A major clean-up

Shokri Nor, one of the nation's most experienced referees, allegedly schemed with former national player S. Thanasegar in Penang to fix the Lions XII-Sarawak match.

Yet how was the 47-year old policeman arrested in Singapore?

While I don't wish to question whether or not the Singapore authorities were unethical or whether or not the area of jurisdiction was observed, the FA of Malaysia must react accordingly.

What has happened to Osman Bakar's investigation unit set up under FAM's auspices to help combat match-fixing? Read Haresh Deol's posting here

Rightfully FAM must probe further and send Osman to speak to Shokri as part of Malaysia's parallel investigation into the allegation.

FAM cannot leave Shokri to fend for himself. Dispatch a Malaysian legal team that is licensed to practise in Singapore to ensure that he gets a fair hearing. After all one is innocent until proven guilty.

In the mean time, FAM cannot be waiting for the outcome of the trial which may take months and years without conducting a proper investigation from all directions.

FAM must establish a committee comprising ex-internationals who could read a game and identify potential "kelong" suspects.

Osman must be given the necessary help to ease his burden.

Remember nine Perlis players were reportedly offered up to RM100,000 (S$41,600) each by a bookmaker before a Premier League match which their team lost 2-7 to Muar Municipal Council? Also 11 players from the Negeri Sembilan President's Cup team were suspended between one and five years for their part in match-fixing last year, while their coach was banned for life?

The wisdom behind the decision to invite Singapore back into the fold, considering the fact FA of Malaysia (FAM) gave them the boot in 1995 due to the sole reason that Singapore was a major betting hub, remains questionable. Recall what Peter Velappan said last year here

Refer to my question at 3:42 on Dengan Izin.



But Singapore or no, our football needs a major clean-up. If the cleaning up requires the eradication of  illegal betting syndicate, so be it.

Adakah ini skandal rasuah Episod 2?

S. Thanasegar - satu nama besar satu ketika dulu.

Dicungkil bakatnya hasil Projek 2000 yang dilancarkan oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Kedah (KFA), Thana ditampilkan oleh Robert Alberts dalam skuad Hijau Kuning pada 1993 selepas cemerlang di peringkat Piala Rahman dan Piala Razak.

Selepas membantu Kedah menjuarai Piala Malaysia pada 1993, Thana antara 30 pemain disenarai sebagai pelatih di IKIP, Kuantan.dan terus diserapkan ke dalam skuad pra-Olimpik Claude Le Roy pada tahun berikutnya.

Thana 1993

Thana 2012

Bahkan Thana yang berasal dari Bukit Selambau, membintangi skuad negara ke Sukan Asia di Hiroshima pada Oktober 1994. Licik, mahir menggelecek dan bijak mengintai peluang, Thana disifatkan sebagai prospek besar.

Namun dua bulan kemudian, dia ditahan atas dakwaan terbabit dalam gejala mengatur keputusan perlawanan. Lalu digantung.

Kini nama Thana muncul kembali. Khamis lalu, dia bersama pengadil Shokri Nor masing-masing didakwa menerima RM15,000 untuk mengatur keputusan perlawanan Lions XII dengan Sarawak yang dimenangi pasukan Singapura itu 3-0 Selasa lalu.

Shokri, 47, sebelum ini banyak kali dikecam kerana dilihat gagal menyempurnakan tugasnya dengan profesional.

Kena tanya Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), kenapa seorang pengadil berusia 47 tahun masih bertugas?

Baca laporan NST, klik di sini dan baca komen bekas pemain pra-Olimpik.

Tindakan pantas pihak berkuasa Singapura ini mengingatkan aku kepada kejadian 1994. Pengadil T Rajamanickam dari Singapura ditahan pada Oktober 1994 membawa kepada penahanan Michal Vana dan seterusnya membongkar satu skandal rasuah membabitkan Malaysia dan Singapura sehinggalah Singapura dibuang daripada saingan Liga M.

Apakah dakwaan terhadap Shokri ini akan membongkar episod kedua sebuah skandal?

Selamat berjaya Nazmi

Cukup teruja bila mendengar Nazmi Faiz Mansor mengikat kontrak dengan SC Beira-Mar. Baca pendapat aku di laman web stadiumastro di sini

Untuk memudahkan kehidupannya di bandar bergelar Venice Portugal itu, Nazmi harus ditemani sama ada bapanya atau seorang rakan sebaya. Elok juga kalau ada keluarga angkat dari Asia Tenggara di Aveiro.

Ketika di Strasbourg dulu, Akmal Rizal Rakhli ditemani Juzaili Samion. Ini keputusan FAM yang merasakan Akmal lebih cepat menyesuaikan diri di Perancis jika ada teman. Mereka juga beruntung kerana dipantau oleh Mohammad Zakaria, seorang usahawan Melayu di Strasbourg, dan pakar masakan, Wong Kok Thoong. Mohammad adalah sahabat karib Hassan Sulaiman, anggota jawatankuasa pembangunan bola sepak kebangsaan.

Di Eropah, simpati dan belas kasihan tiada dalam kamus hidup pemain profesional. Semua mahu cemerlang, semua mahu cari makan. Tentu sekali selepas ini ada akhbar yang mahu menjadikan Nazmi sebagai kolumnis tetap. Kalau di Indonesia, mereka akan mengirim pemberita ke sana.

Bacalah luahan Akmal. Penulis kolumnya di Berita Minggu dan the Sunday Mail ketika itu ialah - akulah. Haha. Waktu itu, aku mewujudkan kolum Par Avion (by airplane) atas persetujuan Pengarang Sunday Mail Sheila (Natarajan) Rahman. Kemudian aku pujuk Haji Razak Rafflis untuk beri ruang hampir satu muka dalam Berita Minggu untuk kolum Emel dari Strasbourg. Masa itu aku segan nak minta ruang daripada Hishamuddin Aun, pengarang sukan Berita Harian ketika itu (kini Datuk).

Antaranya:

ASSALAMUALAIKUM. Apa khabar? Cuaca di bawah paras beku di Strasbourg benar-benar menguji ketabahan kami sebagai anak perantau. Bagi saya dan Juzaili, inilah keadaan paling sejuk pernah kami alami. Tangan kami rasa macam nak beku, apatah lagi kalau pegang pintu kereta.


Sudah tentu ia cukup berbeza dengan keadaan di tanah air. Inilah sebahagian daripada cabaran yang harus kami tangani kalau ingin mengecap kejayaan sebagai pemain bola sepak profesional di Eropah. Sejak kami datang semula ke sini kira-kira tiga minggu lalu, suhu paling tinggi hanyalah lima darjah selsius. Mujur kami diberi kelengkapan untuk menghadapi keadaan ini.


Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) sudahpun membekalkan kami dengan pakaian sejuk. Setibanya kami di sini, Oktober lalu, kelab Racing juga memberi kami beberapa pasang baju sejuk. Setiap kali kami melayari Internet, menghadiri kelas bahasa Perancis dan menjalani latihan, saya dan Juzaili kenalah berbungkus.


