaan dengan kerjasama Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) menganjurkan kursus kepada semua jurulatih kecergasan untuk setiap pasukan Liga-M pada November 2006 dan dihadiri semua wakil pasukan yang bertanding.

Kursus yang digelar CPCS Tahap 1 memberikan maklumat yang tepat kepada semua jurulatih kecergasan mengenai tahap yang perlu dilepasi setiap pemain dan sekiranya ada pihak yang mendakwa FAM tidak menetapkan tahap itu, bermakna mereka tidak diberikan taklimat yang tepat oleh jurulatih kecergasan masing-masing.

"Saya ada bukti bertulis mengatakan kursus sedemikian pernah diadakan dan ia bertahan hingga hujung musim 2009. Hujung tahun ini, kami bercadang untuk mengadakan satu lagi kursus lanjutan.

"Untuk musim pertama pelaksanaan ujian yo-yo, beberapa wakil diketuai Pengarah Teknik ketika itu, Robert Alberts pergi melihat sendiri ujian yang dilakukan di negeri-negeri. Selepas itu, FAM menyerahkan kepada FA negeri dan kelab untuk meneruskannya.

"Sekiranya ada FA negeri atau kelab yang tidak telus ketika menjalankan ujian itu, bermakna mereka menipu pasukan dan FAM sendiri. Mereka perlu menanggung akibatnya," tegasnya
.

Baik jeneral, tapi bagaimana pula dengan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Perlis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim yang menegur FAM tempoh hari, atau Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari yang mengecam AJK pengadil FAM sendiri? Harap-harap tiada unsur double standard dalam hal ini.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Entah siapa yang kayu dalam isu ini...

UPDATED, 13.15pm, Feb 26.
Read New Straits Times' report here but to me, the referee committee blew their best chance to prove any wrongdoing on Kol Kamaruddin's part when they had the meeting on Tuesday. Now is the time to close ranks and let bygones be bygones, but should Kamaruddin fumble again big-time, heads will roll, surely.

DIKEMAS KINI 7.51pg, 26 Februari

Seorang pengadil veteran menggesa keluarga pengadil negara bersatu hati dan bekerjasama dengan ketua jabatan pengadil FAM, Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari.

"Berilah dia peluang. Diapun pengadil ternama dulu. Hentikanlah percakaran. Tidak payah menuding jari menyalahkan sesiapa, masing-masing ada kelemahan. Lebih baik kita bersatu dan membantu, sesiapa yang tidak ada kena-mengena dengan urusan kepengadilan digesa melepaskan tugas secara sukarela dan berhenti mencampuri urusan jabatan itu. Beri peluang kepada Kamaruddin sekurang-kurangnya satu penggal. Liga baru bermula tapi dia dah kena tembak. Dari dulu bukan ada unsur kronisme, tapi setiakawan. Kita tentunya beri tugas kepada kawan-kawan yang kita percaya, bukankah? Blog inipun usahlah mengapi-apikan lagi sentimen atau luahan rasa pengadil yang sekadar mencemar imej pengadil."

Agak-agak siapa yang "kayu" dalam isu ini, ketua jabatan pengadil FAM kah, bosnya kah, Berita Harian kah, ahli jawatankuasa pengadil kah, atau aku blogger yang pening ini kah? Layari di sini. Setahu aku penulis artikel ini bukan saja pernah menjadi pegawai media di FAM, bahkan seorang penyelaras gelanggang (venue co-ordinator) bertauliah dan sudah tentu memahami selok-belok pentadbiran mikro dan makro di FAM. Dia bahkan diasuh untuk mengambil alih kerusi empuk Datuk Yap Nyim Keong satu ketika dahulu. Takkan dia kayu kot? Atau ahli jawatankuasa antaranya Nik Ahmad Yaakub, Kassim Kadir Bacha, Che Mud Che Mat, Adnan Jamil dan bekas kapten Malaysia, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, "kayu" kerana tidak meletak jawatan kalau tidak setuju dengan karenah ketua jabatan? Setahu aku ketua jabatan FAM menjawab kepada jawatankuasa. Macam juga setiausaha agung menjawab kepada majlis dan exco. Atau barangkali setiausaha agung "kayu" kerana menidakkan teguran jawatankuasa sambil menegaskan kesilapan-kesilapan yang dilakukan pernah berlaku sebelum ini, termasuk ketika dia menjadi pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil dahulu sebelum dipecat tanpa dimaklumkan sekretariat FAM lalu digantikan Khairy Jamaluddin pada 2005? Kalau begitu, adakah setiausaha agung "encourages mediocrity" (maaf mengguna bahasa penjajah sekejap)?

Exclusive - Sathia speaks

Sathianathan and loose cannon

Love him or hate him, B. Sathianathan will go down the annals of Malaysian football for his famous, or infamous quote “M-League is not football” moments after his team were crushed 5-0 by the United Arab Emirates in the opening pre-Asian Cup clash in January. The Perak-born coach, certainly one of the most qualified coaches in the country based on his CV alone, shares his thoughts with the Loose Cannon.

Loose cannon: How are you, coach?

B. Sathianathan: I’m fine. As you know I’m on my way out.

LC: Do you think this was because of your outburst during the post-match Press conference or because of the team’s performance?

BS: I don’t know but maybe a combination of both factors. But I realised there has always been an attempt to get rid of me, even before the Suzuki Cup. Some suggest that I am an arrogant coach.

LC: Will your exit provide a solution to our ills?

BS: No, I don’t think so but in the event that my successor enjoys a greater degree of success, all the best but we must continue looking at the bigger picture and try to find a solution, the answers to our woes.

LC: What’s next?

BS: I’m mulling over a few options.

LC: I’ve clearly stated following the Suzuki Cup’s failure that you should have been sacked. FAM did not but waited for the outcome of the UAE match, where your remarks probably expedited your exit.

BS: I’m a professional coach so I’ve learned to live with criticism. I know my remarks have hurt many people but to me I have to tell the truth. I am not a super coach but I know what is best for our football, having been involved in the national set-up from the various age categories right up to the senior team for almost two decades. I did this for the love of my country. I just cannot warm my seat and earn easy money. To me if the national Under-19 team can beat the Super League leaders 2-0 in a Cup tie, it proved my point.

LC: What is your point?

BS: That the M-League has not produced the right kind of products. The environment is not conducive for professional football to prosper. Let’s take the fitness level for example. We have discussed this numerous times, even during the days of Hatem Souissi in the mid-90s when fitness trainer Sasha Bozenko had to adjust the training regime accordingly to allow the players to regain their optimum level. We had to conduct this each time the players report for centralised duty when in fact we should be concentrating on the tactical aspects of the match. Whose job is it to make sure the players are fit? Whose job is it to make sure the players are taught the basics of the game early? The national coach or the grassroots coach or the coach at the State teams or the clubs? I’m sure you remember how Claude Le Roy used to teach some of the experienced defenders how to shield the ball and mark the opposing striker by positioning their body on the right angle. Imagine to my horror five days before the UAE match only three players passed the fitness test. It was purposely done by a third party so that they cannot accuse me of lying and whining without a good reason. And I've yet to touch on other aspects.

LC: Let’s touch on them.

BS: No, let’s wait for my report. I’m submitting a thorough report since I have been asked to explain my remarks to the FAM Council. If they decide to make it public, so be it.

LC: That would be very interesting. But I sense that our biggest weakness is that we are not receptive to criticism. Constructive criticisms are not taken in the right spirit.

