Final jadi buruan

FINAL JADI BURUAN

PADA satu ketika, pasukan negara diwakili pemain-pemain terbaik negara.

Malangnya apabila skuad senior dicampur aduk dengan pemain Bawah 23 tahun berikutan munculnya pertandingan di pelbagai peringkat yang terhad kepada pemain kategori itu, ada jurulatih mengambil kesempatan menampilkan pemain muda.

Skuad senior dijadikan mangsa. Ada sesetengahnya masih berbisa tetapi dikorbankan atas nama pembangunan dan pendedahan buat pemain muda.

Jika tahap permainan di Sukan Asia dianggap terlalu sukar dijangkau, secara realistiknya, Piala Suzuki AFF bermula minggu depan adalah detik dan pentas pasukan negara merasai nikmat kemenangan.

Dengan impian layak ke Piala Asia secara merit dianggap jauh panggang daripada api, platform terbaik anak-anak buah K. Rajagobal untuk membuktikan keupayaan ialah kejohanan serantau yang diperkenalkan pada 1996.

Sejak acara bola sepak Sukan SEA dihadkan kepada pemain Bawah 23 tahun, Piala AFF menjadi buruan utama 10 negara Asia Tenggara mengejar prestij.

Biarpun Safiq Rahim, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dan rakan-rakan menaiki podium untuk dikalung pingat emas Sukan SEA di Laos tahun lalu, bola sepak senior menghidangkan cabaran berbeza.

Sejarah penyertaan Malaysia pahit untuk ditelan. Negaraku tidak pernah bergema di mana-mana stadium di rantau ini.

Di Singapura pada 1996, penyerang Thailand, Kiatisuk Senamuang, mengelak terpaan Zainal Abidin Hassan lalu meledakkan jaringan tunggal untuk mengecewakan anak didik Wan Jamak Hassan.
 
Dua tahun kemudian, kelibat Wan Jamak tidak kelihatan. Tugas membentuk pasukan yang menggabungkan anak muda dari pasukan Olimpik 2000 dan tonggak berpengalaman digalas Hatem Souissi di Vietnam. Malaysia tewas di peringkat kumpulan.
 
Di Songkhla/Bangkok pada 2000, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim menggandingkan rangkaian penggempur terbaik - Rusdi Suparman, Azman Adnan, Hairudin Omar dan Nizaruddin Yusof sambil dibantu kapten Ahmad Shahrul Azhar Sofian namun kesudahannya Malaysia tewas kepada Thailand pada separuh akhir sebelum menewaskan Vietnam untuk menduduki tangga ketiga.

Sekalipun membuat permulaan yang menggemparkan dengan membelasah Singapura 4-0 dan menewaskan Thailand 3-1, pasukan kendalian Allan Harris yang menampilkan Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, Indra Putra Mahayuddin dan Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan serta K. Nanthakumar tumbang di tangan Indonesia pada separuh akhir.

Pada 2004-2005, Malaysia bungkam lagi apabila tewas kepada musuh ketat, Indonesia, menerusi timbal balik walaupun menamatkan kemarau kemenangan di Jakarta selama 25 tahun menerusi dua jaringan Liew Kit Kong. Di Stadium Nasional pada Januari 2005, jaringan Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Charis Yulianto, Boaz Salossa dan Ilham Jayakusuma menghancurkan harapan Bertalan Bicskei untuk mara ke final.

Misi Malaysia yang dibimbing Norizan Bakar, tersekat lagi pada separuh akhir pada awal 2007 apabila pemain muda dari Kedah, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri gagal menyempurnakan penalti selepas terikat dengan Singapura 2-2 secara agregat.

Beberapa bulan selepas membawa anak buahnya memenangi Pestabola Merdeka, B Sathianathan melihat Malaysia sekadar menduduki tangga ketiga kumpulan di belakang Thailand dan Vietnam.

Bagi menghadapi edisi 2010 yang dianjur bersama oleh Indonesia dan Vietnam, Rajagobal harus merencanakan strategi pasukan tanpa pasangan kembar, Aidil Zafuan dan Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, selain Norhafiz Zamani Misbah dan Ahmad Fakri Saarani.

Malaysia diundi bersama juara tiga kali, Thailand yang dilatih oleh bekas kapten England, Bryan Robson dan Indonesia kendalian Alfred Riedl serta Laos, pemenang kumpulan kelayakan.

Robson menyaksikan anak buahnya mara ke suku akhir Sukan Asia di Guangzhou sebelum tewas tipis kepada Jepun, manakala Riedl menyenaraikan pemain kelahiran Uruguay, Christian Gonzales untuk menerajui serangan di sisi Bambang Pamungkas, Budi Sudarsono, Irfan Bachdim, Boaz Salossa dan Yongki Aribowo selain Oktavianus Maniani di tengah.

Rajagobal memecah tradisi apabila menjadi jurulatih pertama sejak Trevor Hartley menjuarai Sukan SEA. Di Guangzhou, sekalipun diulit kontroversi pengadil Ben Williams yang dilihat beat sebelah, Rajagobal membawa Malaysia ke pusingan kedua buat kali pertama sejak 1978.

Jadi tidak mustahil anak kelahiran Setapak ini mengukir sejarah sekali lagi. Ayuh Malaysia!


  Dalam Box

Jadual

Rabu
Indonesia lwn Malaysia
(Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, 7.30mlm)

Sabtu
Malaysia lwn Thailand
(Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, 5.0ptg)

7 Disember
Malaysia lwn Laos
(Jalak Harupat, Bandung, 7.30mlm)



  Rekod Malaysia dalam Piala AFF

 Singapura 1996  naib juara, tewas kepada Thailand pada final

 Vietnam 1998 peringkat kumpulan

 Thailand 2000 tempat ketiga

 Singapura 2002 tempat keempat

 Kuala Lumpur 2004 tempat ketiga

 Singapura 2007 separuh akhir

 Thailand 2008 peringkat kumpulan

The true KPI, NKRA from Guangzhou...

I have to congratulate the Malaysian contingent for a rousing performance in the recently concluded 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou. I was initially skeptical on the team's prospects of meeting the target but I was wrong.

Nevertheless, in hindsight, the nine gold medal target was too conservative, considering the fact it was also the medal target for Doha 2006. The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for 2010 was too low in the first place.

