Aku tak rugi apapun apabila memutuskan malas nak liput badminton untuk Malay Mail pada 1998. Cukuplah kena marah dua-dua kem, satu Nusa Mahsuri, satu lagi BAM. Penat dan pening, last-last, bagi tugas membuat liputan badminton kepada Tony Yee.
Cerita Misbun Sidek letak jawatan adalah episod terbaru drama terbaru yang dilakonkan pelakon lama, dibantu pelakon tambahan baru. Skripnya berbeza sedikit.
Sentimen orang ramai pun berat ke arah Lee Chong Wei dan Misbun. Mereka banyak mengharumkan nama negara. Tapi adakah itu memberi mereka kelebihan dan kebebasan untuk berbuat sesuka hati?
Elok kita kaji latar belakang kes ini:
Misbun khabarnya pernah meminta agar anaknya Misbun Ramdan, 18, berguru dengannya sekalipun belum bertaraf elit, sekadar menduduki No 5 dalam skuad pelapis. Ini tidak dipersetujui jawatankuasa pasukan kebangsaan. Bagaimana pula nasib empat pelapis teratas itu? Mereka pun hendak berguru dengan mahaguru macam Misbun. Kalau sama potensi, sama mahir, sama pantas, sama sikap, siapa yang harus dipilih berguru dengan Misbun? Tentu ada kepentingan peribadi di sini...
Tapi ada yang mengatakan seorang mahaguru tidak akan melepaskan anak didiknya kepada mahaguru lain...benar, tetapi ini soal merit dalam organisasi dan tidak harus ada pilih kasih! Lagipun Misbun ada access kepada Ramdan, lainlah kalau Misbun duduk UK Perdana, Ramdan duduk London...
Misbun yang kukenali seorang yang kaya mutiara kata tetapi maha sensitif...jika ada tanda-tanda orang tak respect dia, dia akan berontak...aku dengar dia tulis surat kepada presiden BAM meluahkan perasaannya.
Atas kejayaannya membimbing Rashid Sidek, Hafiz Hashim dan Lee Chong Wei, Misbun diberi gaji lumayan, khabarnya lebih kurang RM30,000 sebulan. Itu tak termasuk kontrak RM200,000 dengan Yonex.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek harus berhati-hati dalam hal ini. Jika dia menyokong Nusa Mahsuri, Misbun dan Lee Chong Wei, barangkali disebabkan sentimen dan hakikat bahawa dia bekas setiausaha Nusa Mahsuri.
Jika Nusa Mahsuri menerima bantuan kewangan semata-mata kerana adanya Misbun dan Chong Wei, bagaimana pula kelab lain? Kelak timbul usaha kelab curi pemain yang established semata-mata untuk dapatkan dana kerajaan, sedangkan sepatutnya mereka harus jelas, peranan mereka membesarkan kelompok pemain di akar umbi!
Shabery harus berlaku adil kepada semua pihak. Dalam dunia sukan Malaysia yang penuh warna warni, penipuan, kerakusan dan tamak kuasa, itu bukan tugas yang mudah!
Ketika Nusa Mahsuri diwujudkan tidak lama selepas kecoh di antara Rashid dan BAM pada hujung 1994, aku sidekick Norbakti Alias menulis badminton untuk Berita Harian. Banyak yang tidak berubah kerana yang jadi tok dalang dalam wayang kulit ini lebih kurang sama jugak orangnya.
Nusa Mahsuri harus putuskan, sama ada mahu jadi pendorong atau divisive factor!
Ikuti perspektif berbeza seorang pegawai sukan veteran, dalam episod pertama ruangan bekas ketua pengarah MSN, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, dalam Utusan Malaysia Rupanya ranjau Misbun belum berakhir. Jangan ingat orang pencen tak de pengaruh!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Karate going the taekwondo way?
Karate gained prominence in Malaysia mainly thanks to the exploits of karate family of T. Ponniyah. His sons Arivalagan, Thennavan and Thiagu were at the peak of their powers when I began my career in journalism.
Supported by Clement Soo, the taikor of karate, the sport prospered. There were teething problems, but nothing Makaf could not solve, with the support of the National Sports Council (NSC) then. Ponniyah, a kumite specialist and Clement, a kata grandmaster, formed a powerful duo. Thanks to its medal-churning products, karate became a major contributor to Malaysia's medal tally in multi-sports events, especially the SEA Games and the Asian Games.
But typical of any Malaysian sports body, Makaf has internal issues as well.
