Thai kuasai tenis Universiti Asean

KEJOHANAN TENIS UNIVERSITI ASEAN 2011

SIARAN MEDIA
28 Feb 2011

THAILAND SERLAH PENGUASAAN

Kangar, Perlis: Setelah menempuh cabaran lima hari pertandingan, akhirnya Kejohanan Tenis Universiti Asean kali pertama melabuhkan tirainya semalam dengan menyaksikan kesemua kategori utama yang dipertandingkan dikuasai pemain-pemain Universiti Thailand.

Kejohanan julung kali yang dianjurkan oleh Universiti Malaysia Perlis – UNIMAP dengan kerjasama Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia serta Persatuan Tenis Negeri Perlis itu bermula dari 23 hingga 27 Februari, disertai 13 IPTA, 2 IPTS di samping turut menarik penyertaan tiga Universiti Asean, Universiti Sport Board Thailand, Meijo Universiti Chengmai dan Teneo Universiti De Manila.

Kejohanan yang dijalan mengikut format Knock Out itu berjaya menarik penyertaan lapan puluh pemain lelaki bertanding dalam acara perseorangan, 41 pemain beraksi dalam bahagian wanita.

Bagi acara Beregu pula sebanyak 36 Regu bertanding dalam ketegori Lelaki, 19 Regu Wanita dan 24 Regu berentap dalam kategori Beregu Campuran.

Nor Farhana Taufek mewakili UiTM Shah Alam muncul pemain terbaik IPTA ketegori wanita, sementara Syed Azahar Syed Naguib juga dari UiTM Shah Alam meungguli pemain IPTA terbaik bagi ketegori lelaki.

Kejohanan yang jelas menyerlahkan penguasaan para pemain Thailand itu menyaksikan Pongpich mewakili Universiti Sport Board Thailand menjuari acara persaorangan lelaki untuk meraih hadiah wang tunai RM 2,000, manakala juara persaorangan wanita menjadi milik Warat Nanakon dari Meijo Universiti Chengmai, juga dengan hadiah wang tunai RM 2,000.

Kesemua perlawanan berlangsung Komplek Sukan Tenis Negeri, Kangar.

Keputusan bagi ketegori lain adalah seperti berikut;

Juara Bergu Lelaki – Warat Nanakon/Tos Puanggrassamee ( Universiti Meijo Changmai)

Juara Bergu Wanita – Chutarat/Jisupang Samrej (Universiti Sport Of Thailand)

Juara Bergu Campuran – Richard Casangrande/Jitsupang Samrej (Universiti Sport Board Thailand )

Velodrom Rakyat Ipoh berbahaya

Artikel Arnaz M. Khairul ini ditulis pada 2006. Baca intronya di sini

Selepas lima tahun, wartawan New Straits Times ini masih giat menulis isu yang sama. Klik di sini

Kecederaan yang melanda Azizulhasni Awang di Manchester harus membuka mata semua pihak mengenai bahaya yang menunggu di Velodrom Rakyat, Ipoh. Kena cepat bertindak, takut ada tragedi menanti.

Raja dan Ong - falsafah yang sama?

Lima daripada team Raja start game Pakistan - Fahmi, Mahali, Muslim, Fadhli dan Gurusamy

Belakang dari kiri K Gurusamy, Mahali Jasuli, Ahmad Shakir Ali, Fadhli Shas, Muslim Ahmad, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat; Depan dari kiri Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Affize Faisal Mamat, Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria, Fandi Othman dan Irfan Fazail. Gambar Fadzlie "Deto" Ahmad 

Mahali konsisten. Gambar Fadzlie Ahmad

Wan Zaharulnizam, disenaraikan sebagai Kecik dalam senarai pemain yang dikeluarkan oleh AFC mengikut perisian AFCAS, bersama Fakri berganding bahu. Gambar Fadzlie Ahmad

Melihatkan kemenangan 2-0 ke atas Pakistan pada perlawanan pembukaan pra-Olimpik di Stadium Shah Alam Rabu lalu, perancangan Ong Kim Swee belum cukup mujarab.

Betul, menentang pasukan lemah seperti Pakistan, Kim Swee hanya meletakkan Gurusamy untuk membantu Fadhli dan Muslim di benteng ketika dalam possession. Ini bagi membolehkan Mahali dan Affize membantu Fandi dan Wan Zaharulnizam mengasak sayap. Taktik ini bagus kalau penyerang tajam dalam melakukan penyudahan.

Jika bertemu pasukan bereputasi besar, kental dan jauh lebih skillful daripada anak buat Tariq Lutfi, Kim Swee akan pening kepala kerana berasaskan persembahan Rabu lalu:

1. Muslim nampak macam kurang steady, buat silly mistake

2. Gurusamy tidak commanding. Juga membuat kesilapan mudah dari segi hantaran.

3. Fahmi membuat kesilapan-kesilapan yang boleh mengundang bahaya.

4. Fakri miss tiga empat peluang

Tapi dari segi teknik, bagus...sebab itu Wan Zaharulnizam dan Irfan boleh score bola macam tu...tapi dari segi passing range, persefahaman, tactical discipline dan finishing, masih banyak yang harus digandakan...

Apapun permulaan yang positif.

Namun ku sedar falsafah Rajagobal dan Kim Swee sedikit berbeza...

Tennis for a cause

Notice Dinara Safina's height?

PRESS RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, 24th February 2011 – Some of the world's top women in tennis will be playing for a noble cause in the BMW Malaysia Open 2011 next week. The world class tennis competition will see the best of the best tennis sportswomen turn the spotlight on the scourge of Cervical Cancer, which kills thousands of women every year.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer amongst women in Malaysia with 12.2 per 100, 000 of the female population affected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that more than 700 Malaysian women die from cervical cancer every year.

Rubi-Ain Dahlan, Managing Director of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) said “The BMW Malaysian Open has taken a big stride towards helping The National Cancer Society of Malaysia and Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC) with their support and the support of the players during the event to raise awareness of our cause. We look forward to similar initiatives from other organizations as we work together towards improving the health and quality of women throughout Malaysia. We are very proud to be supported by such fantastic role models in the players of the BMW Malaysian Open 2011 and we hope with their support we are able to continue our efforts to reduce the number of Malaysian women affected by Cervical Cancer.

Players from the WTA Tour will support the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and Power Over Cervical Cancer through participation in a number of PR activities over the week including the donations of signed memorabilia to be raffled off during the event week along with conducting a visit to NCSM’s Children’s Home of Hope which provides accommodation for children with cancer and to NCSM’s Women’s Cancer Detection Centre.

Former world No.1 Dinara Safina said “Any time we as players are able to highlight such an important campaign to create and sustain awareness on cervical cancer- like that of POCC and help to highlight the messages of the NCSM to fight against cervical cancer- we are more than happy to lend our support."

Proceeds from the ticket sales of the competition will go to the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) and Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC) campaign to increase awareness of the disease.

World No. 3 Francesca Schiavone of Italy said “Every woman has the right to live a life free from Cervical Cancer. NCSM and POCC provide not only monetary support but visibility to the cause and we look forward to supporting them during our visit to Malaysia."

