Rest in peace, Isa Bakar (updated)

1974 - Asian Games, Tehran, Iran.

The national football team, coached by the taskmaster Jalil Che Din, bagged the bronze medal.

Significant to note it was perhaps the only time four of the country's top attackers - Syed Ahmad Abu Bakar, Shahruddin Abdullah, Mokhtar Dahari and Isa Bakar - joined forces as a fearsome quartet.

How did Jalil accommodate the four in the attack? By putting Syed Ahmad, the master dribbler, as the top striker, complemented by Moktar's marauding runs and thunderbolt shots.

Isa, Syed Ahmad's attacking partner in Penang, was installed as a left-winger known for his hit-and-run game and nose for goals. Shahrudin, famed for his thunderous shot, was entrusted to wreak havoc on the right wing.

But Malaysia began the campaign on a disastrous note, losing 8-3 to Israel in the opening match.

Syed Ahmad recalled:

"One of the team leaders uttered: "Hari ini kita kena lori kecil"...which could be interpreted as "we will today lose by a big margin."

"We were in a state of disarray. Some of the players refused to pass to me," said Syed Ahmad.

The team walked back to the dressing room with scoreboard showing Israel 4 Malaysia 0...goals registered by Moshe Onana in the 4th and 18th minutes, Shalom Schwartz 10th and Yehoshua Feigenbaum 39th.

One player sarcastically made a remark to Syed Ahmad: "Hah, di sana, you gentel sana sini, sini tak gentel pun" "Back home you slalomed past your opponent, why don't you do it here..."

Israel added a fifth through Gidi Damti three minutes after the break. Frustrated by the lack of support, Syed Ahmad took it upon himself to reduce the deficit. In the 61st minute, the Johor-born striker, who three years earlier propelled Malaysia to the Munich Olympic Games with a five-goal blitz in the 1971 qualifiers, broke into the Israeli box before he was fouled. Wan Zawawi slotted home the penalty.

But the defence kept on conceding goals. Again to Damti in the 67th and Yoel Massuari (75th).

Then in a five-minute blitz, Syed Ahmad netted a brace.

Memories came flooding back for Syed Ahmad as we spoke about Isa, who passed away in Penang on Saturday.

Once I received the text message from a number of friend of Isa's demise, the first person I forwarded the message to was Syed Ahmad.

"Is it true? We just had a reunion in Penang a few weeks back, Isa was in good spirits."

"We were partners in the Penang attack in the early 70s. Isa's biggest strength was his opportunistic nose for goals. As if he knew where the ball would fall. A loose ball inside the penalty box usually ended up in the net when Isa was around," recalled Syed Ahmad.

"Through the Malaysian Ex-Players Association, we often met up in Penang because Isa was very active. He used to be involved in every activity organised by the association."

Read here and here

Former Dunia Sukan editor Nasir Ahmad said: "I think the biggest tribute for Isa was the fact that he was considered by Mokhtar Dahari himself as his perfect partner."

Al-Fatihah.

Read Syed Nadzri's inside knowledge of Isa in Zippy to the very end

Sempena ulang tahun kemerdekaan

MASIH segar dalam ingatan penulis apabila dibawa ke Stadium Merdeka untuk menyaksikan Pestabola Merdeka edisi 1980. Dipimpin oleh arwah bapa, penulis teruja dengan peluang menonton aksi nama-nama masyhur yang hanya dikenali menerusi pembacaan akhbar dan majalah Dunia Sukan terbitan Utusan Malaysia.

Final tahun itu mempertemukan Malaysia dengan Maghribi. Dengan reputasi sebagai pasukan yang layak ke temasya Sukan Olimpik beberapa bulan sebelum itu, Malaysia dilihat mampu melakar kemenangan.

Penulis menonton dari belakang gol. Maghribi mendahului 2-0, dengan jaringan kedua mereka disempurnakan menerusi sepakan percuma ketika penjaga gol negara, Chow Chee Keong dan bentengnya belum bersedia.

Sejurus sebelum wisel penamat, tiba-tiba penghulu benteng Soh Chin Aun, dengan stokinnya sudah tergulung ke pergelangan kaki, membuat larian solo dari kawasannya sendiri sebelum membuat penyudah. Sayangnya, segalanya sudah terlambat. Malaysia tewas 2-1. Penulis pulang kecewa.

Penulis dihambat nostalgia 30 tahun lalu kerana sambutan Hari Kebangsaan ke-53 Selasa ini. Ramai sudah tentu maklum Pestabola dianjur sempena kemerdekaan negara pada 1957.

Rembat Kosmo! menyingkap semula satu pertandingan yang bukan saja menjadi lambang kemegahan sukan Malaysia, bahkan dijadikan wadah pendedahan bertaraf Asia buat pemain, jurulatih, pegawai penganjur dan pengadil serta pentas pemain mencipta nama.

Jadi Pestabola secara retrospektif dihidangkan di muka 13.