Ketika ini, kami menjalani latihan dengan Racing dan FR Haguenau. Kami sudah empat kali menjalani latihan dengan Haguenau yang banyak menekankan corak latihan tiga dan empat pemain sepasukan. Terletak kira-kira 25 kilometer ke utara Strasbourg, Haguenau adalah bandar kecil yang mempunyai 50,000 penduduk.


Menurut jurulatih Haguenau, Pierre Pleimelding, kami kemungkinan besar diberi peluang menampilkan aksi sulung minggu depan. Biarpun kelab ini bertaraf amatur, pemainnya berkemahiran tinggi baik dari segi taktikal mahupun teknikal.


Agak sukar juga untuk kami memikat perhatian jurulatih. Persaingan sengit dan sihat inilah yang mendorong kami untuk mempamerkan prestasi terbaik kami.


Kalau menjalani latihan di Strasbourg, kami menggunakan trem dan bas dari asrama CREPS untuk ke Stade de La Meinau. Dari CREPS ke Haguenau ibarat perjalanan dari Alor Star ke Jitra. Jadi kami terpaksa menumpang kereta seorang pemain kulit hitam, Karthe Djuiche. Djuiche seorang yang peramah. Dia banyak berkongsi pengalamannya dan tidak lokek menasihatkan kami mengenai kelab Haguenau.


Perjalanan mengambil masa lebih kurang 35 minit. Peluang berlatih dengan Racing dan Haguenau benar-benar membuka mata kami. Dari situ kami menyedari setiap pasukan tanpa mengira status, amat menitikberatkan kemahiran teknikal.


Sebab itu pelatih di sini kebanyakannya memiliki skil yang cukup tinggi. Falsafah bola sepak di sini ialah teknikal mengatasi fizikal. Tanpa kemampuan teknikal, seseorang pemain itu tidak boleh pergi jauh.


Umpamanya, latihan bersama Racing di bawah tunjuk ajar Yvon Pouliquen amat merangsang minda di samping mengasah kemahiran teknikal kami. Corak latihan ini amat kami nanti-nantikan. Setiap pemain diberi tempoh 25 minit untuk menghabiskan lapan hingga 10 ujian.


Antara ujian itu ialah sepak dari jarak jauh mesti kena palang, jatuhkan kon, masukkan bola ke dalam gelung, sepakan sudut menuju gawang dan tendangan dari tengah padang terus ke arah gol.


Biar saya jelaskan. Lazimnya kami bermula serentak. Mula-mula, setiap pemain diarah menyepak dari jarak 18 meter.


Sasarannya bukan gawang tetapi palang gol. Biasanya saya hanya dapat menemui sasaran selepas lima atau enam percubaan. Masalahnya, selagi seseorang itu tidak memenuhi syarat ujian itu, dia tidak dibenar melakukan ujian seterusnya. Bayangkan anda hanya mempunyai 25 minit untuk melengkapkan semua ujian terbabit.


Seterusnya, ujian menjatuhkan kon dari 20 meter. Sesuatu yang agak sukar kerana kon yang disediakan tidaklah sebesar mana. Kemudian, jurulatih meletakkan beberapa gelung di deretan yang sama. Dia akan menunjukkan satu gelung sebagai sasaran dan tugas kami ialah memastikan bola betul-betul jatuh ke gelung yang ditetapkan tanpa melantun.


Ini disusuli sepakan sudut inswinger yang terus menerjah gawang tanpa lantunan (ala Abdullah Ali, pakar sepakan sudut terus era 70 dan 80-an).


Diikuti dengan tendangan dari bulatan tengah yang mesti tepat ke gawang dan tendangan dari jarak 18 meter ke gol kecil yang diletakkan di bulatan tengah.


Secara peribadi, ujian paling sukar ialah menjaringkan gol dengan menjadikan spring sebagai pendinding. Spring ini diletakkan berdekatan gol kecil dan kami dikehendaki menujukan sepakan ke spring itu agar ia melantun masuk ke gawang.


Dalam masa tidak sampai 30 minit, setiap pemain harus menyempurnakan ujian ini. Sudah tentu ramai yang terkial-kial tetapi disebabkan masing-masing dilengkapi kemahiran tinggi, ia menjadi ujian yang memberangsangkan.


Biasanya pemain yang paling cepat menghabiskan ujian ialah pemain Brazil, Claudio Santos, sweeper Mourad Bar dan Pascal Johansen. Kalau bernasib baik, saya dan Juzaili jatuh di tempat keenam atau ketujuh. Kalau tidak, berbelas-belaslah. Jumpa lagi.

Kalau bulan Ramadan di sana, baca

STRASBOURG sebenarnya bandar unik yang menghubungkan Perancis dengan Jerman, Itali dan Switzerland. Jadi tidak hairanlah ramai pendatang beragama Islam, terutama keturunan Turki, bermastautin di bandar ini.


Kebanyakan bangsa Turki ini berhijrah dari negara asal mereka ke Perancis melalui Jerman yang bersempadan hanya lima minit dari Strasbourg. Penduduk Islam di Strasbourg dianggarkan seramai 60,000. Ini cukup menggembirakan saya dan Juzaili. Di Perancis mereka digelar Musulman atau Muslim.


Kami amat menanti kedatangan Ramadan dan teringin menikmati ibadah puasa di tempat orang sebagai perbandingan dengan keadaan di Malaysia. Alhamdulillah, kami dapat merasai nikmat berpuasa selama seminggu di sini. Secara keseluruhannya, Ramadan di sini seperti hari-hari biasa.


Cuma majlis berbuka puasa diadakan di Masjid Besar Strasbourg (Grand Mosquee de Strasbourg). Beberapa hari sebelum 1 Ramadan, saya dan Juzaili singgah di masjid bagi mendapatkan kalendar waktu solat sepanjang bulan ini.


Ia bagi memudahkan kami menyesuaikan dengan waktu latihan bersama kelab Racing de Strasbourg, Haguenau dan kelas bahasa Perancis di Sekolah Antarabangsa Lycee.


Pada hari pertama puasa, iaitu Rabu 8 November, kami berbuka puasa dengan sepotong kebab doner yang berharga 20 francs (kira-kira RM12) di sebuah kedai milik seorang keturunan Turki. Di tengah bandar Strasbourg ini, ada banyak kedai Turki dan Pakistan, jadi tidak ada masalah mencari juadah berbuka puasa.  


Oleh kerana makan malam dihidangkan di CREPS, kami sekadar mengalas perut di kedai berkenaan. Lagi pun harganya agak mahal. Makan malam di kafeteria CREPS biasanya tepat jam 7 malam.


Apa yang memeranjatkan saya ialah cara masyarakat Strasbourg secara keseluruhannya menghormati ibadah puasa ini.


Sebut saja Ramadan, kebanyakan orang Perancis berkata mereka tahu umat Islam diwajibkan berpuasa. Umpamanya Prof Philippe Vuarand yang mengajar kami bahasa Perancis. Berusia dalam lingkungan 30-an, Vuarand kata dia kagum dengan kemampuan umat Islam berpuasa.