Arivalagan's removal as the chief coach took everybody by surprise, including Clement himself. As the Makaf secretary general, Clement was kept out of the loop. Read here
Apparently the technical committee wants to hire Iran's Vahid Khajeh Hosseini, the 1994 Asian Games bronze medallist in the 80kg. Ponniyah is not agreeable to the idea. Read The Star.
However Arivalagan's detractors claim he had not been producing exponents of his own since taking over from Ali Reza Souleymani in late 2003.
Arivalagan's track record showed otherwise. R. Puvaneswaran originally came from Hayashi-ha though his winning mentality was fine-tuned by Ali Reza from 1998 to 2003.
Insiders say there are some elements within the kata group that were envious of the influence the Ponniyah family had on the karate scene, what with his son Thiagu also a respected referee.
The whole issue is said to have been triggered by the defeat of the son of a national coach in the 2008 Sukma in Terengganu...which then led to the controversial EGM in 2009 which saw the election of Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam as Makaf president. Read The New Straits Times
I fear for karate. The sport could be going the taekwondo way if this matter is not resolved amicably.
Supported by Clement Soo, the taikor of karate, the sport prospered. There were teething problems, but nothing Makaf could not solve, with the support of the National Sports Council (NSC) then. Ponniyah, a kumite specialist and Clement, a kata grandmaster, formed a powerful duo. Thanks to its medal-churning products, karate became a major contributor to Malaysia's medal tally in multi-sports events, especially the SEA Games and the Asian Games.
But typical of any Malaysian sports body, Makaf has internal issues as well.
Arivalagan's removal as the chief coach took everybody by surprise, including Clement himself. As the Makaf secretary general, Clement was kept out of the loop. Read here
Apparently the technical committee wants to hire Iran's Vahid Khajeh Hosseini, the 1994 Asian Games bronze medallist in the 80kg. Ponniyah is not agreeable to the idea. Read The Star.
However Arivalagan's detractors claim he had not been producing exponents of his own since taking over from Ali Reza Souleymani in late 2003.
Arivalagan's track record showed otherwise. R. Puvaneswaran originally came from Hayashi-ha though his winning mentality was fine-tuned by Ali Reza from 1998 to 2003.
Insiders say there are some elements within the kata group that were envious of the influence the Ponniyah family had on the karate scene, what with his son Thiagu also a respected referee.
The whole issue is said to have been triggered by the defeat of the son of a national coach in the 2008 Sukma in Terengganu...which then led to the controversial EGM in 2009 which saw the election of Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam as Makaf president. Read The New Straits Times
I fear for karate. The sport could be going the taekwondo way if this matter is not resolved amicably.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Teori konspirasi di sebalik kisah Misbun
Misbun Sidek - tidak lekang daripada kontroversi sejak muncul selaku antara pemain yang mewarnai arena badminton negara.
Kenapa dia letak jawatan selaku jurulatih di BAM?
Benarkah ada tangan-tangan ghaib di sebalik kisah ini?
Aku dimaklumkan ada individu tertentu yang rapat dengan Lee Chong Wei bermain catur, menyusun strategi.
Kalau Chong Wei pun keluar dari BAM, Koo Kien Keat dan Tan Boon Heong dikhabarkan ikut jejak yang sama. Maknanya prospek pingat kita di temasya Olimpik di London akan berlatih di luar bumbung BAM.
Kalau begitu, adakah elaun Road To London akan disalurkan kepada Misbun, Chong Wei dan lain-lain? Atau MSN berkeras hanya menyalurkan dana jika individu terbabit kekal di bawah naungan BAM?
Cakap-cakap mengatakan Misbun tidak berpuas hati kerana anaknya Misbun Ramadan tidak di bawah jagaannya agak janggal. Sebabnya Ramadan berada di bawah bimbingan Hendrawan, seorang yang pandai membaca taktik, macam Morten Frost. Lagipun Misbun sebagai bapa boleh latih Ramadan bila-bila, khususnya di gelanggang di belakang rumah mereka di Taman UK Perdana...tengah malam, siang, pagi, tengah hari, bila-bila...
Aku harap isu ini tidak berpanjangan hingga membabitkan Datin Paduka Rosmah Mansor...aku tak gemar kalau orang besar masuk campur...
Aku juga tak gemar orang yang ada kena-mengena dengan orang besar dan VVVVIP menangguk di air yang keruh...kalau ada, akan aku dedahkan...
Konspirasi ini bertujuan check-mate BAM dan Nadzmi Salleh...
Kalau Misbun dan Chong Wei sah tidak lagi sebumbung dengan orang di BAM, MSN boleh jimat hampir RM1 juta untuk tampung gaji, bajet latihan dan bonus untuk mereka berdua..
Kenapa dia letak jawatan selaku jurulatih di BAM?