It was reported RM144 million was spent to prepare the contingent for both New Delhi and Guangzhou assignments since 2007. Surely we cannot expect the returns on investment to be similar as to what it was in Doha.

My honest assessment?
NSC should have aimed higher...but the pressure would have been greater! Anyway since our participation in the 1958 edition in Tokyo, we have garnered 51 gold medals from 11 disciplines.

Surprise package
Surely the national hockey team deserved the credit. The likes of Ho Koh Chye, R Yogeswaran, Ow Soon Kooi, Poon Fook Loke, M. Mahendran, Nor Saiful Zaini, Sarjit Singh, Mohamad Abdul Hadi, Mirnawan Nawawi may have tasted Olympic action but they never went beyond the semifinals of the Asiad but Madzli Ikmar, Amin Rahim, Azlan Misron and the younger set of players did. My only complain is that, having vowed to shave their heads for entering the final, the majority of the players should have waited until the final. As I mentioned on Astro Arena's nightly analysis Arena@Guangzhou, the players entered the pitch with mixed emotions - of celebrating entering the final and having to deal with the pressure of delivering an automatic ticket to the London Olympics. Still kudos to them. S. Kumar's splendid goalkeeping co-incided with the birth of his son. Read Haresh Deol's letter to Kumar Jr here

Biggest disappointment
The women's bowling team? Sepak takraw? Athletics?

Top athlete
Azizulhasni Awang, for making amends for his defeat in the Commonwealth Games by adopting a kamikaze approach and for being the only gold medallist from an Olympic discipline.

Two years from today, our focus will shift towards the Olympics.

Now, tell me, who would be able to deliver the medals in London? If we are lucky, Azizul could be a bright prospect. Who else? Lee Chong Wei? Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong?

Asian Games and I

Only into my 15th year as a journalist that I got the chance to cover the Asian Games. That happened in 2006 in Doha. It remains special to me for the Doha trip was my last with the Malay Mail. It also enabled me to complete the sports journalists' Grand Slam, so to speak, having covered the SEA Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. The two biggie that eluded me remain elusive - the FIFA World Cup and the Euros.

Wanting to be cheeky, I proposed to sports editor Moose "Our Sheikh in Doha" picture byline prior to my departure. And he agreed! Later on it became the talk of the town...among sports journos la...

My preview - I predicted that the contingent would return with a 10 gold haul

This picture was taken shortly after Nicol David's press conference in Doha...one would have thought I was an athlete myself...

My review

Suffering from Athlete's foot, I was a walking wounded, with my right foot looking like an elephant's leg. Hailing a taxi in the midnight hour in Doha was next to impossible. Eventually I was taken to the Hamad Medical Centre 4.20am Malaysian time by RTM's Hafizal Hamad. I was treated by an Iraqi surgeon, Dr Mohammad Darwish. "You have cellulitis, your feet is swollen." Hafizal later named his first son Ilham Darwish...

Chai Fong Yin's golden choreograph was inspired by Jet Li's The One, not Michelle Yeoh's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...

I named my column Dunes of Doha, because I expected a bumpy ride for the contingent through the sand dunes of Doha...one day I decided to write about meeting champion hurdler Liu Xiang and how Kamarulzaman Pid and I missed the opportunity to snap a picture with him..

Was Josiah Ng a choker in major events? This poser followed Jo's defeat to his training mate Tsubasa Kitatsuru in the sprint semifinal

My Doha memories remained vivid as I chronicled Norfarhan Mohammad's own goal against Oman and Hardi Jaafar two superb goals, Rexy Mainaky quitting, crying and retracting his decision, the bowlers' excellent display, Roslinda Samsu's defeat in pole vault on countback, Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil receiving her medal on a wheelchair, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's grand entrance into fame, hockey's sixth place and karate's hopes chopped to pieces. I too bore witness to the grilling handed by Ahmad Khawari Isa, my room mate throughout the Arabian adventure, to the then National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz after the contingent failed to meet the target of nine gold.

The real sheikhs of success

Four years on, I'm taking a different role, having been given a chance to offer my opinion on TV, thanks to Astro Arena.

Flanked by Edleen Ismail and BA of Malaysia general manager, Kenny Goh

Again Fong Yin has returned with the gold

Shaukei Kahar, Fong Yin and Arena producers, Slamet Sazly Yakub and Nasser Zainal

Aku kena ugut...

Apabila aku diugut, aku tidak ada pilihan kecuali akur.

"Hang mai kenduri aku eh, bawak anak-anak sekali, kalau hang tak bawak siap hang..." suara garau Nasir Ahmad memberi amaran aku wajib hadir kenduri kahwin anak sulungnya Nashriq di Kajang, sehari selepas Kelantan menjulang Piala Malaysia 2010.

Tentu sekali aku membawa rombongan aku seramai lima orang termasuk aku sendiri...yang menariknya mestilah bertemu rakan-rakan lama yang menjadi teras meja sukan Berita Harian tidak lama dahulu, antaranya Lukman Salleh yang dikhabarkan bakal ke Astro Arena, bos lama Zian Johari, Rodly Nayan, Ismail Ahmad dan Rosli Safar.

Aku masih ingat Rodly penyunting yang selalu buat back page...story aku selalu pergi page lead muka surat Abang Mail yang pernah menjadi pengarang sukan Utusan Malaysia...Nasir pula mentor yang banyak mengajar aku ketika di Jaguh...Rosli bawak aku ke Majlis Sukan Negara di Stadium Negara dulu...

Budak-budak wartawan sekarang untung dan lemak...dulu aku bukan saja pergi library cari gambar untuk abang-abang sub ni, aku tolong proof read, tolong bagi heading, tolong buat caption, lepas tu angkat air minum dengan sandwich lalu tangga dari kantin sampai tingkat empat...berapa kerat orang boleh buat itu semua sekarang? Tapi dari situ aku belajar...

Kerana Rodly penulis award-winning dengan majalah Bolasepak, Nasir pakar badminton dan olahraga, Abang Mail masih dikenang Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah dan cekap menulis pasal politik kepegawaian. Walaupun ada yang tuduh aku ego, kerja-kerja aku, sama ada yang nampak atau tidak, membuktikan sebaliknya...