Beberapa pemain Racing dan Haguenau juga sudah maklum dengan Ramadan kerana kehadiran ratusan pemain beragama Islam yang mencari rezeki di Perancis, selain hakikat Islam agama kedua terbesar di Perancis.


Bintang Piala Dunia Perancis, Zinedine Yazid Zidane, umpamanya, berasal dari keluarga yang berhijrah dari Algeria pada awal 1960-an. Pada hari kedua, kami berbuka dengan lempeng yang disapu dengan Nutella. Bagi mereka yang biasa dengan keadaan di Perancis, makanan ini mudah didapati di tepi jalan.


Pada hari ketiga Ramadan yang juga hari Jumaat, kami memutuskan untuk berbuka di masjid. Masjid yang boleh memuatkan kira-kira 400 jemaah itu terletak di tengah bandar, kira-kira 20 minit dari CREPS. Berbekalkan pas perjalanan bulanan yang berharga 152 francs (RM89) ehsan kelab Racing, kami mudah menaiki bas atau trem untuk berulang-alik dari CREPS ke pusat bandar.


Tambang perjalanan sehala berharga 7 francs (RM4). Seawal 11.30 pagi, kami sudah tiba di masjid untuk solat Jumaat. Ketika itu masjid sudah hampir penuh kerana jemaah khusyuk mendengar ceramah Imam. Masjid ini ada dua Imam, seorang berbangsa Turki manakala seorang lagi berketurunan Algeria.


Jam 12.30 tengah hari, khutbah yang dijalankan dalam bahasa Arab pun dimulakan. Hampir satu jam kemudian, solat Jumaat disempurnakan. Sambil menanti waktu berbuka, kami singgah di kafe siber. Kira-kira 4.15 petang, kami menuju semula ke masjid. Kami lihat kurma dihidangkan di atas meja dalam masjid. Air mineral pula disediakan di sekeliling masjid.


Namun jemaah tidak ramai. Barangkali mereka lebih gemar berbuka di rumah masing-masing. Selesai berbuka, kami menunaikan solat Maghrib. Agak malang kami tidak sempat menunaikan solat sunat Terawih secara berjemaah kerana kami menjalani latihan dengan Haguenau pada sebelah malam.


Keesokannya pada Sabtu, Mohammad Zakaria, usahawan yang sudah lama menetap di Strasbourg, menjemput kami berbuka puasa di rumahnya. Dia menjamu kami nasi, ayam goreng, ayam masak kicap dan telur masak lemak. Yang kelakarnya, isterinya Anny Hawah dan anaknya Emilie, Lokman Hakim dan Theo Ardani hanya makan nasi dengan ayam goreng.


Mereka pelik melihat kami makan dengan berselera. Maklumlah masakan yang disediakan betul-betul menepati cita rasa Melayu. Pada Rabu lalu, saya dan Juzaili berlepas dari Strasbourg ke Frankfurt (Lapangan Terbang Strasbourg hanya menyediakan penerbangan domestik) untuk pulang ke tanah air. Kami tiba di KLIA Khamis lalu dan saya terus berlepas ke Kedah beberapa jam kemudian untuk melepas rindu kepada keluarga. Selamat menjalani ibadah sepanjang Ramadan. Jumpa lagi.

Best of luck

Tai Beng Hai was a no-frills full-back during his heyday, content on carrying the piano for the stars of the team. Read On a Hai-note

In contrast, Nor Saiful Zaini Nasiruddin shone like a beacon. Speed was his main forte. Then he set a trend. He began to wear tights to cover his thighs and knees. Quick to emulate him were the younger set of players in the national team - among them Nor Azlan Bakar and Chairil Anwar Aziz.

Nor Saiful revolutionised the way the players conducted themselves off and on the pitch by being the spiritual leader of the team. Read here.

So I'm pretty sure the Beng Hai-Nor Saiful duet have given their best, which culminated with the team's silver medal display in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. But the daggers were out in Dublin after the team failed to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Naturally their position is up for speculation. Malaysia are looking at a Dutch contingent to replace the Beng Hai-Nor Saiful tandem. Read here

I suggest let's read Beng Hai's full report following the Dublin debacle first, before making any decision.

NSC, as the agency in charge of high-performance, should lead the way, conduct a study and investigate the issues raised by Beng Hai before opting for the foreign route.

In the meantime let's hope the national team does well in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

Perginya Rahim King

Datuk Rahim Dahalan, bekas komando dan jurulatih Biro Tatanegara (BTN) yang bukan saja rapat dengan orang kenamaan tetapi juga atlet dan keluarga sukan negara, meninggal dunia di Kluang, petang tadi.

Aku ada beberapa kenangan manis dengan Allahyarham sepanjang menjadi wartawan di Berita Harian dan the Malay Mail.

Bila ada kesempatan kami kerap berbincang politik dan isu dalam negara. Itu sebahagian tugasnya melayan kerenah wartawan yang membuat liputan kem motivasinya menjelang pelbagai temasya sukan.

Tapi memang Allahyarham tidak boleh lupa kejadian kami terperangkap dalam bilik persalinan di Istora Senayan pada malam final Piala Thomas 1994. Baca Jakarta oh Jakarta.

Tak silap aku kali terakhir kami bersua muka pada Anugerah Sukan Negara pada April 2010. Baca di sini. Ketika Allahyarham mengetuai ekspedisi payung terjun ke Kutub Utara, aku mengucapkan selamat maju jaya kepadanya.

Ketika Allahyarham menjadi penghulu kem latihan pusat menjelang Sukan SEA di Jakarta pada 1997, dia menyatakan kebosanan terhadap segelintir pemimpin sukan.

Kata-katanya kuterjemahkan dalam bentuk sebuah artikel untuk the Malay Mail, seperti di bawah.

IS there double-standard being practised at the national camp in Bangi or has everything been overruled?


Some athletes were seen leaving the camp for training when the rules clearly say that no members of the contingent are to go out of the Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) or Ikram vicinity once they have checked in on Oct 4.


Not even for training. The training facilities are all provided for within the area. Well, yesterday, out of the 400-odd that had checked in, only 200 athletes turned up for the motivational session at the auditorium.


The rest were either out training or could not care less. But camp commandant Rahim Dahalan did not blame the athletes. Rather he lambasted the officials for breaking the rule.


"It has been agreed that upon their check-in in Bangi, none of the athletes are to train outside. Sadly this simple but vital ruling has been broken. Whatever we have planned and arranged sometimes gets overruled by the bosses.


"While the officials are not showing enthusiasm and commitment, I don't blame the athletes. There are no bad athletes, what we have are bad officials. These officials have been spoiling the sports fraternity and, as such, should be given the boot.


"They are not committed. They are in it because they want publicity for themselves. They have their self-interest at heart."


If given a choice, Rahim wouldn't want to be involved with the centralised national training. In fact, he is suggesting to the National Sports Council (NSC) to do away with the camp aimed at fostering better relations and integration ahead of certain events such as SEA Games and Asian Games.


Irked by the attitude of certain officials, Rahim, who was a major figure in the highly successful 1989 and 1993 national training and motivational camp, wants to see a change soon.