Mr. Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director, BMW Group Malaysia, meanwhile, said, “The social concerns that this tennis competition is able to address is one of the many reasons as to why we at BMW Group Malaysia wanted to be part of the BMW Malaysian Open 2011. Like our cars, the game of tennis requires dynamism, intelligence, efficiency and endurance. More importantly, however, we at the BMW Group are a responsible corporate citizen and we have demonstrated this through our Sustainability strategy of BMW EfficientDynamics which has led us to be named the greenest car company in the world!”

Briscoe further added that the premium carmaker will be providing a fleet of their BMW X1 and BMW 320i M Sport which is to be utilised to shuttle the players and VIPs throughout the tournament period.

“The BMW X1 and BMW 320i M Sport incorporates all the traits known to BMW and successfully blends them with current real world requirements and concerns. These are BMWs that set the benchmark for driver satisfaction and utility, while also being economical both in terms of cost to the consumer and environment – a true testament to our capabilities of BMW EfficientDynamics technology and a true success story in automotive sustainability.” said Briscoe.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff, President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) said, “We have gone to great lengths to bring this tour to our country for a second consecutive year in a way that rewards tennis fans in Malaysia. Our efforts will be rewarded throughout the seven days of games that will be nothing short of a world class women’s tennis event and I dare say, it will keep you on the edge of your seats”.

The BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour – the world’s leading professional sport for women is set to serve up the action to Malaysian audiences from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The tournament will see 32 single players and 16 doubles teams’ competing in a knockout style competition over the course of the seven day tournament for the prize purse of USD 220,000.00.

Tickets for the tournament can be obtained from TicketPro through their website at www.ticketpro.com.my or by calling +603 7880 7999. For ticket prices and other information log on to the official website of the tournament at www.bmwmalaysianopen.com. The tournament will be held from the 26th of February to the 6th of March at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort.

Baca, jangan tak baca...

Aku tiada agenda, bukan penulis upahan, sekadar berkongsi keresahan rakyat marhaen. Tak silap aku, aku pernah dengar slogan Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan...kalau tak silap aku lah, eh, ke aku bermimpi? Cubit aku, cubit aku, cubit aku...

Cuba baca blog PM

Bagi yang ada akaun facebook, cuba lawat desakan peminat. Ah tolong eh, bukan aku yang buat OK...

Tadi, sambil aku membacakan senarai pelajar yang berhutang buku atau denda (kerja kerani Cikgu pun buat) untuk orang rumah aku taip di laptopnya, aku menonton RTM. Montaj kejayaan pasukan kebangsaan diiringi lagu Fikirkan Boleh, macam yang pernah aku cadangkan di sini dan di sini. Yang menarik ada siar klip Perdana Menteri bercerita pasal bola...

Apakah tandanya?

TV3 berminat?

Menurut laporan the Malay Mail, Media Prima berminat mendapatkan hak siaran televisyen free-to-air Liga M. Baca laporan Haresh Deol

A bigger Kencana-SIC Bikeathon next year

MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday, 20 February 2011

KENCANA-SIC BIKEATHON 2011
HARITH WINS BIKEATHON AS SIC PLANS A BIGGER EVENT NEXT YEAR

Attracting more than 600 cyclists with the likes of Anuar Manan, Nor Effandy Rosli and Mohd Hariff Saleh; and top motor racing names like Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, Muhammad Zamri Baba and Eric Yeo, the third edition of Kencana SIC Bikeathon at Sepang Circuit today was hailed as another success; and spurring event organizer Sepang International Circuit to develop the event further next year.

“We had more people this year and they come in very happy mood to enjoy the event. We will be looking to feedbacks from the participants to develop the event further. One of it would be the women’s categories,” said SIC Chairman Dato’ Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir flagged off the main event – the open class for the criterium race.

He added: “Through this event, people will notice that SIC do not only organize car and bike races; but also other races as well like this bikeathon. SIC is open to any different kind of race.

“We definitely hope to attract more participants next year,” said Mokhzani, who is also the Group Chief Executive Officer of Kencana Petroleum Berhad.

Apart from top Malaysian riders, the third edition of Kencana SIC Bikeathon attracted also attracted riders from Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Germany and expatriates working in Malaysia.

The premier category saw a tight battle to the end of the 12-lap battle with a large peloton of some 50 riders in a close group as they entered the final lap of an 11-lap contest. Starting in the opposite anti-clockwise direction, they continued to bunch together until final bend at Turn 1 before the pacemakers swerving to the side to allow their sprinters to compete to the checkered flag.

Representing Terengganu Pro-Asia Cycling Team, Hariff won the battle of the sprinters with a time of 1 hour 14 minutes 16.102 seconds; edging out his more celebrated team-mate Anuar, who clocked 1 hour 14 minutes 16.806 seconds.

In a field of 219 starters, Mohd Nor Ridzuan Zainal from Armed Forces Cycling Team finished third; while Noreffendy finished in 26th place.

Terengganu’s top junior rider Mohd Afiq Huznie Othman topped the junior category; taking a time of 42 minutes 59.497 seconds to cover six laps of the racing circuit. Malaysia’s cub prix champion 18-year old Hafizh Syahrin Adullah finished 29th among 41 starters.

Tony Harvey defended his veteran title; scoring a hattrick and winning the class this year with a commendable time of 44 minutes 48.243 second in a six-lap battle around the circuit. Eric Yeo – Malaysian Super Series multiple champions and winner of the 12-hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race in 2002 finished in 53rd place.

In the jamboree challenge – covering 40 kilometers of off-road terrain around the vicinity of Sepang Circuit, former national road racing champion Wan Mohd Najmee took top place; beating off national mountain bike rider Nor Shahriel Haizat, who took top placing.

Another national cyclist Mohd Razif Mohd Salleh took second place while another national mountain bike rider Shahrin Amir took fourth placing. Malaysia’s Moto2 wildcard rider Muhammad Zamri Baba finished 29th from a field of 217 riders.

Prizes were given away by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.


SIC BIKEATHON 2011
RESULTS – TOP TEN FINISHERS
SEPANG CIRCUIT – 5.543KM

Criterium – Open Category
(11 laps)

1 MOHD HARRIF SALEH 1’14.16.102
2 ANUAR MANAN 1’14.16.806
3 MOHD NOR RIDZUAN ZAINAL 1’14.16.966
4 MOHD SYAUFI BIN MAT SEMAN 1’14.17.583
5 SAYUTI ZAHID 1’14.17.669
6 MUHAMMAD AIM 1’14.17.943
7 HMOHD SHAHRUL 1’14.18.003
8 MOHD AMIN AMIRUL 1’14.18.332
9 MOHD HAFIZ ROZALI 1’14.18.646
10 AHMAD HUZAIQI 1’14.18.771

Criterium – Junior Category
(6 laps)

1 MOHD AFIQ HUZNIE OTHMAN 42’ 59.497
2 MUHAMMAD IMRAN ZUBIR 42’ 59.747
3 MOHD AZIZ MOHD ZAHID 42’ 59.826
4 MOHD FIRDAUS 43’ 00.010
5 FARIZ ZONIS 43’ 00.711
6 ABDUL AZIM 43’ 02.835
7 RYAN CHAN 43’ 03.858
8 LOY MUN HO 43’ 03.879
9 MOHD AELE 43’ 05.762
10 LOW JIT MING 43’ 06.386

