Detik gemilang 1985, 1991 dan 1998

Johor Darul Takzim (JDT). Asalnya dikenali sebagai PKENJ. Kelab Perbadanan Kemajuan Ekonomi Negeri Johor. Kemudian dijenamakan sebagai Jcorp. Susulannya, Johor FC.

JDT adalah jelmaan terbaru kelab yang dikendalikan dengan budaya korporat.

Antara jurulatih yang singgah merencana strategi JDT ialah K. Devan, Ron Smith, Raul Carizzo, Bruce Stowell, Azuan Zain dan Ramlan Rashid.

Tapi peminat Johor dulu-dulu masih terkenang detik gemilang Johor, pasukan negeri yang menonjolkan kehebatan pada 1980-an dan 1990-an hasil dedikasi Bapa Bola Sepak Johor, Datuk Suleiman Mohd Noor.

Khas buat tatapan rakan senegeriku, aku mengimbas tiga detik gemilang bola sepak Johor, ketika JDT dikenali sebagai PKENJ, kemudian JCorp dan Johor FC.

1985

Johor menumpaskan Wilayah Persekutuan 2-0 pada final Piala Malaysia 1985 hasil jaringan Muhidin Husin dan Fadzli Ahmad.

Dua jaringan, yang pertama pada minit ke-36 oleh bekas pemain kebangsaan, Muhidin dan satu lagi menyusul empat minit selepas rehat menerusi tandukan Fadzli menghadiahkan kemenangan kepada pasukan dari Selat Tebrau itu serta supremonya, Datuk Suleiman Mohd Noor.

Malam 13 Julai itu turut melahirkan mutiara baru Johor, iaitu Khalid Shahdan yang menjadi perancang serta nadi bagi memastikan Piala Malaysia berhijrah ke selatan semenanjung. Khalid, 21 tahun ketika itu, dan kerani bank di Johor Bahru mencipta nama dengan persembahan menyerlah dan mendapat ganjaran setimpal keringatnya. Dia menerima anugerah Pemain Terbaik Perlawanan Akhir bernilai $10,000.

Jaringan pertama terhasil apabila Azuan Zain melambungkan bola ke depan pintu gol Wilayah Persekutuan, tepat ke arah Muhidin yang bijak bertindak menyambung dengan menolak masuk memperdayakan penjaga gol, M Pavalamani.

Empat minit selepas babak kedua bermula, sepakan sudut Khalid Shahdan mengena kepala beberapa pemain di depan pintu gol menepati arah Fadzli yang kemudian menanduk bagi menyudahkan kesengsaraan lawan dan memastikan kejayaan anak buah Ahmad Isa.

JOHOR: Salleh Mohd Noor, Ismail Ibrahim, Azuan Zain, Kamaruddin Ahmad, Ahmad Marican, Khalid Shahdan, Dollah Salleh, Nasir Yusof, Fadzli Ahmad, Muhidin Hussin, Azmi Taib (Kamarudin Ahmad).

W PERSEKUTUAN: M Pavalamani, Razip Ismail, Tang Siew Seng, Kamarulzaman Yusof, Serbegeth Singh, Subadron Aziz (Michael Chang), Mat Zan Mat Aris (Yip Chee Keong), Ramlan Askolani, Saidin Osman, K Kannan, Hashim Marman.

1991

Malam gemilang buat Ervin Boban, penyerang bertubuh tegap dari Croatia yang menyumbang tiga gol memenuhi harapan Johor untuk menjulang semula Piala Malaysia selepas menewaskan Selangor 3-1 di atas padang becak.

Tanpa penjaring utama Abbas Saad yang digantung dua perlawanan, Boban keluar daripada bayangan Alistair Edwards dengan ledakan hatrik di Stadium Merdeka bagi memastikan kejuaraan berganda buat anak buah Michael Urukalo.

Boban menggegar gawang Selangor pada minit ke-11 selepas menyambar hantaran Edwards tetapi Selangor menyamakan kedudukan menerusi sepakan leret Gani Ali lapan minit selepas rehat.

Dalam menyusun gerak ke kubu lawan, benteng Selangor terleka. Kesilapan Reman Ragunathan membuka ruang kepada Boban menambah jaringan pada minit ke-60 hasil umpanan lintang Sani Othman

Boban mengukir namanya sebagai wira dengan menyambut baik sepakan percuma pasukannya di luar petak penalti untuk menewaskan bekas penjaga gol Czechoslovakia di Piala Dunia 1982, Karel Stromsik, pada minit ke-84.

Baca lanjut blog Che Din.

Johor: Hassan Miskam, Sazali Nasir, Nasaruddin Atan, Roslan Hamid, Sani Osman, Aidel Mohd Noor, Khalid Shahdan (Fadli Ahmad), Nasir Yusof, Salehan Mohd Som (Annuar Abu Bakar), Alistair Edwards, Ervin Boban.

Selangor: Karel Stromsik, A. Jayakanthan, K. Gunalan, Reman Ragunathan, Ismail Ibrahim, Gani Ali, P. Maniam (Razali Alias), Malek Rahman, Zainal Nordin (Adam Abdullah), Robert Dunn, Pavel Korejcik.


1998

Johor melengkapkan koleksi piala kejuaraan Liga Malaysia selepas mengalahkan Sabah 1-0 untuk menjulang Piala FA dalam final sulungnya, di Stadium Likas. Gol tunggal pasukan pelawat itu dijaringkan Milan Blagojevic pada minit ke-31 di hadapan kira-kira 20,000 penonton untuk membawa pulang hadiah wang tunai RM100,000.

Rosdee Sulong berada di sebelah kanan mendapat bola hasil gerakan pantas Johor mengambil sepakan percuma, melintangkan bola ke tengah untuk Blagojevic menggelecek seorang pertahanan Sabah sebelum merembat dengan kaki kanan dari luar kotak penalti menuju tepat ke sudut kiri gol Sabah pada minit ke-31.

Jaringan itu hadir dua hari selepas isteri Blagojevic melahirkan anak sulung mereka, Nicholas.

Stewart julang piala

Memori indah buat Steve Darby dan Johor

Stewart terkenal dengan rempuhan keras tapi adil. Dia menghadang David Rocastle sambil Blagojevic bingkas melindunginya

Salim Khamis, orang Kampung Melayu, Kluang, bersalam dengan Blagojevic sambil disaksikan Azmil Azali, Darby, Stewart dan Rizal Sukiman

Aku sempat membuat liputan Stewart dan Blagojevic. Dua profesional sejati.

Rizal Sukiman dan Azmil Azali. Dua anggota skuad negara Piala AFF 1996

Gambar 1998 koleksi Steve Darby. Thanks Steve.