"If this is how the officials persist, I am going to suggest to NSC to stop this nonsense and let us get on with our lives. "They only want the glamour associated with the sports without any noble intention of helping out the associations or national bodies."


Tidak lupa juga kata-katanya beberapa hari sebelum Anwar Ibrahim dipecat pada 2 September 1998. Allahyarham mengenyit matanya kepada aku ketika mengiringi Anwar pulang daripada melawat kem latihan di Bangi menjelang pembukaan Sukan Komanwel 1998. Tebal jiwa patriotiknya, kental semangat kenegaraannya. Moga rohnya ditempatkan di kalangan para solehin. Al-Fatihah buat Rahim Dahalan.

Bound for Bavaria

What do Kedah duo Rafiz Abu Bakar and Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli have in common apart from being touted as potential superstars in their teens?

Rafiz spent a few weeks at Lim Teong Kim's house in Munich in 1996

So did Akmal in 1997

They each spent about a month at Bayern Munich, Rafiz in 1996 and Akmal a year later. In 2001, Rudie Ramli and Fadzli Saari signed on the dotted lines for SV Wehen, a semi-pro outfit.

Rudie (right) and Fadzli with Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah

Soon two more Malaysians will join the elite group. Read the Press release below:

Allianz is in search for young football talents to be part of the Allianz Junior Football Camp in Munich, Germany. 


This global Company initiative was introduced in Malaysia today through Jens Reisch, CEO of Allianz Malaysia Berhad (AMB) and Zakri Khir, CEO of Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad (Allianz General).


 In August 2012, two selected teenagers from Malaysia will be at the centre spot together with other selected teenagers from 21 different countries and four continents.


They will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet stars of FC Bayern Munich, participate in a professional football practice with official coaches of the club, visit the city of Munich and watch a match of FC Bayern Munich live at the Allianz Arena in the fourth international Allianz Junior Football Camp in Munich, Germany; all paid-for by Allianz.


 “This is the first year that Malaysia will be part of the Allianz Junior Football Camp and we are very excited to take up the initiative of our Group Company; especially in bringing teenagers together to inspire and develop their talent with an exciting five-day football adventure in Munich, Germany,” said Jens Reisch, CEO of Allianz Malaysia Berhad.

Shahrin Majid and K. Gunalan will get to handpick the two boys

As a kick-off, young Malaysian teenagers between 14 to 16 years of age who have a keen interest and passion for football are invited to start registering online at the Football for Life website: www.football-for-life.com or its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AllianzFootballforlife from now until 6 July 2012.

All they need to do is share their best football moment in their life and upload their favourite football picture of themselves besides. They are also encouraged to upload the picture on the Allianz Football for Life Facebook page as a free kick to increase their chance of winning. After completing the registration process, these teenagers will be called to join in for a trial match on 14 and 15 July 2012 at Padang SUK, Shah Alam, Selangor and will be given their own jerseys to wear at the match, which they can later keep as a souvenir.


They will then be selected by former national football players - Shahrin Majid and K. Gunalan to win a trip to Munich, Germany at the Allianz Junior Football camp which will be held from 22 to 26 August 2012 or 29 August to 3 September 2012.


At the same time, those who are not selected at the trial match have the chance of winning a wildcard when their family and friends vote for their uploaded picture on the Allianz Football for Life Facebook page.


"Through this, two young and teenagers will be selected to represent Malaysia for their trip to Munich in August 2012 The camp will facilitate these teenagers not only to get an insight view of the professional world of football but also to experience the intercultural exchange between the different nationalities. It proves that football is truly an international language.


"In tandem, the Allianz Junior Football Camp also underlines the engagement of Allianz with football: as an official partner of FC Bayern Munich and the naming rights partner of one of the world’s best-known football stadiums, the Allianz Arena where the recent UEFA Champions League was held. I would like to take this opportunity to invite as many teenagers as possible not to miss this opportunity. There will be many things to learn from besides the exposure and fun and Allianz is here to promote this for you," said Reisch.

A great Chance for 5

The Chance in Malaysia

The chance in France

Last week, five footballers aspiring for greater heights were handpicked by Ong Kim Swee to represent Malaysia in the upcoming Chance Regional Finals.


The players had to go through a series of training drills which includes Nike SPARQ - a training and conditioning system that helps build better athletes and used by some of the best football clubs in the world.  The players then played in a friendly match against the U-16 Malaysia Football squad.

Eventually Yuhendri Rosli, Mohamed Rafef Raya, Thanabalan A/L Nadarajah, Carlos Benjamin Goonting and Mohd Raphi Azizan were chosen to represent Malaysia to set up a date in Jakarta, Indonesia for The Chance Regional Finals. Their determination, passion and skills won the coaches and the scouts over.  

“The Chance has allowed us to look for some of the best undiscovered footballers in Malaysia. It has given us extra eyes to keep a lookout for some of the talents that are out there.” said Harimau Muda Coach, Ong Kim Swee.

“The Chance was all about giving these footballers a once in a lifetime opportunity to live their dreams. And now, the 5 of them will go on to prove themselves on a regional scale. Nike will do all that it can to see that the footballers are provided with proper mentoring and equipment and ensure that they are ready to face off with the best of South East Asia.” said Joan Yeoh, Country Marketing Manager of Nike Malaysia. 

From left to right: Yuhendri B. Rosli, Mohamed Rafef B. Raya, Country Marketing Manager of Nike Malaysia, Joan Yeoh, Harimau Muda coach Ong Kim Swee, Thanabalan A/L Nadarajah, Carlos Benjamin Goonting, and Mohd Raphi B. Azizan.

At The Chance regional finals, only 4 will be selected to compete at the global finals, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain. A total of 100 players from 55 countries will be competing for 16 spots, as these 16 players will go on to experience the ultimate training tour. Facing off against some of the most renowned football academy teams in the world, including Manchester United, Juventus and a U.S. Youth National Team.

From the group of 16 players, 4 players will be chosen to train and play with the Nike Academy. From there, only one will be selected to join the Nike Academy 2012/13 full time for three months, playing with the team to showcase their talent to professional scouts and coaches. Since The Chance was launched in 2010, 6 of the original 8 winners that trained full time at the Nike Academy have secured professional playing contracts.

Over 6,000 youths between the ages of 16 and 24 participated in the nationwide search for The Chance. They were scouted either through The Chance trials which took place in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Pasir Gudang, Johor, and Petaling Jaya, Selangor or through The Chance Mobile Scouting Vehicle. The players were then evaluated by a panel of coaches and scouts that are sanctioned by the Football Association of Malaysia.

Antara Dua Darjat - pemerhatian Tokcik

Orang lama tapi pemerhatian kekal tajam. Baca komentar bekas pengulas sukan dan orang besar RTM, Amran A Hamid, dalam blognya Tokcik Tengok mengenai final Piala FA dan final Liga Juara-juara Eropah  Antara Dua Darjat.