Benarkah ada tangan-tangan ghaib di sebalik kisah ini?
Aku dimaklumkan ada individu tertentu yang rapat dengan Lee Chong Wei bermain catur, menyusun strategi.
Kalau Chong Wei pun keluar dari BAM, Koo Kien Keat dan Tan Boon Heong dikhabarkan ikut jejak yang sama. Maknanya prospek pingat kita di temasya Olimpik di London akan berlatih di luar bumbung BAM.
Loose cannon tukang pegang piala...itu aje kerja dia...
Kalau begitu, adakah elaun Road To London akan disalurkan kepada Misbun, Chong Wei dan lain-lain? Atau MSN berkeras hanya menyalurkan dana jika individu terbabit kekal di bawah naungan BAM?
Cakap-cakap mengatakan Misbun tidak berpuas hati kerana anaknya Misbun Ramadan tidak di bawah jagaannya agak janggal. Sebabnya Ramadan berada di bawah bimbingan Hendrawan, seorang yang pandai membaca taktik, macam Morten Frost. Lagipun Misbun sebagai bapa boleh latih Ramadan bila-bila, khususnya di gelanggang di belakang rumah mereka di Taman UK Perdana...tengah malam, siang, pagi, tengah hari, bila-bila...
Aku harap isu ini tidak berpanjangan hingga membabitkan Datin Paduka Rosmah Mansor...aku tak gemar kalau orang besar masuk campur...
Aku juga tak gemar orang yang ada kena-mengena dengan orang besar dan VVVVIP menangguk di air yang keruh...kalau ada, akan aku dedahkan...
Konspirasi ini bertujuan check-mate BAM dan Nadzmi Salleh...
Kalau Misbun dan Chong Wei sah tidak lagi sebumbung dengan orang di BAM, MSN boleh jimat hampir RM1 juta untuk tampung gaji, bajet latihan dan bonus untuk mereka berdua..
Nasib 2A
Simpatiku kepada Azraai Khor dan Azman Eusoff. Di saat bola sepak Malaysia memuncak dengan kemenangan Piala AFF, mereka makan gaji buta di Wisma FAM.
Sudahlah dilucut daripada jawatan mengendalikan Harimau Muda A, mereka tidak dilepaskan daripada jawatan selaku jurulatih di FAM. Beberapa anak buah mereka seperti Mahali Jasuli, Faizal Muhammad, Muslim Ahmad, Fadhli Shas, Izzaq Faris Ramlan dan K. Gurusamy, anggota skuad Piala AFF, berguru dengan 2A di Slovakia tetapi timbul kontroversi selepas perselisihan faham di antara Azraai dan jurulatih penjaga gol, Mohana Sundram.
Lepaskanlah mereka...jadi Azraai dan Azman boleh cari rezeki di tempat lain.
Sudahlah dilucut daripada jawatan mengendalikan Harimau Muda A, mereka tidak dilepaskan daripada jawatan selaku jurulatih di FAM. Beberapa anak buah mereka seperti Mahali Jasuli, Faizal Muhammad, Muslim Ahmad, Fadhli Shas, Izzaq Faris Ramlan dan K. Gurusamy, anggota skuad Piala AFF, berguru dengan 2A di Slovakia tetapi timbul kontroversi selepas perselisihan faham di antara Azraai dan jurulatih penjaga gol, Mohana Sundram.
Lepaskanlah mereka...jadi Azraai dan Azman boleh cari rezeki di tempat lain.
Membawa RG dan Piala AFF ke studio...
Tiga hari tidak tidur semata-mata nak pastikan K. Rajagobal muncul di studio menerusi program Kafe Sukan...episod pertama 2011.
Selesai urusan menghantar anak, renew insurans kereta orang rumah, mencari sekolah agama baru buat anak sulung sebelum mendapat kad touch and go aku tamat tempohnya, aku bergegas ke FAM, Noraini Taha PA Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad sudahpun menunggu. Piala disimpan kemas dalam kotak, dibungkus elok oleh bekas pengadil M. Saminathen.
Selesai urusan menghantar anak, renew insurans kereta orang rumah, mencari sekolah agama baru buat anak sulung sebelum mendapat kad touch and go aku tamat tempohnya, aku bergegas ke FAM, Noraini Taha PA Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad sudahpun menunggu. Piala disimpan kemas dalam kotak, dibungkus elok oleh bekas pengadil M. Saminathen.
Runner Astro Arena nak bukak business courier. Gambar Noraini ambik
Dibawa dalam kereta aku
Pengarah studio Farique Aldan nak pastikan aku bawak piala, bukan pinggan mangkuk nak makan free di Arena
Eh eh, lembu punya susu, sapi dapat julang piala...Hafizan Halim meniru gaya Safiq Rahim...