First byline aku di Berita Harian, pasal story Nazim Din, bek kiri Kuala Lumpur, berbekam di Chow Kit, diberi oleh Zian...tanda-tanda awal aku dilamar ke meja sukan, seterusnya titik permulaan kerjaya aku...

Dari kiri Nazar, Rodly, Bang Ismail, Fadzil, Nasir, Mutazar dan Isa. Duduk dari kiri Rasid, Zian dan Rosli...Aku tak sangka Nasir pakai baju Melayu. Dok pakai selipar ke ofis dari dulu sampai laa...

Gullit on the 2018 bid, Ballon d'Or and the 2010 World Cup

Ruud Gullit, president of the Holland-Belgium bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2018, entertains questions from loose cannon via email.

1. What would be the highlights or strong points of your bid?
The short distances are one of our the strongest point of out bid. No endless flights but freedom for all to travel around and come close to the players and the tournament atmosphere. Furthermore, we provide easy access and situated in the heart of Europe. We want to open the doors to all football associations around the world to come and watch how we educate coaches and players and how are football structure operates. We are a safe choice, a guarantee for success. We can build on the experience of EURO 2000, the economic power and a safe environment. We serve as an example for most of the FIFA members who would never dream of hosting the World Cup if we did not give an excellent joint example.

2. What advantages does a joint-bid offer to teams, spectators and sponsors?
Once you have entered either of the countries there is no need to board a plane anymore until after the final. We offer a chance for everyone to taste the best of two countries that have always been closely related and that share the same language. We share the sense of good hospitality, rich history, great artists and above all the love for football.

3. How crucial do you think the Asian vote is with regard to your bid?
As every vote counts on 2 December. I am sure people in Asia will realize that Belgium and The Netherlands have something special to offer.

4. What will be your message to the Asian Football Confederation?
We can show how organizing and structuring the education of coaches and players offers you a real chance of reaching the top in World football. We will offer all FIFA member associations the chance to have an inside look into our system so that football worldwide can benefit from the World Cup in Belgium and The Netherlands.

5. What is your opinion or stand on countries hosting the FIFA World Cup more than once? There has been precedence in the case of Mexico, Germany and Brazil. Even amongst the 2018 World Cup bidders, England and Spain have played host before.
Every country has the right to bid for the World Cup, even it is for the second time. We want to give hope in the hearts of the smaller nations that would possibly never dream of organizing the World Cup. This might be the last chance for joint bidders to provide an example to the rest of the world.

6. How would you describe the development of football in Asia? Do you foresee an Asian country winning the FIFA World Cup any time soon?
If you look at the results of the Asian teams in recent World Cups you can see their improvement all the time. 2002 saw the great discovery of Japan and South Korea as footballing nations with a great potential. I saw Japan play The Netherlands a couple of times in recent years and the Dutch have more and more trouble winning their matches versus ‘Nippon’. It will not be long before an Asian team will play the World Cup final, and probably win it as well.

7. If your bid is successful, what is your promise to the teams, spectators and the football world as a whole with regard to FIFA World Cup 2018?
We have seven Great Goals that we want to share with the world. We firstly want to contribute to world football by focusing on the core values of football, beautiful goals and joy for the fans, just like the Belgian and Dutch team have brought joy to football fans around the world in past years. Everyone will arrive in Belgium and The Netherlands and enjoy the World Cup with the shortest distances between venues ever. Apart from that society all around the world can benefit from the greenest World Cup ever, from World Coaches that educate children who are less well off and the Open Club concept, which stresses the importance of football clubs at a social and community level.

8. The Open Football Club concept is interesting. Can you explain further on the concept and how it can be adopted in developing countries especially in Asia?
In Belgium and The Netherlands we have a club structure that is unique in the world. Everyone can join a football club at almost every street corner. These clubs have excellent facilities with artificial pitches and changing rooms and a comfortable club house. These facilities should be used 24/7. A football club should be the social and educational heart of the neighborhood where people of all ages, from all social backgrounds find something of use during day time and in the evening. The clubs play a crucial role in the social cohesion, the fighting of obesities, cultural integration and development of children. We will help Asian countries copy this concept and use the strength of football to the very full. All FIFA member associations will be invited to our World Cup in order to have a look in our kitchen of football.

9. How would your bid reflect the FIFA slogan “For the Game; For the World”?
Our slogan is Together for Great Goals, which expresses that two countries work together in order to achieve glorious moments of football and to achieve great goals off the pitch well. We will host the greenest World Cup ever and further implement the World Coaches concept as well as The Open Football Clubs.
10. The Dutch team came agonizingly close to the world title in 2010. What do you think is the missing ingredient that Netherland needs to be crowned World champions?
It is a matter of luck and composure. If you look at the chances of The Netherlands in the final we should have scored at least once. Next to this, we are already very proud that our nation reached the final of a World Cup even three times. We never won, ok, but playing the final soo many times for us already is an achievement.

11. The merger of the FIFA awards and the Ballon d'Or. Good idea?
I think there should be several prizes with several juries to decide. In that case you can see if everyone agrees on the best players and best teams.

12. The FIFA World Cup bids have been plagued by allegations of vote-buying. All the campaigning around the world and yet the final decision and vote lies with 24 executive committee members of FIFA, now reduced to 22 after two were suspended for their involvement in bribery. Against this backdrop, are you optimistic of landing the rights purely from the football perspective?
We hear and read the stories in the media. FIFA have started an investigation and they are the institution to deal with this matter. It is not a discussion we are involved in.

Kenapa aku tidak setuju dengan Subkhiddin...