Criterium – Veteran Category
(6 laps)

1 TONY HARVEY 44’ 48.243
2 LIEW FOOK LOY 44’ 48.399
3 SHAHARIN RAZALI 44’ 48.584
4 KELVIN WU 44’48.634
5 SAFUAN AMAN 44’48.695
6 MOHD RAFI 44’48.902
7 ABDUL RAHIM RAFIK 44’49.118
8 KENNETH KENG 44’49.354
9 ISMAIL BIN DALAHAN 44’49.547
10 JOHARI TATI 44’50.593

Jamboree – Jamboree (Mountain Bike)

1 WAN MOHD NAJMEE Finish
2 MOHD RAZIF MOHD SALLEH 00’00.861
3 NOR SAHRIEL HAIZAT 00’04.481
4 SHAHRIN AMIR 00’14.634
5 MOHD HAFIZ ROZLI 00’15.796
6 ANUAR MANAN 00’15.889
7 MUHAMMAD AIM 02’02.428
8 MOHD ALLIE HELMY 05’07.352
9 MOHD SHAFARI ABD MAHIR 05’07.409
10 MOHD FARHOUD MOHD FADZIL 05’10.902

Harap ada "Ong"

Aku berharap pasukan pra-Olimpik kita ada "ong"...namanya jurulatihnya pun Ong Kim Swee.

Sejak Soh Chin Aun dan rakan-rakan di bawah bimbingan Karl Weigang mencatat sejarah menewaskan Korea Selatan pada final pra-Olimpik 1980, Malaysia menempuh tujuh pusingan kelayakan. Daripada generasi skuad Harimau, Barcelona Babes, anak buah Claude Le Roy, Hatem Souissi, Allan Harris hingga ke era B. Sathianathan - semuanya kecundang di peringkat awal. Lima daripada tujuh misi itu aku cover, termasuk era Le Roy, Hatem dan Harris dengan cukup intim.

Weigang (kiri) berjaya pada 1980 tetapi Harris (kanan) melihat anak buahnya tewas kepada Iran, China dan Korea Selatan pada pra-Olimpik 2004.

Undian biasanya tidak memihak kepada kita.

Format kali ini berbeza. Negara membangun dalam kategori bola sepak Asia bersaing sesama sendiri sebelum ke pusingan seterusnya.

Rasa-rasanya Kim Swee tidak berdepan masalah menewaskan Pakistan secara timbal balik. Seterusnya bergantung kepada undian. Kalau dapat elak Uzbekistan, Korea Selatan, Jepun, bagus...mana-mana pasukan Arab atau Timur Tengah, kita ada peluang....

Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim dan Izzaq Faris Ramlan cedera, jadi buka ruang kepada Ahmad Fakri Saarani dan Faizal Abu Bakar untuk berganding bahu Rabu ini. Apa pula sudah jadi kepada Shakir Ali, bertubuh tegap seperti Izzaq tapi bergelut dengan prestasi tidak menentu?

Kepada Kim Swee yang menganggotai skuad Barcelona Babes 1989-91 di bawah teraju Chow Kwai Lam, kita harap team anda ada ong!

Let's pray for Azizulhasni

AP pic

Azizulhasni Awang underwent surgery at the Manchester Royal Infirmary four hours ago to remove a large splinter of wood that had protruded through his left calf.

He got back up after a dramatic crash in the Track World Cup keirin final to stagger across the line. He was promoted to third after Spanish rider Juan Peralta Gascon was disqualified. Azizul was on his way to the hospital when the winners took their place on the podium. Let's hope Azizul recovers quickly from this mishap.



Hoy survives keirin spill
(AFP)
MANCHESTER, England — Sir Chris Hoy survived a spectacular crash in the keirin at the UCI track cycling World Cup meeting in Manchester on Saturday, winning an event which saw Malaysian Azizulhasni Awang cross the line with a seven-inch splinter of wood embedded in his leg.


Awang was one of four riders involved in a high-speed collision which led to Hoy's rivals scrambling to regain their composure and collect their bikes before crossing the line to gain World Cup points.


The Malaysian's heroics actually saw him finish third, enough to pip Hoy to the keirin series title that covers the four meetings that constitute the track World Cup, before he was taken to hospital for the removal of the wood - which passed clean through his lower leg from one side to the other.


But Scotsman Hoy, a triple gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics, proved that, at 34, he is still a dominant force despite a mediocre showing on Friday in which he lost the individual sprint semi-final to young countryman Jason Kenny.


"It was only on the victory lap that I came around and saw the guys lying on the floor," said Hoy. "The crash looked nasty and hopefully the boys will be alright.


"But I'm particularly pleased after yesterday. It was a hard day's racing on Friday, it takes a lot out of you physically and mentally because it is 13 hours from start to finish and not to win it was disappointing.


"But I had to think, that's finished, and move on to today and I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of confidence going into the final and I hit it hard and won by a clear margin."


In contrast, the star of Victoria Pendleton, who is following Hoy in aiming for three gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics, was far less in the ascendancy.


The team sprint and keirin - both absent from the Beijing Olympics for women - have been added to the 2012 Games schedule, meaning Pendleton could compete across exactly the same disciplines as Hoy next summer.


However, on Saturday, in the fourth and final World Cup track meeting of the winter, Pendleton, 30, continued what has, so far, been an unproductive weekend.


On Friday, her new team sprint pairing with BMX specialist Shanaze Reade proved unsuccessful and failed to make the last four and, last night in the individual sprint, she was handily beaten 2-0 by Australian Anna Meares in the semi-finals.


Pendleton got the better of Meares in the Olympic final three years ago but looked distinctly second best on this occasion. Her consolation came in winning the bronze medal race while Meares beat China's Shuang Guo in the final. - AFP

Tahniah, tahniah, tahniah

"OK, abang bangun, pegang ni (muffler), kita nyanyi Negaraku....," kata Hafizal Hamad kepadaku.

"Tak pernah dibuat dek orang ni," balas aku.

"Apa yang orang tak pernah buat, kita buat," balas Hafizal, atau Gaban di kalangan rakan-rakannya.

Lepas itu kami sambung duduk dan bercerita mengenai kemenangan pasukan negara ke atas Vietnam pada final Sukan SEA di Laos pada Disember 2009.

Ulasan Hafizal pada malam bersejarah itu apabila anak buah K. Rajagobal mengutip pingat emas pertama dalam bola sepak sejak 1989 diangkat sebagai calon kategori Pengulas Sukan Terbaik Anugerah Seri Angkasa 2010. Hafizal menang, menewaskan pencabarnya Akbar Sahari, hos Kafe Sukan di Astro Arena, yang dicalonkan menerusi ulasan Piala Dunia 2010.

Jadi aku pun nak tumpang tui lah...kepada Hafizal yang terkenal dengan trademarknya Terima Kasih, Terima Kasih, Terima Kasih, tahniah, tahniah dan tahniah. Juga tidak dilupakan krew penerbitan di sebalik tabir.