BS: You said it, but the most important principle of learning is to be able to accept criticism and take them by your stride, rectify your mistakes if there are any and hope that you learn from your mistakes.

LC: There have been criticisms as to your choice of players, that you practised favouritism and that FAM have a certain quota of players from a certain ethnic background to form the national team. Though I personally believe that is hogwash, I need to ask you this. There have been suggestions of this nature among commenters in this blog as well.

BS: This is not new. In fact just after the Suzuki Cup, there was a gathering of former players and they pointed out to me the number of non-Malays in the national team has dwindled. It is as if FAM is racial in selecting the players. They claimed those days we had Arumugam, Santokh, Chin Aun, Choon Wah, a good mix of players from our diverse background. Of course I was angered by such suggestions. Hey, I’m a professional coach. My job is to win. Nobody in his right mind would want to lose a game. Naturally I pick the best players for the job regardless of race and religion. You have been following the game for many years and tell me how many non-Malays have we picked…remember the large pool of talent for the 1997 World Youth Cup, we had the likes of Chia Ching Kar, Lim Chan Yew, M. Gopalan, M. Elangoo, S. Jayaprakash, Chow Chee Weng? Slightly before them, there was Lee Thean Ewe, Ong Kim Swee, Chong Kim Boon, Chong King Kong, Yap Wai Loon. Who was the skipper for the 97 generation? Gopalan. Over the years we had utilised players like Chan Wing Hoong, V. Thirumurugan, K. Nanthakumar, S. Subramaniam as crucial members of the set-up. Some like Victor Andrag from Kedah is not interested in wearing the national colours. Some players are not up to the mark in terms of tactical discipline or they are injury-prone or past their prime. Since we are on the subject, we might want to investigate why non-Malay players with the potential to make the grade do not pursue a career in the game. They would rather earn a living doing something else, or venture into other professions or simply focus on academic pursuits.

LC: Whatever it is coach, most of the players I spoke to hold you in high regard. They say you respect them as professionals and you have the tactical knowledge but results were not forthcoming, unfortunately.

BS: Yes, but it's too late now. One has to move on.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Kena kad kuning

Dengar khabar jawatankuasa pengadil di Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) bersidang pagi tadi. Dengar khabar ketuanya dicubit-cubit sayang. Kad kuning saja. Sila lihat tinjauan blog ini.

FAM hutang Weigang

Weigang, loose cannon dan Allan Harris

Kasihan Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad. Dia mewarisi hutang-piutang zaman Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad. Bacalah di sini. Beginilah masalah di FAM. Weigang dilantik oleh Tengku Mahkota Pahang serta Datuk Dell Akbar Khan. Kemudian si Jerman nipun melangkah pergi meninggalkan Wisma FAM tidak lama sesudah Dell meletak jawatan pada 2005. Nampak pegawai FIFA (konon-konon) yang diapit oleh bekas jurulatih Ghana, Cameroon dan Vietnam (kiri) dan bekas jurulatih Espanyol, bekas penolong jurulatih Barcelona, QPR dan Spurs (kanan)? Takkanlah masalah ni pun nak panggil FIFA! Satu lagi, FAM pun berhutang dengan Dell. Bila nak settle?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Tak yakin dengan YAKEB?

DIKEMAS KINI, 7.30 pagi, 24 Februari, 2009
Yayasan Kebajikan Atlit Kebangsaan akan melancarkan satu expo di Bukit Jalil hari ini. Hairan, kerana core business YAKEB bukan menganjurkan expo, seminar, program latihan sebaliknya menziarah atlet sakit, menderma apa yang patut dan jaga kebajikan!YB Menteri Belia dan Sukan, tengok-tengokkan sebelum saya menulis lebih lanjut dalam blog dan forum-forum yang ada.
dear,

memandangkan saya dah lama meninggalkan bidang ini dan kini rizal lebih otai...saya ingin tahu pendapat sdr mengenai penubuhan Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet (YAKEB)yang dipengerusikan oleh Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar. Bukankah di MSN sudah ada Unit Kebajikan Atlet yang dipegang oleh Zaiton Othman. Apakah tujuan sebenar penubuhan YAKEB? Adakah dengan penubuhan ini menggambarkan ada usaha-usaha untuk menidakkan segala usaha Zaiton sebelum ini? Macam ada bau sabotaj aja. Boleh Rizal selidik?

February 17, 2009 12:43 AM
Terima kasih kepada Noor Hasilah Ismail, bekas wartawan sukan Berita Harian zaman arwah Zainuddin Bendahara, kerana meninggalkan komen ini di bawah posting saya bertajuk From FAM to BAM.
Yayasan ini diwujudkan pada dasarnya untuk menjadi wadah membantu bekas atlit kebangsaan yang berdepan masalah. Apabila kertas kerja mengenai Tabung Kebajikan Atlit dibentangkan dalam mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kabinet Pembangunan Sukan dipengerusikan Datuk Seri Najib Razak dengan kos awal RM10 juta, tujuan asalnya membantu bekas atlit dalam kesusahan.
Pada masa yang sama MSN ada unit kebajikan yang menjaga hal-ehwal kebajikan atlit yang masih aktif di bawah teraju Bionic Girl, Zaiton Othman.
Masalah timbul apabila YAKEB dilihat mahu "menyibuk" dalam urusan unit Zaiton ini. YAKEB hendak borong semua.
Dilihat dari segi sejarah, Pengerusi YAKEB Datuk Paduka Dr Mumtaz Begum Jaffar adalah bekas pakar pecut didikan Nashatar Singh, yang satu ketika cukup berkuasa selaku pengerusi kejurulatihan KOAM.
Dengan berlatarbelakangkan rekod cemerlang selaku perejam lembing, pengangkat bendera dan polis berpangkat besar, Nashatar cukup berpengaruh satu ketika dulu, dari zaman King Ghaz hingga ke Datuk Khalid Yunus.
Zaiton pula anak didik C. Ramanathan, yang bergelut dengan tuduhan cabul sejak kematian Rabia Abdul Salam pada Februari 1994. Hubungan Mumtaz dan Zaiton bukanlah boleh diibarat seperti anjing dengan kucing tetapi mereka tidak mesra, bahkan tidak berkongsi falsafah hidup yang sama. Barangkali mereka masih terbawa-bawa dengan permusuhan zaman 80-an dahulu, apabila kedua-duanya saling berebut tempat dalam kuartet 4x400m. Ini bukan saja hasil risikan saya bahkan berasaskan perbualan saya dengan kedua-duanya sepanjang dua dekad ini.
Ketika Ramanathan turun naik mahkamah, ada desas-desus mengatakan ia komplot musuh-musuhnya menjatuhkan jurulatih Pulau Pinang itu tetapi ia sekadar desas-desus.
Dalam hal YAKEB ini, tidak harus timbul pertindihan. Unit Zaiton harus tumpu pada atlit yang aktif, manakala YAKEB pada atlit yang sudah bersara.
Bagi saya, YAKEB juga tidak harus campur tangan dalam urusan sesuatu sukan itu sebagaimana ia dijadikan platform menjemput bekas pemain bola sepak kebangsaan tempoh hari. Kalau hendak jemput semua, jemputlah semua, malangnya Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, bekas pemain kebangsaan pertama yang menjawat tugas Setiausaha Agung FAM, tidak dipanggil untuk bermesyuarat dengan YB Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Kalau ikhlas, kita tidak harus takut dengan semburan-semburan Dell yang dikenali dengan mulut lasernya!
Akhir kalam, saya setuju dengan Noor Hasilah, YAKEB dijadikan "political vehicle". Memandangkan Noor Hasilah baik dengan YB Menteri, nasihatkanlah beliau agar berhati-hati agar YAKEB lebih menjurus ke arah kebaikan dan elemen-elemen yang positif.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Shahidan's shenanigans

Read here.
Oh puhleez, Datuk Seri! Don't waste your time offering yourself as a candidate for the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) presidency. Can I suggest something? Please take a good look in the mirror, Datuk Seri and tend to your own backyard first.