SABAH: Khairul Azman Mohamed, Veselin Kovacevic, Musa Hendrik, Jelius Ating (Romzi Musa), Abdullah Adi (Henry Soimpon), Burhan Ajui, Jainin Tinin, David Rocastle, Yap Wai Loon (Harun Laban), Mohd Jaya Kassim, Suharmin Yusuf.

JOHOR: Omar Salim, Salim Khamis, Darren Stewart, Azmil Azali, Mohd Zakir Othman, Rizal Zamberi Yahya, Milan Blagojevic, Idris Karim, Rizal Sukiman, Rosdee Sulong (Tuboly Frigyes), Azmi Mohamad. 

Namun esok, aku berasakan Kelantan ada kelebihan. Namun bola sepak Johor harus melonjak lebih tinggi jika JDT muncul kelab pertama menjuarai Piala FA.

Hamidin, transformasi di KBS dan lain-lain

Aku kesibukan. Selain mesyuarat dan aktiviti badan khairat kematian di taman kediamanku menjelang Ramadhan serta beberapa mesyuarat penting untuk cari makan, aku kurang tidur gara-gara tugasan Piala Konfederasi. Jadi jarang dapat peluang mengemas kini blog sekalipun banyak isu melingkari sukan tempatan. Hanya ada ruang di kolumku di www.arena.my.

Bacalah kalau sudi Drastikkah transformasi diKBS?, Pentingnya memburu kesempurnaan dan Tugas Hamidin setinggi Gunung Kinabalu.

Kasihan Rajagobal!

Kasihan Datuk K. Rajagobal.

Habis reputasinya sebagai jurulatih pertama negara yang membawa Malaysia menjulang Piala AFF pada 2011 selain menamatkan penantian 20 tahun untuk memenangi emas di Sukan SEA pada 2009, hancur lebur gara-gara kekalahan kepada Canberra All-Stars.

Dalam sejarah penyertaan Malaysia dalam Sukan SEAP dan Sukan SEA, hanya ada enam jurulatih yang membawa pasukan negara mengutip pingat emas - Choo seng Quee (1961), Karl Weigang (1977), Mohamad Bakar (1979), Trevor Hartley (1989), Rajagobal (2009) dan Ong Kim Swee (2011).

Rajagobal juga jurulatih pertama bawa kita julang Piala AFF. Itulah yang dibangga-banggakan Rajagobal.

Usahanya selama ini diiktiraf bukan saja dari segi kenaikan gaji, bahkan dianugerah gelaran Datuk. Ke mana saja dia pergi, dia ditegur, dipuji, diangkat, dijulang...

Tapi itu dulu...sekejap saja roda hidup berputar.

Kini Rajagobal diasak kiri dan kanan...

Tajuk akhbar pula seolah-olah Rajagobal tidak pernah berjasa menyemarakkan semula kepercayaan peminat terhadap pasukan kebangsaan.

Berita Harian hari ini melaporkan

RAJA TAK MALU!

Kuala Lumpur: Seolah-olah tiada langsung perasaan malu, jurulatih kebangsaan, Datuk K Rajagobal bertegas untuk enggan melayan sebarang kritikan dilemparkan terhadap skuad kendaliannya selepas tewas 2-3 kepada kelab pemain sambilan, Canberra FC di Canberra, Australia, Khamis lalu.
BH Sukan semalam melaporkan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong menegaskan betapa dia malu dengan kekalahan skuad Harimau Malaya itu dan berkata: “Saya tak tahu mana hendak letak muka kalau saya Rajagobal.”
Saya tidak mahu fokus atau nak ikut apa-apa laporan daripada surat khabar dan sebagainya. Fokus saya hanyalah untuk pasukan dan persediaan menghadapi perlawanan kedua serta ketiga," Datuk K Rajagobal, jurulatih kebangsaan.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar turut berkongsi pautan laporan berita itu di laman Facebook rasmi miliknya, semalam dengan meminta pandangan rakan laman sosialnya itu dan menariknya lebih 200 individu tampil meletakkan komen masing-masing setakat petang semalam.
Fokus pasukan Namun menerusi laporan berita di sebuah stesen televisyen semalam, Rajagobal yang ditemubual di Sydney berkata, dia hanya mahu fokus terhadap baki dua perlawanan persahabatan menentang Sydney Olympic, esok dan Marconi Stallions, Khamis ini.
“Saya tidak mahu fokus atau nak ikut apa-apa laporan daripada surat khabar dan sebagainya. Fokus saya hanyalah untuk pasukan dan persediaan menghadapi perlawanan kedua serta ketiga. “Saya tidak mahu memberi apa-apa komen kerana kita tahu apa yang terbaik untuk pasukan kita dan persediaan yang perlu dilakukan,” kata Rajagobal.
Pengendali berusia 57 tahun itu kini tampak tertekan untuk kembali meraih kemenangan berdepan Sydney Olympic, esok bagi mengembalikan semula keyakinan umum terhadap prestasi semasa skuad Harimau Malaya.
“Saya akan turunkan pemain yang difikirkan cukup cergas. Saya akan lihat dahulu sebelum memikirkan siapa yang perlu saya turunkan (esok). Kalau boleh, saya nak turunkan pemain yang dirasakan sesuai untuk menghadapi Sydney Olympic ini,” tambah Rajagobal.

Apabila aku ditemu bual oleh Nadi Arena, aku mengajukan soalan apakah sebenarnya tujuan ke Australia...

Adakah untuk menjalin persefahaman pemain atau mencuba gandingan baru, atau mode pra-pertandingan dan conditioning?

Khabarnya Rajagobal mahu pemainnya berehat daripada kerancakan Liga Super dengan jadual yang padat sambil menyiapkan pemain dari segi physical conditioning (bentuk latihan fizikal khas bagi otot-otot tubuh). Disebabkan sukar mencari perlawanan persahabatan bertaraf A, ambillah mana-mana pasukan yang boleh membantu pemain dari segi persiapan fizikal.

Baca Canberra FC to call on top players, juga laporan perlawanan atau match report serta reviu Canberra Times.

Pada aku wajar jika kita jatuh hukum dalam perlawanan rasmi. Jadi kita tunggu Harimau Malaya melengkapkan jadual pra-Piala Asia.

Sekarang Rajagobal juga harus sedar rakyat Malaysia mudah lupa...

Tidak kira sama ada mereka orang besar kerajaan, pentadbir sukan, wartawan, politikus mahupun Menteri...kalau dulu mereka puji, sekarang mereka selar.

Dalam hidup ini, jangan sesekali sombong dan lupa asal-usul. Kejayaan yang datang selepas bergelut lebih dua dekad boleh dipadam terus dalam sekelip mata.

Dalam analisis akhir, hari-hari terakhir Rajagobal selaku jurulatih kebangsaan semakin hampir.