Siapalah aku banding dengan Cikgu Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, anak Melayu pertama menjejakkan kaki ke Piala Dunia selaku pengadil? Apabila Cikgu yang sangat aku hormati ini tidak terpilih langsung untuk mengadili satupun perlawanan di Afrika Selatan dan sebaliknya sekadar menjadi pengadil keempat, aku mempertahankannya dan mempertikaikan keputusan jawatankuasa pengadil FIFA. Baca kolumku di Brunei Times dan kolumku di Kosmo

Mengulas tindakan Ben Williams sekonyong-konyongnya melayangkan kad merah kepada Mahali Jasuli, Safiq Rahim dan S. Kunanlan, Subkhiddin menongkah arus sentimen dan sependapat dengan rakannya dari Australia itu. Baca di sini

Namun, kalau Cikgu Subkhiddin yang menyambut ulang tahun ke-44 serentak dengan Eidul Adha esok yang mengadili perlawanan itu, aku rasa:

1. Cikgu Subkhiddin harus perasan bahawa Mahali dijatuhkan sebelum beberapa saat kemudian membuat two-footed lunge ke arah pemain China.
2. Benar terjahan dua kaki Mahali mengikut undang-undang wajar diberi kad kuning, tetapi banyak kali juga pengadil boleh memberi amaran lisan terlebih dahulu.
3. Tentu Cikgu Subkhiddin perasan Malaysia yang patut dapat throw-in pada minit ke-25 tetapi penolong pengadil bagi dekat China, itu yang Mahali marah dan sepak bola.
4. Benar Mahali bersalah kerana ungentlemanly conduct tetapi kalau kesalahan pertama hanya diberi amaran lisan, Mahali diberi kad kuning dan masih kekal di padang.
5. Cikgu Subkhiddin tentu perasan Safiq Rahim sekadar menyuarakan bantahan atas kedudukannya selaku kapten. Atau mungkin tindakan dia terpegang tangan Williams salah? Yang aku tahu kalau pemain menolak pengadil terang-terangan atau meludah, macam Abdul Manaf Mamat buat dekat Subkhiddin, baru wajar dikenakan kad merah.
6. OKlah, Kunanlan bersalah. Sekali lagi pengadil diberi ruang mengamalkan budi bicara...

Kesudahannya, Ben Williams, tidak ada budi, tidak reti bicara...

Satu lagi faktor, Ben Williams Ref of Oz ini ada rekod buruk ketika Malaysia dibelasah 5-0 dengan UAE awal 2009.

Maka dengan ini, aku mencadangkan kepada Naib Presiden Gabungan Bola Sepak Asia (AFC), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, agar mengemukakan bantahan jika satu hari kelak Williams dipilih mengadili mana-mana perlawanan membabitkan Malaysia. Itu hak kita!

An Open Letter to Ben Williams, Aussie referee

  Ben Williams doing what he does best...

Benjamin Jon Williams,
Aussie outback,
Australia continent.

Dear Mr Williams,

RE: Asian Games - China v Malaysia

I hope this  letter reaches you in the finest of health so that you can continue to make a mockery of the beautiful game.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rizal Hashim, a former journalist with the Malay Mail, an English tabloid known for its no-holds barred commentaries and analyses (those days are gone, however). Before I proceed, I must insist that I believe in objectivity and seldom allow myself to be swayed by sentiments or emotion.

However I cannot help but put your refereeing ability into question based on the way you conducted the China-Malaysia tie in the ongoing Asian Games in Guangzhou, where two Malaysian players were given the marching orders in the 27th minute.

The perception was that you were out to facilitate China's entry to the knock-out stages.

I suggest you study the footage of the game.

You would then notice that:

# A few seconds into the game, Malaysian right back Mahali Jasuli was fouled. Not only you refused to blow the whistle, you gave advantage to China. Subsequently Mahali's two-footed lunge was rewarded with a yellow card, with less than three minutes into the game.

# When Mahali lost his composure and kicked the ball away, it was because he felt a sense of injustice as it should have been Malaysia's throw in.

# Now, was Malaysian captain Safiq Rahim spewing obscenities Down Under style that you would be so quick on the draw, brandishing a straight red card seconds after giving Mahali the marching orders? Two players being sent-off simultaneously? Virtually unheard of in these parts...but in A-League, there's every possibility it happens on a weekly basis.

From thereon, the game was no longer being held on a level playing field.

S. Kunanlan's second yellow card? It was neither a life-threatening tackle, a tackle from behind or a karate lunge ala Nigel de Jong. But he became the third player to be given the red card and you duly rewarded China a penalty, how convenient. The 3-0 result became immaterial.

Perhaps Mr Gary Power, the biggest influence in your career and a one-time Asian Football Confederation director of referees, could admonish you in private. Or better still, I hope the match commissioner in tonight's game, Kul Sophana from Cambodia, would have the moral courage to take note of your incompetence and make the necessary recommendation.

In the interim Mr Williams, please consider sticking to teaching. It will serve the rest of the world better! But I would not be surprised if your name is shortlisted for the AFC Awards, if not this year, next year!

Oh before I forget, a friend of mine Syazwan Marzuki, reminded me of the fact that you were also the referee when Malaysia were given a hiding by UAE in early 2009, a loss which drew the infamous "M-League is not football" by coach B. Sathianathan. Read here. I sure hope you have nothing against Malaysia, Mr Williams.


Kind regards,

Rizal Hashim

P/S To my fellow Malaysians, coach K Rajagobal and his boys, I salute you.

Perginya seorang tokoh

Lumba basikal di Malaysia diwarnai dua Daud. Seorang bekas pelumba, seorang lagi pegawai.

Kini hanya tinggal Daud Abu Kassim, tokoh lumba basikal Kuala Lumpur, berikutan pemergian Daud Ibrahim, pemenang pingat emas Sukan Asia 1970.

Pemergian Daud Ibrahim, 63, selepas keretanya dirempuh lori treler di Tampin, awal Khamis lalu, membawa beberapa kenangan. Setiap kali aku balik ke Kluang, ketika arwah Tok Tina ku masih hidup, arwah selalu sebut, Riz, pergi lah interviu Daud Ibrahim...dia Kastam Kluang.

Aku berpeluang bertemu dengan arwah apabila membuat liputan lumba basikal yang lebih banyak cerita dan isu kepegawaian. Pada Jelajah Pantai Timur 1993, arwah bawak team Johor.

Aku dapati Allahyarham seorang pendiam, tidak banyak bercerita. Namun itu tidak menyembunyikan betapa hebatnya Allahyarham ketika membuat henjutan ketika di kemuncaknya.

Terima kasih Damanhuri Nasir dari Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM)

Dari kiri Daud, Rosman Alwi, M Kumaresan, Ng Joo Ngan dan Tan Sri Elyas Omar. Gambar koleksi bekas pegawai MSN, Zubir Ahmad.

Arwah berasal dari Parit Jambi, Batu Pahat, Daud satu ketika pelumba No 1 Asia, memenangi pingat emas 1,600m beramai-ramai di Sukan Asia Bangkok pada 1970, disusuli lima emas di Sukan SEAP 1971 di Kuala Lumpur hingga diberi Anugerah Olahragawan Kebangsaan pada 1971.