Tabahkan hatimu, Roslin

Aku terkejut membaca laporan muka depan Harian Metro sebelum Jumaat tadi. Apapun aku hanya mampu bersimpati dengan bekas pemain No 1 dunia, Roslin Hashim. Aku mengikuti perkembangan Roslin lebih sedekad lalu, bahkan bertuah membuat liputan pemain kelahiran Kelantan itu selaku pemain perseorangan ketiga pada Piala Thomas di Hong Kong pada 1998. Malaysia tunduk 3-2 kepada Indonesia dalam final, dengan Roslin menewaskan Joko Suprianto ketika keputusan sudahpun berpihak kepada Indonesia apabila Yong Hock Kin dan beregu kedua Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook masing-masing tewas kepada Hendrawan dan Chandra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto. Terdahulu Ong Ewe Hock mengutip mata pertama sesudah menewaskan Hariyanto Arbi tetapi Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock tumbang di tangan Rexy Mainaky-Ricky Subagja. Klik di sini

Who would you pick?

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) has apparently shortlisted five candidates to succeed B. Sathianathan as the national team supremo.

Azraai, courtesy of jeebsion.com

Azraai Khor Abdullah @ Khor Sek Leng (Kedah)
Former Kedah skipper who was a member of the 1976 Asian Cup squad to Tehran. He led the Canaries to the treble on two successive seasons, a no mean feat.

Devan
K. Devan (Selangor)
Considerably successful with Negeri Sembilan, Devan's management skills are highly sought after. Took Kuala Muda Naza to the Premier League title last year.


Rajagopal

K. Rajagopal @ K. Rajagobal (Harimau Muda boss)

Having coached Selangor and Kelantan in previous years, the ex-international who partnered Supermokh in the late 70s, took over the national Under-20 squad from Jorvan Vieira in 2004 and has been tasked to form a decent squad for the Laos SEA Games.

Dollah

Dollah Salleh (Shahzan Muda)
My most abiding memory of this dribbling wizard remains his wonderful left-footed strike against South Korea in the 1985 pre-World Cup clash at the Merdeka Stadium. Led Selangor MPPJ to the Malaysia Cup title in 2003 and Selangor to the treble in 2005.


Wan Jamak

Wan Jamak Wan Hassan (Negeri Sembilan)
The reserve right-back in Karl Weigang's 1980 Olympic squad, Wan Jamak quit the national team following the Jakarta SEA Games debacle in 1997, a year after he guided the team to the runners-up spot in the inaugural Tiger Cup in Singapore.

Read here and here but I wonder why FAM exco member Hamidin Mohd Amin spoke about the national team when he is not directly involved in the management side.

FAM do not take too kindly of officials who encroached into other people's territory. By right the ones allowed to issue statements pertaining to the national team on behalf of the national body are the president, the team manager, the technical committee chairman and the general secretary.

For squash fans

Squash fans should visit this weblog

Backing the wrong tiger

The Malaysian Under-18 squad have been drawn against China, North Korea, Myanmar, Guam and the Philippines in the AFC Asian Under-19 qualifiers in November.

If you ask me, this is the team the National Sports Council (NSC) should be supporting instead of Harimau Muda.

Why? Because Ong Kim Swee’s squad have the unenviable task of qualifying for the Asian tournament which serves as the qualifiers for the FIFA World Youth Cup.

In contrast, Harimau Muda, comprising players born in 1989 and thereafter, have nothing much to look forward to in the immediate future.

The plan is for Harimau Muda coach K. Rajagopal to be in charge of both the Under-19 and the SEA Games-bound Under-23 squad, which is to me a daft idea.

Coaches worth their salt would confess seldom a 19 or 20-year old be ready physically and mentally for an Under-23 tournament, unless he’s Maradona, Messi or Rooney.

For the SEA Games, Rajagopal will have the luxury of picking players born in or after 1986. He has no choice really because gold is the target.

The Harimau Muda may be leading the Premier League with an unblemished record of five wins but except for one or two shining stars like Kedah’s Shakir Ali and Selangor’s K. Gurusamy, I don’t think they will form the majority for the Laos-bound squad.

It can easily be interpreted that it is one way of extending Rajagopal’s tenure. He will be able to last until the next SEA Games then.

Ideally an Under-21 team should be formed which will serve as the feeder squad for both the Under-23 and senior outfits. Rajagopal has to investigate what has happened to his group of players born in 1987 whom he brought to the Asian Under-20 finals in Bangalore in 2006. That generation by right should form the nucleus of the 2009 SEA Games team.

I’m sure the likes of Aidil Zafuan and Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Farderin Kadir, Safiq Rahim, Nasriq Baharom, Arif Fazlie Saidin, Fauzi Ariffin, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Shahrizal Saad, Shafiq Jamal and Bunyamin Umar would feature in Rajagopal’s plans. This group will be augmented by those from Harimau Muda, I guess.

To me one cannot hide behind the word “development” all the time.

I know what the ready-made excuse would be in the event that we fail in Laos.

“From this team, we have a big group of players who are still eligible for the 2011 SEA Games”.

Back to the AFC Under-19 qualifiers in China nine months from today, former Barcelona Babe Kim Swee said the match against Myanmar may prove to be decisive.

Tours to Vietnam and Thailand in April followed by trips to Australia or China in June and Slovakia just prior to the qualifiers are in the pipeline, subject to FAM’s financial health. It would not be such a problem if the team enjoy NSC’s financial muscle. It may turn out that NSC could be backing the wrong tigers. Oh, in the meantime, read this

Pengadil bola tiba lewat

Berita Harian mukasurat 49 hari ini melaporkan pengadil bola tiba lewat.

Kesilapan jadual di antara unit pengadil dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia menyebabkan perlawanan Piala Presiden di antara Kelantan dan PKNS di Stadium Sultan Muhammad ke-IV, petang semalam, tertangguh hampir sejam.

Perlawanan yang sepatutnya bermula jam 4.45 petang itu terpaksa dimulakan kira-kira jam 5.40 petang ekoran pengadil perlawanan Shamsudin Ibrahim yang tiba lewat ke gelanggang.

Pengadil yang menetap di Besut itu lewat tiba kerana menjangka perlawanan itu diadakan Jumaat dan beliau hanya bergegas ke Kota Bharu apabila dihubungi pegawai Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA) kira-kira jam 3.45 petang.

Setiausaha Agung KAFA, Noordin Awang, berkata insiden itu boleh menjejaskan imej profesional pengadil dan boleh dianggap cuai.

"Unit pengadil mengeluarkan jadual perlawanan yang berlangsung petang ini (semalam) berlangsung esoj (Jumaat) sedangkan FAM menetapkan perlawanan pada Khamis. Ia tidak harus berlaku," katanya.

KLBA, BAM atau BWF?