Pintu untuk Rajagobal melangkah keluar dari Wisma FAM sudah terbuka luas. Tidak kira sama ada Malaysia menewaskan Bahrain Oktober nanti dan Qatar November nanti.

Apabila Harimau Malaya melayan kunjungan Yaman Mac 2014, pengendalinya hampir pasti orang lain. Jurulatih asing.

Kenangan di Toulon

Menonton aksi pemain remaja dalam Kejohanan Jemputan Toulon yang disiarkan di kaca televisyen mengembalikan ingatan aku kepada lawatanku ke bandar tenggara Perancis itu, genap 18 tahun yang lalu. Kerap menulis mengenai perkembangan skuad Olimpik bimbingan Claude Le Roy, aku sekadar senyum sinis apabila Hishamuddin Aun, pengarang sukan Berita Harian, menuturkan kata-kata: "Melobi nak ke Toulon ke ni?" Tapi aku tidak menyangka akhirnya Hisham (kini Datuk) menyuruh aku membuat anggaran perbelanjaan lalu dipanjangkan kepada Penolong Pengarang Kumpulan BH, Haniff Hadi. Sudahnya impian terlaksana. Ketika itu hanya tiga wartawan dikirim organisasi masing-masing. Usaha Lazarus Rokk dari New Straits Times dinafikan oleh bos-bos di NST. Maka hanya aku, Amran Mulup (Zimbo) untuk Watan dan Zainul Azhar Ash'ari (Utusan Malaysia) dilimpahi rezeki menjejakkan kaki ke Toulon. Di Toulon, bukan saja aku dibawa meluncur laju menaiki Mercedes 190E milik Le Roy, bahkan bertemu David Beckham, Juninho Pernambucano dan Fabrice Akwa. Pentadbir pasukan Olimpik ketika itu Windsor John, kini orang besar Gabungan Bola Sepak Asia (AFC). Antara artikel yang kutulis: -

HANYA lima daripada 31 pelatih yang dihimpunkan di Institut Kemahiran Iktisas Pahang (Ikip), Kuantan, pada 24 Februari 1994, disenaraikan menganggotai skuad Olimpik Malaysia (OM) ke Kejohanan Remaja Toulon, 5-14 Jun ini.
Kenyataan itu sekaligus mencerminkan kecenderungan panel jurulatih skuad itu yang diketuai oleh Claude Le Roy untuk membuat rombakan sambil mencari pemain yang benar-benar sesuai bagi menyuluh laluan pada pusingan kelayakan Olimpik, 10 hari selepas kejohanan Toulon.
Ikip menjadi gelanggang Le Roy mengumpul teras pasukannya buat julung kali tetapi yang kekal meneruskan perjuangan dan menepati cita rasa jurulatih dari Perancis itu ialah Ching Hong Aik, Tuan Kamree Yahya, Rusdi Suparman, Zambil Ahmad dan Paul Raj.

Belakang dari kiri M. Chandran, Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi, Nazaruddin Zain, Azmin Azram Aziz, Rusdi Suparman, Faizal Zainal. Depan dari kiri Raizuwah Idris, Shadan Zahari, Idris Karim, Hasnizam Uzir dan Ching Hong Aik

MALAYSIA ... 0 ANGOLA ... 3

SIX-Fours, tempat penginapan skuad Olimpik negara sepanjang tugasan di Toulon, membawa maksud enam ketuhar - mungkin disebabkan cuaca yang agak panas berbanding daerah lain di tenggara Perancis.

Kebetulan ia seakan-akan membayangkan tekanan dan bahang sehebat dipanggang dalam ketuhar apabila bertemu England pada perlawanan kedua Kumpulan B di Stadium Verger, malam ini.

Peluang Malaysia untuk melangkah jauh agak tipis selepas kecundang 0-3 kepada Angola hasil tiga jaringan penyerang Benfica, Fabrice `Akwa' Maeico, di Manosque, kelmarin.

England yang dipimpin oleh penolong jurulatih juara Liga Perdana Inggeris, Blackburn Rovers, Ray Harford, seharusnya mahu bangkit sesudah dipersendakan dengan dua jaringan ala-samba daripada penyerang Brazil, Leonardo dan Leandro, di Toulon.

Selepas perlawanan dengan Angola, jurulatih kebangsaan, Claude Le Roy, membebel mengenai mutu pengadilan pengadil dari Amerika Syarikat, Esse Baharmast, tetapi dia sepatutnya berpegang kepada ungkapan Perancis, C`est La Vie (inilah kehidupan).

MALAYSIA 0 ENGLAND 2

DAPATKAH gajah dialahkan oleh pelanduk? Berpegang kepada pepatah itu, agak mustahil untuk mengharapkan skuad Olimpik negara membuat kejutan apabila melangkah ke Stadium Brulat di Draguignan, malam ini.

Menanti ialah Brazil dengan khidmat lima anggota skuad Kuning Emas yang muncul juara Piala Dunia Belia di Australia dua tahun lalu - Fabio, Bruno, Hermes, Caico dan Perreira. Malaysia sesungguhnya memerlukan kuasa sakti untuk merakamkan sejarah, apatah lagi jurulatih, Claude Le Roy, terpaksa merombak kesebelasannya akibat masalah kecederaan.

Di Draguignan, kira-kira 80 kilometer dari Toulon, Malaysia akan bertarung tanpa pemain terbaik dan satu-satunya anak muda geliga yang bertaraf Asia - Azrul Amri Burhan - gara-gara kecederaan lutut kiri dan sweeper muda, Affendy Hamzah.

Perancang dari Pahang, Ahmad Shahruddin Rosdi, dijangka mengisi tempat Azrul manakala posisi sweeper diisi sama ada oleh bek Kelantan, Nazaruddin Zain atau ketua pasukan, Faizal Zainal.

Formasi sedemikian menagih komitmen dan wawasan daripada pemain Selangor, M Chandran - pemain terbaik ketika menentang England dan kunci jentera tengah, Idris Karim manakala Paul Raj mesti meluahkan bisanya selepas hambar ketika bersua Angola dan England.

Kelmarin, dengan Azrul menayangkan ketrampilan ibarat penterjemah taktik Le Roy di padang, Malaysia tidak takut tetapi agak berwaspada kerana England pandai dan pentas menyempitkan ruang. Malah, Azrul sempat mencemaskan pertahanan England menerusi dua rembatan jarak jauh yang melewati palang sebelum dia diterjah dengan keras oleh pemain pertahanan, Phillip Neville.

MALAYSIA 0 BRAZIL 3

KIRA-kira 700 penonton - ada antaranya mendengar nama Malaysia hanya kerana skandal rasuah tahun lalu - memekik `Bravo, bravo Malaisie' selepas perlawanan di Stadium Raoul Brulat, Draguignan, kelmarin.