Tahniah kepada penerbit Rozihan Raji yang memenangi kategori rancangan dan liputan sukan terbaik menerusi Menggapai Harapan (Piala Thomas). Dia sanggup datang interviu aku dekat rumah pasal nak bercerita mengenai peluang skuad negara bagi edisi 2010 selain pengalaman terperangkap dalam Istora Senayan di Jakarta pada 1994 selain detik kejayaan 1992.

Juga kepada team Astro Awani, khususnya Ashwad Ismail, yang memenangi kategori Liputan Berita TV terbaik dan Anugerah Khas Juri.

Tahniah kepada semua pemenang.

Theiviya and the WTA Malaysian Open

Pic The Star

Loose cannon's late mum opted for early retirement from the teaching profession, in the early 90s, with SMK Dato Lokman as her final transit. Two of her students were Kamarulzaman Yusof, a member of the successful KL side and also an international, and Mohd Noor Dahari, younger brother of Mokhtar.

Now Dato Lokman has another international athlete in their stable. She's S. Theiviya, 17, Malaysia's sole representative in the BMW Malaysian WTA Open 2011. Daughter of ex-national coach S. Selvarajoo, Theiviya who spent two months honing her skills at the Albert Portas High Performance Training Camp in Barcelona last year, is aiming for a slot in the SEA Games later this year.

The BMW Malaysian Open 2011 is set to serve up the action to Malaysian audiences from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort.

The seven-day tournament will see 32 singles players and 16 doubles pairs competing for a total purse of USD 220,000.00.

Fresh from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, some of the players like Sania Mirza and Ayumi Morita will be looking towards making progress into later stages of the BMW Malaysian Open.

With so much at stake, with even top seeded players such as Francesca Schiavone and Marion Bartoli, will be aiming for redemption after their disappointments at Dubai.

The Japanese reached her career-high ranking of 64th in the world on July 6, 2009 and is currently the second highest ranked Japanese player in the world, after Kimiko Date Krum (ranked 52nd), and the eighth overall in Asia. At junior level, she reached a career high ranking of No. 3.

Morita is known for strong and consistent two-handed groundstrokes, which she hits very flat. She is also regarded as very tough mentally for a young player, often showing great resolve to win close matches despite a lacklustre serve.

For India’s Sania who participated in the 2009 Showdown of Champions, staying fit and out of the injury list will be her main target this season. She went down to Japanese qualifier Morita 4-6, 2-6 but looks towards putting up a better performance in Kuala Lumpur for the BMW Malaysian Open.

Meanwhile in clarifying as to why Malaysia opted to give a wild card to a player from Vietnam, Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia President Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Razak Latiff said:

“The Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia has a reciprocal understanding with our counterparts in Vietnam, whereby our junior players will be invited to play in International tournaments and vice versa, hence why a Vietnamese player was chosen as the other Wild Card at the BMW Malaysia Open 2011.

“The standards of Vietnamese tennis players are very high. In the spirit of promoting and nurturing Asian tennis players, it’s in the favour of the sport that we work together in tournaments that are held anywhere in Asia,” added Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Razak.

Alahai Annuar Musa...

Tan Sri Annuar Musa...bekas Menteri Belia dan Sukan bertukar supremo bola sepak. Ini satu pencapaian yang unik. Seperti yang kutulis dalam EPLx Kosmo! pada November 2009 (walaupun ada penyokong Kelantan yang kutuk aku hanya memuji Kelantan selepas memenangi Piala Malaysia), Annuar penghulu kebangkitan the Red Warriors.

Masa aku hingusan di Berita Harian, Annuar Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Waspada...dia seorang yang lantang, cukup yakin, bahkan ada yang menganggapnya sombong, atau his confidence bordering on arrogance...tapi dia tidak takut menyuarakan pendapatnya. Masa tu dia YB Senator...

Masih aku ingat Sukom 98 Berhad ditubuhkan untuk menjadi penganjur Sukan Komanwel, ada sedikit pertikaian berlaku di antara Annuar dan Presiden Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) ketika itu, Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah.

Annuar juga mengetuai delegasi Malaysia yang memenangi undian menjadi hos Sukan Komanwel 1998. Undian, lobi-melobi dan janji-janji diplomatik dilakukan saat akhir di Barcelona, sempena temasya Olimpik 1992.

Bagi aku, Annuar seorang strategist. Juga seorang visionary. Kebetulan mentor aku di BH, Rahime Yusoff, kemudian dilantik menjadi Setiausaha Akhbar Annuar.

"Pelan induk belia yang diilhamkan oleh Annuar diubah suai untuk menjadi Rakan Belia, Rakan Sukan," kata Rahime.

Seorang bekas pegawai tinggi kerajaan kata Annuar visionary, decisive dan strategist tapi sesetengah orang tidak suka caranya bekerja dan perangainya yang boleh ditafsirkan sebagai brash.

Lihat bagaimana Kelantan menjalani satu proses transformasi besar-besaran, bukan kecil...daripada pasukan yang bersaing dalam Liga FAM pada 2005 sehingga muncul juara Piala Malaysia buat kali pertama musim lalu. Bukan itu saja, banyak kali aku sebut strategi mesra media, penaja dan peminat mendapat pulangan setimpal.  Tidak ada dalam sejarah sebuah pasukan bola sepak di Malaysia yang berbangga dengan radio onlinenya...

Sebab itu aku percaya Annuar boleh menterjemahkan taktiknya di peringkat negeri ke kebangsaan...
Dulu aku pernah tulis liga Malaysia harus dikendalikan oleh satu badan bebas daripada FAM...kemudian MSL Sdn Bhd pula diwujudkan selaku cabang pemasaran FAM...

Secara idealnya, MSL dijadikan sebuah separate entity, MSL yang mengendalikan Liga M, mengatur jadual, memegang hak komersil dan pemasaran. Siapa paling berwibawa untuk mengetuainya? Annuar lah...

Tapi kalau demikian kemungkinannya, wajarkah Annuar meletak jawatan di KAFA?

Bagi aku rugi kalau Annuar hanya jadi supremo di Kelantan...kena bagi dia executive powers, baru dia boleh jadi driving force di peringkat nasional...

Tapi macam mana, dia tidak ada pun dalam Jawatankuasa Kewangan FAM...macam mana selaku Pengerusi MSL dia tidak ada dalam proses buat dasar dan kewangan FAM?

Ticket to Argentina

Polo is an interesting sport to watch. I got the chance to cover a number of polo events in Kuala Lumpur not so long ago.

Significant to note the national team bagged the gold medal in the 2007 SEA Games in Korat. With three surviving members of the squad leading the team, Malaysia aim for a place in the FIP Polo Cup finals in October in the land that gave us Diego Maradona.

The FIP World Cup Zone D Qualifier will be played at three different venues – namely the Royal Pahang Polo Club in Pekan, the Putrajaya Equestrian Park in the administrative capital of Malaysia and the Royal Selangor Polo Club from June 11-26.

The countries competing in Zone D, apart from Malaysia, are Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria and Singapore. The top three will get the tickets for the FIP World Cup Finals in San Luis, Argentina from October 11-25. For the record the FIP World Cup is held every three years.

Malaysia team manager Ahmad Jamili Rashid rates Malaysia’s chances of making their first ever FIP World Cup Finals as “best ever” as the team has undergone training since last year.

“This included two-month training cum stint in Argentina from mid-September to mid-November. It was a dual mission, with training plus selection of horses. This stint served the Malaysian team well,” said Jamili.