Tulisan orang lama cukup tajam dan berisi. Tidak ramai tahu Amran adalah antara pencetus idea sebuah liga bola tempatan diwujudkan dalam perbincangan tiga hala antara dia, Karl Weigang dan Allahyarham Datuk Abu Bakar Daud ketika Piala Dunia 1978 di Buenos Aires.

Penyiar di RTM juga hebat menulis. Cuba baca blog seorang lagi veteran RTM di sini

Lagu untuk LCW dan skuad badminton

Mei, Jun dan Julai biasanya padat dengan kalendar sukan antarabangsa.

Hari ini bermula cabaran Piala Thomas di Wuhan, China.

Harapnya pakar perseorangan dan beregu kita dapat tempias semangat anak buah Dharma Abdullah dan Mirnawan Nawawi yang muncul juara Piala Remaja Asia di Melaka baru-baru ini.

Secebis kisah aku membuat liputan Piala Thomas sebanyak empat kali, klik Thomas Cup and I part 1, Thomas Cup and I part 2, Tugasan pertamaku di luar negara dan End of the road.




Daripada aku tulis lebih-lebih, baik dengar lagu dendangan Johan, Haniff dan Ray bertajuk Smash khas untuk DLCW dan rakan-rakan



Tengok reaksi Datuk Lee Chong Wei...speechless hahahahah

Ray atau Shah Reza Mohd Shah AKA David Banner

Ray AKA Hulk (tiga dari kanan)

Ray (kanan sekali) adalah satu-satunya penyampai Astro Arena yang membintangi billboard seluruh negara. Kini menemani aku dalam Grandstand Ahad...

ISN bergolak?

Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz sedang menghitung hari-hari terakhir sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Institut Sukan Negara (ISN).

Doktor perubatan itu akan dipindahkan mengetuai Adamas, iaitu Agensi Anti Doping Malaysia, bermula 1 Jun ini.

Satu jawatan khas akan diwujudkan buat Dr Ramlan.

Ini berikutan pendedahan Nadi Arena yang memetik Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, sebagai berkata bahawa perkara itu sudahpun dibentangkan dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri.

Sebelum ini, timbul pelbagai spekulasi mengenai kedudukan Dr Ramlan. Baca
di sini

Khabarnya, ada sekelompok enam individu dalam ISN yang menuduh Dr Ramlan sebagai tidak mampu mengurus agensi itu.

Khabarnya bekas pengarah perubatan ISN, Dr Victor Feizal Abdul Shatar Knight, menjadi antara calon menggantikan Dr Ramlan.

Cabaran besar menunggu pengganti Dr Ramlan kerana ISN wajar diperkasakan. Baca pandangan bekas Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, di sini.

Kenangan di Allianz Arena

Setahun sebelum Piala Dunia diadakan di Jerman pada 2006, aku antara kelompok wartawan yang bertuah dipelawa ke negara Eropah itu, hanya beberapa hari selepas Piala Konfederasi 2005. Jemputan dibuat menerusi Kedutaan Jerman. Ia adalah satu-satunya junket (lawatan yang ditanggung sepenuhnya) untuk aku sepanjang hampir dua dekad membanting tulang di bawah bumbung New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Berhad.

Selain dibawa ke pelbagai stadium atau stadion dalam bahasa Jerman di enam bandaraya yang menjadi hos Piala Dunia, kami dibawa menonton opera, melawat pejabat majalah bola sepak masyhur Kicker selain didedahkan kepada budaya bersukan Jerman.

Aku antara anak Melayu pertama menonton perlawanan bola sepak di Allianz Arena...bersama dari kiri Nguyen Van Yen dari Vietnam dan Lee Ching Chen dari Taiwan. Aku tersengeh kerana teruja...dari tempat aku duduk, menonton perlawanan di antara TSV Munich dan Bayern Munich pada 2 Jun, 2005, macam berada dalam teater...

Dari luar, ketika sampai di Allianz Arena

Cantikkan...selepas perlawanan. Pancaran cahaya biru menandakan TSV sebagai tuan rumah. Kalau merah, Bayern. Putih, bermakna Jerman tuan rumah perlawanan antarabangsa. 

Artikel ini disiarkan dalam Sunday Mail tujuh tahun lalu.

FROM the exterior, the brand new Allianz Arena, the pride of Munich and Bavaria, resembles a rubber dinghy. But on match day, it becomes a beautiful arena for the beautiful game as the entire exterior of the stadium glow to different colours to indicate which team - Bayern Munich, TSV Munich 1860 or Germany - are playing at home.


Yet the interior of the modern stadium, as Mailsport's RIZAL HASHIM discovers, has been kept intentionally plain and colourless, coming to life only with the presence of the crowd.


By the time the group of eight international journalists reached Bavaria, the Allianz Arena had opened its doors to two official football matches.


Since thousands of fans were unable to obtain tickets for the opening gala which included a match between TSV 1860 Munich and FC Nuremberg on May 31, it was decided that the first Munich derby at the modern stadium would be staged on June 2, a day after the German national team lost 4-2 to Bayern Munich.


Built to replace the ageing Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1974 World Cup final, the 66,000-capacity Arena will stage the opening match of next year's World Cup.


All eight of us were excited at the prospect of possibly becoming the first people from our respective countries to enter the illuminated stadium, the creation of football fanatics and prize-winning Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.


We left the Eden Hotel Wolff, located just outside the Munich central station, at around 7.30pm soon after our arrival from Nuremberg. It took us 30 minutes to reach the stadium using the under-ground train from Odeonsplatz and then to the north Munich district of Frottmaning, where the arena is situated.


Fans of both teams were still making their way to the stadium as well, although the match had started. The impressive gleaming exterior took our breath away. It was illuminated in blue when we were walking towards the stadium, indicating that TSV were the host team.


To avoid any argument over colour schemes between rival fans, the stadium changes hew to match the strip of which ever team is playing at home - red for Bayern, blue for 1860 and white for Germany.


The effect is created by light panels inside the 2,816 translucent diamond-shaped foil cushions that cover the stadium, giving it the appearance of a flying saucer.


While walking through the commotion, all of us agreed it was a beautiful piece of work. No wonder the locals, according to one of our accompanying guides, have dubbed it `the rubber dinghy'.


The most interesting feature is, of course, the brilliantly-realised notion that the entire exterior of the stadium should glow different colours to indicate which team are playing at home. So non-football fans using the Autobahn will also be able to tell immediately, thus making the stadium as a symbol and functional object interacting within the wider context of the city.


In all its grandeur, the National Stadium at Bukit Jalil pales in comparison to the Arena which boasts of three day-care centres, a few fans shops and restaurants on a total area of about 6,500 m2. We were told next to the stadium was the biggest parking garage of Europe which has a capacity of 10,500 cars.


The Allianz group, a large financial services provider, paid a huge sum to acquire the rights to attach their name to the Arena for the next 30 years. We took our seats in an already packed stadium, and we were immediately surprised by the clear view and proximity of the match.


The front row seats, we were told, offer spectators the chance to sit within touching distance of Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Co.


The rest are stacked tightly in three tiers, ensuring a clear view from anywhere inside the arena. And we were seated at the second tier. It was very tight, giving one the impression that he is in a theatre. The most noticeable aspect of the stadium was the sea of people.