Terpaksa rakam segmen Chai Fong Yin dan Pandelela Rinong Pamg terlebih dulu
Habis beramah mesra dengan Fong Yin dan Lulu Dolphin (FB nick Pandelela), aku bergegas ke Filem Negara, guard kata mungkin rakaman habis 6 petang! Hah! Nak luruh jantung aku...aku diizin masuk, ke Pentas Bunyi...tanya krew, program apa ni, untuk Astro Ria, hosnya Datuk Siti Nurhaliza...coach Raja lama lagi ke...dah nak habis dah...aku tunggu di bilik VIP, Raja bersama isteri Puan Chantra, melayan permintaan mengambil gambar rupa-rupanya...Fahrin Ahmad pun nak ambik gambar...
Raja nampak aku, hah Rizal, I told them I had another recording, Rizal Hashim waiting for me...because the recording here was delayed...so I told myself, alah, no need la with Rizal Hashim...lega, lega...kalau tak kena cancel interviu dengan Raja...
So aku bagitau Raja, lepas ni, Astro dah sponsor FAM, coach kena datang every time kita panggil you hahahah
Last-last, runner Kafe Sukan diberi peluang pegang piala dengan Raja...lepas tu diaorang bungkus balik piala, akhirnya aku pulangkan ke FAM nak dekat pukul tujuh malam...
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Astro dapat hak komersil, road to nowhere, arak piala
Yang menarik!
1. Hak komersil Liga M kini milik Astro Media dengan nilai RM220 juta untuk tempoh empat tahun, satu perkembangan yang harus direbut betul-betul oleh penggiat bola sepak bagi menyuburkan semua aspek pembangunan liga, akar umbi dan skuad kebangsaan. Baca di sini.
2. Aku lupa sumbangan Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad dalam perjalanan kerjaya K. Rajagobal. Sebagai pengurus pasukan Bawah 20 pada 2004, Azzuddin pening tengok kerenah Jorvan Vieira yang tidak bentuk core team menjelang kejohanan Asia Bawah 20 di Kuala Lumpur. Dia buat report, bagitau pada Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, dan Vieira dipecat! Penggantinya - K. Rajagobal. Dalam 10 hari, ganti coach???? Satu tindakan berisiko yang cukup berani. Rajagobal buat pertukaran dalam 80 peratus, bawak masuk Aidil Zafuan, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak dan Safiq Rahim, yang enam tahun kemudiannya menjulang Piala Suzuki AFF...siapa sangka?
Sekali lagi apabila B. Sathianathan ditunjuk jalan keluar gara-gara kenyataan pedas "M-League is not football", Azzuddin cadang nama Rajagobal biarpun ada yang mencadangkan nama Dollah Salleh, Azraai Khor Abdullah dan K. Devan untuk jadi teraju pasukan kebangsaan. Jadi, apa saja orang cakap pasal Azzuddin, dia dah lantik Rajagobal lama sebelum Subahan Kamal, Annuar Musa, Hamidin Mohd Amin atau sesiapa boleh tonjolkan muka dalam suratkhabar dan televisyen!
3. Encik Shaari, seorang pemandu teksi dari Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, telefon aku.
Shaari: Encik Rizal, saya selalu ikuti rancangan Kafe Sukan dan baca Rembat Kosmo!
Aku: Terima kasih..
Shaari: Ni, saya ni asal Kelantan...nak cadangkanlah, Piala AFF tu dibawa ke satu tempat atau stadium, kenakan bayaran untuk orang ramai datang tengok, duit tu boleh sumbang bagi ganjaran kepada pemain...saya kecewa jugak Kelantan menang Piala Malaysia tapi tak diarakkan untuk warga Kelantan di Lembah Klang....
Yang tak menarik!
1. Road to London ke Road to Nowehere? Beginilah, lupakanlah usaha masukkan bola sepak ke Road to London. Team yang nak layak ke London berbeza dengan team yang menang Piala AFF. Coach pun lain. Lagipun takkan Kerajaan nak belanja besar-besar semata-mata untuk tampung belanja pasukan dalam empat perlawanan saja? Anak buah Ong Kim Swee lawan Pakistan secara timbal balik bulan depan. Kalau menang, ada kemungkinan jumpa Korea Selatan, Bahrain atau kuasa-kuasa besar Asia. Lagipun setahu aku, program Road to London untuk medal prospects, mereka yang ada peluang naik ke podium di Sukan Olimpik di London. Oh dulu Malaysia menang pingat gangsa ke di Munich 1972? Sebaliknya, MSN belanjalah ke jalan yang benar - misalnya, hantar team ke Eropah dengan tempoh lebih lama.