Mereka, kebanyakannya penduduk Draguignan, kira-kira 100km dari Toulon, menghargai cara skuad Olimpik negara berjuang sebelum tunduk 0-3 kepada Brazil.

Disaksikan oleh Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, yang singgah di Toulon untuk meninjau perkembangan pemain, anak didik Claude Le Roy lasak menyaingi Brazil, khususnya pada babak pertama.

Namun, kesilapan pertahanan mengakibatkan gawang Malaysia dibolosi dua kali, termasuk keajaiban rentak samba Brazil menghasilkan jaringan kedua yang disempurnakan oleh Leonardo.


Kelaziman buat aku juga sentiasa membuat penpix kepada anggota skuad buat tatapan pembaca.


AZMIN AZRAM AZIZ (Kuala Lumpur) (19 tahun, 174sm, 70kg) Lebih mesra sebagai Am, lahir di Taiping tetapi mewakili Kuala Lumpur dalam pertandingan had umur sejak berusia 10 tahun. Tangkas dan menjadi penjaga gol skuad senior negara ketika bertemu FC Aarau, awal tahun ini.

S RAGESH (Kedah) (22 tahun, 176sm, 75kg) Mencipta nama selepas dijadikan penjaga gol utama skuad Olimpik berikutan persembahannya bersama Langkasuka. Bersaing hebat dengan Am untuk mengekalkan kedudukannya.

FAIZAL ZAINAL (Negeri Sembilan) (21 tahun, 173sm, 67kg) Along adalah ketua pasukan kedua selepas Faizul Saharom. Boleh bermain sebagai bek tengah atau bek kiri dan mewakili negara pada Sukan Asia Hiroshima. Lasak dan pandai membaca permainan serta lantang memimpin benteng.

B RAJANIKANDH (Negeri Sembilan) (20 tahun, 174sm, 64kg) Stopper atau sweeper berasal dari Melaka yang cekap menguasai bola tinggi tetapi agak perlahan bagi seorang pemain paling berpengalaman. Pernah mendapat didikan Richard Bate dalam skuad pelapis. Direhatkan daripada kejohanan Toulon.

MD RAIZUWAH IDRIS (Pahang) (21 tahun, 175sm, 62kg) Lokek memberi ruang kepada penyerang lawan dan sentiasa memberi komitmen padu. Berasal dari Klang dan mewakili Polis selama dua musim sebelum dipancing oleh Pahang tahun ini.

KHAIRIL ZAINAL (Negeri Sembilan) (21 tahun, 174sm, 65kg) Adik kembar Faizal yang digelar Angah, agresif sama ada sebagai penyerang atau bek kanan dan cekap menyempurnakan tandukan. Kadangkala membuat terkaman yang melulu.

ROSLAN RAHIM (Kedah) (19 tahun, 175sm, 60kg) Corak permainan anak jati Langkawi ini keras, sesuai untuk tugasnya sebagai pembayang penyerang lawan atau bek kanan.

NAZARUDDIN ZAIN (Kelantan) (19 tahun, 170sm, 57kg) Serba boleh sama ada sebagai pemain tengah, bek kanan atau kiri. Bekas anggota pasukan Bawah 19 kebangsaan ini lebih menitikberatkan kesempurnaan daripada gaya.

TUAN KAMREE YAHYA (Kelantan) (20 tahun, 169sm, 58kg) Anak peladang tembakau di Bachok ini semakin matang selepas menonjolkan diri pada 1993. Pemain kidal ini boleh bertindak sebagai perancang tengah atau bek kiri.

IDRIS KARIM (Johor) (18 tahun, 173sm, 58kg) Antara paling muda tetapi remaja dari Johor Bahru ini dijangka memegang fungsi penting sebagai nadi penggerak di bahagian tengah. Memiliki tahap kecergasan yang tinggi.

CHING HONG AIK (Melaka) (21 tahun, 170sm, 55kg) Kaki kiri yang menakjubkan dan rajin tetapi kadangkala mudah tenggelam dalam permainan. Tugasnya mencakupi posisi tengah di penjuru kiri.

MAIZAL HAIRI MARZUKI (Kedah) (22 tahun, 174sm, 60kg) Berpengalaman sebagai perancang sebelah kanan, bekas pelajar Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid ini lahir hasil program pembangunan Kedah dan disifatkan sebagai pengganti mutlak Radhi Mat Din. Direhatkan daripada kejohanan Toulon.

M CHANDRAN (Selangor) (20 tahun, 176sm, 61kg) Berebut tempat dengan Maizal, Chandran laju dan sesekali berani mencuba nasib menerusi rembatan jarak jauh.

AHMAD SHAHARUDDIN ROSDI (Pahang) (20 tahun, 172sm, 60kg) Pakar rembat dan perancang tengah dari Kuantan. Sukar mengintai peluang dalam barisan tengah tetapi berpotensi untuk dijadikan teras masa depan.

AZRUL AMRI BURHAN (Kuala Lumpur) (19 tahun, 173sm, 67kg) Arkitek posisi tengah atau penggempur kelahiran Tapah tetapi permata yang digilap oleh Kuala Lumpur sehingga menyarung jersi negara awal tahun ini. Meniti laluan setiap pasukan kebangsaan peringkat umur.

RUSDI SUPARMAN (Selangor) (22 tahun, 173sm, 62kg) Mencari tapak dalam skuad Selangor sejak 1992 tetapi menjadi calon utama untuk berfungsi sebagai penyerang. Konsisten dan lincah serta pakar menyimpan dan melindungi bola.

ZAMBIL AHMAD (Kedah) (20 tahun, 170sm, 60kg) Pemain dari Pendang ini dihantar oleh Kedah untuk menimba ilmu selama dua bulan bersama kelab bahagian dua Sweden, Landskrona Boys, tahun lalu dan mampu menjadi penyerang pantas atau bek kanan.

HASNIZAM UZIR (Johor) (19 tahun, 170sm, 60kg) Tampil dalam kesebelasan Johor bersama Idris musim ini. Menyerlah pada Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) di Johor Bahru pada 1992 sebelum menembusi pasukan Merah Biru musim ini, lalu diserapkan ke dalam skuad Olimpik.

MOHD NOOR DERUS (Terengganu) (19 tahun, 165sm, 58kg) Bertubuh kecil tetapi lincah. Berasal dari Melaka, bakatnya dikesan oleh penasihat teknikal Terengganu, Marco Bilic, yang bingkas membuka pintu kepada Mohd Noor di negeri itu pada 1993.

PAUL RAJ (Selangor) (21 tahun, 171sm, 62kg) Memiliki kaki kiri ajaib dan pakar gelecek tetapi keluar masuk daripada skuad ini kerana kurang disiplin dalam dan luar padang. Seharusnya menjadi penggerak yang berupaya mencetuskan ilham buat rangkaian penggempur.