Sebagai penasihat undang-undang kehormat buat Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF), Datuk Andrew Kam yang juga pengasas KLRC (gambar ihsan thestar.com.my), mengintai peluang mengepalai badan induk itu.

Baca sini dan juga sini

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Subra to replace Kenny?

UPDATED. It appears the GM post is still up for grabs as the BA of Malaysia could opt to advertise for the vacancy following Kenny Goh's abrupt decision to tender his resignation. Perhaps former teacher Kenny could be coaxed to stay!

Read Utusan Malaysia's report here, Berita Harian's news here and the Star's article here and read my posting a day earlier here. But of course to expect them to give a blogger the credit for breaking the story would be too much to expect! OPPSS SORRY, I stand corrected. Haresh Deol of Malay Mail did mention this blog in his report today. Thanks and cheers!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Macam mana arwah nak jawab?

DIKEMAS KINI, 18 Februari, 2009, 8.37pg.

Timbalan pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil FAM Datuk Soh Chin Aun sedang mencari tarikh yang sesuai untuk membincangkan dakwaan wujudnya kronisme dalam jabatan pengadil dengan ahli jawatankuasanya.

Sambil melahirkan rasa terkejut dengan kenyataan akhbar ketua jabatan pengadil Kol (B) Kamaruddin Sakhari, Chin Aun berharap isu itu diselesaikan segera bagi mengembalikan keyakinan terhadap corak pengurusan dan kaedah pelantikan pengadil dalam persaingan tempatan.

"Saya tengah cari tarikh yang sesuai supaya semua ahli dapat hadir sebelum saya memaklumkan kepada urusetia FAM," katanya.

Aku pula menaruh keyakinan Lt Jen (B) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad yang mengamalkan pengurusan "saya yang menurut perintah" akan go by the book dan ikut prosedur walaupun aku sedikit terkejut beliau menerima penjelasan Kamaruddin biarpun tanpa berbincang dengan anggota jawatankuasa yang lain. Satu persoalan, adakah Azzuddin lebih percaya rakan yang sama-sama pakai seragam atau Allahyarham Mohd Nazri Abdullah yang terkenal dengan kejujuran dan kewibawaannya?

Satu lagi, Kamaruddin menuduh anggota jawatankuasa tidak memberi kerjasama. Itu serius. Mereka harus diberi peluang menjawab dan rebut!

Dan tak payahlah nak cakap dapat gelaran AFC's Match Commissioner of the Year 2008 lah, aku pun ada menang beberapa anugerah kewartawanan! Itu bukan soalnya, soalnya adakah kita boleh buat kerja atau tidak! Ada faham? Lupa pulak, jangan lupa pakai spell-checker komputer! Aku dengar dulu ada budak FAM resign pasal menyampah dengan arahan kena tukar deraf surat sampai lapan kali! Kalau ejaan salah macam mana? Oh sebelum aku lupa, adakah jawatan PENOLONG SETIAUSAHA AGUNG wujud hanya pada nama?

Ini tersiar dalam Berita Harian hari ini, 17 Februari, 2009.

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa

TIADA langsung penafian ketika dakwaan betapa aturan tugas pegawai-pegawai perlawanan Liga Malaysia dilakukan secara bersendirian - tanpa perlu restu Jawatankuasa Pengadil Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), mudah disahkan.

Ia dilakukan Ketua Jabatan Pengadil FAM, Lt Kolonel (B) Kamaruddin Sakhari, yang sebaliknya mendakwa bahawa tindakan itu diambil gara-gara 'tidak mendapat kerjasama daripada ahli jawatankuasa lainnya.'

"Memang saya yang aturkan jadual tugas pegawai perlawanan. Ada kalanya saya terpaksa berjaga hingga pagi kerana tempoh singkat untuk menyiapkannya. Saya pernah panggil ahli jawatankuasa membantu, tetapi tiada yang datang. Saya sentiasa alu-alukan bantuan mereka, tetapi tiada," katanya ketika menghubungi Berita Harian, tiga hari lalu.

Tindakan itu jelas menyalahi garis panduan yang mewajibkan setiap lantikan pegawai - pengadil dan pembantu pengadil - diluluskan oleh Jawatankuasa Pengadil FAM.

Diajukan persoalan mengenai tindakannya melantik pegawai Jabatan Pengadil Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) selaku komisioner perlawanan Liga Perdana, baru lalu - yang mencetus tanggapan kronisme kerana pegawai itu bukan dalam senarai komisioner perlawanan diluluskan FAM - Kamaruddin tidak dapat menyembunyikan berangnya.

"Dia hadir seminar sebelum musim bermula. Sesiapa yang hadir seminar itu layak diiktiraf sebagai komisioner perlawanan," tegasnya.

Kepada persoalan sama ada dia tahu betapa AFC mempunyai kod etika menghalang pegawai bergaji menerima tugasan luar, jawapan Kamaruddin ialah: "Itu saya tidak tahu."

Apa yang menarik ialah pendedahan isu itu sebelumnya turut menyaksikan Kamaruddin mengesahkan bahawa dia membatalkan pelantikan pegawai AFC itu selaku komisioner perlawanan Liga Super, Sabtu lalu.

Kamaruddin juga menegaskan betapa pelantikannya sebagai komisioner untuk perlawanan AFC tidak wajar dipertikaikan.

"Saya tidak tahu kamu tahu atau tidak, tetapi saya dipilih sebagai Komisioner Perlawanan Terbaik AFC (2008)," katanya.

Ditanya pula senarai kesilapan dan kelemahan Jabatan Pengadil yang dikemukakan bekas Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengadil FAM, Allahyarham Nazri Abdullah, ketika bertemu Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, 30 Januari lalu, Kamaruddin berkata semua dakwaan itu tidak betul.

"Saya sedih kerana dia (Nazri) tidak langsung berbincang dengan saya terlebih dahulu. Dia adalah anak murid saya. Saya sedang siapkan penjelasannya. Semua itu tidak betul," katanya.

Apa yang pasti ketika ini ialah pengesahan terbaru itu harus menjelmakan tekanan terhadap Azzuddin, selaku pemimpin nombor satu Sekretariat FAM, untuk 'melakukan perkara yang betul'.

ends

Monday, February 16, 2009

From FAM to BAM

The BA of Malaysia (BAM) is set to welcome an official with a football background as the new general manager. The salaried staff of FA of Malaysia (FAM) is at the final stages of negotiations with BAM. The brain drain in FAM has not stopped, it seems. But that does not give the secretariat the license to hire half-baked individuals, even if they may possess impressive paper qualifications!

The individual who has served three general secretaries will be tasked to monitor BAM's Road to London 2012 programme, a far cry from his previous or current job description. All the best to you, sir.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Jatuh lagi, tapi lupakanlah ranking!

Utusan Malaysia hari ini melaporkan kedudukan terkini pasukan kebangsaan dalam senarai ranking FIFA di sini tetapi kalangan penggiat bola sepak menggesa agar ia tidak dijadikan ukuran, di sini. Dalam rancangan Wisel Penamat di TV1 tidak lama dahulu, aku menganggap senarai FIFA bukan kayu pengukur sebenar.

Tiada unsur kronisme, kata Chin Aun

DIKEMAS KINI. 8.30mlm Isnin 16 Februari 2009

Selaku naib pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil, Datuk Soh Chin Aun akan memaklumkan Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, agar memanggil mesyuarat jawatankuasa bagi membincangkan isu dan dakwaan unsur kronisme jabatan pengadil persatuan itu.