2. Apa jadi Jawatankuasa Tabung Pembangunan Bola Sepak Kebangsaan yang dipengerusikan Datuk Razali Ibrahim? Betulkah Everton sudahpun dibayar lebih RM200,000 untuk buat pembentangan saja? Cardiff City pun dah bentang pelan, tapi pelan ni semua lebih kurang sama, percayalah. Yang penting perubahan mentaliti di kalangan pembuat dan pelaksana dasar!
3. Aku jangka ada perebutan atau tug of war berlaku di antara FAM dan ahli gabungan...berapa ramai pemain wakil Harimau Muda A dalam Liga Super? Sanggupkah Kedah lepaskan penyerang bertubuh besar, Shakir Ali, dan penyerang ligat, Faizal Abu Bakar?
1. Hak komersil Liga M kini milik Astro Media dengan nilai RM220 juta untuk tempoh empat tahun, satu perkembangan yang harus direbut betul-betul oleh penggiat bola sepak bagi menyuburkan semua aspek pembangunan liga, akar umbi dan skuad kebangsaan. Baca di sini.
2. Aku lupa sumbangan Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad dalam perjalanan kerjaya K. Rajagobal. Sebagai pengurus pasukan Bawah 20 pada 2004, Azzuddin pening tengok kerenah Jorvan Vieira yang tidak bentuk core team menjelang kejohanan Asia Bawah 20 di Kuala Lumpur. Dia buat report, bagitau pada Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, dan Vieira dipecat! Penggantinya - K. Rajagobal. Dalam 10 hari, ganti coach???? Satu tindakan berisiko yang cukup berani. Rajagobal buat pertukaran dalam 80 peratus, bawak masuk Aidil Zafuan, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak dan Safiq Rahim, yang enam tahun kemudiannya menjulang Piala Suzuki AFF...siapa sangka?
Sekali lagi apabila B. Sathianathan ditunjuk jalan keluar gara-gara kenyataan pedas "M-League is not football", Azzuddin cadang nama Rajagobal biarpun ada yang mencadangkan nama Dollah Salleh, Azraai Khor Abdullah dan K. Devan untuk jadi teraju pasukan kebangsaan. Jadi, apa saja orang cakap pasal Azzuddin, dia dah lantik Rajagobal lama sebelum Subahan Kamal, Annuar Musa, Hamidin Mohd Amin atau sesiapa boleh tonjolkan muka dalam suratkhabar dan televisyen!
3. Encik Shaari, seorang pemandu teksi dari Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, telefon aku.
Shaari: Encik Rizal, saya selalu ikuti rancangan Kafe Sukan dan baca Rembat Kosmo!
Aku: Terima kasih..
Shaari: Ni, saya ni asal Kelantan...nak cadangkanlah, Piala AFF tu dibawa ke satu tempat atau stadium, kenakan bayaran untuk orang ramai datang tengok, duit tu boleh sumbang bagi ganjaran kepada pemain...saya kecewa jugak Kelantan menang Piala Malaysia tapi tak diarakkan untuk warga Kelantan di Lembah Klang....
Yang tak menarik!
1. Road to London ke Road to Nowehere? Beginilah, lupakanlah usaha masukkan bola sepak ke Road to London. Team yang nak layak ke London berbeza dengan team yang menang Piala AFF. Coach pun lain. Lagipun takkan Kerajaan nak belanja besar-besar semata-mata untuk tampung belanja pasukan dalam empat perlawanan saja? Anak buah Ong Kim Swee lawan Pakistan secara timbal balik bulan depan. Kalau menang, ada kemungkinan jumpa Korea Selatan, Bahrain atau kuasa-kuasa besar Asia. Lagipun setahu aku, program Road to London untuk medal prospects, mereka yang ada peluang naik ke podium di Sukan Olimpik di London. Oh dulu Malaysia menang pingat gangsa ke di Munich 1972? Sebaliknya, MSN belanjalah ke jalan yang benar - misalnya, hantar team ke Eropah dengan tempoh lebih lama.
2. Apa jadi Jawatankuasa Tabung Pembangunan Bola Sepak Kebangsaan yang dipengerusikan Datuk Razali Ibrahim? Betulkah Everton sudahpun dibayar lebih RM200,000 untuk buat pembentangan saja? Cardiff City pun dah bentang pelan, tapi pelan ni semua lebih kurang sama, percayalah. Yang penting perubahan mentaliti di kalangan pembuat dan pelaksana dasar!