Bos Manchester United Alex Ferguson mengutuk Manchester City dan trend jutawan-jutawan mengambil alih kelab Inggeris lalu membuat pelaburan besar-besaran. Ferguson menyifatkan trend ini sebagai pelaburan kamikaze dan isu ini dibincangkan di muka 3, manakala Galeri di muka 8 dan 9 menyentuh undian Liga Juara-juara Eropah.

Bagi mereka yang berusia 37 tahun, tentunya lebih selesa bermain bola sepak secara riadah tetapi Ryan Giggs masih membanting tulang membantu Ferguson dan United. Ikuti kisahnya di muka 7.

Dalam keseronokan mengikuti bola sepak luar negara, wajar juga kita menghulurkan sokongan kepada arena tempatan. Fikirkan apakah sumbangan kita dalam memberi nafas baru kepada industri sukan itu, sama ada menghantar anak bermain di klinik mingguan, menjadi sukarelawan di padang atau bermain di bawah terik mentari.

Merdeka harus membawa makna kita bebas membuat keputusan yang kita fikirkan betul. Kalau bukan kita yang menyokong rakan senegara kita, siapa lagi? Selamat Hari Kebangsaan.

Jumpa lagi.

Rizal

Mat Bola...

Tidak ada sebab Annuar Musa tak puas hati

Sebenarnya, aku tidak faham kenapa timbul isu pelantikan Tan Sri Annuar Musa sebagai pengerusi jawatankuasa MSL dan jawatankuasa bola sepak wanita di bawah hirarki baru Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Pertama, Annuar adalah calon paling layak mengepalai MSL kerana kejayaannya merencanakan kebangkitan Kelantan. Inilah masanya Annuar membawa transformasi kepada FAM menerusi cawangan pemasaran badan induk itu, iaitu MSL yang ditugaskan mengisi kantung FAM.

MSL antara lain bertanggungjawab berunding dengan penaja seperti Telekom Malaysia yang menyuntik dana sejumlah RM8.5 juta setiap tahun sejak 2005, penyiar rasmi stesen tidak berbayar Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) dan stesen berbayar Astro serta penaja lain macam AirAsia.

Maknanya, kalau pandai, situ lah Annuar boleh naikkan profil peribadinya. Memang betul, kalaupun Annuar berjaya menarik penaja baru, fulus itu bukan di bawah bidang kuasanya kerana MSL masih tertakluk kepada dasar FAM. Tetapi itulah tugas sukarelawan di FAM, bekerja bukan kerana diri sendiri tetapi untuk bola sepak Malaysia.

Jawatankuasa Wanita pula cabaran baru buat Annuar. Macam mana mahu meniup nafas baru kepada sukan yang pada 1995 menang pingat perak di Sukan SEA Chiangmai. Kerjasama dengan Persatuan Bola Sepak Wanita penting dan mengenal pasti seorang jurulatih bagus yang boleh mengumpul pemain terbaik penting. Bayangkan kalau profil pasukan wanita ditingkatkan. Nama Annuar juga naik.

Ketiga, ramai lupa Annuar diberi tugas memantau pasukan senior kebangsaan di bawah struktur jawatankuasa pengurusan. Kalau K. Rajagobal kata team kebangsaan tak wujud, itu tipu namanya.

Berapa ramai pemain yang lahir pada 1986 dalam pasukannya?

Mana-mana pasukan Bawah 23 yang ada pemain senior, dianggap pemain senior.

Tugas pasukan senior adalah Piala AFF Suzuki. Itu tugas Annuar berganding bahu dengan Rajagobal, manakala Datuk Subahan Kamal memantau pasukan Bawah 23 untuk misi Sukan Asia di Guangzhou.

Jadi, aku tidak setuju dengan bekas schemer negara, Khalid Ali yang dipetik Harian Metro pelantikan Annuar dipersenda dan presiden Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM) Ahmad Khawari Isa yang menyebut Annuar Musa mangsa mainan politik.

Q n A with TM

Rembat 21 Ogos

FAM's chairman of various committees named but...

Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad is facing another battle

UPDATED
Aug 25, 11.30am
FAM vice-president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has denied any move to oust Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, adding that the meeting with  deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah shortly after the exco meeting was to discuss in general the challenges that lie ahead.


"Datuk Azzuddin's position was never discussed. Let me state here the general secretary is a presidential appointment. The exco gives our full support to the President and we back and work with whoever is appointed by the President."



One would have thought the fresh faces among the newly-elected office bearers of FA of Malaysia (FAM) who promised the world would create an instant impact in the first Exco meeting yesterday.

What we got instead was an executive member gleefully volunteering to sponsor a new pair of attire for the new Cabinet.

So, change for the better or for the worse? Sponsoring a new set of attire for these gentlemen should be the least of their concerns right now.

Anyway, after the exco meeting, some of the members, including vice-presidents Datuk Subahan Kamal and Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, sought a hush-hush audience with deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Agenda No 1: To remove general secretary Lt Jen Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad. There was no Agenda No 2.

Perhaps this was part of the blueprint drafted to propel Malaysia into the top 100 bracket in the FIFA rankings!

Click here to see who would be charting FAM's fortunes for the next four years.

