Patching holes

UPDATED Sept 16

Did you know the dry gym at the National Sports Institute (NSI) was not properly maintained that Pandelela Rinong had to use duct tape to patch the holes and tears on the trampolines?

Well, my apologies, the dry gym comes under the NSC...

"Pada Selasa 11 September 2012, di dalam laman blog saudara Rizal ada satu kenyataan yang bertajuk Patching Holes yang telah memaklumkan mengenai perkara berikut : Did you know the dry gym at the National Sports Institute (NSI) was not properly maintained that Pandelela Rinong had to use duct tape to patch the holes and tears on the trampolines?

 "Untuk makluman dan pembetulan, setelah dirujuk kepada Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif ISN, En Ahmad Shapawi memaklumkan bahawa dry gym yang dimaksudkan adalah milik Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) di mana ia terletak di Pusat Aquatik, Bukit Jalil. Jika saudara mempunyai sebarang makluman atau pertanyaan boleh menghubungi saya untuk keterangan lanjut. Terima kasih di atas perhatian dan kerjasama yang diberikan."

 NORMILA BINTI ISMAIL Pegawai Belia dan Sukan -PS(M1) Unit Komunikasi Korporat (UKK)

While we congratulate the Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek for his swift action in approving a budget to upgrade the aquatic centre and the dry gym (read here), one wonders what have the officials at National Sports Council (NSC) done to maintain facilities right under their noses and spectacles? Lack of money, maybe?

Maybe the Ministry might want to audit the number of overseas travelling enjoyed by certain or all personnel at NSC and ISN.  Has it been at their own expense or the rakyat's hard-earned ringgit? How about it Datuk KSU? At least those thousands of ringgit can be channeled to buy duct tapes...hehe

Also, why not restrict the Director-General to one overseas assignment each year...so that he can focus on doing what's best for the country - that is crack his brain to strategise and pulverise the opponents!

In the meantime Mr Minister, kindly monitor the tender or bid process...make sure no hanky-panky please! No one from the association or any related agency should be making money out of the exercise. Really.

Enjoy the picture, nonetheless.

Pandelela Rinong appeared on Kafe Sukan on Aug 18

Pandelela was elated with the gift - a dolphin soft toy courtesy of assistant producers Nurul Ain Mohd Nor and Azrin Hamzah 

No, that chap on the left is not someone who was born in the 60s...host Ahmed Shahrazad Sani, Pandelela's mum Hartini Lamin, Pandelela, her father Pamg Joheng and yours truly

Dengan Izin, dengan Malek Rahman

Paparan youtube di atas diambil daripada laman web http://www.firstpost.com/topic/place/malaysia-selangor-soal-rasuah-dalam-bolasepak-malek-rahman-dgn-iz-video-YQQVmaf259M-582-1.html

Program Dengan Izin terbitan Slamet Sazly Yakub di Astro Arena 801 Jumaat lalu, menampilkan bekas perancang Selangor, Malek Rahman. Sambil mengaku menerima sogokan untuk menang yang mengakibatkan dia digantung satu setengah tahun pada 1994, Malek dengan beraninya mendedahkan beberapa perkara berkaitan rasuah yang harus dijadikan renungan pencinta bola sepak tempatan.

1. Rasuah hari ini lebih besar daripada skandal 1994/95 kerana sekarang ada perjudian atas talian.

2. Bookie terbabit dalam pengurusan sebuah kelab.

3. Kenapa pihak berkuasa dilihat lambat mengambil tindakan.

Gambar aku dengan Malek (kiri) dan Ismail Ibrahim pada 1992

Malek dan aku 2012

Farewell to Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah

Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah's was laid to rest at the National Mausoleum after Zohor prayers today, a fitting and ultimate tribute to the only Malaysian who reached the pinnacle of sporting officialdom as a member of the executive members of FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Read New Straits Times' report here, here and the Star here.

When Hamzah was made the Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, one of his first tasks was to establish the National Sports Council under the National Sports Council Act 1971.

He mooted the idea to host the Commonwealth Games and suggested for the country to have a clarion call which led to Milo's Malaysia Boleh slogan ahead of the Singapore SEA Games in 1993, as Datuk Dina Rizal can testify here

Hamzah's timeline in the world of sporting officialdom:

1971 - tabled the National Sports Council Act, as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

1976 - Elected to head FAM and OCM, succeeding Tun Razak who passed away in London, for both seats

1978 - Elected to head AFC in the Bangkok Congress on Dec 18 to co-incide with the Asian Games, succeeding acting president Kambiz Atabai who presided over the governing body following Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra's resignation in 1977. Elected to be a member of the IOC executive, a position he held until 2004.