3. Aku jangka ada perebutan atau tug of war berlaku di antara FAM dan ahli gabungan...berapa ramai pemain wakil Harimau Muda A dalam Liga Super? Sanggupkah Kedah lepaskan penyerang bertubuh besar, Shakir Ali, dan penyerang ligat, Faizal Abu Bakar?
Conversations with Raja
Loose cannon: Hello, coach!
K. Rajagobal: Yes,
LC: Coach congratulations...
Raja: Yes, yes congratulations for putting Muslim Ahmad in defence...
LC: Eh, urrr...
Raja: Yes, I have been keeping tabs on what you say on Kafe Sukan, while talking to Datuk Zol...on putting young players...
LC: Oh yes of course la coach, you know...
Raja: Yes, yes I know, but how many times I've told you...that it takes time to build a team...but critics like you don't understand...you must make people understand, that young players take time to mature...and that we must trust them...
LC: Ok, coach, yes I understand...so coach the producers of Kafe Sukan wish to have you appear on the show Monday la..
Raja: No lah...you know Rizal, it has been a long year...I wish to spend time with my family...
LC: But I remember watching you on TV, semua channel you ada...after winning the SEA Games last year...
Raja: No lah, I only appeared on Astro Awani's In Person...
LC: Come on lah coach, Astro Arena had been wanting to have you on their shows Kafe Sukan and Formasi for a long time...
Raja: Ya la, but you know I've been very busy throughout the year...
LC: Come on la coach...
Raja: No la Rizal...
LC: Come on la coach, you sudah menang pun susah mau keluar...bukan selalu coach...we pay tribute to you...you can refute what I say...
Raja: Ya ya, I always refute you...
LC: Ok coach, Monday
Raja: You call me Sunday la...
LC: Ok coach, don't switch off your handphone ahh
LC: So coach, how was it - being taken to the stadium in an armoured car?
Raja: Terrible...this is war, I said...nowhere in the world this can happen la...I blame the organisers, the Indonesian football federation for not providing adequate protection to our team...when we were taken to the stadium, it was so hot, there was no air-cond, I felt it was done on purpose to unsettle the team, tapi bila balik sejuk...
LC: How long after the game that you were brought safely back to the hotel?
Raja: I guess close to three hours...
LC: When was the turning point for the team, coach?
Raja: When we lost the first game, I told the players look here, we remain a good team, we lost because of individual errors...
LC: You put in Khairul Fahmi for the second game...
Raja: Yes Sharbinee was not made the scapegoat but I knew Fahmi had a good outing in the Asian Games, and their standard is almost the same...it was the same in Vientiane, when Sharbinee gave an excellent performance after taking over from first choice Farizal Marlias...so Fahmi took his chance well...
LC: Thailand...
Raja: Thailand is the best team in the region...but I realised Bryan Robson made a strange decision of not fielding his best line-up for the first game...every player needs to play in order to gain momentum...I knew we had a chance of a positive result...yes they kept coming onto us and we had our chances as well, in the end it was the turning point...
LC: How do you see the win?
Raja: You tell me, did our legends, if we continue talking about the past, win before a huge crowd of 100,000 inside the stadium, with 50,000 waiting outside? Can you understand the intense pressure the boys had to go through? I really thought it was a nightmare, so scary to be in such a situation...with the players being harassed everywhere we went...
LC: What went through your mind when Indonesia was awarded the penalty?
Raja: We were expecting it but it came too early...of course I was worried, in Bukit Jalil we scored three goals in 12 minutes, they could do the same in Jakarta...but on the two occasions I saw Firman Utina sending his penalty to the left of the keeper, so I told Fahmi to cover the angle...so what he told the papers, it was true...
LC: Coach you know about the Tabung Akujanji?
Raja: Ha ya, wah thank you, thank you, you are also contributing...but the coach also gets ah?
LC: Of course coach, 22 players plus 10 officials...
Raja: Wah fantastic bombastic...OK you tell Khawari (SAM) president, if tak cukup I also can contribute...
LC: haahahahahaha
LC: Coach, how are you going to manage this success?
Raja: It's not up to me alone, you know me Rizal, I pick players on merit...those who perform will always be given a chance...but in order to progress, we have to get everybody working on the same page..if the development programme by FAM and other government agencies is showing the desired results, it should be implemented at a smaller scale at the grassroots...of course at the national level, I'm happy to have a bigger pool of players to select from...around 30 or 40 players who are equally good and this can only be a positive sign for the national team. In Jakarta, Rizal, I saw how their media instigated and created a frenzy in rooting for their team, imagine despite having a 3-0 deficit, they were supportive of their team all the way, we do not have this kind of support in Malaysia...critics like you always question...