I sincerely hope they know where to start...I mean start thinking for the betterment of football rather than thinking of ousting individuals and looking good. Substance over form, please, gentlemen. OK la, cannot condemn too much during this fasting month.

Selamat jalan Sry

                                                                  
                                                                      Gambar Utusan

Tahun 1995.

Gelanggang - Stadium Negara.

Acara - Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Malaysia.

Satu daripada keseronokan menjadi wartawan sukan ialah senda gurau, tepuk tampar dan perselisihan pendapat di kalangan ahlinya yang cukup kecil tetapi kecoh. Begitulah suasana di bilik media Stadium Negara. Sambil meninjau apa yang berlaku di gelanggang, bilik media hingar-bingar dengan suara-suara - ada yang garau, ada yang halus, ada yang macam penyanyi.

Dalam kekecohan ini muncul wartawan kanan Utusan Malaysia, Jasni Shafie membawa seorang rookie. Gadis manis bernama unik, Sry Angreni Mohd Zet. Kalangan pelapor sukan menyangka Sry Angreni girlfriend Jasni. Kalangan kami, antaranya Asmadi Ahmad (The Sun kemudian The Malay Mail), Amran Zimbo (Watan kemudian Utusan Malaysia), Hazli Hussaini (The Sun kemudian Harian Metro) dan Abdullah Sani (TV3) terdiam seketika.

Itu detik awal Sry Angreni membuat liputan badminton sambil dibimbing senior. Begitulah caranya mentor mencurahkan pengalaman kepada junior.

Apabila aku menerima pesanan ringkas pada jam 10.30 malam tadi bahawa Sry Angreni dipanggil menghadap Ilahi, aku terkejut. Terkenang semula detik pertemuan pertama kami di Stadium Negara.

Baca di sini. Sry Angreni sudah memulakan perjalanan baru. Takziah kepada suami dan anak-anaknya, dikebumikan pada hari penghulu segala hari dalam bulan Ramadhan Al Mubarak. Al-Fatihah.

KOAM pokai, Karim lawan Kok Chi

Setiausaha Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dan Timbalan Presiden Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) Karim Ibrahim kawan baik. Boleh dikatakan cium molot lah dulu. Aku tahulah...

Tapi diaorang katanya bertegang urat. Baca laporan Kosmo! KOAM pokai

A Malaysian to partner Davydenko

General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Pierre Barthes, Lee Choong Kay, Head of Sports, Astro, Fauzi Ahmad, F & N and tournament director, Nick Freyer

The Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) will pick one player to partner inaugural singles champ Nikolay Davydenko in the main draw of the doubles in the Malaysian Open next month. Wonder who's the lucky one. One lucky winner has been confirmed and she is Becky Harding, who was picked as the winner of an internship initiative called "Best Job".

Here's the Media Briefing Notes:

Media Briefing Notes – August 19, 2010


The Official Entry List & Doubles Main Draw Wild-Card Team

The full 2010 ATP World Tour entry list was presented to the media. This list features 19 names who receive direct entry into the tournament based on rankings. Nine of the names were already announced at the launch press conference. In addition to the 19 now confirmed players, there will be four qualifiers as a result of the qualifying tournament, three main-draw wild cards to be announced later and then there are two special exempt slots held in case players who were planning to play qualifiers reach the Final of the ATP World Tour tournament the previous week. If this is not the case, these two slots will go to the next highest ranked players on the entry list. Total 28 player singles main draw.

The 2010 entry cut-off is 71. There are players from 15 different countries represented so far in the singles. The 2009 entry cut-off was 64. This is a very good cut-off.

Full Entry List is attached.

It was confirmed that Nikolay Davydenko (ATP #6) has agreed to play with the Malaysian player, nominated by the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia, as part of a Wild Card pairing in the main draw of the doubles. This probably marks the first time in Malaysia’s sporting history that a Malaysian tennis player has joined forces with a current top-ten ranked ATP singles player, to play in an ATP main draw doubles match.


Astro Host Broadcaster Details – Massive Malaysian Television Coverage

It was confirmed that Astro will be the Host Broadcaster of the tournament and details of the long term co-operation with the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur include:-

• Based on the 2009 schedule of play on Centre Court, Astro will broadcast an estimated total of 26 matches via Astro Super Sport (25 singles matches and the Doubles Final) will be broadcasted LIVE on Astro SuperSport

• Astro sports package customers can enjoy LIVE video streaming of matches via Astro B.player found at www.stadiumastro.com through a simple registration process on the website. iPhone users can watch matches LIVE by downloading Astro's B.player app for free.

• This makes the tournament one of, if not the most heavily broadcast ATP 250 tournament on the Tour.

• The coverage equates to approximately 78 hours of domestic coverage, including live broadcasts and 1 repeat broadcast (based on 1.5 hours per match x 26 matches live x 1 time repeat).

• Average daily broadcast coverage equates to approximately 6 hours of live coverage per day.

• The broadcasts will include Hawkeye "Malaysia Truly Asia" review for added spectator excitement.

• As in 2009, the production quality will be very high, utilizing a 7-8 camera set-up.