The member Malaysian team is captained by 29-year-old Huzaini Yunos (+4 Handicap) who has played polo professionally since 1996. The others in the team are Shaik Reismann Ismail, 35 (+3 Handicap), Amran Selamat, 32 (+2 Handicap), Muhammad Edham Shaharuddin, 35 (+4 Handicap), Saladin Mazlan, 30 (+3 Handicap) and Tengku Ahmad Shazril Ezzani Tengku Sulaiman  (+3 Handicap).

Shaik Reismann is the only Malaysian player to have played in the FIP Polo World Cup in Jaipur, India in 2000 when he represented Singapore. The rules since then have been changed and only those who are born in the country are allowed to don their national colours. Saladin, grandson of former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Harun Idris is also an established rally driver.

(L-R) Amran Selamat, Muhammad Edham Shaharuddin, Huzaini Yunos, Shaik Reismann Ismail, Saladin Mazlan, Tengku Ahmad Shazril Ezzani Tengku Sulaiman,

Jamboree at Sepang

MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 10 February 2011

THIRD EDITION OF KENCANA SIC BIKEATHON ON FEBRUARY 20

A one-of-its-kind cycling event – the Kencana SIC Bikeathon – is back and returning at Sepang Circuit for a third edition on February 20 with a new event - a mass start Jamboree for mountain bikes.

With the smooth 5,543-meters and 15 turns Formula 1 track as the battle ground, the day-long event combined road racing and mountain bike challenge and had been a hugely popular event among the local cycling enthusiasts with its unique challenge.

“We will not have the mountain bike race this year and instead, organize a jamboree event. It’s hugely popular with the mountain bike community and I strongly believe that it again will draw strong response from both casual and full time cyclists,” said Datuk Malik Mydin, the chief organizer for the Kencana SIC Bikeathon 2011.

“Again, there will be cash prizes and F1 tickets to be won, which indeed be a good bonus for the participants. But, based on the feedbacks that I got, they just come to Sepang to have fun and to enjoy themselves.

“I would like to this opportunity to thank SIC especially the chairman Yang Berbahgia Dato’ Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir, who actually mooted this idea of having this bikeathon event. He wanted to tell the world that Sepang is more than just for motor racing; but ideal for plenty of other activities like cycling,” he added.

Slotted as the opening race, the Jamboree would start at 10am with a lap around the F1 track before taking the participants to another 38 kilometers of off-road terrain around the vicinity of the racing complex.

“For this category, everybody will have a chance to win prizes as we will be having lucky draws with attractive prizes at the end of the race. The top three winners will win cash prizes and F1 tickets … it’s open to all; guys and gals … young and old. It’s a perfect way of enjoying your Sunday,” said Malik.

The criterium classes would start at 2pm with the junior category, which would cover five laps of the F1 track. This would be followed by the other categories – the Men Open, Veteran Open and a special kids event where they would compete in a 400 meter dash on the circuit’s front straight.

More than 600 cyclists including national and state riders took part in the race last year and Malek is hopeful that the event would attract a bigger participation this year.

“The date February 20 is ideal … there’s no other local cycling events that day and I know that many that took part last year are yearning to come back and race again this year. To this people, you are most welcomed and call your friends as well,” said Malik.

Entries for the jamboree and criterium is RM30 for each category. There will be no charge for the kids’ event.

For more information, interested participants can go to Facebook/SIC Bikeathon 2011 or call Alia of MTB Malaysia at 03-9222 0786 or Nizam of Sepang International Circuit at 03-87782230.

RTM - Rais Tak Minat?

Salam Maulidur Rasul. Kebelakangan ini ramai yang meninggalkan komen dalam wall FB aku mengenai tiadanya siaran langsung bola sepak dalam RTM dan Astro Arena. Maaf kadang-kadang tidak terdaya nak jawab satu persatu.

Yang aku perasan, RTM sudah membunuh sukan dan laporan sukan waktu puncak (prime time).

Perasan atau tidak, tiada pembaca berita sukan sekitar jam 8.45 malam? Aku tak berapa pasti sejak bila. Itemnya pulak tinggal satu atau dua berita, macam melepas batuk di tangga. Kenapa agaknya bagi stesen yang melabelkan dirinya Sukan Terbaik Hanya di RTM? RTM Tetap Unggul? Info Sukan tengah hari pulak ditenggelami diva@1...

Dulu aku pernah tulis surat terbuka kepada Ketua Pengarah Penyiaran Datuk Tiger. Baca di sini

Astro Arena pulak tidak menayangkan siaran langsung Liga Super pada Sabtu sekalipun Astro adalah penaja utama Liga M. Dasar Astro Arena cuba menonjolkan Arena Bola Jumaat, dengan harapan RTM menyiarkan perlawanan pada Sabtu.

Tapi aku dimaklumkan masalah timbul apabila Astro diisytihar penyiar rasmi dan pemegang hak komersil Liga M. Kalau dulu RTM bayar RM6 juta pada Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), sekarang kena bayar Astro dengan harga yang sama.

Masalahnya, Kementerian Penerangan tidak mahu bayar. Nak mintak diskaun pulak tu. Selagi rundingan tidak selesai dan KEMPEN tidak berganjak daripada keputusan itu, selagi itulah penonton seluruh negara yang tidak memiliki decoder berbayar Astro tidak dapat menonton bola sepak tempatan.

Jadi tiadalah Sekilas Liga, tiada Wisel Penamat dan Sebelum Wisel. Agaknya KEMPEN tidak mahu membayar Astro yang juga di bawah Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia (bawah Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan). Jadi bos utama KEMPEN, Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim juga bos SKMM dan bos Astro la secara tidak langsung.

Rais ni seorang yang aku cukup respect. Terror dua bahasa, dan aku pun banyak beli bukunya yang mengangkat minda kita. Barangkali sebab itu dia tidak minat sangat sukan ni.

Susah jugak kalau budayawan nak faham sukan!

Aku pelik Perdana Menteri agaknya tahu atau tidak masalah ini...

Bukankah Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bersila tengok perlawanan skrin gergasi pada separuh akhir Piala Suzuki AFF yang akhirnya dimenangi Malaysia? Bukankah pemain kita diberi macam-macam hadiah oleh Najib? Rais tak tahu kot...

Jadi siaran bola ni tak penting...

Kepada Najib, tolonglah SMS dekat Rais...tak faham ke siaran langsung ini membantu membudayakan bola sepak tempatan?

Sia-sia aje budak-budak yang duduk atas padang kotorkan seluar, macam Ketua Editor YAKEB Aiman yang duduk sebelah menteri tengok game..betul Malaysia menang...tapi menang jangka pendek kerana pembuat dasar, Pak Menteri tidak rebut kesempatan daripada snowball effect yang kita harap daripada kemenangan anak buah K. Rajagobal.

Sekalipun siaran langsung dipancar menerusi ESPN Star Sports, sebenarnya tayangan di RTM yang membantu menaikkan semangat dan demam bola sepak!

Jadi barangkali tidak salah aku cakap RTM - Rais Tak Minat.