AFFENDY HAMZAH (Kuala Lumpur) (18 tahun, 173sm, 62kg) Anggota skuad Projek FAM/Coca-Cola Piala Dunia Belia 1997, penyenaraian Affendy bukan setakat bertujuan memberi pendedahan, malah diberi kepercayaan menghangatkan saingan merebut posisi penyerang.

SHADAN ZAHARI (Pahang) (22 tahun, 173sm, 66kg) Biarpun anak jati Pekan ini dianggap penyerang utama, prestasinya terumbang-ambing sejak kebelakangan ini. Penyepak utama penalti. Direhatkan daripada kejohanan Toulon.

Jurulatih/Penolong jurulatih

CLAUDE LE ROY (Perancis) (47 tahun, 175sm, 79kg) Bekas jurulatih Cameroon dan Senegal yang dilantik sebagai perencana Malaysia pada Februari 1994. Menganggap skuad Olimpik sebagai barisan kesayangannya.

Aku dan Claude

IRFAN BAKTI SALIM (Kelantan) (44 tahun, 174sm, 78kg) Penolong jurulatih yang banyak meringankan tugas Le Roy dengan pendekatan tersendiri dari segi psikologi hasil pengalamannya sebagai kapten dalam Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja (RAMD).

Irfan (kanan). Aku di sebelah Affendy. Pakai topi PSG 1995...lama sebelum Beckham sertai kelab itu. Belakang aku dari kiri Azmin, Tuan Kamree, Zambil, Paul Raj dan Khairil Zainal.

LIM CHUAN CHIN (Melaka) (37 tahun, 180sm, 78kg) Bekas penjaga gol kebangsaan yang berasal dari Melaka dan pernah mewakili Selangor serta Kuala Lumpur. Lahir dalam keluarga Lim yang terkenal dengan ahli sukan, termasuk lima beradik dalam bola sepak, Chuan Chin bertanggungjawab memupuk kemahiran Ragesh dan Azmin.

Barang diingat, 1995, internet masih asing. Aku mengirim berita Montpellier risik Azrul menerusi telefon, dicatat perenggan demi perenggan oleh senior, Jamhariah Jaafar. Ini kerana aku tidak dapat mengirim berita menerusi talian telefon.

SELANG beberapa minit selepas Claude Le Roy melihat anak didiknya tewas 0- 3 kepada Angola di Manosque Selasa lalu, dia dihampiri seorang lelaki berkulit hitam yang berpakaian kemas.

Mereka berbual dan berbincang hampir 20 minit. Rupa-rupanya perbualan itu berkisar di sekitar ketrampilan perancang utama skuad Olimpik Malaysia, Azrul Amri Borhan. Sekalipun gagal membantu Malaysia menundukkan Angola, Azrul dianggap memiliki skil dan pemahaman taktikal serta pembacaan permainan yang boleh digilap untuk menghiasi Liga Perancis.

Lelaki itu ialah jurulatih pasukan simpanan Montpellier Herault, Maman Ouettara, yang meninjau bakat baru di kalangan lapan negara di kejohanan remaja ini. Namun, Azrul, yang genap 20 tahun November ini, tidak mahu terburu-buru membincangkan masa depan, sebaliknya menyerahkan kepada budi bicara majikannya, Persatuan Bola Sepak Kuala Lumpur (PBKL).

Sambil menganggap pengalaman di Perancis harus mengangkat corak permainannya, Azrul berkata: "Jika ada tawaran rasmi, ia harus dibincang di peringkat pentadbiran PBKL dan Montpellier.

Minat yang ditunjukkan oleh Montpellier - kelab yang pernah diwakili oleh Eric Cantona, Laurent Blanc, Stephane Paille dan Carlos Valderrama - adalah sinar terbaru buat Azrul, produk tulen PBKL.

Di Lapangan Terbang Charles de Gaulle...bersama Azrul yang bertongkat. Berbaju batik di belakang ialah Amran Zimbo, dengan Hasnizam, yang kini menjadi penganalisis di Astro Arena

Sekembalinya ke Kuala Lumpur, aku turut menyumbang artikel buat ruangan Rantau Lipur, sebuah catatan pengembara.

"LEGA bukan kepalang," bisik hati ini selepas kami tiba di stesen kereta api Toulon, kira-kira 1,000 kilometer dari Paris. Jarak Paris-Toulon hampir menyamai perjalanan dari Singapura ke Kangar, tetapi dengan TGV (Train a Grand Vitesse), kereta api paling laju di dunia yang berupaya mencecah tahap kelajuan 480 kilometer sejam di sesetengah laluan, ia ibarat perjalanan dari Kluang, Johor ke Kuala Lumpur.

Toulon, kota berkubu yang menjadi pangkalan utama Tentera Laut Perancis selain di Brest, sudah hampir lengang ketika tubuh kami mula diterpa bayu Mediterranean pada waktu senja.

Destinasi saya bersama seorang teman wartawan, Amran Zimbo, ialah Hotel Du Parc, Sanary, tempat penginapan kami sepanjang Kejohanan Bola Sepak Jemputan Antarabangsa Toulon ke-23, awal bulan lalu.

Sepanjang perjalanan, kami ditemani oleh pengadil Malaysia, Nik Ahmad Yaakub. Seperti juga Toulon, Sanary Sur Mer (Sanary di tepi laut) yang terletak di pesisiran Cote DAzur, adalah antara tempat pelancongan dalam wilayah Var di tenggara Perancis.

Tenteram adalah perkataan paling tepat untuk menggambarkan suasana di Sanary, tujuh kilometer dari Toulon dan bandar berdekatan, Six-fours, yang membawa maksud enam ketuhar.

Malah, 60 peratus daripada penduduknya adalah warga tua dan pesara yang lebih selesa menikmati udara tenang di Riviera.

Tiba hujung minggu, kebanyakan kedai ditutup dan warga muda mahupun tua sekitar Sanary dan Six-fours (sebut sifu) menghabiskan waktu sama ada berjemur di pantai, bermandi-manda atau membelah ombak Mediterranean dengan meluncur layar.

Musim bunga di kawasan itu sama seperti musim panas, malah seorang pemandu teksi yang juga bekas kelasi, Michel Daffour, berkata usah hairan jika ada yang sanggup mengocak laut pada musim sejuk.

"Itulah kelebihan setiap bandar di pesisiran Cote DAzur, malah kalau di Monaco atau Cannes dan kawasan sekitarnya, kami boleh memilih sama ada pergi ke pantai atau luncur salji pada musim sejuk," kata Daffour.

 Setiap kali musim panas, Daffour mengukir senyuman lebih lebar daripada biasa. Sepanjang tempoh itu, jumlah pelancong yang datang ke sekitar Toulon meningkat sekali ganda, berbanding musim lain.