• The tournament will placing advertising (the television commercial was shown publicly for the first time for those attending) on the Astro's platform, as part of the high profile domestic marketing campaign for the tournament.


Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2010 “Makan” Announcements

It was confirmed that Starbucks, Roti Boy and 100PLUS have signed up as Official Suppliers of the tournament. Their products will be made available to the public and players during the tournament whilst both Starbucks and Roti Boy will have tournament fliers available in many of their outlets in the KL area. 100PLUS will hydrate the players during matches. There will be branded coolers on court for television exposure.

Pizza Hut and KFC will have mobile restaurants at Putra Stadium and the Starbucks Chill patrol van will again serve up chilled favorites to tournament patrons.


Sponsor Quotes

“100PLUS is the ideal drink for this tournament where the tennis players have to push themselves to the limit in their quest for the honours. Consuming 100PLUS will keep the players properly hydrated especially in the hot and humid conditions in our country. We are looking forward to a thrilling and exciting event.”

Dato' Kamal Harun, National Corporate Affairs Manager, F & N Beverages Marketing Sdn. Bhd.

“Once is never enough, another great round of hot tennis in town!”

Mr. Hiro Tan, Managing Director, Rotiboy Bakeshoppe

“Starbucks is excited to be a part of the Malaysian Open Kuala Lumpur for the second time running. The response last year was excellent. The appearance and signing session by Fernando Gonzalez at Starbucks in KLCC was very well-received. We look forward to a more exciting partnership this year.”

Mr. Sydney Quays, Marketing & Communications Director of Starbucks Coffee Malaysia


Malaysia Best Job Winner Introduced

The winner of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2010, “Best Job Winner” initiative was introduced to the media. She is Becky Harding and her biography is below. Becky will do a six-week internship with IMG across all tournament departments, will write a daily blog on her experience for others to enjoy and will receive a USD 2,500 personal development grant on conclusion of the internship.

“Becky is the ultimate sports enthusiast and will watch and take part in any sport, provided there’s a challenge. Representing the state of Selangor in tennis as a teenager, and then Malaysia for football and futsal, as an adult, she attributes such sporting fanaticism to her multi-talented / sports enthusiastic family. Currently in her final semester towards completing a Bachelors of Communications, majoring in Media Studies, she also has five years of work experience in the field of events management, production and stage management.

Becky has always had a keen and somewhat curious infatuation with the field of sports marketing and sports events and believes that this opportunity presented to her by IMG is a combination of her three most favorite things - sports, entertainment and media!

Becky is occasionally zany and a highly proactive individual who revels in traveling and meeting new people from around the world. She is absolutely driven and passionate about the development of Malaysian women in sports and thrives toward raising the bar in the standard of sporting quality in Malaysia.”

Quote from Becky Harding

“I’ve always been driven about sports, especially with regards to its development on the local front. Therefore, I can’t wait to find out what ‘The Best Job’ has in store for me. I believe it will be an opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience in the field of sports management and in the organization of sporting events, which of course, will be very useful to me in the future. In addition, I am absolutely thrilled about the chance to work on an event that highlights Malaysia as an international sports destination. But in all honesty, I feel like an excited teenager who can’t wait to find out if this truly will be, ‘The Best Job Ever!’”

Rembat...

                                                      

     The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) football program has helped nurture more than 120 players registered in the M-League

The Malaysia Cup will kick off next month

                                                    Can these individuals make a change?

                                                    
                                                      Rembat offers foreign and local fare
                                                

Cover of Rembat, Aug 14, 2010

Footie round-up

Azmi's football knowledge and writing skills would put some journos to shame. I'm impressed with the lawyer's  blog called The Footie Round up

Piala Emas Raja-raja - 16 pasukan berentap

Sebanyak 16 pasukan bakal merancakkan kejohanan Puncak Piala Emas Raja-Raja musim ini selepas Mesyuarat Majlis Persatuan yang bersidang 8 ogos lalu telah mengumumkan senarai kesemua pasukan yang bakal bertanding pada edisi ke-70 kali ini.

Kejohanan kali ini dibahagikan kepada 4 kumpulan.

Cabaran awal di peringkat kumpulan akan bermula 5 hingga 7 November 2010, sementara peringkat suku akhir secara timbal balik pada 13 dan 20 November 2010.

Peringkat separuh akhir juga secara timbal balik akan diadakan pada 27 November dan 4 Disember 2010, manakala perlawanan akhir dijadualkan 18 Disember 2010.

Perlawanan akhir tahun lalu di antara Kedah menentang Perlis di Stadium Darul Aman telah mencatatkan sejarah pertandingan apabila dimainkan di hadapan lebih 45,000 penonton dengan Perlis ditabalkan juara Piala Emas Raja-Raja 2009.

Kumpulan A: Perlis, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur
Kumpulan B: Kelantan, Johor, ATM, Pulau Pinang
Kumpulan C: Perak, Kedah, Selangor, Melaka
Kumpulan D: MASUM, Singapura, Terengganu, Polis

Former Sukom director charged...

In 1997, Rosly Selamat was quoted here as the director of marketing of Sukom 98, organisers of the KL Commonwealth Games.