"Saya akan maklumkan kepada Datuk Azzuddin esok (Selasa). Kita kena lihat dan siasat dulu perkara ini. Kalau kena ikut prosedur, kena ikutlah," katanya.

Dalam banyak-banyak jawatankuasa yang ada di FAM, jawatankuasa pengadil disegani kerana dianggotai profesional dan bekas tukang tiup wisel, antaranya Nik Ahmad Yaakub, Che Mud Che Mat, Kassim Kadir Bacha dan Adnan Jamil.

Kalau ikut aku, kita thrash things out depan-depan. Tapi bertegang urat sikitlah. Kemudian pergi makan kuey teow dekat kedai depan FAM. Barulah profesional. Baru boleh maju. Bukan berdendam. Siapa yang ada simpan dendam kesumat atau ego dan sombong serta tak boleh ditegur dan ingat dia special sangat, sekali lagi aku berpesan, BOLEH BLAH! Oops salah eja tadi, polis pencen tegur!

Tapi aku dengar jabatan pengadil diarah kemukakan laporan kepada Azzuddin yang katanya berpuas hati dengan penjelasan yang dibuat!

Bekas kapten Malaysia Datuk Soh Chin Aun, atau nama sebenarnya Soh Chin Ann, menafikan adanya unsur kronisme dalam jabatan pengadil Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM). Baca sini.

Sebagai sahabat Chin Aun, aku ingin menggesa agar Towkay buat siasatan dahulu. Kalau tiada unsur kronisme, pertahankan jabatan itu sehingga ke hujung nyawa. Kalau sebaliknya, dedahkan satu persatu. Ingat, pengadil adalah satu-satunya produk FAM yang boleh dipasarkan ke pasaran antarabangsa. Ingat, Allahyarham Mohd Nazri Abdullah antara yang mengharumkan nama negara.

Ingat, tiada siapa yang lebih besar daripada FAM dan FAM tiada tempat untuk manusia berkepentingan peribadi! Satu lagi, sesiapa saja dalam FAM harus berani terima kecaman, teguran dan kutukan, kalau tidak BOLEH BLAH!


Friday, February 13, 2009

Dealing with injuries

If you are a high-performance athlete who might have plans to seek an alternative to the National Sports Institute (ISN) in dealing with injuries, kindly visit Dr Aston Ngai's blog here. He is organising a series of clinics conducted by experienced sports physicians, physiotherapists, sports nutritionists, exercise physiologists and massage therapists commencing Saturday, February 14, on a weekly basis until March 21.

Macam nilah...

Artikel Berita Harian ini menarik dan tenaga di sebalik tabir klinik ini ialah bekas jaguh lompat jauh dan lompat kijang negara, Mohd Zaki Sadri, atau Wak di kalangan sahabat-sahabatnya.

Zaki beruntung kerana majikannya Petronas, maka ini antara tanggungjawab sosial pengeluar minyak negara itu. Tidak lama dahulu, Zaki menjemput juara Sukan SEA 2003, Nazmizan Muhammad, untuk memberi demonstrasi kepada pelajar-pelajar di Terengganu. Setidak-tidaknya pelajar-pelajar ini terdedah kepada teknik olahraga yang betul.

Sambil pemimpin Kesatuan Olahraga Amat Malang (KOAM) bertelagah dan asyik berpolitik, Zaki mengambil inisiatif menghidupkan akar umbi.

YB KJ was the team manager!

Read S.S Dhaliwal's posting here.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Riff raff ref

Subkhiddin. Courtesy pengadilfam.blogspot.com
Kamaruddin, recently appointed to head the referee's department at FAM

I know what's happening in the FA of Malaysia's referee department headed by Kolonel Kamaruddin Sakhari. Read here after Berita Harian was tipped by Jiwa_Merdeka, one of this blog's commenters.

FAM and its chief at the secretariat, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, must act fast, without fear or favour. Sad to note that Allahyarham Mohd Nazri Abdullah raised a number of concerns with Azzuddin before his sudden demise.

The former FIFA referee, who was also the chairman of FAM referees' committee, was planning to have an audience with FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah if allegations of the department's tendency to act unilaterally and arbitrarily without consulting the committee members were not dealt with. Sadly Nazri passed away in Las Palmas on Feb 2. A man of Nazri's integrity and reputation must have a good reason to voice his displeasure at the way things were being run at FAM.

Some of the allegations include "greenhorn referees appointed to officiate Super League matches while referees who failed the C class exam and were not registered last year were promoted this year".
FAM must realise without a national team to be proud of, our best prospects of having Malaysia represented on the global stage, especially the FIFA World Cup, lie with the referees. They are our best exports!
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh for instance acquitted himself well in last night's pre-World Cup match between Uzbekistan and Bahrain. Subkhiddin and his two assistants Thanom Borikut (Thailand) and Ma Yuxin (China) are in the FIFA provisional list to officiate at the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Les Bleus v Albicelestes



Hmm, if I were still at the Malay Mail sports desk, I would be spending the day arguing with Mustapha Kamaruddin or El Loco on who would win the France v Argentina clash. El Loco is a passionate Argentine fan, more Latin than most Latin lovers so much so he does not see any chinks in Diego Maradona's armour.

This match offers an intriguing prospect, and I suspect Henry and Messi to have an influence in the outcome. My personal wish is for Karim "Benzebut" Benzema to stamp his mark. He has not scored against a team of top quality and I'm still waiting...

For Mus and his fellow Argentines, read here. I'm going to predict a draw.


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Muka tak tau malu...

Ada teman memaklumkan berita ini. Alamak. Gelinya hati. Wahai Datuk Seri, tengok-tengoklah laman sendiri. Ada lima atau enam kan? Tak payahlah nak komen-komen pasal halaman orang lain. Boleh tak? Nak saya guna bahasa lebih keras dan kasar? Tunggu...

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Perjalanan terakhir Nazri

Dikemas kini 6.45ptg, Ahad, 8 Februari, 2009. Klik sini, here and here. Malay Mail too carried an obituary on Nazri on Friday (thanks to my old boss, Johnson Fernandez).

Tidak sampai empat jam sesudah jenazahnya mendarat di KLIA, jasad Mohd Nazri Abdullah, pengadil tersohor yang menjulang nama Malaysia, akhrnya bertemu tanah semalam.

Ikuti rentetan peristiwa kepulangan jenazah dalam catatanku ini.

Berita ketibaan jenazah menerusi penerbangan dari Las Palmas, Pulau Canary ke Madrid menuju Kuala Lumpur menerusi Amsterdam tersebar di kalangan rakan-rakan Allahyarham sebaik disahkan oleh pihak FIFA di sana.

Penerbangan Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) mendarat di KLIA jam 3.40 petang, lewat sedikit daripada yang dijadualkan, dengan satu rombongan terdiri daripada pegawai dan sahabat-sahabat Allahyarham menanti penuh tabah bagi mempercepatkan urusan.

Ia rezeki Allahyarham sebenarnya apabila banyak kerenah birokrasi dilangkaui hasil kerjasama pelbagai pihak. Rakan taulan, umpamanya pengadil M. Karthi, memudahkan urusan. Adik Allahyarham yang mengiringi jenazah dari Madrid, Zaiviji Ismail Abdullah, meperkenalkan dirinya kepada kumpulan yang ada.

Masing-masing sebak apabila bekas penolong pengadil FIFA, Rodzali Ya’cob memeluk Ismail sambil menitiskan airmata di saat kotak yang membawa keranda itu diumpil.