LC: Coach betul ka you kena ludah? I spoke to a few witnesses...
Raja: Ya ka, I thought it was only water...ya la, that's why I said we were not given adequate protection, you know la, what was important was the fact we won despite having to go through all these...
LC: Coach, wah the white shirt lucky charm for you la...
Raja: Yes you know, I like to dress well, I have a collection I bought from British India...I started wearing white after the two matches against Manchester United (July 2009)...but maybe starting 2011 I might wear different colours hahahaha
LC: Coach, what is your stand on players like Brendan Gan (Australian born of Malaysian descent) being given the chance to be selected?
Raja: I'm open to the idea, if you have relatives, sons, nephews who are studying in the UK, Australia, if they play and they think they have the capacity, come, study the national team calendar, because we don't train everyday, come for trials and as long as they prove they are better than the players I have now who have offered blood, sweat and tears, they have a chance...
LC: You have a four-year plan for the team...was winning the Suzuki Cup this year part of the plan?
Raja: Yes to qualify for the Asian Cup 2015 on merit...honestly speaking, my target for the Suzuki Cup was to advance to the last four. Looking at the draw, Thailand and Indonesia were the favourites but I knew we stood a chance of creating an upset...fortunately lady luck smiled on us.
LC: Plans for 2011?
Raja: We must play an A international match at least once every month, and we have the friendly with Hong Kong in February and the World Cup qualifiers in June, followed by the match against Chelsea. The World Cup I think is a station too far, we cannot harbour hopes of advancing beyond the first round realistically speaking...
LC: I heard Air Panas, Setapak will be having a party to celebrate?
Raja: Really ah, I don't know...but I'm visiting my mum, Danaletchumi, who is 75...I'm sure she's proud of her fifth child...
LC: What about your dad?
Raja: Oh he passed away when I was only two...ah that's why you don't know history...he suffered a heart attack...he was in his 40s...
LC: Sorry to hear that...what was his occupation?
Raja: He was a bus driver with Len Seng...
LC: Oh I selalu naik bas tu dulu coach, in the 70s, hijau merah..
Raja: According to my mum, my dad was quite a taikor, everybody knew him...hahahaha
LC: Ya and you have many friends from Air Panas who played for Hotspurs kan?
Raja: Ya la you know Subramaniam, Nallathamby, Updesh and Avtar Singh (hockey players) and Santokh Singh was my neighbour...that's why you don't know your history...
K. Rajagobal: Yes,
LC: Coach congratulations...
Raja: Yes, yes congratulations for putting Muslim Ahmad in defence...
LC: Eh, urrr...
Raja: Yes, I have been keeping tabs on what you say on Kafe Sukan, while talking to Datuk Zol...on putting young players...
LC: Oh yes of course la coach, you know...
Raja: Yes, yes I know, but how many times I've told you...that it takes time to build a team...but critics like you don't understand...you must make people understand, that young players take time to mature...and that we must trust them...
LC: Ok, coach, yes I understand...so coach the producers of Kafe Sukan wish to have you appear on the show Monday la..
Raja: No lah...you know Rizal, it has been a long year...I wish to spend time with my family...
LC: But I remember watching you on TV, semua channel you ada...after winning the SEA Games last year...
Raja: No lah, I only appeared on Astro Awani's In Person...
LC: Come on lah coach, Astro Arena had been wanting to have you on their shows Kafe Sukan and Formasi for a long time...
Raja: Ya la, but you know I've been very busy throughout the year...
LC: Come on la coach...
Raja: No la Rizal...
LC: Come on la coach, you sudah menang pun susah mau keluar...bukan selalu coach...we pay tribute to you...you can refute what I say...
Raja: Ya ya, I always refute you...
LC: Ok coach, Monday
Raja: You call me Sunday la...
LC: Ok coach, don't switch off your handphone ahh
LC: So coach, how was it - being taken to the stadium in an armoured car?
Raja: Terrible...this is war, I said...nowhere in the world this can happen la...I blame the organisers, the Indonesian football federation for not providing adequate protection to our team...when we were taken to the stadium, it was so hot, there was no air-cond, I felt it was done on purpose to unsettle the team, tapi bila balik sejuk...
LC: How long after the game that you were brought safely back to the hotel?
Raja: I guess close to three hours...
LC: When was the turning point for the team, coach?
Raja: When we lost the first game, I told the players look here, we remain a good team, we lost because of individual errors...
LC: You put in Khairul Fahmi for the second game...