Thirteen years on, read here.

Bath-ing in controversy

The national badminton team are in Bath to prepare for the World Championship in Paris. Hmm...Brickendonbury all over again, I guess.

When the plan to establish a High Performance Training Centre at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre in Brickendonbury was broken and buried, efforts were made to set up centres elsewhere in UK, albeit on a smaller scale and low-key.

So enter the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sports Ministry, through the National Sports Institute (NSI) and the University of Bath sometime in 2007.

Why Bath?

Proximity to London, ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Great facilities. Read Tony Mariadass' take here.

But Lee Chong Wei, arguably our best bet to grab the honours in the World Championship, will be competing in Paris, 500km away with a one-hour difference.

If an athlete is focused on the job, he or she prefers hassle-free logistics. A trip to Paris a week ahead would be a better option. Bath, for all its state-of-the-art facilities, does not provide a top-notch performer like Chong Wei an environment conducive for success. This is not the time to evaluate Chong Wei's game, unless the experts in Bath have an in-depth analysis on Lin Dan's weaknesses.

Read New Straits Times report here and Haresh Deol's Tale of four Datuks

NSI director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz's old boss Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, in his column in Utusan Malaysia, questioned the wisdom behind the trip, saying even if the experts in Bath were armed with the necessary scientific knowledge on Lin Dan, what can they do to transform Chong Wei in nine days?

Buka puasa SAM

LAMA sudah tidak bertentang mata dengan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. Buka puasa Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM) dengan Shabery pada 1 September ini mungkin peluang beramah mesra sekali lagi. Baca blog SAM di sini

Off the record, with Fairuz

Fairuz Fauzy, Lotus Racing's test driver, revealed several interesting stuff with loose cannon recently, off the record of course. Loose cannon will be tempted to reveal all once Fairuz starts on the grid. Next year, maybe?

Meeting Shalin and Azlan

Akbar Sahari, Azlan Iskandar, Shalin Zulkifli and loose cannon

Sometime in 1994, loose cannon was told by his then Sports Editor Zian Johari to interview Shalin Zulkifli on whether or not she was disappointed in missing out on the National Sportswoman of the Year award...the story hit the backpage. Shalin was then a 16-year old highly dependant on her parents. Puan Rohani Razak was attached to TV3 at Jalan Liku, just behind the NSTP building.

Last week's Kafe Sukan was a refreshing change. London-based Azlan and Shalin spoke about the challenges of being professionals.

"We have to do everything by ourselves - from booking plane tickets to arranging accommodation. The guys in the elite programme have it good."

Twin terror

                   Zaquan Adha, Akbar Sahari, Aidil Zafuan and loose cannon in last week's Kafe Sukan

In 2002, I asked youth coach Aminuddin Hussin who among his charges would go on to don senior colours. He said be on the lookout for two outstanding players - the twins.

Two years later Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak and his twin Zaquan Adha helped Negeri Sembilan to the Sukma gold medal in football, beating my home State Johor. I was at the media room of the stadium, franctically trying to send all stories within the deadline.

Then the twins, along with Safiq Rahim, were named in K. Rajagobal's Malaysian Under-20 squad for the Asian Youth Championship, less than two weeks after the coach replaced sacked Jorvan Vieira.

Today, the twins are stars in their own right. Certainly two of the best talents in the country. By right they have no business playing football here. They should fly the nest.

Farewell ref

The football family mourns the passing of one of the country's best known referees, Koh Guan Kiat, or fondly known as Mr Kiat among his disciples. A FA of Selangor referees' board chairman for many years, Guan Kiat breathed his last at 8.05pm.

Naim Nair Abdullah said: "He is a legend among refereeing circles, if I'm not wrong he officiated three Malaysia Cup finals. He was the mentor for a good number of referees, many of whom went on to be FIFA referees who continued the proud tradition of officiating in a Malaysia Cup final."

Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh said: "He was never short of encouraging words when he was a member of the FAM referees' committee and an active referees' assessor."

Datuk Dell Akbar Khan said: "He was a very sporting ref. It was not unusual for him to tell me to play my normal game, which is robust and designed to intimidate my opponents, the last 10 minutes. But early on, he warned me to behave myself."

Former Selangor ref Adnan Jamil said: "One of few Chinese FIFA referees. Bold and straightforward. No hanky panky. Chairman of FAS referees' board for almost 20 years."

Kemenangan Hamidin - sah ke tidak?

Ini berita gempar yang didedahkan oleh presiden Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM), Ahmad Khawari Isa. Baca pemilihan Hamidin tidak sah?

Harapnya keadaan ini diperbetulkan. Jika Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin layak, dia boleh terus fokus kepada kerja. Jika tidak, nampaknya kena ada pemilihan semula. Bulan puasa pun, bulan puasalah.

What's under the surface?