There was very little architecture that you see inside. The seats have been arranged in such a way that once the stadium is crowded, what matters is the people, rather than the architecture.


Even the weakened Bayern side did not dampen our spirits because we knew that we were at the centre of arguably the most modern football stadium in the world.


The big names from Bayern - such as Oliver Kahn, Ballack, Schweinsteiger and Roy Makaay - were missing from the line-up.


The newly-crowned Bundesliga and German Cup champions were captained by a Frenchman, Willy Sagnol, whom I had the privilege of meeting in person when he was a member of Gerard Houllier's Under-20 side in the World Youth Cup in 1997.


A few familiar figures like Owen Hargreaves, Jens Jeremies and Bixente Lizarazu were the few pros in Felix Magath's team, which was filled with reserves and youth players.


Bayern's second stringers played a good match against the Lions, but conceded a late goal by Australian Paul Agostino in the 85th minute.


The stadium has won the approval of legends such as Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Rummenigge who starred in so many epic battles at the old ground at the Olympic Stadium, said it was "the coolest stadium in the world".


Beckenbauer, the man who lifted the World Cup for the hosts the last time the tournament was staged in Germany, shared Rummenigge's sentiments.


"I've seen pretty much every stadium in the world, but I've never seen anything as good as this," said Beckenbauer. "We can all be very proud. It's a quantum leap forward. We're playing in a true football stadium at last."


 Allianz Arena is certainly a venue that will star alongside the stars next year.


Aku terpanggil menyiarkan semula artikel ini sebagai mengingati final Liga Juara-juara Eropah awal pagi esok, yang mempertemukan Bayern Munich dengan Chelsea.

Rasanya, Bayern akan menang, jika benteng pertahanan Jupp Heynckes dapat menghalang Didier Drogba.

Bukan mudah untuk pasukan gergasi seperti Bayern mendapat peluang menjulang piala di depan penyokong sendiri, sebagaimana Real Madrid pada 1957 dan Inter Milan pada 1965.

Penyokong Chelsea tentunya akan menikmati pengalaman di Allianz Arena, tanpa mengira sama ada the Blues menang atau kalah pada kesudahannya.

Previu final Piala FA

Final Piala FA 2012 istimewa kerana:

1. Adanya pasukan berstatus kelab mara ke final
2. Kelantan memburu gelaran sulung selepas dua kali kecewa - pada 2009 dan 2011
3. Jurulatih tempatan lawan jurulatih asing
4. Tiket RM40 free seating
5. Piala baru

Piala lama, 30 orang nak angkat piala ni

Piala baru

Bekas jurulatih Selangor yang memburu piala pertama. Namanya tiba-tiba menjadi sebutan pada 1998 apabila Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor (FAS) melantik Ismail, bukannya K. Rajagobal (yang ketika itu jurulatih pasukan Liga Simpanan dan masih bekerja di PKNS), menggantikan Steve Wicks pada 4 Mei tahun itu. The Malay Mail melaporkan di muka belakang - Ismail siapa? Khabarnya keratan akhbar itu diletakkan dalam bingkai dan digantung di rumah ibu mertuanya sebagai mengingatkan Ismail, anak jati Kuala Kedah, mengenai cabaran mengurus pasukan bola sepak. Terbabit dalam pembangunan di Selangor sejak 1990. Bertahan enam bulan sebagai jurulatih Selangor yang terjerumus ke Premier 2 pada hujung 1998. Kembali sebagai pengarah kejurulatihan FAS sebelum berkelana ke Proton FC selama tujuh tahun, Ismail diberi kepercayaan membentuk skuad Sime Darby dari awal pada 2010. 

.

Dulu jaga MyTeam, sekarang bawa the Red Warriors. Hodak menjadi terkenal kerana dipilih membimbing MyTeam di sisi Serbegeth Singh pada 2006. Menggantikan Peter Butler yang mengkritik pengurusan KAFA.

Pengurusan Sime Darby pergi sendiri ke Liberia untuk memancing Wleh, tanpa merujuk atau melalui mana-mana ejen. Ini membawa hasil lumayan. Sekalipun Sengbah Kennedy dihantar pulang selepas didapati menghidap Hepatitis B, penggantinya Leandro Teofilo ligat mengawal jentera tengah.

Ismail dijangka membariskan Redzuan Harun,Shazlan Alias, Fairus Aziz, Es Lizuan Zahid Amir, Ariff Ismail, Leandro Teofilo, Syukur Saidin, Faiz Md Isa, Shoufiz Kusaini, Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh dan bekas pemain semi-pro, Yusof Zainal Abidin. Ketiadaan kapten Kamarul Afiq Kamaruddin, bekas pemain remaja kebangsaan, sedikit merencatkan perencanaan Sime Darby.


Hodak kemungkinan besar menyandar harapan kepada Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Farisham Ismail, S. Subramaniam, Obinna Nwaneri, Shakir Shaari, Badri Radzi, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Norfarhan Mohammad, Mohamad Ghaddar. Namun jangan terkejut jika Rizal Fahmi Rosid, Nurul Azwan Roya dan S. Chanturu membintangi kesebelasan kerana Kelantan memiliki kekuatan keseluruhan yang sukar dinafikan.

K. Rajagobal, M. Karathu dan Irfan Bakti Abu Salim memilih Kelantan. Kalau pakar-pakar teknikal kita sudah memilih the Red Warriors, siapalah aku untuk melawan arus?

Kedua-dua pasukan mahu mencipta sejarah, Kelantan tidak pernah menjulang Piala FA manakala Sime Darby bertekad menurunkan nama mereka dalam lipatan sejarah sebagai kelab pertama tersenarai sebagai pemenang.

Saksikan pertarungan di antara Patrick "Ronaldinho" Wleh dengan kereta kebal TRW, Nwaneri, dan sama ada Redzuan Harun atau Wak yang berasal dari Johor, berupaya menyelamatkan gawangnya daripada dibolosi jentera serangan paling tajam dalam arena tempatan.

Yang penting, biarlah penyokong dan hadirin selamat pergi dan selamat kembali ke destinasi masing-masing.

Bagi Sime Darby pula, mungkin pekerja mereka dari seluruh negara turun memberi sokongan.

Selamat berjaya kepada kedua-dua pasukan!

Rosli Hussein - blogger Kepala Bola

Kalau Hasnizam Uzir bekas pemain kebangsaan yang pertama menulis blog di sini , kita juga harus menyambut kehadiran bekas penolong setiausaha agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) ke dalam dunia blog. Bekas pemain Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur dan kebangsaan, Rosli Hussein, yang kini menjadi pengulas di Astro Arena, menggelarkan blognya Kepala Bola! Klik di sini untuk catatan sulungnya. Rosli adalah antara atlet pintar yang mendahului zamannya...iaitu intelligent di padang dan di luar gelanggang, sebagaimana Abdullah Ali, pakar banana kick 80-an. Tapi amaran buat Rosli, bila menulis blog, risikonya kita harus bersedia bercanggah pendapat...selain menyambut baik pandangan yang bernas, anda harus menerima komen-komen kurang ilmiah, bersifat peribadi dan boleh dikatakan bodoh tanpa fakta dan hujah bernas...apakah anda bersedia? hahahahah

Bring on Nurburgring

PRESS RELEASE

ALEX TAKES ON NURBURGRING WITH AUDI

Former F1 driver will have an eye on the weather forecast while aiming for top ten finish

NURBURG: Former Malaysian Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong is all set for his first 24 Hours Nurburgring race in the German circuit this weekend despite possible bad weather.