Rodzali memang cukup rapat dengan Allahyarham kerana mereka berganding bahu melicinkan pentadbiran unit pengadil FAM di bawah Datuk George Joseph ketika urusetia FAM dikendali oleh Datuk Dell Akbar Khan.

Bahkan Rodzali bersama Azimi Abdullah, pegawai pembangunan pengadil FIFA di Kuala Lumpur, antara orang kuat yang bermesyuarat dengan pihak berkaitan bagi menguruskan ketibaan jenazah, secekap mana mereka menganjurkan sebarang kejohanan bola sepak antarabangsa yang memerlukan “management and organisational skills”.

Antara yang turut bersiap siaga pengadil tersohor, Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, Azizi Adnan, Naim Nair dan penolong setiausaha agung FAM, Saifuddin Abu Bakar.



Setibanya dari Amsterdam

Ismail memberitahu Dell urusan penghantaran jenazah dikendalikan FIFA.

“Tinggal lagi saya terpaksa memastikan jenazah ada dalam setiap penerbangan,” katanya yang kebetulan berada di Rome, Itali, menghadiri satu mesyuarat ketika dimaklumkan kematian abangnya pada Isnin lalu.

Adik Allahyarham, Zaiviji Ismail yang juga Pengerusi Syarikat Shell di Pakistan, bersama Dell (kanan), Azimi dan OCPD Sepang, ACP Zahedi Ayob (kiri)

Sambil dipantau Dell, petugas-petugas mengumpil pelapik zink yang memastikan keranda kedap udara, dan memindahkan jenazah yang lengkap dikafan dengan elok terus ke dalam keranda yang sama.

Jenazah dalam proses dikeluarkan dari keranda kedap udara


Seterusnya, jenazah dibawa menerusi van ke bangunan berhampiran pintu pagar kawasan bersebelahan KLIA bagi upacara penghormatan terakhir balunya Roziah Abdul Rahman dan tiga anaknya, Nadia, Nabila dan Alif. Kebetulan Nazri menghembus nafas terakhirnya pada ulangtahun ke-17 perkahwinannya.

Tan Sri Zain (kiri) dan Walter Gagg

Othman Omar dan Soh Chin Ann

Antara yang kelihatan Othman Omar, yang melayangkan satu-satunya kad merah kepada Allahyarham Mokhtar Dahari di Singapura pada 1981, rakan seangkatan Allahyarham seperti Nik Ahmad Yaakub dan Pirom Un Prasert dari Thailand yang datang bersama isteri, bekas kapten negara, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, bekas pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil FAM, Tan Sri Zain Hashim, Steven Ovinis, Adnan Jamil, Manjit Singh, R. Krishnan dan Walter Gagg, wakil peribadi kepada Presiden FIFA, Sepp Blatter.

“Muka arwah berseri-seri, tersenyum,” kata Adnan yang juga anggota jawatankuasa pengadil FAM.

Aku turut menahan sebak apabila Nik Ahmad, yang juga meniup wisel penamatnya sebagai tanda persaraan bersama Nazri pada 2000, memelukku lalu menitiskan air mata. Tepat jam 5.10 petang, konvoi berlepas ke kediaman Allahyarham di Sunway dengan diiringi tiga outrider polis.

Adnan Jamil (kiri) dan Nik Ahmad Yaakub

Balu Allahyarham (berjubah hitam, tengah)

Aku bertanya kepada Dell siapa yang membuat urusan outrider, soalan yang sepatutnya tidak perlu dijawab. “Sudah tentu polis pencen yang aku tumpang ni”, bisik hatiku.

“Orang yang banyak berjasa kepada negara harus diberi penghormatan sebegini. Nazri ibarat duta negara,” kata bekas Ketua Polis KL dan Ketua Trafik Persekutuan itu, ringkas.

Benar. Kalau Peter Velappan, Paul Mony Samuel dan Windsor John membawa nama Malaysia dari segi kecekapan penganjuran dan pentadbiran, Nazri adalah duta kita di padang.

Dell memastikan agar laluan lancar tanpa gangguan

Konvoi dari KLIA

Di saat kita ternanti-nanti persembahan 11 anak Malaysia sama ada di pentas Olimpik mahupun kejohanan peringkat umur FIFA, Nazri antara kelompok kecil yang mengibar bendera Malaysia di rumput-rumput hijau di tanah asing.

Biarpun jarang diiktiraf penonton, pengadil melengkapkan satu-satu perlawanan itu, baik di peringkat perlawanan antara kampung mahupun Piala Dunia.

Allahyarham pembuka jalan kepada generasi pengadil seterusnya, tanpa kita melupakan sumbangan otai-otai terdahulu seperti T. Nadarajan, S. Kathrivale, Zain Hashim, George Joseph yang pernah mengadili Diego Maradona pada 1979 dan Othman Kamaluddin, sekadar menyebut beberapa nama.

Perjalanan dari KLIA ke Sunway mengambil masa dalam 40 minit. Konvoi dalam 20 kereta itu melalui tiga tol dengan percuma selepas Dell meminta bantuan outrider yang juga bekas anak buahnya.

Kediaman Allahyarham sesak dengan keluarga, rakan taulan dan jiran. Kulihat begitu besar rombongan AFC dari pelbagai bangsa, dengan wajah bergenang airmata. Solat jenazah disempurnakan.

Antara yang mengusung jenazah di kediamannya, dari kiri Subkhiddin, Krishnan, Zainal Abidin Rawop dan Zainal Abidin Yaacob

Di luar kediaman Allahyarham

Kusapa beberapa kakitangan AFC yang kukenali, dan menegur Velappan. Kusapa bekas setiausaha agung FAM, Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad dan penggantinya Lt Jen (B) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad.

Bagi keluarga pengadil tempatan, pulangnya Nazri ke rahmatullah terlalu awal. Banyak lagi ilmu dan pengalamannya yang boleh dikongsi bersama.

Kulihat Yoshimi Ogawa, pengarah jabatan pengadil AFC, mencekup kedua-dua belah tangannya seolah-olah mendoakan Nazri. Pengadil dari Singapura, Shamsul Maidin yang bertugas di Piala Dunia 2006, turut hadir bersama hampir 20 pegawai dari Singapura yang diketuai pengerusi jawatankuasa pengadil FAS, Jeffrey Beh. Kulihat Ahmad Khalidi Supian, Kamaruddin Mohd Diah dan rakan-rakan pengadil dari era 70-an, 80-an dan 90-an.

Pirom Un Prasert (tengah) pernah mengadili Piala Dunia 1998 di Perancis, berkongsi duka dengan Yoshimi Ogawa (kanan)

Aku terdengar pemangku Setiausaha Agung AFC, Alex Soosay, membisikkan kepada seseorang bahawa presiden AFC, Mohamed bin Hammam, memberi sumbangan peribadi yang agak besar kepada keluarga Allahyarham.

Pepatah menyebut patah tumbuh hilang berganti. Realitinya, ia tidak semestinya berlaku. Kita masih menanti pengganti sebenar kepada Mokhtar yang mengisi kekosongan yang ditinggalkan Ghani Minhat.

Nadia dan Nabila

Nabila dan Alif

Pengadil ramai datang dan pergi. Menjadi pengadil peringkat FIFA kini bukan lagi perkara baru. Namun tidak ramai yang berkebolehan mengajar pengadil yang mengadili Piala Dunia, apalagi di kalangan kelompok orang kita.