Kerajaan ni pun aku pelik lah, dah tahu tak mampu nak tolong sukan atau bola, nak sabo pulak Astro yang sanggup keluar duit macam Dunhill dulu...kalau ada chance duduk sebelah PM, aku akan bisik banyak benda...dan kalau dulu KEMPEN boleh bayar RM6 juta kepada FAM, kenapa sekarang tak mahu?

Hong Kong, Safee dan Ultras Malaya

Hong Kong, bekas jajahan British yang dipenuhi hutan batu tetapi tetap menarik untuk dikunjungi. Aku meliput pusingan akhir Piala Thomas 1998, bola sepak pra-Olimpik 1999 dan bola sepak pra-Piala Dunia 2001. Team bola sepaknya boleh tahan lah.

Bersama Jailani Abdullah dari Utusan Malaysia, Azahar Mohd Taib (Harian Metro), B.J. Teoh (TV3), Ahmad Khawari Isa (Berita Harian), aku menyambut Eidul Adha di Hong Kong, sambil mendengar Imam membaca khutbah dalam Mandarin.

Kebetulan aku bertemu Rosman, rakan sekolah aku dan penghibur terkenal, Francissca Peter, di Konsulat Malaysia.

Dengan Fran dan Rosman di Hong Kong 2001. Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli menjaringkan gol pertama buat pasukan senior kebangsaan ketika menewaskan Hong Kong 2-0

Pra-Olimpik di Hong Kong 1999, bersama Hatem Souissi, Zainul Azhar Ashari, Philippe Troussier dan Hazli Hussaini. Masa ni aku tanya Troussier kenapa tidak bawak Hidetoshi Nakata, dia jawab "I would not want 200 journalists and thousands of fans to be following the team." Lagipun team Olimpik dia cukup kuat tanpa Nakata, dengan adanya Shunsuke Nakamura, Masashi Motoyama, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Shinji Ono, Yuji Nakazawa, Koji Nakata, Junichi Inamoto, Yasuhito Endo, Atsushi Yanagisawa dan Naohiro Takahara...sedap tengok team tu main, Motoyama kaki gelecek di sayap, Nakazawa kawal kunci pergerakan Akmal, Koji Nakata kawal Khalid Jamlus...Inamoto mark Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan...Di Hong Kong juga, aku perhatikan kelompok besar Ultra Nippon, penyokong tegar berpusu-pusu ke stadium...

OK, sebenarnya saja aku nak menyegarkan ingatan aku terhadap Hong Kong sempena kedatangan mereka ke Shah Alam Rabu lalu. Dalam pertemuan persahabatan dengan anak buah K. Rajagobal, ternyata Hong Kong tidak mampu menafikan kemenangan hasil jaringan dua pemain Selangor, Safiq Rahim dan Amirulhadi Zainal.

Selain membuktikan mereka masih mengekalkan sikap dan pendekatan yang profesional biarpun dilimpahi hadiah dan pujian atas kejayaan Piala Suzuki AFF, anak buah Rajagobal makin berselera. Menariknya Rajagobal memanggil semula Shahrizal Saad, atau Badak dan G. Mahathevan, yang kali terakhir dipanggil pada 2009 menjelang Sukan SEA.

Mahathevan mengingatkan aku kepada K. Nanthakumar, pemain tengah Perak yang melindungi benteng pada kempen Piala AFF 2002 dan 2005. Mahathevan memiliki sentuhan yang kemas, tinggi dan harus meluaskan kelompok pilihan Rajagobal untuk menjana jentera tengah.

Mahathevan. Gambar Osman Adnan, New Straits Times

Safee Sali yang berlepas ke Jakarta Isnin ini pula diberi penghormatan khas oleh Ultras Malaya dan pemain Selangor itu membalas dengan menyarungkan baju Ultras Selangor.



Flare ni biasalah dalam budaya ultras...sekadar menyalakan flare tak salah...bukan mercun...

Kerusi Panas 93.9

Bersama Azlan Idris, ketua rancangan Radio24 Bernama yang jadi hos Kerusi Panas lewat Januari lalu, menjelang sepak mula Liga M. Azlan bekas pengacara Malaysia Hari Ini di TV3 dan pernah bertugas di ntv7 dan Channel 9 (kini TV9) sebelum menyertai sebuah syarikat penerbitan dan pengurusan acara, Piperace.

Program Kerusi Panas biasanya satu jam bermula 6.30 petang tetapi hari itu disambung sehingga 7.45 malam disebabkan Azlan dan penerbit Marcus Han menerima banyak panggilan, antaranya daripada Haikal, Azam, Azman, Helmi, Badrul, Zakri, Abdullah, Nik, Zamri, Saiful, Azmi dan Mohammad.

Antara perkara yang ditimbulkan, sama ada Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) mengkaji cara La Liga dikendalikan, program pembangunan, kronisme dalam memilih pemain, FAM tidak boleh ditegur, kerabat diraja dan politikus dalam bola sepak dan masalah pentadbiran.

Website for Malaysian hockey

Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF)'s new contact details are as follows:

E-mail: office@malaysiahockey.com.my
malaysiahockey@gmail.com
Website: www.malaysiahockey.com.my

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Malaysian-Hockey-Federation-MHF/183056705052169?ref=ts

Twitter: www.twitter.com/malaysiahockey

Misbun ada jurucakap?

Khabarnya Datuk Misbun Sidek sedia kembali ke pangkuan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM)...yang lecehnya ada jurucakap bercakap bagi pihak dia...

Apapun, bulan lalu sempat ke Stadium Putra menonton Terbuka Malaysia...seronok jadi pemerhati

Zainal Abidin Rawop ditemani Sharon Wee dan Razif Sidek mengulas untuk Astro Arena

Jasni Shafie mengulas untuk RTM

Yang dua gentleman lengkap berkot tu agaknya cuba mengenal pasti siapa yang berminat jadi presiden BAM...

Datuk Lee Chong Wei menang mudah mengatasi Taufik Hidayat

Cenderahati, tiket pula pemberian Suzi Astro Arena...keychain tu mahal

Dan Guen Chin (kiri) gelak ketawa macam orang kaya....

Aswad dan sandwich ayamnya

Aku bab makan ni memang "terror"...arwah Atok aku cakap dia berselera kalau tengok aku makan...

Aku (ah tu zaman pinggang 29 inci dan berat 59kg) dengan kawan-kawan bahagian production New Straits Times (dari kiri) Mortaba, Mazlan, Razhe, Rashid dan Meor..syukur aku sempatlah tengok tampal bromide sebelum era digital...

Aku masih maintain selera makan...Akbar Sahari pun bagi cap jari bagus punya...yang tengah tu Aswad, pensyarah masakan di Kolej Komuniti di Selayang.

Entri ini bertujuan mengucapkan terima kasih tidak terhingga kepada Zafarul Aswad, seorang peminat badminton dan sepak takraw yang kerap meninggalkan komen dalam blog tidak seberapa ini. Sambil kami merakamkan Kafe Sukan di Wisma Ali Bawal baru-baru ini, Aswad dengan kawannya Bob meredah hujan semata-mata melunaskan janjinya kepada aku. Kami bertemu di Stadium Putra pada final Terbuka Malaysia dan dia janji nak bawak sandwich ayam untuk menjamu staf Astro Arena keesokannya.