The 35-year-old, who is the only Malaysian on the grid, will be racing for the Audi Race Experience, one of seven Audi factory car in the GT3 (Division 1) with about 70 cars in the class.

"It’s going to be interesting weekend and I'm looking forward to it but the weather will definitely be a factor to consider," said Alex, who will have a dragon motif on his number 24 car.

"The circuit has difficult corners, mostly blind and very difficult to learn. It's always wet at some part of the track and changes all the time.

"Personally, I believe it is the greatest track in the world but so dangerous as well," added Alex whose target is to stay incident free and a top ten finish in his maiden outing.

Alex aims to stay incident-free on the circuit dubbed Green Hell by Jackie Stewart

For 2012, the 24 Hours Nurburgring race is limited to a maximum of 190 entries, 60 less than last year, which will start in 3 groups of up to 70 cars max. Each entry must have between two drivers and four drivers. Drivers may drive more than one car (2 max).

All drivers are permitted to drive three hours per stint max with all refuelling and pit stops included. All drivers are required to take a minimum rest time of two hours whether driving one or two cars. Alex will be teamed up with Luca Cappellari, Florian Gruber and Warren Luff for the race.

"I've raced with Luca and Florian at the VLN 6 Hours Race last year where we finished seventh in a field of 130 cars. I'm looking forward to work with them again," said Alex.

“The spirit in the pit is also high and we are on good momentum for some positive results,” he added. The last time the former Minardi and A1 Team Malaysia driver raced in the endurance race was in the 2008 24 Hours Le Mans race where he finish fifth in class with Charouz Racing System. Alex is also leading the standings in this year’s Audi R8 LMS Cup after winning Round 1 at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 29.

The Audi R8 LMS Cup is the first ever 'One-Make' racing championship from Audi. After its debut in Shanghai, the series will travel to Zhuhai, move on to Ordos in Inner Mongolia and return to Zhuhai before culminating into the grand finale in Shanghai to end the season. At the end of the season, three titles will be up for grabs this season, namely the Audi R8 LMS Cup overall title, an Amateur Category and a Team award, based on points accumulated throughout the series.

Round 2 of the Audi RB LMS Cup will be held at the Zhuhai International Circuit on June 1-3

From Down Under

Fresh from the trip Down Under which I had to turn down last week, Haresh Deol has written a number of interesting articles.


“The NSC needs to address this issue. At present it has fallen into the trap of providing generous funding for the recruitment of foreign coaches (when locals might be just as competent) to coach elite national athletes, on the assumption these foreign coaches will produce world champions. The NSC has also been investing generously for some elite athletes to live and train overseas and provide them with an additional allowance to meet the expenses of foreign coaches.” 


Read here

MS: There are talks of getting the National Sports Institute to work on a new technology that could revolutionise cycling around the globe. Care to explain?

JB: Malaysia has a smaller pool of talents compared to bigger nations so we have to do things the smarter way and it’s based on technology. I’ve got good knowledge in cycling but there are other aspects I need help from the experts. The NSI and a lecturer from University Kebangsaan Malaysia have been approached to develop a power crank which will help us study our riders better and this could be the first in the world. Also, we’ve in the midst of sending bicycle simulators to Malaysia in batches mainly for talent identification and also for the riders to gain experience riding on various simulated tracks. There are also plans to start a talent scouting programme, kind of like a reality show, with a local broadcasters by early next year. If that goes well, then it’s good. Otherwise, we’ll still carry on with our nationwide programme. I’m sure Malaysia have many more good cyclists. All we need to do now is to unearth them.


Read here

Panduan untuk penyiar

Tokcik seperti biasa memberi nasihat dan panduan kepada warga penyiar. Sila baca di sini. Terima kasih TC.

Anugerah Arena...satu anugerah

Tidak lama dahulu, Astro Arena menganjurkan Anugerah Astro Arena 2012.

Tahniah diucapkan kepada setiap pemenang

Bersama Cik Zila dari KPT, Afizal Abu Othman, bekas pemain tenis negara dan kini Pengarah Pusat Sukan UniMAP. Kanan sekali, Rosli Hussein, bekas penolong setiausaha agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM). Bekas pemain kebangsaan, main untuk Kelantan dan Kuala Lumpur. Juga pernah main American football ketika menuntut di Amerika Syarikat. Kini antara pengulas bola sepak tetap di Astro Arena. Bekas pensyarah Universiti Malaya yang kini jadi orang kuat Dale Carnegie Malaysia yang mendidik dan melatih profesional. Baca di sini

Dengan dua pelumba ARRC, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman dan Zamri Baba serta mat rempit Aprilia, Akbar Sahari

Ray (kanan) atau nama sebenar Shah Reza Mohd Shah, satu-satunya hos Astro Arena yang ada billboard. Wajahnya terpampang di merata tempat. Ray adalah deejay EraFM 103.3, bikin kecoh pagi-pagi Johara Pagi Era. Dia juga hos Mingguan Arena Junior dan Grandstand Ahad, selalu diletakkan dengan aku. Mengapit Effa (nama sebenar Nurhalifah Ghani), hos Usik, rancangan berunsur gosip yang bersiaran setiap Ahad selepas Nadi Arena. Satu program yang membawa elemen menarik dan berbeza, lebih berunsur peribadi dan gosip.

Sekaki Berdansa, bukan Sehati Berdansa

Penerbit Kirk kata "Rizal aku nak kau buat pose Dengan Izin"..."eh tak mau la aku. ini live malu la...tapi dup dap dup dap, buat juga. Teruja naik pentas dengan Krill, suara yang selalu kita dengar di SinarFM

Kali kedua berganding bahu dengan Krill. Dengan Azmin Azram Aziz sebelum final Piala Malaysia 2010

Menyampaikan anugerah blog pilihan kepada Muhammad Aiman Aminul Abdullah

Baca senarai pemenang di sini

Baca perspektif kumpulan penyokong No 1 negara, Famemas di sini

Akhbar Harian Metro dipilih meja sukan terpilih di sini

Bagaimana pula hala tuju anugerah ini?

Apakah ia harus kekal terbuka kepada pengundi atas talian atau haruskah anugerah ini diangkat martabatnya melampaui anugerah popular?

Jika popular yang menjadi pilihan, tidak mustahil bola sepak, badminton dan hoki saban tahun akan mendominasi kategori berpasukan lelaki mahupun jurulatih.

Apakah pencapaian di peringkat Asia Tenggara buat bola sepak boleh dianggap wajar dinobat selaku pemenang di saat memanah dan terjun lebih bertaraf dunia?