Bersara terlalu awal pada usia 27 tahun, Daud kemudian memberi tumpuan kepada tugasnya selaku pegawai kastam selain berusaha menyemai minat terhadap lumba basikal di kalangan anggota keluarganya serta anak muda dari Johor.

Perginya Daud bermakna hilang sudah semangat kental seorang individu yang tidak lelah mencungkil bakat di akar umbi.

Daud Abu Kassim yang mengenali arwah lebih 30 tahun, menyifatkan pemergiannya sebagai satu kehilangan besar.

"Arwah bergerak secara solo dan tidak campur sangat dengan politik persatuan. Yang penting, arwah meninggalkan legasinya dengan mendidik anak-anaknya berminat lumba basikal sambil tidak jemu mengenal pasti bakat di Johor." Al-Fatihah buat Daud Ibrahim.

Cardiff City and Isaad Nabil

Oct 30, 2010, a date that shall remain imprinted in Isaad Nabil Taufiqqurahman's memory bank. Recently turned 6, the Cardiff City fan was selected to be the team mascot for the team ahead of their 3-1 win over Norwich City, once beneficiary of Proton's sponsorship.

Read Seeing Stars and Malaysian celebration in Cardiff

Le Tour de Langkawi...ke mana seterusnya?

Ketika Tour de Langkawi dilancarkan pada 1996, satu Malaysia menjangka satu perlumbaan prestij yang boleh menyaingi Jelajah Perancis, Vuelta dan Giro d'Italia. Aku sempat membuat liputan pada 1997, apabila Datuk Wan Lokman Wan Ibrahim, bos First Cartel yang juga penganjur LTDL, mengembangkan sayap perlumbaan hingga ke Sabah. Antara pelumba yang mewarnai saingan ketika itu Gianni Bugno dan Andrea Tafi.

Masalah kesulitan wang, logistik menghantui Wan Lokman. Pada 2004 hak penganjuran dijual kepada Imran Abdullah. Kini LTDL sudah menjadi tanggungjawab Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS).

Ke manakah hala tuju LTDL? Dan apakah pelumba seperti Anuar Manan benar-benar menggarap pengalaman berharga untuk mengangkat standardnya?

Kyrgyz test

Murzaev

Kyrgyzstan is an unknown entity among us. Coach K. Rajagobal claims to have little knowledge of the team.

Asian football experts though have noted the potential threat posed by Mirlan Murzaev and Anton Zemlyanukhin. The two young strikers could wreak havoc to our Asian Games prospects.

Murzaev was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 AFC President’s Cup in September despite his team Dordoi Bishkek losing 1-0 to Myanmar's Yadanarbon in the final at Youth Training Centre.

Murzaev scored five goals in last year’s tournament and spent six months at Lokomotiv Moscow. The 20-year old has the ability to hold up the ball in attack and create chances for others.

Zemlyanukhin plays for Taraz FC in the Kazakhstan league, on loan from Turkish side Giresunspor.

Zemlyanukhin

Captain Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and Muslim Ahmad will have their work cut out when they troop onto the pitch at Huadu Stadium Monday afternoon!

Thanks Pavel Luzanov, for the info.

Fresh features on new jersey

Nike unveiled the Malaysian national football team's new jerseys on Wednesday. Pics courtesy of sportsmalaysia.net.

I prefer the previous away design which proved to be a lucky charm for K. Rajagobal as the team picked up the nation's first gold medal in football in SEA Games since 1989 wearing the colours.

The customary federation crest is no longer there. In its place, the Jalur Gemilang...which is refreshing

Embossed inside is a line from Negaraku...tanah tumpah darahku...creative and I hope inspiring to those who wear it

Murugasu...a fatherly figure

My ex-boss Tony Mariadass was not amused upon getting a call from a journo asking details about Datuk Paul Murugasu's passing. Read here. Today's generation of journos, not all I must qualify, does not do enough legwork.

Murugasu served as general secretary of the FA of Malaysia (FAM) from 1980 to 1985. He had a big pair of shoes to fill in as his immediate predecessor, Datuk Kwok Kin Keng, occupied the seat for almost three decades.

Synonymous with Malaysian football since 1951, Kwok, a keeper and a cricketer with VI, was forced to step down after having survived three heart attacks in 11 years. He died of kidney failure 10 days before his 73rd birthday in 1980. One of his most satisfying achievements was the building of the six-storey FAM building at Jalan Birch which was opened by Tunku Abdul Rahman on December 7, 1961. On succeeding him, Murugasu said: "Taking over from Datuk Kwok, a man whose achievements will certainly be difficult to match, presents a tremendous challenge for me.

"I've been fortunate to have worked with Datuk Kwok for more than 10 years and this certainly has given me invaluable experience on how to continue the good work for Malaysian soccer."

Murugasu was teaching at the Government trade school in Kajang when he was roped in by S.C.E Singam, another teacher known as Bola Singam, into the FA of Selangor (FAS) as assistant secretary.

Along with the likes of ex-referee and headmaster of Kluang High School, Koe Ewe Teik, Negeri Sembilan businessman Lim Kee Siong, Perak's Datuk Teoh Chye Hin and teacher-turned-sports official at the Sports Ministry, Datuk Peter Velappan, Murugasu formed a strong backbone behind the scenes. Later on the likes of Datuk Abu Bakar Daud, Datuk Syed Ahmad Kuning and R. Ramalingam joined the footballing elite who became part of the decision-making process.

Murugasu's successor as FAS secretary, S. Anthonysamy, remembers Murugasu with fondness.

"We were close as I served as FAM council member and member of the competitions committee when Datuk Paul was the secretary. He was a good leader, open and transparent and had a lot of ideas in promoting the game," said Anthonysamy who served under four FAS presidents.

Datuk Dell Akbar Khan who succeeded Datuk Paul Mony Samuel as FAM general secretary from 2000 to 2005, said Murugasu was fatherly in his approach.

After handing over the post to Mony, Murugasu remained very much part of the FAM set-up, being a member of the disciplinary committee. By the early 2000s, Murugasu was wheelchair bound but he never failed to fulfill his duty to the last. Read the tributes from Tony and Joe Marcose, here and here.

Diamond award for PM, Tan Sri for Hammam?