"Ketika itu, pelancong menjadi sumber pendapatan saya. Hotel juga perlu ditempah sebulan lebih awal. Tetapi, yang saya benci ketika itu ialah emboutaillage (kesesakan lalu lintas)," kata Daffour.

Selain berkereta sendiri, penghuni Sanary lebih gemar berjalan kaki, apatah lagi mereka menganggap hanya orang kaya mampu menaiki teksi, berikutan tambang yang dikenakan agak tinggi.

Bagi mereka yang meminati keindahan hidupan air, Pantai Du Brusq berdekatan Sanary menyediakan khidmat Aquascope, kapal selam khas yang boleh memuatkan 50 penumpang. Sesiapa yang berpeluang menyelami dasar laut selama 35 minit bagaikan melawat dunia di bawah air atau akuarium dan sudah pasti terpegun melihat kecantikan semula jadi terumbu serta pelbagai jenis ikan yang menghuni Laut Mediterranean - semuanya dengan harga 70 francs (kira-kira RM35).

Aquascope berlepas sama ada dari Du Brusq atau Bandol setiap 45 minit dan menuju ke Iles Du Soleil (Pulau Matahari). Dalam kerancakan mengikuti kejohanan yang akhirnya dimenangi oleh Brazil, kami sempat bersiar-siar di Toulon, di samping membeli-belah di pasar Lafayette.

Beraneka jenis barangan boleh didapati di situ, daripada barangan dapur hinggalah kasut kulit berjenama berharga kira-kira 100 francs (kira-kira RM50). Anehnya, pasar itu yang lazimnya hingga tengah hari saja, dikelilingi gedung membeli-belah, termasuk Carrefour - seakan-akan memang sengaja memberi banyak pilihan kepada pengunjungnya.

KJ to personally handpick type of grass!

Newly-appointed Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaludin has now the opportunity to finally put an end to the never-ending woes of the pitch at the landmark National Stadium. Read Green, green grass of home, which loose cannon wrote for the Malay Mail in 2005 as part of a series of articles on the choice of turfgrass at the stadium.

Loose cannon was told Khairy himself will handpick the type of grass so that it will be pitch perfect by early 2014.  Read the Malay Mail. But in order to provide remedial measures once and for all, Khairy might want to study the drainage and maintenance system applied at the National Stadium.

Also please revisit a series of articles loose cannon wrote from May 2005 to May 2006.

THE National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is getting a new turf and the million ringgit question is whether the never-ending woes of the poor surface since it was unveiled in 1998 will come to an end.
The Merdeka Stadium Corporation (PSM) Board - who manage the National Sports Complex, including the National Stadium - picked seashore paspalum (see accompanying story) to replace the original bermudagrass on the basis that it is durable, requires low maintenance and has a soft, cushiony feel and dense canopy.
However, the two only two known football pitches in the country with paspalum surface are not exactly pitch perfect. One field at a residential area in Taman Batu Muda, which was opened less than a year ago, was found to be uneven with several bare patches. Whether it is due to poor maintenance or poor choice of turf is subject to debate. The public pitch is one of the three training venues for Premiership outfit Kuala Lumpur apart from the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Bandar Tun Razak and the City Hall Sports Club Ground at Jalan Tun Sambanthan.
Works to lay the same turf on another public pitch at the Metropolitan Park near Kepong started seven months ago but until today, has yet to be handed over to Kuala Lumpur City Hall. Based on the conditions of these two pitches, the returfing project at the National Stadium will certainly come under intense scrutiny.
Besides determining whether the paspalum surface is suitable for Malaysian conditions, proper maintenance and good turfgrass management are crucial to make the pitch the crowning glory of Malaysian football.
Turfgrass consultant Sashi Ram, who was formerly a golf turf superintendent, said parspalum was a fairly new grass and that knowledge of its management and maintenance were fairly limited.
"It remains to be seen whether the type of grass is suitable in the local climate, taking into account the enclosed nature of the stadium which will prevent certain areas of the pitch from getting direct sunlight," said Ram.
Another turfgrass consultant, who has been in the business for the past 15 years, said the Board had taken a risk in opting for paspalum, which is pre-dominant in salty areas.
"Since bermudagrass has proven to be a failure at the stadium, we have to study whether other types of grass, namely cowgrass, zoysia and paspalum are suitable for the pitch, taking into consideration the stadium structure.
"Generally the stadium is designed for sporting events. We have to consider whether the architecture will affect the field, will there be shade problems, and whether the airflow is conducive for the grass to grow," said the consultant, who declined to be named.
PSM general manager, R. Effendi Razali, however, said the Board made the decision to pick paspalum upon consultation from the end-users, the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
"During the technical committee meeting following the Board's decision to pick paspalum, the merits and demerits of the various types of grass, namely paspalum, zoysia, bermuda and cowgrass were discussed.
"Based on the comparative study that we had, taking into consideration several key aspects such as heat, shade and mowing tolerance, density and the recovery rate from heavy usage, we felt paspalum was the right choice.
"While there were suggestions to go back to using cowgrass similar to the one at Merdeka Stadium, some felt it taking a step backwards. Why not use a new species, one which has been grown in our climate," said Effendi.
Effendi said on Dec 28, 2004, the Board were unanimous in choosing paspalum as the turf, before calling for an open tender a month later.
According to the document tender, turfing materials shall be of good quality, free from pests and diseases, namely paspalum vaginatum marimo for the main playing field and zoysia japonica at the perimetre of the football field and penalty box.
Among the requirements were that the contractor shall provide instant supply of the turf through a nursery of their own or associated nursery of seashore paspalum marimo of not less than 10,000m2 as well as a minimum of two years experience in turfing or returfing of large areas such as football fields and town parks.
Effendi added a nursery in Johor has proven that paspalum thrives under the Malaysian weather. Widely described as environmental turfgrass, paspalum vaginatum is primarily known as seashore paspalum, or simply paspalum and indigenous to Africa, Asia and Europe. Other less common names include siltgrass or sand knotgrass.
According to Dr Ron R. Duncan in the book he co-wrote with Dr Robert N. Carrow titled Seashore Paspalum, the environmental grass, paspalum grows on sandy beaches, on the banks of estuaries frequently inundated by salt water, and along the banks of coastal rivers.
It can be found inland near the edge of saline water on sandy soils. According to the book, patented paspalum cultivars, or ecotypes include Saltene, Salpas, Futurf, Adalayd, Fidalayel, Tropic shore, Mauna Kea, Salam, Sea Isle 2000 and Sea Isle 1.
Price per square foot The average size of an international football pitch is 80m x 105m, or roughly 8,000 square feet Seashore paspalum: RM3 Zoysia: RM2.50 Cowgrass: RM1 Bermudagrass: RM2

"THE consultant for the new turf at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is optimistic of meeting the deadline in time for the Malaysia Cup final to be held at the 100,000-capacity venue. Although he was reluctant to guarantee the grass marimo paspalum would be in playable condition for the Oct 1 final, Hiroi Koichi - director of Johor Baru-based Zoysian (M) Sdn Bhd - has fixed the third week of next month as the handing-over date to the managers of the complex, Merdeka Stadium Corporation Board.      