Wakil seluruh pelosok dunia hadir ke pengkebumiannya. Kematiannya seolah-olah menyatukan keluarga FAM dan AFC dalam kesedihan, biarpun hanya sekelip mata berkongsi duka.

Dell mengiringi Gagg untuk menyiram kubur. "If I'm not mistaken, the last someone died while conducting a FIFA course was eight years ago. He was an Argentine instructor," Gagg told me. He flew back to Zurich via Frankfurt later that night.

Saudara-mara Allahyarham turut mengiringi jenazah ke liang lahad

Langit mendung disusuli hujan mencurah-curah membasahi bumi berubah wajah apabila jenazah tiba di perkarangan perkuburan USJ 22 di Subang Jaya. Jenazahnya selamat disemadikan sebelum Maghrib, menepati rancangan perancang-perancang di sebalik tabir.

Ku percaya anak-anak didiknya yang menangisi pemergiannya akan menyahut cabaran. Sama ada terpilih beraksi di pentas Piala Dunia atau menjadi tenaga pengajar disegani FIFA. Itu sudah pasti satu bentuk penghormatan dan peninggalan paling besar, bermakna dan berharga buat Allahyarham Mohd Nazri bin Abdullah. Selamat berangkat, ku ucapkan. Daripada-Nya kita datang, kepada-Nya jualah kita kembali.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

A marathon battle

There are hurdles to overcome and it is set to be a marathon battle between the FTAAA and the Many Are Against U (MAAU). FTAAA is conducting a Press conference at this very moment, in trying to explain what's going on behind the scenes. Read this and this, courtesy of yesterday's Malay Mail, to comprehend the issue.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Kenyataan pedas-pedas



KENYATAAN AKHBAR KELAB PENYOKONG BOLA SEPAK KEBANGSAAN

Kelab Penyokong Bolasepak Kebangsaan ingin menyarankan kepada Presiden Bolasepak Malaysia berserta Ahli Majlis yang sudah tidak mampu mentadbir bolasepak negara dengan betul agar mengundurkan diri dengan cara yang terhormat.

Ketidakpuasan hati para peminat dan pengikut setia bolasepak negara sudah sampai ke kemuncaknya.

Tahap kesabaran untuk memberi lebih banyak ruang kepada kepimpinan FAM bagi mencari kaedah dan pendekatan yang baik bagi mengatasi kemerosotan bolasepak negara sudah tertutup rapat.

Tempoh kepimpinan Presiden FAM selama 25 tahun dengan jumlah pendapatan serta perbelanjaan yang besar tetapi tidak menjelmakan sebarang kemajuan seharusnya menyedarkan mereka bahawa keempukan kerusi di Wisma FAM perlu dikosongkan segera.

Keyakinan peminat bolasepak negara sudah hilang dengan pelbagai keputusan-keputusan baru yang diambil yang langsung tidak menunjukkan betapa seriusnya mereka untuk memperbaiki segala kelemahan yang ada, sebaliknya meletakkan kesalahan kepada orang lain tatkala polisi dan dasar yang diketengahkan acap kali menjadi bahan ketawa dan ejekan mereka yang lebih mengetahui akan keperluan sebenar bolasepak Malaysia.

Kepimpinan FAM khususnya Presiden seharusnya mencontohi tindakan yang diambil oleh mantan Timbalan Presiden FAM, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah yang mengundur diri dengan cara yang terhormat di atas kegagalan pasukan negara dalam kempen Piala Asia 2007.

Keputusan yang diambil beliau adalah kerana rasa tanggungjawabnya di atas segala kelemahan yang tidak mampu diatasi lagi tatkala menduduki jawatan berkenaan.

Sebagai ketua di dalam organisasi tersebut, baginda tidak dapat melepaskan sifat tanggungjawabnya di atas segala kemerosotan yang berlaku.

Apapun pendekatan terbaik yang perlu diambil pada peringkat ini ialah dengan pengunduran diri seluruh kepimpinan FAM dan struktur organisasi pentadbiran dan pengurusan dirombak dan dikemaskini selaras dengan cadangan yang pernah diusulkan oleh Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA).

Beberapa individu profesional yang memiliki pengetahuan pengurusan dan pentadbiran bolasepak serta mampu memberi sepenuh perhatian dan tumpuan terhadap pentadbiran harian bolasepak perlu dibawa masuk.

Apapun tidak dinafikan bukan semua bekas pemain dan jurulatih yang memiliki pengetahuan dan selok belok pengurusan seperti yang hangat dicadangkan dalam pertemuan dengan Menteri Belia dan Sukan tetapi kewibawaan sebagai pentadbir dan pengurus yang baik.

Kaedah-kaedah serta pendekatan yang baik seharusnya mampu dijelmakan. Tumpuan utama yang perlu diambil sekarang ialah bagaimana kita mampu menarik semula minat orang ramai untuk membicarakan secara positif tentang bolasepak negara.

Perancangan jangka masa pendek untuk menarik semula peminat dan penonton bagi memenuhi stadium bagi menyokong pasukan negara perlu dirangka segera dan disusuli dengan perancangan jangka panjang yang melibatkan 10 hingga 15 tahun yang akan datang.

Sesebuah sukan itu akan disanjung bilamana ianya mampu menghasilkan keputusan sepertimana squash dan badminton. Jika tiada keputusan maka umum tidak berminat untuk membicarakannya apatah lagi untuk terus memberi sokongan.

Kelab Penyokong Bolasepak Kebangsaan menyeru agar kepimpinan FAM yang ada sekarang agar dapat segera bermuhasabah diri dan keempukan dan kemewahan yang telah dinikmati selama ini seharusnya menjadi titik noktah kepada mereka.

Tiada tunjuk perasaan perlu dilakukan untuk menunjukkan rasa marah dan kecewa yang tidak terhingga kepada mereka, cukuplah dengan ulasan-ulasan yang sering dicoretkan di dalam akhbar mewakili perasaan segenap lapisan peminat bolasepak MALAYSIA.
Sekian. Wassalam.
AZMAN HJ EUSOFF
Presiden
Kelab Penyokong Bolasepak Kebangsaan

Sekumpulan bekas pemain pula tidak segan silu menyatakan ini

MJ is backing TM

A move has been put in motion to oust Mohamed bin Hammam as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president in 2011.

My understanding is that Datuk Seri Chung Mong Joon, the 57-year old heir of the Hyundai business fortune (pix), is backing none other than the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang to succeed Hammam. Fondly known as MJ in football circles, he doesn't like to give interviews.

But after the investiture ceremony held at the Pahang Istana in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, MJ accused Hammam of making unilateral decisions in AFC. Read here

Meanwhile hours earlier Hammam cunningly decided to make some amendments to the AFC statutes.

A key amendment, subject to AFC Congress approval in May, is that the elected AFC President shall serve as a FIFA Vice President and each zone shall be entitled to have one representative to the FIFA Executive Committee.

Another crucial amendment is that candidates for the positions of President and FIFA Executive Committee must have served as members of the AFC Executive Committee for at least one full term of office of four years and it must have been during the preceding term.