Kuala Lumpur: When Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak receives the AFC Diamond of Asia award on November 24, he will join a list of illustrious awardees, including FIFA President Joseph S Blatter and Japanese football pioneer Captain Saburo Kawabuchi. THIS MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE PM, CONSIDERING THE FACT PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS WERE FOOTBALL ACTIVISTS, NOT POLITICIANS.

The first recipient of the AFC Diamond of Asia, which is bestowed for exemplary contribution towards the development and promotion of football, on and off the field within the Asian continent, was none other than Captain Kawabuchi, the man credited with the spectacular rise and rapid spread of football in Japan. YES, I'VE MET HIM PERSONALLY AND YES HE WAS DESERVING OF THE AWARD.

His vision and planning helped in the metamorphosis of the J-League from a semi-professional league to the immensely successful and viable commercial model of today, and his brainchild, the '2005 Declaration', which exhorts the Japanese to win the World Cup by the year 2050, is seen as a novel motivational tool that is spurring the team to greater heights.

In 2006, FIFA President Blatter received the award in Abu Dhabi, another glittering moment in the Swiss’s long football career. The accolade was in recognition of his sterling contribution towards the development and promotion of football on the continent. OF COURSE LA, WHEN MR HAMMAM WAS CHUMMY-CHUMMY WITH HERR BLATTER.

Former UEFA President Lennart Johannson was the next recipient in 2007 when the awards gala was held in Sydney. Johannson was a great friend of Asian football and contributed significantly to the development of Asian football in his capacity as UEFA chief from 1990 to 2007. SURE MUST KEEP COUNTERPART FROM EUROPE HAPPY.

Johannson said in his acceptance speech: “During my tenure, I saw that there was immense potential in Asia and we, the other confederations, would have a problem competing with Asia (in football). And, I was right that time. Asian football has grown in all aspects.”

In 2008, the AFC Diamond of Asia was awarded posthumously for the first time to the late Ken Naganuma, a former Japan national team manager and one of the pioneers of the J-League as the chairman of the Japan Football Association. SEE, ALSO ANOTHER FOOTBALL ACTIVIST.

AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam presented the award to Naganuma’s wife Yumiko and daughter Rie, who expressed her pride at the recognition given to her father’s immense contribution to Japanese and Asian football.

Ken Naganuma had passed away in June 2008 at the age of 77.

2009 was Asian Referees’ Year and the AFC Executive Committee fittingly chose refereeing pioneer General Farouk Bouzo of Syria for the AFC Diamond of Asia award. The stalwart of refereeing in Asia is respected as one of Asian football’s greatest leaders.

General Bouzo was the first-ever referee to earn a 10 out of 10 from a referees assessor, during the 1978 World Cup in Argentina in the match between Germany and Mexico. VERY TRUE. GENERAL BOUZO HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 70s.

"This award is a great honour for me and shows the appreciation of the AFC President and all the national associations for the work I have done over the past 30 years," said Bouzo. "And I hope to continue working for Asian football for many years to come."

General Bouzo was also chairman of the AFC Referees Committee for more than two decades and was instrumental in introducing the back-pass law to the game in the early 90s.

All the recipients of this honor enjoy a distinguished position within AFC, and are entitled to special privileges, including invitations to all AFC competitions and to all AFC official functions and events. Furthermore, the recipient ranks only after the AFC Executive Committee in terms of importance within AFC's protocol and hierarchy. SURELY DATUK SERI NAJIB DOES NOT NEED THIS...

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS IT TRUE MR HAMMAM WILL BE CONFERRED THE TAN SRISHIP?

Well I hope I will not be barred from AFC functions...but my mind is intrigued by this decision...
Let it be known AFC have done little to help Malaysia. In fact there is this mind-boggling tendency to demonise and discredit Malaysians who had helped build AFC into what it is today...

Look what happened to Datuk Peter Velappan, secretary of AFC from 1978 to 2007...also Datuk Paul Mony Samuel, who was reduced to signing papers at the tailend of his tenure...

If I were in a position to influence Mr Hammam who could well be bestowed TanSriship next June, I would have suggested some other Malaysians for the award...

1...for a start Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, who mooted the idea of having the Merdeka Tournament and the Asian Under-19 championship (posthumously la). Also AFC president from 1958 to 1977.

2. Sultan Ahmad Shah, AFC president who sought the Government's assistance for the land which currently houses Hammam's cushy office at Bukit Jalil. AFC president from 1994 to 2002.

3. Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, the only Malaysian to have held positions in FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). AFC president from 1978 to 1994.

4. Koe Ewe Teik, a knowledgeable figure from Johor who served as secretary of AFC from 1965 to 1974 (posthumously la). Former referee.

But I guess it will not serve any purpose except little footnotes in the cyberworld of AFC's recognition of individuals who are no longer around or those who have little relevance...

But if AFC confers the award to the chief executive of the country....hmmm many things can be done...

On Aug 2, 2008, I wrote the following article for my column in Kosmo...sorry la, lazy la to translate...

AYUH, PERTAHANKAN WARISAN MALAYSIA

BAGI pemerhati bola sepak yang mengikuti perkembangan Gabungan Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) dengan tekun, berita mengenai cadangan presidennya Mohamed Hammam Al Abdulla memindahkan urusetia persekutuan keluar dari Kuala Lumpur tidaklah mengejutkan.


Penggiat bola sepak Malaysia, khususnya yang pernah menyumbang keringat, tenaga dan air mata dalam membangunkan AFC sepanjang berdekad lalu, sudah tentu membantah cadangan ini.


Bagi bekas setiausaha agungnya, Datuk Peter Velappan, cadangan itu satu tamparan buat sejarah dan warisan bola sepak Asia dan Malaysia.


Ini menunjukkan AFC tidak menghormati sejarah dan sumbangan Malaysia dan warga Malaysia dalam menaikkan imej bola sepak Asia.


Tanpa Malaysia dan warganya yang bertungkus-lumus mencanai idea dan dasar ketika beroperasi di Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, kemudian menumpang Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) di Jalan Maharajalela pada 1978 sebelum berpindah sebumbung dengan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) pada 1995, AFC tidak mungkin semasyhur ini.


Biarpun batu asasnya diletakkan di Hong Kong, badan induk bola sepak Asia itu berkembang apabila sekretariatnya dipindahkan ke Malaysia di bawah teraju Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj.