"All we ask for is for the relevant parties to be patient. I am optimistic that by Sept 24, we will hand over the pitch to the Board. "Originally, we have agreed for the handing-over to be conducted on Sept 30 but we hope to bring it forward by a week. That is how optimistic I am. "We were initially given two months to plant the turf. For a job usually done gradually, we have done quite well considering the time limits," Koichi told Mailsport.

"ALMOST a year ago, Sunday Mail questioned the choice of a turfgrass alien to the Malaysian weather for the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Today, we are not proud to say we are vindicated but it appears the never-ending woes of the pitch have not come to an end, judging from the atrocious condition of the turf that was unveiled in October 2005.
On May 8, 2005, Sunday Mail carried a two-page report on the issue behind the Merdeka Stadium Corporation (PSM) Board's choice of marimo paspalum to replace the original bermudagrass. Paspalum was chosen on the basis that it was durable, required low maintenance and had a soft, cushy feel and dense canopy.
The paper argued that the only two known football pitches in the country with the paspalum surface were not exactly pitch perfect. One field at a residential area in Taman Batu Muda, which was opened in 2004, was found to be uneven with several bare patches. Works to lay the same turf on another public pitch at the Metropolitan Park near Kepong started in late 2004 but until May 2005, had yet to be handed over to Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
The then PSM general manager, R. Effendi Razali, told Mailsport that the Board made the decision on consultation from the end-users, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and that the merits and demerits of the various types of grass were discussed in several technical committee meetings also attended by a grass expert from the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

SEASHORE PASPALUM

Sometimes referred to as saltwater couch, paspalum is a perennial warm season grass and has the highest level of salinity tolerance among all the turfgrass cultivars and requires about half the fertiliser of bermudagrass.

When managed properly, it has low water used requirements and needs minimal pesticides. It has a luminous lime green colour similar to Kentucky Bluegrass. Among the cultivars are SeaIsle, Durban CC, Salam, Seaway and Adalayd. Widely used at: Pantai Legenda Golf and Country Club, Pekan; Palm Resort Golf and Country Club, Johor; Ibai Golf and Country Club, Kuala Terengganu; Sarawak Golf Club, Kuching; Miri Golf Club; two public football pitches in Kuala Lumpur.

COWGRASS

Known as broadleaf carpetgrass in the United States, its scientific name is axonopus compressus. A pasture grass in wet areas. Withstands poor conditions and is dormant in the dry season. Survives seasonal flooding, but is susceptible to insects. May be heavily grazed, although it is outyielded by some other grasses. The most common type of grass in Malaysia. Mainly used at: Merdeka Stadium (Kuala Lumpur); Petaling Jaya Stadium (PJ); Darulmakmur Stadium (Kuantan); Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium (Kota Baru); Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium (Kuala Terengganu)

ZOYSIA (more than 20 types) Named after 18th century Austrian botanist, Karl von Zois, it was first called Manila grass. It is a warm season grass with a leaf texture ranging from fine to coarse, dependent upon the variety. The colour ranges from light to medium green and this type of grass forms a dense, low maintenance lawn by spreading through stolons and rhizomes. The shoot growth rate is slow but lawns of this type of grass are easy to maintain. Used in hot, humid and tropical climates and can withstand heavy usage. Recommended for residential and commercial lawn sites, golf course tees and fairways and athletic turf settings. Zoysia Japonica has fair cold hardiness and widely described as the best of the Zoysia turf grasses. Its shade adaptation is fairly good but is slow growing in partial shade. It is said to be the best wear resistance of any turf grass. Zoysia tolerates heavy traffic but it is slow to recover from severe thinning. Can be found at: Utama Stadium, Kangar; very minimal number of fairways.

BERMUDAGRASS (more than 30 types)

Bermudagrass is a rhizomatous/stoloniferous, warm season turfgrass with a fine to medium leaf texture. It has good heat and drought tolerance and exhibits good wear tolerance. In contrast to zoysia, it can be established quickly, usually in six weeks. On the other hand, bermudagrass has poor cold and shade tolerance. It is a dark green, dense type of turf, with some varieties tolerating very low maintenance while other varieties produce lawns of exceptional beauty when given extra care. This type of turf grass has an extensive and deep root system. Best adapted to hot, dry or tropical climates and is recommended for residential and commercial landscapes, golf courses, sport fields, parks and recreation areas. This is an ideal turf for families with children and pets. Poor shade adaptation because this turf type requires full sun for most of the day to grow properly and should not be used in shady sites. Yet is has excellent wear resistance, as it withstands wear better than most grasses and can tolerate heavy traffic and when injured, recovers more rapidly than other grasses. Widely used at: KLFA Stadium (Kuala Lumpur); Batu Kawan Stadium (Penang); Sarawak Stadium (Kuching); Tan Sri Hassan Yunus Stadium, Larkin (Johor Baru); Shah Alam Stadium (Shah Alam); 95 percent golf courses in the peninsular use the various bermudagrass hybrids.

CHRONOLOGY (lead-up to returfing of National Stadium in Bukit Jalil)

May 2002: Before the prestigious Brazil friendly match prior to their fifth World Cup title, the Stadium Board had to resort to quick action to returf parts of the pitch.

July 2003: The Stadium Board returfed sections of the pitch with cowgrass ahead of the FAPL Asia Cup involving Chelsea, Newcastle United, Birmingham City and the national team.

December 2004: The pitch came under criticism again during the Tiger Cup.