The second amendment is hatched to prevent Bahrain Football Association (BFA) president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa from contesting for a seat on FIFA's executive committee. Hammam's term in the FIFA exco expires in May. Read here

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Rest in Peace, Nazri

worldreferee.com

LATEST: Nazri's body is scheduled to arrive at KLIA on Friday at 3.25pm via Madrid and Amsterdam. Thanks to FAM, FIFA regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Wisma Putra, the Malaysian embassy in Madrid and the FIFA team in Canary Islands, the repatriation process was expedited without having to go through a lengthy local authorisation process which requires up to 15 days before a body is released to the next of kin. His remains will be accompanied by his brother Zaiviji Ismail Abdullah and wife, while one of FIFA's top guns, Walter Gagg, will join them from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Those who want to pay their final respects can do so between 5.45 and 6.10pm at his residence at 22, Jalan PJS9/14. The burial ceremony is expected to be performed before Maghrib prayers at the USJ 22 Islamic burial ground.


One of Malaysia's most respected referees, Mohd Nazri Abdullah, passed away early this morning in the Canary Islands, Spain. The 54-year old father of three from Kedah was in the island conducting an assistant referee's course ahead of the 2010 World Cup.



Apparently he collapsed at the hotel after jogging. Nazri was pronounced dead at 7.10pm Spanish time last night. A top FIFA referee instructor, Nazri was appointed as chairman of FAM's referee's committee last year. My deepest condolences to his family, FAM and the refereeing fraternity. Al-Fatihah. I last spoke to him outside the KL Stadium minutes before the Malaysia-UAE Asian Cup qualifiers. An obituary will be posted later.



UPDATED, an obituary for a friend

WHEN the old Malay Mail carried my story on the backpage on Pahang coach Jorgen Larsen taking a swipe at local referees in August 1997, little did I realise it would create a series of incidents.

Under the heading SAVE US FROM…THE MEN IN BLACK (in reference to the movie MIB released also that year starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones), Larsen said Malaysian referees were an inept lot and suggested their European counterparts to officiate M-League matches.

Of course the referees were not happy. Three days later we carried a response. I remember the article clearly for two reasons. It was ground-breaking for a referee to be speaking to the Press, and secondly the Malay Mail subs decided to put my byline as Rizal Abdullah, after my better known namesake who happens to be currently stringing for the paper since retiring from the Star.

Mohd Nazri Abdullah was given special permission by the FA of Malaysia to speak to me. So on Aug 26, 1997, under the heading BAD IS AS BAD GETS, the old Malay Mail carried Nazri’s quotes. He spoke on behalf of the 18 referees officiating in the old Premier League. Later, Larsen was hauled up by the FAM disciplinary committee for not going through the proper channel in voicing his grouses.

Nazri was a soft-spoken man, a really nice character who knew how to make you feel comfortable. No wonder he made it right to the top, as a member of FIFA board of selectors who gets to pick the men we like to point fingers at for the World Cups. He had seen it all, barring the one he coveted most – the FIFA World Cup.

A man of Nazri’s credentials deserved the World Cup spot. He missed it by a whisker on two occasions, the USA’94 edition and the next one in France. But reward came in other forms. He officiated the Sydney Olympics and the various FIFA age group tournaments. After blowing the whistle for the final time in the M-League in 2000, he joined FAM as a development officer and later rose to become the Asian Football Confederation head of referee.

His contemporaries included Nik Ahmad Yaakub, Amir Sharifuddin Wong, Kol Kamaruddin Sakhari and the late Wan Rashid Wan Jaafar.

Born K. Letchumanan on January 23, 1955, Nazri hailed from Kulim, Kedah and began his career as a referee at the age of 17 when he obtained his Class 3 certificate from the Penang FA after coming to a conclusion that he would not make the cut as a footballer with Prai Rovers.

He obtained his FIFA badge in 1989 and refereed a pre-World Cup match involving characters like Stuart Pearce, Paul Ince, David Seaman, David Platt and Ian Wright in Bologna in 1993.

“You Kulim tang mana?” when I hand-delivered my wedding invitation to him in 2001. Each time we met the former TNB personnel would be asking me about Kulim!

I regret that our last meeting took place less than a minute. He was about to enter the KL Stadium through the VIP entrance for the Malaysia-UAE Asian Cup qualifiers on January 21 when I stopped him.

“Ref, what’s happening with the referee’s department and committee (since he was the chairman). I’ve been hearing a lot of things?”

“Slowly lah, let’s do things gradually. Don’t worry, we are looking into it,” Nazri assured me. Someone else must take over the mantle I guess.

Nik Ahmad, when contacted, was overcome by emotion.

Former FAM media officer, Ahmad Khawari Isa, said: “Football in Malaysia has suffered a great loss. He was a fantastic individual with great inter-personal skills who had the interest of the referees and the standard of refereeing at heart.

“We spent a lot of time together, brainstorming, arguing and discussing a variety of footballing issues. He initiated the young referees programme, where he himself went to schools to identify and persuade schoolkids to take up a career in refereeing.”

FAM assistant general secretary Saifuddin Abu Bakar was sobbing when we spoke over the phone.

“Last Friday Nazri asked me to join him in his car to go for Friday prayers but I opted to go with someone else. We last spoke on Saturday, discussing several matters at great length but he did not inform me he was going to Spain.”

Saifuddin added: “FAM and FIFA are trying to make arrangements for his jenazah to be flown to Kuala Lumpur as soon as possible.”

Nazri’s old boss, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, said: “It is a great loss not only for Malaysia and Asia but the world of refereeing in general. Nazri was a dedicated one man who never minced his words, was focused and very frank. He knew his job well and above all, he had only good and honest intentions and no ulterior motives.”

Nazri leaves behind wife Roziah Abdul Rahman and three children. Al-Fatihah. May Allah bless his soul, forgive him of his sins, make his grave a garden and grant him the highest levels of paradise….. Ameen.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Tobacco and telco money up in smokes

The New Straits Times had an interesting article on the amount of money disbursed to FA of Malaysia's affiliates over a period of 20 years here.

The Sultan wanted to retain Sathia

A little bird told me FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah wanted B. Sathianathan to see out his contract but several exco members were insistent the former Negri Sembilan midfielder's days were numbered! Read the Star's report here especially the final paragraph. When asked why was the “towkay” of Malaysian football made the fall guy, Redzuan replied: “The majority wanted new blood.” LOOSE CANNON SAYS new blood my foot!

KOAM tidak amanah?

Senarai ihsan Kosmo!

Utusan Malaysia hari ini menyiarkan berita kurang enak mengenai Kesatuan Olahraga Amat Malang (KOAM). Klik di sini. Kalau aku menjadi presiden KOAM, aku malu! Dan aku harus menjawab tuduhan ini. Malangnya aku sibuk dengan pemilihan parti bulan depan. Olahraga? Ahh...politik lebih penting...masyuukkkkk.

Seperkara lagi, Kosmo! hari ini membincangkan apa kurangnya jurulatih olahraga tempatan. Ahh, aku tahu siapa yang ikhlas, siapa yang tidak, siapa yang lidah bercabang, siapa yang suka bodek, siapa yang suka tikam depan dan belakang, dan lebih teruk lagi, siapa yang dulu "kaki lawan" dan pernah bertumbuk dengan seorang atlit tetapi kini "menikus". Artikel saudara Mustapa Lakawa bagus tetapi dia terlupa menyebut pingat perak 400m lari berpagar yang digapai Noraseela Mohd Khalid di Kejohanan Olahraga Asia di Korea pada 2005, kemenangan jaguh lompat tinggi Lee Hup Wei di edisi seterusnya di Jordan dan pingat perak Sukan Asia di Doha buat ratu lompat bergalah Roslinda Samsu serta pingat gangsa untuk Noraseela di temasya yang sama. Klik di sini