Daripada sebuah organisasi yang sederhana dari segi penampilan, kedudukan kewangan dan reputasi, AFC dianggap antara organisasi paling disegani di peringkat dunia.


Jumlah pendapatannya dikatakan mencecah RM400 juta setahun, satu kedudukan kewangan yang tentunya melampaui imaginasi pemimpin-pemimpin terdahulu.


Ini berbeza dengan keadaan AFC yang tenat ketika Tunku Abdul Rahman dipilih menerajui AFC pada Kongres pertamanya di Tokyo serentak dengan Sukan Asia pada 1958.


Dalam bukunya Lest We Forget (1983), Tunku Abdul Rahman mengimbas:


“Ketika saya dipilih selaku Presiden AFC ketika temasya Sukan Asia di Tokyo pada 1958, setiausaha AFC ketika itu bekas pemain Hong Kong yang terkenal, Lee Wai Tong.


“Kantung AFC boleh dikatakan kontang (menurut buku Power of Dreams yang dikeluarkan sempena ulang tahun ke-50 AFC, badan induk itu hanya mempunyai HK$3,300 ketika itu). Bola sepak Asia tidak mempunyai wang dan organisasi yang tersusun.


“Apabila saya mengambil alih teraju AFC, bekas pengadil Koe Ewe Teik menjadi setiausaha agung. AFC mula berfungsi dan bola sepak Asia mula disegani. Saya ditemani beberapa individu lain seperti Datuk Kwok Kin Keng, Lim Kee Seong dan Datuk Teoh Chye Hin dan kami berganding bahu menjadikan AFC sebagai antara persatuan bola sepak terkemuka dunia.


“Apabila Chye Hin menjadi setiausaha agung, Ewe Teik menjadi bendahari. Kami meninggalkan AFC serentak pada 1978, dengan RM1 juta dalam simpanan AFC.”


Masih segar dalam ingatan saya apabila membuat liputan untuk sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris ketika Rumah AFC yang bernilai RM18juta dirasmikan lapan tahun lalu. AFC akhirnya mempunyai bangunan sekretariatnya sendiri di Bukit Jalil, di atas sebidang tanah kurniaan Kerajaan Malaysia.


Disebabkan presiden AFC ketika itu adalah Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, AFC menikmati banyak kelebihan. Kebanyakan tulang belakang di balik tabir AFC juga adalah warga Malaysia.


Bagi kita, Rumah AFC adalah satu lagi mercu tanda kebanggaan negara selepas Litar F1 Sepang dan kompleks Sukan Bukit Jalil.


Tidak lama selepas Sultan Ahmad Shah memberi laluan kepada Hammam untuk mengambil alih tampuk pimpinan AFC pada 2002, tanda-tanda memusnahkan legasi ini sudah kelihatan.


Kakitangan warga Malaysia yang dulunya kakitangan tetap dijadikan staf secara kontrak selama empat tahun bermula pada Disember 2005.


Australia dipelawa menyertai benua Asia dan AFC, manakala ibu pejabatnya membuka pintu kepada pakar-pakar dari luar negara untuk mengambil alih daripada warga Malaysia. Ini atas nama profesionalisme, kononnya.


Hammam yang disifatkan sebagai presiden yang bersifat autokratik, dikhabarkan mahu meminta Kerajaan Malaysia memberi keistimewaan dari banyak segi, termasuk pengecualian cukai, tanah di Putra Jaya dan layanan permaidani merah ke mana saja dia pergi.


Seorang usahawan yang mempunyai 10 anak, Hammam nampaknya sedang menguji sejauh mana Malaysia sanggup mempertahankan warisan yang bermula 50 tahun lalu di Tokyo.


Pelbagai isu, termasuk kontroversi membabitkan pembatalan kehadiran Manchester United pada Julai 2007 dan penganjuran Champions Youth Cup yang disokong oleh AFC menjadikan hubungan AFC, FAM dan Kerajaan Malaysia ibarat "retak menanti belah".


Apakah kita sekadar berpeluk tubuh dan membiarkan Kongres AFC menentukan masa depan ibu pejabat AFC dalam persidangannya Mei tahun depan?


Bukankah baru saja tahun lalu Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak melawat Hammam di Rumah AFC, ditemani satu rombongan besar yang diberi pelbagai hadiah, termasuk pen mahal setiap seorang?


Bukankah bekas Menteri Kewangan Tun Daim Zainuddin dilantik mengetuai jawatankuasa audit dalaman AFC tidak lama dahulu?


Apakah kita berpuas hati menjadi penonton dalam drama ini?

Final Piala Malaysia - satu reviu

Sejurus Kelantan dan Negeri Sembilan menempah tempat ke final Piala Malaysia, awal-awal lagi aku membuat perancangan untuk membawa keluargaku, termasuk si kecil berusia 3 tahun tidak lama lagi, ke perlawanan akhir.

Sambil menonton, melompat, menepuk tangan dan disuap bihun dan nasi lemak, tiga serangkai ini menconteng kertas senarai pasukan aku...

Zaquan bertemu peminat kecil dan bekas guru bahasa Inggerisnya...

Ini antara sebab aku ke stadium...atmosphere yang dicetus kehadiran lebih 80,000 penonton...meremang bulu romaku, macam final Perak lwn Terengganu 1998...macam Malaysia lwn Indonesia separuh akhir kedua Piala AFF 2005 yang ditonton 60,000 penonton, macam Piala Malaysia dan Pestabola Merdeka 80-an

Previu dalam Rembat Kosmo!, dengan barisan permulaan yang spot on...

Perhitungan di antara dua bekas jurulatih kebangsaan...Sathia, lahir di Johor, besar di Perak, berbudi sebagai player dengan Negeri Sembilan selaku perancang tengah, menjadi penolong Josef Herel sebelum berkhemah di Wisma FAM hampir dua dekad...Wan Jamak, bekas bek pasukan Olimpik 1980, merencanakan pembangunan pasukan muda Johor pada awal 90-an, sebelum dilamar Negeri Sembilan menggantikan Hatem Souissi, bos lama Sathia, pada 2007.

Terima kasih Razlin Astro Arena bagi peluang kepada loose cannon berkongsi pendapat dengan bekas penjaga gol kebangsaan Azmin Azram Aziz dan perantara DJ Sinar.FM, Krill, sebelum perlawanan...