GERMAN coach Karl Weigang, not one to mince his words, has no qualms in sticking to the tried and tested cowgrass as the best football surface in the country.
Adding his comments to the issue surrounding the choice of grass for the National Stadium pitch, Weigang said cowgrass had served the football fraternity well. Weigang has been working in Malaysia on and off since 1970s.
"Personally, I feel cowgrass is the grass suited to the Malaysian weather and conditions. Cowgrass is not only the most common but also the best type of grass. But it is also not a mere question of grass.
"Just like any human being, it needs air, water and food to live a healthy life and maintenance work on a turf field revolved around the three. The trouble in Malaysia is the grass at most stadia is not allowed to breathe properly. Every time it rains heavily, you will then see the dead grass 'swimming' on the turf. Whether it's a question of grooming and mowing, I don't really know. But the heavy usage will take its toll on any turf," said Weigang, who coached Malaysia from 1977 to 1981.
The Johor team manager, who is a mechanical engineer by training, pointed out that heavy usage also threatens to wreak havoc on the pitches.
"Unlike countries in Europe, Malaysian teams train and play at the same pitch. Come half time during match day, a group of people will enter the field and start patching up the holes to prevent bigger damage," said Weigang.
A turf consultant echoed Weigang's sentiments, saying instead of the broadleaf carpetgrass that is planted at Merdeka Stadium, Petaling Jaya Stadium and Darulmakmur Stadium, an option is the narrowleaf cowgrass or its scientific name, axonopus affinis.
"Affinis is a perennial, coarse-leaved, creeping grass which grows better on low, wet soils than other grasses. It will grow well in either sun or shade," said the consultant.
A former international player, however, said cowgrass belonged to history.
"Future generation of Malaysian players ought to play on a more sophisticated turf. Cowgrass has been our surface since Ghani Minhat's days," said the player.
Another turf consultant who has helped design a few golf courses in the country said narrowleaf cowgrass was a good option.
"However paspalum has been the talk of the town as the next turf and the grass of the 21st century. However, the Stadium Board are taking a big risk," said the consultant.

YB KJ - you've been forewarned!

Since the appointment of Khairy Jamaluddin as the Sports Minister, I have not had the time to post anything on it. Soon, perhaps. Because it is customary for me to pen a few words of unsolicited advice each time a new Sports Minister is installed into office since Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed to succeed Azalina Othman Said who was parachuted into the position in 2004.

To have an idea, read Happy Birthday Hajjah Aza. Khairy's name was mentioned in the original open letter published in the Malay Mail on December 31, 2007.

When Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek was appointed to the post, he made it a point to meet editors and bloggers. Read simple yet significant approach. Also kindly read the cynic in me If I were the Sports Minister.

So far it's back to basics for Khairy who has promised to be hands-on but not micro-manage his Ministry and its stakeholders.

“We (Khairy and Saravanan) will be taking a hands-on approach but we won’t micro-manage. We need to do away with certain protocols as well. Feel free to come to the office with ideas,” Khairy added.

It is interesting to see whether Khairy will be effecting changes so soon and whether or not he wishes to break convention.

While KJ is said to be happy with the National Sports Council (NSC), the Ministry's secretary general, Datuk Mohid Mohamed, is said to be under scrutiny. Mohid who was tasked by Shabery to restore order amid personal rifts and internal bickering in agencies under KBS' purview, is not exactly well-liked.
Read allegations against Mohid

Mohid

Deputy Secretary General of KBS, Datuk Jamil Salleh

NSC DG Zolkples Embong (extreme right) is not exactly Mohid's blue-eyed boy. I know lah...

As the KSU and the highest-ranking officer closest to the Minister, Mohid has a say in recommending those he thinks are able to head the various agencies or organisations that come under KBS' jurisdiction. These include sports-related positions such as the Sports Advisory Panel (SAP) chairman, the Sports Commissioner, Director-General of National Sports Council (NSC) and CEO of National Sports Institute (ISN). Also chairman of YAKEB. Mohid too has a say in naming those he deems suitable for the various positions in the NSC Board, the Stadium Board, NSI Board, YAKEB and Ministry's representative in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). As the KSU, he has a say in making sure the composition of the members or representatives are not YES MEN of the Director-Generals or the various heads, although the authority to recommend lies with the head of agencies. So you see, Mohid is not taking part in a popularity contest.

At this point of time, those who oppose Mohid will have a gala time planting ideas into the Minister's head...

I'm pretty sure YB KJ will not be too hasty and in the process repeat the mistakes committed by his fellow anchor person of the Dateline Show in 1998, Azalina, who accused Ministry officials of being corrupt shortly after coming into power. In the end Azalina, one of my favourite subjects when I was with the Malay Mail, herself had to grapple with allegations of corruption. Read bagi chance-lah.

So give the officers the benefit of the doubt. Engage and confront them if they are accused of misdemeanour. After all Khairy himself has to deal with criticism and wild accusations, not all true perhaps, read here and here. So do we adopt the age-old adage one is innocent until proven guilty? Or otherwise?

Is Khairy going to micro or macro-manage the KBS and its stakeholders?

YB KJ, you've been forewarned. Watch this space for my Open Letter soon! In the meantime, please appoint a professional as the Sports Commissioner. Someone who understands sports and its practitioners. Not a politician. 

Tan Sri Elyas Omar - my apologies

I know it has been almost two months since the National Sports Awards were held but I guess it is not too late for me to congratulate Lee Chong Wei and Pandelela Rinong on being conferred the main awards. Since everyone had gone to town on the duo, I wish to pay tribute to Tan Sri Elyas Omar, who took the stage for having been bestowed the Eminent Sports Figure award.

Elyas Omar...ah the name I was in awe of. The man with the Midas touch.

He was once told me: "Rizal, your English is not bad ah...you may look like a kampung boy but you can write." Well I take that as a compliment.

My first meeting with Tan Sri in his official capacity as Datuk Bandar was in 1991, when I was a rookie reporter attached to the Harian Metro newsdesk. As a reporter with the Berita Harian weekly sports pullout Jaguh, I was there at the Stadium Negara when Elyas lifted the Thomas Cup in 1992. When Malaysia hosted the FIFA World Youth Cup in 1997, I was virtually camped at Wisma FAM to keep tabs on Hatem Souiss's charges of which Elyas was the team manager.

Our paths crossed yet again in 2005 when Elyas was made the Sports Commissioner, the first individual to take up the post full-time since the Sports Development Act was enforced in 1998.

When producer Slamet Sazly Yakub and I decided to invite Elyas for Dengan Izin, he was game for it. However Elyas was not happy with the end-result, sending me a long text message, which was also copied to Slamet, on his dissatisfaction for having been put through a program that did not give him the time to rebut or refute!

I don't wish to dwell on that as I feel Elyas is someone that we need to pay tribute to. Tan Sri you more than deserved the recognition.

Regarded as the most dynamic and successful mayor since Independence of 1957, Elyas presided over a number of sports bodies, namely BA of Malaysia (1986 – 1993), the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (1984 – 1988), Kuala Lumpur FA (1986 - 1996), Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) (1991-1993), as well as being appointed as patron of the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress from 1988 till today and elected Vice-president of FA of Malaysia (FAM) (1984-1998).

Elyas was made the chef-de-mission to the Jakarta SEA Games 1987, the Commonwealth Games in Auckland 1990 and the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992.

A leader of men, Elyas had the knack of turning everything that he touched into gold. The Penang-born gentleman transformed the Kuala Lumpur football outfit from being one of the minnows into a powerhouse in the mid-80s and was the brains behind the Thomas Cup win thanks to the appointment of Fang Kai Xiang followed by Han Jian, Yang Yang, Chen Changjie.

Tan Sri, please accept my apologies for Dengan Izin.