Read the Malay Mail's front page here

Piala Dunia, stail Berita Harian

Buat julung kalinya, penganjur Piala Dunia Berita Harian 9-sebelah, membuka pintu kepada bekas kakitangan BH untuk membentuk satu pasukan. Sejurus menerima jemputan rasmi Meor Hisham, Fahmi Omar menggunakan segala kepakaran dan connection yang ada, khususnya mengacarakan program Jejak Kasih, bagi mengumpul semula barang-barang antik yang pernah menghiasi satu bahagian di bangunan di Jalan Riong. Sudahnya, XMEN BH mengumpul tujuh mata untuk menjuarai Kumpulan B tetapi kecundang angkara penentuan penalti di tangan pasukan gabungan meja sukan/Berita Minggu pada separuh akhir.

Belakang dari kiri Ahmad Fauzi Mustafa, Razali, loose cannon, Rosli Safar, Fahmi Omar, Razak Rafflis, Mohd Ali Majid, depan dari kiri Ridzwan Mohamad, Khairul Anuar Mokhtar, Badrulhisham Othman, Abu Bakar Atan, Mior Kamarulbaid Mior Shahid, Dahlan Maamor, V. Ashok. Loose cannon, Rosli, Razak, Mohd Ali, Khairul Anuar, Badrulhisham, Abu Bakar dan Ashok adalah bekas anggota meja sukan BH. Ashok kini Pengarang Sukan BH. Abu Bakar dan Fahmi anggota perintis meja sukan Harian Metro, sebelum disertai Dahlan dengan cermin matanya pada 1991. 

Dapat No 3 pun jadilah, dengan formasi 4-0-4...penjaga gol yang cemerlang, empat pertahanan yang tak bergerak, empat penggempur yang buat kerja...

                                            Barisan belakang dari kiri Abu Bakar Atan (TV3), Ahmad Fauzi Mustafa (Parlimen, tak lama lagi jadi ahli), Mior Kamarulbaid Mior Shahid (big boss BH), Ridzwan Mohamad (kojenya makan deghoyan aje, maklumlah bisnesman), Khairul Anwar Rahmat (peguam sivil dan syariah, penulis kolum Bona Fide di MStar, pengarah eksekutif Casa Impian serta pemenang Anugerah Kajai bersama Yusof Sulaiman pada 2004 berdasarkan siri artikel mengenai kerenah birokrasi Pejabat Tanah). Depan dari kiri Fadzrie Hazis (Astro Awani), Bazly Azmi (Astro Arena), loose cannon, Fahmi Omar (PRO MSN), Dahlan Maamor (Penasihat Media RTM), Isa Nikmat (umno-online). Mujur Dahlan dan Bakar sempat bergambar. Maklumlah selebriti, jadi mereka datang lambat...

Abu Bakar Atan resah di tepi padang..."apa ni Rizal, mana the pressing game yang u selalu cakap tu, pressing lah...

Bazly "Poyo" Azmi melakukan umpanan lintang

Betapa sukarnya membocori gawang lawan dalam Piala Dunia BH tergambar apabila Zef Othman dan Fahmi Omar dijulang pemenang kasut emas, eh bukan, hamper emas dengan hanya mencatat dua jaringan

Tajuk perbualan - cerita kisah lama. Ini sebelum Dahlan Maamor mencuri tumpuan dengan kegagalan menyempurnakan penalti pada separuh akhir apabila sepakannya melepasi tiang kiri. Ini disusuli sepakan penalti pada penentuan tempat ketiga yang melepasi palang dan singgah ke grandstand biarpun Dahlan dengan rakusnya meminta mengambil sepakan pertama, kononnya untuk menebus kegagalan pertama tadi. Rupa-rupanya Dahlan, bekas pegawai media FAM, novelis dengan 11 buku, pengacara TV, pernah menjalani pembedahan mata pada November 2009. Jadi kita maafkanlah peluang keemasan yang tidak disempurnakan serta dua penalti yang gagal disudahkan. Loose cannon masih ingat pada 1992, larian Dahlan di bahagian serangan Metro menggegar tanah...Fahmi menunggu di depan gol, manakala Bakar, kalau tak gaduh, mengawal jentera tengah...

Legenda 17

Gambar Majalah Stadium

Tahniah buat bekas kapten pasukan kebangsaan Zainal Abidin Hassan yang menceburi bidang keusahawanan dengan membuka restoran Lagenda 17 di Shah Alam. Dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. Turut hadir antaranya Tengku Muda Pahang, Datuk Ghani Minhat, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk David Arumugam, keluarga Allahyarham Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, naib presiden FAM, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, bekas penolong setiausaha FAM, Datuk Yap Nyim Keong dan jurulatih pasukan kebangsaan, K. Rajagobal.

Bolehlah krew Kafe Sukan buat rakaman di situ nanti!

Kafe Sukan 2 Ogos

Tetamu Kafe Sukan 2 Ogos 2010 ialah bekas Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad dan blogger Christopher Raj.

Topik dibincangkan - relevan atau tidak temasya Olimpik remaja, pindaan perlembagaan Persekutuan Hoki Malaysia (PHM) dan hala tuju Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Mazlan yang dulu rajin menulis kolum di Harian Metro dan Malay Mail, sekali-sekala menulis untuk Utusan Malaysia ketika ini. Antara cadangannya yang aku ingat agar bola sepak Malaysia kembali menjadi amatur atau semi-pro.