Analisis perlawanan:

Babak pertama - Negeri Sembilan bermain dengan bijak, intelligent game, biarpun tanpa seorang penyerang tulen...Shahurain Abu Samah, Halim Zainal, Ching Hong Aik, S. Kunanlan dan Idris Karim bergerak secara berpasukan, menggunakan segenap ruang bagi mengintai peluang, cepat distribute bola ke penjuru. Outstanding performer - Kunanlan. Malangnya sepakan Idris pada minit ketujuh terkena tiang dan disambut oleh Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Apek). Momentum milik Negeri Sembilan kekal dan tidak hairan Kunanlan yang mampu main di kiri dan kanan, melepasi penjuru kanan sebelum dijatuhkan Apek. Shahurain mudah menyempurnakan penalti, biarpun terpaksa mengambilnya dua kali pada minit ke-13. GOL

Kelantan kurang menyerlah, barangkali tertekan...tapi Indra sekejap di depan, sekejap di kiri, Hairuddin di kiri, sekejap di depan dalam usaha mengambil kesempatan daripada kelemahan Aliff dan mengelirukan kubu NS. Badhri Radzi dan Shakir Shaari tenggelam. Daudsu dan Norfarhan sibuk mengawal Ching dan Tengku Qayyum...

Babak kedua - apabila Aidil Zafuan tercedera selepas berlaga dengan Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, game berubah wajah. Aliff Shamsuddin yang lebih sesuai di bek kanan atau midfield tengah, dibawa ke tengah benteng di sisi Shukor Adan. Larian Norshahrul atau Matyo luar dari kawasan kubu NS tidak dikawal ketat, jadi dia ada space buat umpanan lintang disambut tandukan Hai O...GOL minit ke-56. Aidil diganti oleh penyerang Firdaus Azizul, manakala Ching dimamah usia, terpaksa dikeluarkan dan diganti Asyraf Al Jappri. Kunanlan ditukar semula ke kiri mengisi tempat Ching.  Tanpa Aidil, Aliff terkial-kial cuba menahan asakan. Lorongan Norfarhan membebaskan Badhri yang memecut melepasi Aliff untuk meledak jaringan. GOL minit ke-64.

Kemasukan S. Chanturu menggantikan Norshahrul bikin benteng NS sibuk bertahan dan tidak ada masa menyusun serangan. Kemudian Akmal pula masuk ganti Daudsu, ketika Hairuddin pula cedera betis tetapi dikekalkan apabila Sathia masukkan Khairan Eroza Razali ganti Shakir. Hairuddin, Indra dan Akmal - gandingan yang mengingatkan aku kepada Piala AFF 2002 apabila skuad kebangsaan dikendalikan oleh Allan Harris, dibantu Sathianathan. Kalau ada Nizaruddin Yusof, lengkap empat serangkai 2002 itu. Ada satu ketika Akmal meloloskan diri tapi ditarik oleh Aliff. Wisel penamat ditiup oleh Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh dan Kelantan berhak bergelar juara buat kali pertama.

Kelantan berhak julang piala, memuaskan hati penyokong - daripada generasi yang menyokong Mohamad Che Su dan Dali Omar pada 60-an, Nik Fauzi Hassan 70-an, Mohd Noor Yaakob dan Salim Mahmud 1980-an, Hashim Mustapha 90-an...

Aku respect Sathia kerana walaupun sudah memasukkan penyerang S. Chanturu, dia memberi peluang kepada Akmal Rizal Rakhli masuk pada 10 minit terakhir, bagi memastikan anak jati Kedah itu merasai nikmat bermain dalam final Piala Malaysia...lazimnya tactically, lebih sesuai memasukkan seorang pemain tengah bertahan atau pemain pertahanan untuk tutup kedai. Ada dua penyerang simpanan yang cergas memaksa Negeri Sembilan sibuk bertahan!

Peliknya, ada sekumpulan penyokong NS berjaya pijak padang...memperdaya FRU dan pengawal keselamatan

Ketika pembesar-pembesar FAM sibuk beri hadiah 

Manakala penyokong Kelantan dikawal rapi dan berdisiplin...baling botol tu pun biasalah

Sidang akhbar pasca perlawanan:

Wan Jamak: "Turning point apabila Aidil injured. Saya bangga dengan pemain saya. Kelantan bermain dengan baik. Kepuasan kerana dapat mara ke final biarpun menghadapi masalah kecederaan pemain. Juga puas kerana memupuk pemain muda. Rancangan saya meramaikan lagi anak jati Negeri Sembilan, seperti diharapkan MB NS."

Sathia: "I deserved to win." Apabila aku tanya apa yang diperkatakan kepada anak buahnya waktu rehat: "Words that I cannot repeat in this PC..." confirmlah Sathia mencarut...kemarahannya berpunca daripada kegagalan anak buahnya bermain seperti biasa...

Lagi aku bertanya, almost two years since you uttered the words M-League is not football, Sathia jawab: "Good question, I have made changes, this is my second final in 13 months, we are the champions, I've a medical and support staff for the team, games are being played at district level, players are more professional..."

Badhri atau Piya: "Kami menang untuk penyokong Kelantan. Kami kekal rekod tanpa kalah di luar Kota Bharu...apabila aku tanya terkilan tidak julang piala selaku kapten, Piya kata: "Tidak. Kami bermain sebagai satu pasukan."

Terima kasih Fadzrie jemput bincang pasca final dalam Sukan Awani Ekstra

Dalam program yang sama seminggu lalu, aku ramalkan Kelantan menang 2-1...heheh

 Apa pula nasib Sathia lepas ni? Harapnya hukuman enam bulan diringankan kepada tiga bulan, jadi dia boleh bertugas semula bila sepak mula musim baru nanti. Lebih baik kalau FAM pinda peraturan yang zalim itu... bolehlah jatuh hukum kepada pemegang jawatan FAM yang kritik dasar atau membuat serangan berunsur peribadi, tetapi bagi pemain atau pegawai yang didapati bersalah melanggar peraturan (itupun terbuka kepada pelbagai tafsiran) didenda dan gantung tiga atau empat perlawanan cukuplah, tak payah sampai enam bulan...betul-betul tabur pasir dalam periuk nasi orang lah...