Mahu jadi anugerah paling unggul atau majlis yang melengkapkan jadual tahunan di samping Anugerah Sukan Negara, Anugerah Olimpian dan Anugerah Persatuan Penulis-Penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM)?

Ini keputusan yang harus diambil pengurusan tertinggi Astro Arena.

Beli jersi di ligakit.com

Kepada pengusaha ligakit.com di sini, aku ingin ucapkan tahniah. Anda telah menyediakan satu ruang kepada peminat bola sepak tempatan dan pengumpul jersi secara amnya untuk menambah koleksi.

Teringat dulu zaman sebelum ada jual beli atas talian, singgah di satu kedai Soccerscene di Oxford Street, London. Jersi bola dari banyak negara dijual.

Adik ipar aku Azam berkelana ke Asia Tengah dan setiap kali pulang akan bawa ole-ole (percuma). Ada juga dikirim menerusi pos.

Orang rumah marah tak muat nak bubuh koleksi jersi. Pemberian Azam

Dengar khabar ada orang luar pesan 50 helai jersi di ligakit.com.

Syabas sekali lagi.

Hah, yang ini kena beli nih...jersi Johor...boleh bawak beraya di Kedah

Ini sama ada simpan dalam frame atau bagi kat orang...cantik design jersi Sarawak

RM39 aje...patutlah out of stock...menarik baju Perak nih

Sembang siber

Kalau ada terjumpa majalah Arena IPT, sudi-sudikanlah baca kolum aku, di bawah tajuk Sembang Siber. Nasihat blogger kepada adik-adik atlet, agar sentiasa menjaga etika selaku personaliti sukan.

Pandelela Rinong dan Leong Mun Yee menghiasi muka depan edisi terbaru ArenaIPT. Kedua-duanya menjadi sandaran mengutip pingat di Sukan Olimpik London nanti

Sedikit pesanan dan nasihat percuma kepada atlet dalam menangani era ledakan maklumat

13 Mei yang harus dikenang

Malam gemilang buat hoki negara. Kejayaan menewaskan Pakistan 2-1 pada final kejohanan hoki remaja Piala Asia di Melaka menjadi kemuncak kepada barisan muda negara yang dibentuk sejak 2009.

Syabas kepada Mohd Dharma Abdullah selaku jurulatih, pengurus Mirnawan Nawawi, penolong jurulatih Nor Azlan Bakar dan K. Gobinathan kerana menjadikan impian yang gagal direalisasikan oleh generasi terdahulu satu kenyataan. (sila lihat statistik di bawah).

Malaysia juga ada dua permata yang harus digilap dan diurus dengan penuh berhati-hati.

Anak jati Kelantan, Faizal Saari, penjaring terbanyak kejohanan dan sudah disebut-sebut sebagai bintang dalam pembikinan sejak terpilih ke edisi di Hyderabad pada 2008, harus mewarisi mahkota bintang negara tidak lama lagi.

Penjaga gol, Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri yang dinobat selaku Pemain Terbaik Kejohanan, harus bekerja keras dalam meneruskan tradisi Peter van Huizen, Ho Koh Chye, Khairuddin Zainal, Zain Azraai, Ahmad Fadzil Zainal Abidin, Ahmad Suffian, Paul Lopez, Roslan Jamaluddin, Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim dan S. Kumar selaku penjaga gawang negara yang unggul.

REKOD PENYERTAAN MALAYSIA DALAM PIALA ASIA REMAJA

1987 (Karachi) - Keempat

1992 (Kuala Lumpur) - Naib juara (antara pemain Mirnawan, Maninderjit Singh, Jaafar Veloo, Calvin Fernandez, Brian Jayhan Siva, Perry Khoo, A. Arulselvaraj, Chairil Anwar Aziz). Jurulatih C. Paramalingam.
(Piala Dunia Remaja 1993 di Terrassa, Sepanyol - 11 daripada 12 pasukan)

1996 (Singapura) - Kelima (S. Kuhan, Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim, Razak Saidin, M. Kaliswaran). Jurulatih Stephen Van Huizen
(Tak layak ke Piala Dunia Remaja di Milton Keynes 1997)

2000 (Kuala Lumpur) - Ketiga (S. Kumar, Madzli Ikmar, Amin Rahim, Redzuan Ponirin, Suhaimi Ibrahim, Chua Boon Huat, Keevan Raj, Logan Raj, Jiwa Mohan). Jurulatih Yahya Atan
(Piala Dunia Remaja 2001 di Hobart, Tasmania - No 12)

2004 (Karachi) - Keempat (Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Jalil, Zulkifli Rejab, Sukri Mutalib, Ismail Abu, Shahrun Nabil). Jurulatih Sarjit Singh
(Hanya layak ke Piala Dunia Remaja 2005 di Rotterdam, Belanda selepas AHF merayu kepada FIH untuk satu tiket lebih - akhirnya menduduki tangga ke-10)

2008 (Hyderabad) - Kelima (Faizal Saari, Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin). Jurulatih V. Muraleedharan
(Piala Dunia Remaja 2009 di Johor Bahru/Singapura - No 12)

2012 (Melaka) - Juara
(Piala Dunia Remaja 2013 di New Delhi?

Apapun, syabas sekali lagi kepada pasukan projek 2013!

Akbar dengan piala, Dharma, kapten Muhd Nor Faaez Ibrahim atau Petak, Mirnawan dan aku selepas rakaman Kafe Sukan. Seronok Dharma dan Mirnawan the Boss bikin sejarah di laman kelahiran mereka sendiri

Champions Malaysia

The victorious squad

Virandeep batted like a champion

Malaysia is Asian champions, in cricket.

The national cricket team bagged the Asian Cricket Council's U-16 Elite Cup for the first time on our very own back yard.

Nepal won the toss and elected to bat scoring 117 runs in 33 overs. Akash Bista scored 35 runs and was well supported by Dipendra Chand who made 21 runs.

Malaysia opened their bowling with left-arm spinner Pavandeep Singh, who took 2 wickets for 32 runs in his 8 overs spell.

He was ably supported by Sharvin Muniandy who took 2 wickets for 29 runs in 8 overs, Shankar Goonasagaran's took 3 wickets for 27 runs in his 8 overs and Shankar Sathish took 2 wickets for 20 runs in his 8 overs respectively.

Chasing Nepal's total, Malaysia lost their 1st wicket with 4 runs on the board. Virandeep Singh and Vinay Singh (22 runs) had a fantastic partnership of 47 runs. Young Virandeep Singh's 55 not out, batting from the first ball to the last and hitting the winning runs secured victory for Malaysia.

The small and bespectacled Victoria Institution student batted like a champion and saw Malaysia through to an epic win.

“It was a good game and the team did well to keep our composure. We are happy with the win but now it is about keeping the momentum going,” said Malaysian team captain D. Thejas Rajah.

Tournament Director Venu Ramadass believed the tourney saw a good week of cricket.

"It was a good tournament overall with all the teams playing top cricket at this level. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the teams and officials and all those who have made this event a success,” said Ramadass, adding that the host nation emerging as champions as the icing on the cake.