Soalan ini aku lontarkan dalam televisyen dan Mazlan menyambut: "Kalau ada jaminan kerja, pemain tidak akan berdepan masalah gaji tertunggak, pegawai tidak menuduh pemain makan suap dan tidak timbul masalah gaji lewat dibayar."

Masalah utama kita - nama liga saja profesional, pendekatan, sikap, amalan, corak latihan, pemikiran - amatur.

Syaaban berlalu...

Bulan Syaaban...Ayahku dipanggil menghadap Ilahi 20 Syaaban 1417. Bapa saudaraku Cikgu Rashid atau digelar, meninggal dunia pada usia 91 tahun 24 Syaaban lalu. Awal Syaaban yang lalu, aku menziarah Hajjah Raihanah Abdullah, yang kematian bapa tersayang, Hj Abdullah Mubarak. Antara paling awal menziarah jenazah bekas chief foreman production di NSTP itu ialah penolong bendahari Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Rosmanizam Abdullah.

"Arwah sebaik-baik manusia, pendiam tetapi ada sense of humour tersendiri. Percaya atau tidak, ketika Arwah menyewa di Kampung Baru, Arwah tidak menunggu tuan rumah menaikkan kadar sewa. Arwah naikkan sendiri," kenang Rosmanizam, bekas wartawan dan penyunting sukan di Berita Harian yang kini orang besar Utusan Malaysia.

                                             bersama En Haniff Hadi, Shahrizal Sanusi dan Akram Mohamed...gambar ihsan Shahrizal

Sebelum menunaikan solat jenazah, terserempak dengan bekas penolong pengarang kumpulan BH, En Haniff Hadi yang sedang mengambil wudhu'. Sebelum itu bersua Shahrizal Sanusi, bekas penyerang sekolah VI dan Supersub BH serta anggota pasukan pelari maraton Slowmovers.

Sebelum berhijrah ke Malay Mail, aku terpaksa menghadap En Haniff untuk dapatkan blessings.

"Engkau tak faham perjuangan Rizal," antara kata-kata En Haniff, yang mencipta nama sebagai wartawan sukan, hampir sejam aku duduk dalam pejabatnya!

Tapi aku sudah nekad...tidak lama kemudian aku bermimpi arwah ibuku berjumpa En Haniff...

Putting the trust on them

Datuk Syed Moheeb Syed Kamarulzaman and Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee

In them the Olympic Council of Malaysia trust!

Read here. Certainly its one way of making sure the money is not siphoned off once the present office-bearers are no longer holding any position in the umbrella body.

Betul cakap Engku...

Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar bersuara! Dan aku bersetuju dengannya.

Apalagi tuan-tuan, letak jawatan lah!

Setuju atau tidak setuju? Baca di sini

Isnin lalu pula, Kosmo menyiarkan kolum Garis Tepi:

Baru-baru ini, penulis berkesempatan menemu bual Tan Sri Elyas Omar.


Dalam kesibukan beliau, Elyas tetap meluangkan masa untuk penulis. Permintaan penulis untuk membuat temu janji jarang dijawab dengan nada yang mengecewakan.


Bagi penulis, Elyas harus dikenang selaku supremo dengan sentuhan Midas. Apa saja yang dilakukan bertukar menjadi emas.


Sama ada selaku Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur ketiga yang mencorakkan pembangunan ibu negara, ataupun tokoh sukan dan perancang di balik tabir Persatuan Bola Sepak Kuala Lumpur (PBKL), Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) dan Persekutuan Kebangsaan Lumba Basikal Malaysia (PKLBM), Elyas menggabungkan idea dengan pelaksanaan.


Tidak ramai di kalangan kita yang mempunyai daya fikir dan seterusnya tenaga untuk melaksanakan idea-idea kita. Elyas tergolong dalam kumpulan yang terkecuali.


Bagi mereka yang tidak mengenali Elyas di zaman kegemilangannya sebagai seorang tokoh pemimpin sukan yang berwibawa dan gah, antara sumbangan anak kelahiran Pulau Pinang itu ialah:


# memperkenalkan dasar semi-pro pada 1985 dengan memastikan pemain bola sepak Kuala Lumpur bekerja sebagai kakitangan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). Liga Semi-Pro anjuran Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) dilancarkan pada 1989.


# membina tapak kekuatan Kuala Lumpur selaku gergasi bola sepak tempatan.


# pengambilan trio Singapura - Fandi Ahmad, K. Kannan dan Malek Awab – untuk menganggotai skuad Kuala Lumpur. Ini membuka mata semua pihak.


# mengirim pemain remaja berkelana ke luar negara, khususnya Eropah, sebagai pendedahan tahap tinggi. Program ini melahirkan antara lain Azmin Azram Aziz dan Azrul Amri Burhan. T. Gopinath Naidu pula antara penerima skim biasiswa bola sepak yang membawanya ke Aston Villa dan Jerman.


# menyuntik unsur profesionalisme ke dalam pengurusan Kuala Lumpur dengan mmbawa jurulatih Piala Dunia Czechoslovakia, Josef Venglos, dari Sporting Lisbon.