Aswad ni seorang chef dan blogger. Klik di sini. Dia barangkali ada resipi terbaik untuk menaikkan martabat sukan badminton negara...kerana selepas memastikan kami kenyang, Aswad dikhabarkan bakal menggantikan Akbar sebagai hos Kafe Sukan...

Aswad menggugat kedudukan Akbar sebagai pengulas tersohor

Beatrice Krishnan antara yang menjamah sandwich ayam Aswad

Pegawai media baru di FAM

Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) ada pegawai media baru. Joe Marcose bukan asing buat arena bola sepak negara. Dia bekas pengarang sukan Utusan Malaysia, pernah bertugas selaku pegawai media Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dan seorang blogger. Cabaran buat Joe pelbagai. Selain mengemas kini laman sesawang FAM, Joe kena layan kerenah wartawan, menjawab pada bos, berdepan isu-isu dalaman dan paling syok, kena buat pas media...ada sekali tu aku kena buat 1,000 pas media apabila Malaysia menentang Chelsea pada 2008...mujur ramai yang menolong...terima kasih RY, AM, JE, SW, FF dan KKL...

Tanyalah Ahmad Khawari Isa, Christopher Raj, Dahlan Maamor, Satwant Singh Dhaliwal, aku yang hanya bertahan dua bulan di Wisma FAM, disusuli Zaid Jamaludin dan Raja Azura Shamim Raja Zamani...bukan mudah jadi pegawai media FAM...so Joe, yang berasal dari Batu Pahat (sekampung Tan Sri Vincent Tan) all the best to you...

Joe masa di ibu pejabat UEFA di Berne (dari facebooknya, tanpa kebenaran)

RIP Uncle See

Two of Malaysian football's renowned physiotherapists-cum-coaches have left us.

Uncle See Kim Leong breathed his last on Saturday. A few months earlier, K. Prabaharan passed away of cancer. Before S. Sivanesvaran and Raja were permanently attached to Wisma FAM, Uncle See and Praba were among those who helped the players recover from their injuries.

Read here, here and here

Gambar: Mendiang Uncle C atau nama sebenarnya See Kim Leong bersama Datuk Azzudin Ahmad sebelum perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia 2009 di Stadium Bukit Jalil.


Beliau pernah bermain bersama Datuk Azzudin untuk pasukan ATM dan seorang forward yang terkenal pada zamannya.


Seorang yang sangat ceria karektornya dan amat disenangi oleh semua golongan.


Sumbangan beliau dalam mengendalikan pemain - pemain yang cedera amat unik dan latihan fisioterapinya dikatakan mampu memendekkan 'recovery time', amat bernilai untuk pasukan Negeri Sembilan.
Daripada wall Kelab e-Penyokong Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (N9FUTBOL.COM)di Facebook

Antara sumbangan beliau yang amat 'notable' ialah membantu midfielder kita Shahurain Abu Samah pulih dari "double cruciate ligament injuries" yang memaksa Shahurain tidak dapat beraksi selama setahun. 


Rest In Peace, Uncle See (07 January 1948 - 5 February 2011). You'll be greatly missed. Daripada wall  kelab e-penyokong Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (n9futbol.com)

Safee dan gol-golnya

Aku masih ingat kejohanan jemputan remaja empat penjuru anjuran ProEvents pada 2003. Membabitkan Malaysia, Brazil, Portugal dan Korea Selatan. Jurulatih pasukan Bawah 21 kebangsaan ketika itu K. Rajagobal. Bek kanan, K. Linggam (gambar). Penyerang - Fadzli Saari dan Safee Sali. Safee kulihat badannya tegap, lariannya deras. Usianya ketika itu 19 tahun. Kemudian dia diserapkan ke dalam skuad pra-Olimpik kendalian Allan Harris, seterusnya pasukan kebangsaan bimbingan Norizan Bakar, tonggak serangan B. Sathianathan sebelum kembali beraksi di bawah sayap Rajagobal ketika muncul penjaring terbanyak Piala Suzuki AFF. Pelbagai aksi Safee dalam menyempurnakan peluang aku saksikan. Bicycle kick, rembatan sambil berlari, separuh volley, sepakan gunting jadi rencah Safee mewarnai bola sepak Malaysia. Sambil Selangor mengucapkan selamat berjaya kepada Safee dalam pengembaraannya ke Indonesia, kita tontoni aksi Safee menerusi youtube.

Fancy running in the New York half marathon?

Some of us are plain lucky, playing in the backyard, laughing in the sunshine, catching fireflies, riding bicycles, learning to swim, running barefoot through the grass, gazing at the stars on moonlit nights and building sandcastles.

But in New York City, like everywhere else, there are kids deprived from the simple pleasures of growing up. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

So how can one contribute? By running a half marathon.

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for runners and sponsors to join the Fresh Air Fund-Racers team for the NYC Half-Marathon this coming March 20th. It's a great way to participate in NYC's premier road race that takes you through to beautiful Central Park (never been there before), Times Square and ends with breathtaking finish-line views of the NYC Harbour, while helping Fresh Air Fund children. Visit http://freshairmarathon.com/. The Fresh Air Fund provides runners with guaranteed entry in exchange for fundraising before race day. Entries are limited, so please email kbrinkerhoff@freshair.org or call (212) 897-8890.

Ranau oh Ranau

Seronok betul aku apabila pusing satu Sabah mengikuti rombongan kaki 4WD dalam Borneo Safari 1993. Bos meja sukan Berita Harian masa tu, Zian Johari, pilih aku untuk buat liputan. Singgah di Ranau, berendam dalam hot springs di Poring, fuh, belajar winching...hampir 20 tahun yang lalu...artikel di bawah khas untuk sisispan sukan BH, Jaguh

Ranau, satu kawasan pedalaman...mungkin sesuai untuk ahli sukan berlatih, beri fokus, jauh daripada sebarang gangguan...sebab itu Kesatuan Orang Amat Malang (KOAM) hendak hantar 72 atlit ke sana...kalau tak setuju, digugur daripada program...orang macam ini lah yang urus satu persatuan kebangsaan...

Aku dah puas menulis olahraga ni, dari zaman keemasan Zaki Sadri dan rakan-rakan, hingga KOAM digantung oleh Kerajaan...

Ada satu jalan penyelesaian - semua bekas jagoan dan atlit sertai peringkat daerah dan negeri, singkir pemimpin kayu di peringkat negeri dan kemudian masuk KOAM...satu revolusi diperlukan...ayuh bermula dari sekarang, oh sementara itu, bacalah

tak logik ke Ranau, Ranau tidak sesuai, Ranau panas, beberapa siri laporan, tangguh dulu

Keputusan Piala Suzuki AFF diatur?

Wartawan the Malay Mail, Haresh Deol, buat pautan kepada blog Jakarta Casual yang melaporkan khabar angin bahawa kemenangan Malaysia dalam Piala Suzuki AFF sudah diatur lebih awal oleh bookie. Baca di sini

Astro Awani dan Brendan Gan

Wartawan ada pelbagai kategori. Ada penulis upahan, ada wartawan yang bertanggungjawab dan beretika, ada yang jenis bodek pegawai kerana hendak sesuatu dan ada yang menjadi aktivis atas dasar minat. Aku ucap syabas kepada unit sukan Astro Awani kerana menjadi jambatan di antara Brendan Gan dan FAM. Sama ada Brendan terpilih atau tidak untuk menyarung jersi negara bukan soalnya. Isunya ialah membuka mata masyarakat. Bagilah peluang kepada pemain kelahiran Australia itu membuktikan kemampuan. Jika di kalangan pakar teknikal di FAM tidak berminat, takpalah. Tapi yang penting, buka minda, buka mata.