Raja: Yes Sharbinee was not made the scapegoat but I knew Fahmi had a good outing in the Asian Games, and their standard is almost the same...it was the same in Vientiane, when Sharbinee gave an excellent performance after taking over from first choice Farizal Marlias...so Fahmi took his chance well...
LC: Thailand...
Raja: Thailand is the best team in the region...but I realised Bryan Robson made a strange decision of not fielding his best line-up for the first game...every player needs to play in order to gain momentum...I knew we had a chance of a positive result...yes they kept coming onto us and we had our chances as well, in the end it was the turning point...
LC: How do you see the win?
Raja: You tell me, did our legends, if we continue talking about the past, win before a huge crowd of 100,000 inside the stadium, with 50,000 waiting outside? Can you understand the intense pressure the boys had to go through? I really thought it was a nightmare, so scary to be in such a situation...with the players being harassed everywhere we went...
LC: What went through your mind when Indonesia was awarded the penalty?
Raja: We were expecting it but it came too early...of course I was worried, in Bukit Jalil we scored three goals in 12 minutes, they could do the same in Jakarta...but on the two occasions I saw Firman Utina sending his penalty to the left of the keeper, so I told Fahmi to cover the angle...so what he told the papers, it was true...
LC: Coach you know about the Tabung Akujanji?
Raja: Ha ya, wah thank you, thank you, you are also contributing...but the coach also gets ah?
LC: Of course coach, 22 players plus 10 officials...
Raja: Wah fantastic bombastic...OK you tell Khawari (SAM) president, if tak cukup I also can contribute...
LC: haahahahahaha
LC: Coach, how are you going to manage this success?
Raja: It's not up to me alone, you know me Rizal, I pick players on merit...those who perform will always be given a chance...but in order to progress, we have to get everybody working on the same page..if the development programme by FAM and other government agencies is showing the desired results, it should be implemented at a smaller scale at the grassroots...of course at the national level, I'm happy to have a bigger pool of players to select from...around 30 or 40 players who are equally good and this can only be a positive sign for the national team. In Jakarta, Rizal, I saw how their media instigated and created a frenzy in rooting for their team, imagine despite having a 3-0 deficit, they were supportive of their team all the way, we do not have this kind of support in Malaysia...critics like you always question...
LC: Coach betul ka you kena ludah? I spoke to a few witnesses...
Raja: Ya ka, I thought it was only water...ya la, that's why I said we were not given adequate protection, you know la, what was important was the fact we won despite having to go through all these...
LC: Coach, wah the white shirt lucky charm for you la...
Raja: Yes you know, I like to dress well, I have a collection I bought from British India...I started wearing white after the two matches against Manchester United (July 2009)...but maybe starting 2011 I might wear different colours hahahaha
LC: Coach, what is your stand on players like Brendan Gan (Australian born of Malaysian descent) being given the chance to be selected?
Raja: I'm open to the idea, if you have relatives, sons, nephews who are studying in the UK, Australia, if they play and they think they have the capacity, come, study the national team calendar, because we don't train everyday, come for trials and as long as they prove they are better than the players I have now who have offered blood, sweat and tears, they have a chance...
LC: You have a four-year plan for the team...was winning the Suzuki Cup this year part of the plan?
Raja: Yes to qualify for the Asian Cup 2015 on merit...honestly speaking, my target for the Suzuki Cup was to advance to the last four. Looking at the draw, Thailand and Indonesia were the favourites but I knew we stood a chance of creating an upset...fortunately lady luck smiled on us.
LC: Plans for 2011?
Raja: We must play an A international match at least once every month, and we have the friendly with Hong Kong in February and the World Cup qualifiers in June, followed by the match against Chelsea. The World Cup I think is a station too far, we cannot harbour hopes of advancing beyond the first round realistically speaking...
LC: I heard Air Panas, Setapak will be having a party to celebrate?
Raja: Really ah, I don't know...but I'm visiting my mum, Danaletchumi, who is 75...I'm sure she's proud of her fifth child...
LC: What about your dad?
Raja: Oh he passed away when I was only two...ah that's why you don't know history...he suffered a heart attack...he was in his 40s...
LC: Sorry to hear that...what was his occupation?
Raja: He was a bus driver with Len Seng...
LC: Oh I selalu naik bas tu dulu coach, in the 70s, hijau merah..
Raja: According to my mum, my dad was quite a taikor, everybody knew him...hahahaha
LC: Ya and you have many friends from Air Panas who played for Hotspurs kan?
Raja: Ya la you know Subramaniam, Nallathamby, Updesh and Avtar Singh (hockey players) and Santokh Singh was my neighbour...that's why you don't know your history...
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