# mengilhamkan projek Piala Thomas/Uber/Olimpik (TUO) yang membawa hasil pada 1992 dengan kemenangan Piala Thomas dan gangsa di Sukan Olimpik di Barcelona.


# membawa kepakaran China menerusi Fang Kaixiang dan seterusnya Yang Yang, Chen Changjie dan Han Jian ke Malaysia.


# ketua pelobi membawa Sukan Komanwel 1998 ke Kuala Lumpur


Benar, dedaun masa berguguran dan mengubah lanskap sosio-ekonomi negara namun corak dan kaedah kepemimpinan Elyas masih relevan.


Menggunakan pengaruhnya selaku Datuk Bandar, Elyas mengajak sektor swasta menyumbang dalam sukan menerusi tajaan, sama ada dalam bentuk wang atau barangan.


Elyas supremo sejati, seperti juga Allahyarham Datuk Paduka Ahmad Basri Mohd Akil. Kedua-duanya diberi kuasa eksekutif untuk membangunkan persatuan masing-masing.


Elyas mendedahkan bahawa beliau tidak berfikir dua kali melawan pakar teknikal dengan hujahnya.


“Kata putus terletak di tangan saya. Selaku ketua organisasi, saya bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya,” katanya, mengimbas detik beliau menolak cadangan Fang Kai Xiang menurunkan Foo Kok Keong sebagai pemain perseorangan pertama pada separuh akhir Piala Thomas 1988 dan idea memecahkan pasangan Razif-Jalani Sidek pada final 1992 disebabkan Jalani yang dilanda demam.


Di Kedah pula, program pembangunan Allahyarham yang menjadi pemangkin kebangkitan Hijau Kuning pada era 1980-an, kekal mekar sehingga hari ini, terbukti apabila SK Tunku Anum membolot gelaran Piala Menteri Pelajaran dalam kategori bawah 14 dan 17 baru-baru ini.


Pelaksana-pelaksana di akar umbi nampaknya masih setia dengan program Ahmad Basri.


Dalam pada itu, sekalung tahniah diucap kepada pemegang jawatan tertinggi FAM yang bakal terpilih hari ini.


Harapnya, mereka korek semula pelan pembangunan tersimpan dalam kabinet fail dan juga Road Map nukilan Robert Alberts.


Juga kita harus mencari jalan untuk membolehkan bekas pegawai pembangunan FIFA, Windsor John dan Penolong Ketua Pertandingan Qatar Stars League (QSL), Saifuddin Abu Bakar, membantu merencanakan bola sepak negara.


Barangkali Jawatankuasa Tabung Pembangunan Bola Sepak yang dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim, boleh menggunakan kepakaran dan hubungan akrab mereka dengan dunia luar.


Kita perlukan pemimpin seperti Elyas dan Basri. Kedua-duanya pemikir dan pelaksana, boleh dibawa bersila di rumah usang di Baling dan pada masa yang sama selesa mengapit kelompok bangsawan di Monaco.


Kita tidak perlu pemimpin yang membeli iklan dalam akhbar mempromosi diri sendiri sambil berterima kasih kepada pemimpin tetapi tidak menghargai penyokong yang membayar tiket untuk ke stadium!

Free consultancy for FAM

Leadership - a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to aim and achieve a common goal.

Goal. Aha, everyone knows what a goal is. The French call it but..

By now virtually everyone has spoken on the recent FAM line-up. I hope the leaders are able to lead...

So what next?

First and foremost, FAM should come up with a vision and mission statement. Give it a name, Vision Malaysia, Visi Malaysia, or Wawasan Bola Sepak Kebangsaan. Sell the idea to the rakyat.

I was impressed with Tengku Mahkota's speech when the Super League was launched in 2003. The plan was for every team to have a place to call home and the necessary eco-system conducive for success. Simple things like a medical doctor and a physiotherapist attached to the team, team bus and proper office. In short, a fully professional set-up...

Seven years on, KAFA and FAS do not have a place to call home!

I've grown tired writing about what we should do, like introduce U11 and U12 League competitions for junior schools at district level, ensure teachers handling grassroots activities and teams have adequate knowledge and coaching qualifications bla bla bla.

The immediate concern to me is the national team with an average age of 23. Coach K. Rajagobal has made the likes of Aidil Zafuan and Zaquan Adha, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Safiq Rahim and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha the nucleus of his squad. That means in theory they should hit peak form in seven years.

Why don't FAM convince the GLCs to support the various national teams?

Imagine Sime Darby taking charge of the national senior team in terms of salaries and training overseas. In return the Sime Darby branding will be visible on the team's training kit, backdrop of every Press conference and interviews involving personnel.

TM, instead of pouring money into Manchester United's coffers, can sponsor Harimau Muda A and B. Or TNB, or Petronas...

Khairy Jamaluddin envisioned the idea of a sponsor for the various competitions, like TM for Super League, McDonalds for the Premier League and etc etc. We should also explore the idea for the various national teams!
Consultants would charge a king's ransom for this piece of advice. For the love of the game, loose cannon is doing it for free!