Ke Liga J?

Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dan Safee Sali dalam perancangan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) untuk menjalani ujian pemilihan bersama kelab di Jepun, menurut Sukan Awani sebentar tadi.

Ini satu perkembangan menarik. Moga-moga mereka dapat memikat perhatian Divisyen Dua pun tidak apa...Safee pula turut dilapor sedang menunggu pengumuman rasmi Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor (FAS) untuk menyertai Persib Bandung.

Juga Awani mendedahkan kehadiran Brendan Gan disambut baik Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak.

Padang oh padang

Kalau ada peluang ke luar negara, khususnya ke negara yang bola sepaknya maju, cuba tinjau keadaan padang dan kemudahan stadium di sana.

Di sini, Stadium Kuala Lumpur di Cheras macam batas ubi. Masalah utama kita - stadium bukan dikendalikan persatuan bola sepak. Di England, groundsman macam tuan tanah. Kita pijak sikit habis kena hamun. Hanya diizin memijak atau pegang jika ada kebenaran pengurusan.

Dulukan, bekas jurulatih kebangsaan Allan Harris selalu ngomel dengan aku..."I don't understand, you look at the condition of the pitch...rubbish," katanya. Aku sekadar angkat bahu tak tahu nak jawab...Harris pulak tahu sajalah, pernah bertugas di Barcelona, Espanyol, Crystal Palace...padang first class la..

Tengok gambar Hisham yob4ever.com...Shahrulnizam Mustapa macam terpijak lopak tu. Padang macam ini nak hos Hong Kong? 

Of Brendan Gan and Tadanari Lee

Hah, Australian-born midfielder Brendan Gan is close to getting a call-up thanks to Astro Awani who initiated the move by calling the Sydney FC player. Harimau Muda A coach Ong Kim Swee has responded positively.

Local footy fans have been clamouring for Brendan's inclusion. I personally believe any player who has the capacity to add a different dimension to our team must be considered.

Three years before he slammed home the match-winning goal for Japan in the Asian Cup final, Tadanari Lee was a source of irritation for Sabre Mat Abu (background) and his Malaysian team mates...

If we were to entertain thoughts of qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup, Malaysia need all the help we can get. Now let me take you back to March 2007, when B. Sathianathan's pre-Olympic team were made to look like sushis by the Japanese side.

On that wet night, Malaysia gave a gutsy display but the Japanese were a class above. You will recognise these two names - Keisuke Honda and Tadanari Lee. Those two Jap chaps were on the slippery pitch at the Petaling Jaya Stadium as they won 3-1. While Honda has gone to CSKA Moscow and made a name for himself in the World Cup, Lee emerged as the matchwinner in the Samurai Blue's fourth Asian Cup win last Saturday. Four of Sathianathan's boys - Safiq Rahim, Amirulhadi Zainal, Sabre Mat Abu and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri - formed the core of K. Rajagobal's AFF Cup-winning squad more than three years later.

Juri Soccerkids TV3

K. Baskaran, penerbit Soccerkids TV3, tidak pernah melupakan aku. Dari musim pertama sehingga kini, sentiasa aku dipelawa menjadi juri pada final. Jangan lupa saksikan program Soccerkids di TV3. Tonton di tv kemudian boleh baca blognya di sini. Tahun lalu Haresh Deol menganggotai juri. Aku bersama jurulatih Harimau Muda B, Ismail Ibrahim dan penolong jurulatih Bawah 17 kebangsaan, Sivam Manickam, menjadi juri edisi tahun ini.

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Gol yang menakjubkan

Jarang-jarang sekali dapat aku saksikan jaringan dari sudut yang sukar dan jarak jauh pulak tu. Jaringan sebegini harus diulang tayang seribu kali, orang tak jemu. Syabas kepada saudara Badri Radzi atas jaringan hasil sepakan percuma yang mewarnai Piala Sumbangsih Sabtu lalu. Sekalipun dikejutkan dengan penggantungan B. Sathianathan, pemain Kelantan bangkit dengan bergaya untuk memulakan kempen musim ini sebagaimana mereka menyudahkan musim lalu - dengan kemenangan!




Tapi pada usia yang menjangkau 30 tahun, hasrat Piya untuk menyarung jersi negara barangkali tidak akan kesampaian. Sayang sekali...

Fresh initiatives from MSL

MSL Sdn Bhd CEO, Stuart Ramalingam, was one of the guests for this week's Kafe Sukan. A marketing consultant with FIFA, Stuart brings with him tons of real life experience, having managed a futsal centre, running and marketing events as well as having had the opportunity to market and promote the Myanmar league. Contrary to my earlier posting, the Petaling Jaya chap is the CEO, not the COO of MSL.

Under the guidance of Tan Sri Annuar Musa as chairman of MSL, Stuart has engaged FAM's affiliates directly by conducting briefing sessions with officials as he did last week. The blackout aside, I'm certain a few State FAs officials were enlightened.

The briefing

The blackout...an act of sabotage? hehe

Stuart is answerable to the MSL board comprising Annuar and two FAM vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Abdullah Hishan Hashim and Datuk Afendi Hamzah.

In the pipeline, among other things, are:

* direct links with fan clubs to make sure the presence of a minimum number of spectators
* direct links with State FAs and other affiliates on marketing strategies and sourcing for funds

With Astro's massive investment, there is no other way except up for Malaysian football.

Takraw oh takraw

Minggu lalu penerbit Kafe Sukan, Nasser Zainal, menjemput Futra Ghani dan Normanizam Ahmad bagi meluahkan perasaan mereka digugurkan daripada skuad sepak takraw kebangsaan atas alasan disiplin. Futra selaku guru di Taman Medan dan Normanizam, seorang anggota polis, adalah teras skuad emas Manila 2005. Cara mereka digugurkan semacam menggambarkan jasa mereka tidak dikenang. Mereka menganggap pengguguran mereka bersifat peribadi. Khabarnya mereka menyerang persatuan dalam bedah siasat sejurus mengutip pingat perak di Sukan Asia di Guangzhou.

Minggu ini giliran Presiden Persatuan Sepak takraw Malaysia (PSM) Datuk Ahmad Ismail dan setiausaha PSM, Datuk Arshad Yahya, menceritakan keadaan dari perspektif persatuan. Apabila ditanya bila nak letak jawatan, TokMat menyebut kena faham perlembagaan persatuan, "hangpa nak ambik alih ka", sambil mempertahankan PSM antara persatuan diurus tadbir dengan cekap. Dia turut menyebut sebenarnya ada lapan pemain yang dicadang digugur selain tidak menyembunyikan hakikat Futra dan Normanizam ada masalah disiplin. Arshad pula memberitahu selepas rakaman sebenarnya 95 peratus ahli gabungan tidak mahu TokMat letak jawatan!

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