1980 - president of FAM that oversaw the team qualifying for the Moscow Olympics and entering the  Asian Cup finals, also underwent coronary bypass

1982 - Elected as FIFA vice-president

1984 - replaced by Sultan Ahmad Shah as FAM president

1990 - lost to Sheikh Fahed Al Sabah of Kuwait by one vote for the FIFA vice-presidency from Asia in the AFC Congress in Bali but maintained his position as AFC chief

1992 - crucial in lobbying for the rights to stage the Commonwealth Games, culminating with the victory over at the Barcelona Olympics

1993- Joint chairman of Sukom 98 Berhad with Senator Annuar Musa

1994 - withdrew from defending AFC presidency, paving the way for Sultan Ahmad Shah to take over

1998 - Unseated as OCM president by Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar

When I wrote about the country's 50 most influential sports figures for the Malay Mail in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th birthday, Hamzah's name was certainly among those on the top. Read here

For former Utusan Malaysia sports editor and later Berita Harian writer-cum-sub editor, Ismail Ahmad, Hamzah was a leader par excellence.

"I have a lot of personal insights and experience with the late Hamzah. In the 1970s and early 80s, NSC were dormant. So OCM and the Sports Ministry were the driving force of the sports fraternity. On a tour to Australia, the national hockey team requested for financial assistance to a tune of RM60,000 but I told him "no Datuk (at that time he was not yet a Tan Sri), the team had lost four matches. RM60,000 was big money those days! He was open enough to accept ideas."

Ismail or Iba to his friends, covered the Asian Games in Bangkok, when the national football team were given a 7-1 hiding by China.

"Hamzah felt cheated. He told me "Mail, if given a choice I would send the players to the guard room," Ismail said, alluding to allegations of bribery surrounding the team then.

"There was once the late Mokhtar Dahari confessed of having been approached by Indonesian officials to fix a Merdeka Tournament match. Mokhtar disclosed this to Hamzah before me at the Equatorial Hotel. It was an open secret Mokhtar announced his retirement a few times at the height of his powers as he had grown disillusioned with the game. Hamzah said Mokhtar was clean and perhaps he belonged to the group of minority who did not sell their soul to the highest bidder."

According to Ismail, Hamzah enjoyed the highs and suffered the lows of officialdom, probably the most tragic was when he lost to the FIFA vice-presidency from Asia by a vote in the AFC Congress in Bali in 1990!

"It was the darkest moment of his career in sports. Hamzah lost the FIFA vice-presidency for Asia by one vote, 15-16 to Sheikh  Fahed Al Sabah of Kuwait,  and two were spoilt votes. I was there with Fauzi Omar (now Datuk) of New Straits Times and saw the commotion when the late Datuk Abu Bakar Daud, an FAM delegate in the Congress, was ordered to leave the room. Fellow journalists from neighbouring countries came to us asking what happened...the delegates from FAM had betrayed their former president."

"Hamzah was upset by a betrayal he considered of the highest order. I met him later that night when I saw with my own eyes how tears flowed down the cheek of a former Minister. I was called to his room accompanied by Peter Velappan (Datuk), the AFC general secretary.

"He told me "Mail, the FAM conspired to oust me. Mail, you listen to me, Sheikh Fahed will not last long in the seat. True enough three months later Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990 and Sheikh Fahed was killed and Hamzah was re-installed as FIFA vice president from Asia."

The Arabs were intensely canvassing for votes the night before the election as they went room to room, promising the world to the delegates. When I bumped into Sheikh Fahed having dinner, he asked me: "Are you on my side or Hamzah's side? I told him as a journalist one has to remain neutral. But he knew I was very close to Hamzah."

Later after Velappan was asked to leave the room, Hamzah told me to pick up his briefcase and then took out three pills before I helped him to bed. I was afraid he had suffered a heart-attack!"

Ismail can be seen here

Hamzah (fifth from left, front row) with FAM exco members in 1976 - History of Football in Malaysia 1900-2000

Hamzah with Sheikh Hamdan Zayed Al-Nahyan, president of UAE FA and FIFA president Joao Havelange during a match in the 8th Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi in 1988  - Power of Dreams

With IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch  - Power of Dreams

Ismail's junior by a few years, Nasir Ahmad, said one incident involving his colleague Zainal Abidin clearly defined Hamzah's character. Hungry for more information, Zainal almost threw himself onto Hamzah's car. Hamzah opened the door and the two continued their conversation as the car sped off!

"MUNGKIN saya tidak begitu rapat dengan Allahyarham berbanding bekas bos saya, Ismail, Mustakim dan Allahyarham Zainal Abidin (Spy13), namun sifat rendah diri, menjadikan Hamzah Abu Samah sangat istimewa di kalangan wartawan sukan. Satu peristiwa, sebaik tamat sidang media di Stadium Negara, 'Spy13' yang tak puas hati bahannya, menerkam ke kereta Allahyarham yang bergerak perlahan untuk pulang. Hamzah membuka pintu, mengajak Zainal masuk untuk 'sambung' temubual dan kereta terus meluncur pergi. Hari itu sejarah pun tercipta. Ia sekadar memberi isyarat, Hamzah boleh ditemui di mana-mana dan pada bila-bila masa. Al-Fatihah!" - NASIR AHMAD

"Hamzah was very open to criticism and took them by his stride. Imagine he was chief of FAM and OCM, as well as AFC...but he remained a gentleman until his death," said Nasir.

Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah
Date of Birth: Jan 5, 1924
Marital Status: Married to Toh Puan Zainon Hussein, seven children
1990 Merit Award, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
1996 IOC Centennial Sporting Excellence Award by Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)
1999 "Tokoh Sukan" National Sports Awards
2000 OCM Hall of Fame, Olympic Council of Malaysia.
2003 Sports Leadership Award, Pahang.

Our deepest condolences to Tan Sri's family! May his soul be granted the gardens of paradise. Al-Fatihah.

Piala Emas Raja-Raja kembali November ini

Kuala Lumpur: Kejohanan bola sepak tertua di negara ini, Piala Emas Raja-Raja Edisi Ke-72 bakal meneruskan tradisi kegemilangannya apabila 16 pasukan memulakan cabaran awal peringkat kumpulan bermula dari 9 hingga 11 November depan.

Dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan menyaksikan Pahang selaku juara 2011 diundi dalam kumpulan C bersama Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, Perak dan Pulau Pinang.

Kumpulan A menyaksikan Kedah selaku tuan rumah bersaing dengan Kuala Lumpur, Johor dan Singapura. Sementara Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor dan MASUM berentap dalam kumpulan B. Aksi kumpulan D tampak sengit apabila Kelantan juara Piala Agong 2011 serta pasukan yang paling banyak menjuarai Piala Emas Raja-Raja berdepan satu lagi pasukan jaguh pantai timur, Terengganu yang turut menyaksikan cabaran pasukan Perlis serta Polis DiRaja Malaysia.

Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pertandingan yang dipengerusikan Dato’ Lt.Kol (B) Mohd.Nor Mohd Darus bersidang Ahad lalu turut menggariskan beberapa perubahan dalam peraturan pertandingan, antaranya kesemua 6 pemain dari Liga Super atau Liga Premier yang mahu diturunkan perlu mendapat surat pelepasan dari majikan masing-masing sambil mengekalkan hanya empat pemain berstatus profesional yang dibenarkan beraksi pada sesuatu perlawanan.

Jadual peringkat suku akhir secara timbal balik dijadualkan 17 November 2012 dan 24 November 2012. Peringkat separuh akhir juga secara timbal balik pada 1 Disember 2012 dan 8 Disember 2012. Kemuncak perlawanan akhir Piala Emas Raja-Raja 2012 ditetapkan pada 22 Disember 2012.

Tirai pertandingan Piala Emas Raja-Raja 2012 bakal dimulakan dengan perlawanan Sumbangsih diantara Pahang selaku juara bertahan Piala Emas Raja-Raja 2011 menentang Kelantan selaku juara Piala Agong 2011.

Perlawanan tersebut dijadualkan di Stadium Darul Makmur Kuantan, jam 8.45 malam. Jawatankuasa pertandingan pada mesyuarat tersebut juga menawarkan kepada mana-mana syarikat atau organisasi yang mahu menaja Kejohanan musim ini agar menghubungi PBSMM ditalian 03 78803001 atau melalui fax ke 03 78803002.

Sorakan 12

Berbanding dengan Formasi yang diterajui Zainal Abidin Rawop dan lebih berteraskan diskusi pra dan pasca perlawanan, program bola sepak terbaru Astro Arena Sorakan 12 lebih menjurus ke arah perbincangan berasaskan isu semasa. Daripada pengacara Ahmed Shahrazad Sani hingga kepada penerbit Hafiz Fazre Wahid, Sorakan 12 adalah hasil kerja tenaga produksi yang cukup muda.

Progam ini sarat dengan topik berat - misalnya isu Muslim Ahmad dan Ismail Faruqi As'hari dengan Peter Butler. Semoga berjaya!

Ahmed dan Shasha Alkhred bersama Azlan Johar dan Dayne Azmin Ghazali dari Utusan Malaysia

Catch the ball and win a Rado watch

The Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur on Sept 22-30 is excited to reveal the 2012 version of its’ signature competition played daily after every centre court match, the “Catch the Ball Challenge”.

On the last three days, Friday to Sunday, a Rado watch worth RM 6,600 each will be available as the Grand Prize of the day.

IMG's Nick Freyer, tournament director, said: “One of our goals every year with the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur is to make sure our wonderful fans get to watch great tennis but most of all have fun and enjoy an experience to remember.

“Our player field is tremendous with players like David Ferrer, Juan Monaco, Alex Dolgopolov, Kei Nishikori, Sam Querry, Ryan Harrison to name a few and now Brian, and no doubt activities like our “Catch the Ball Challenge” with its prestigious Rado Grand Prizes will be right up there in the fun stakes.”

Meanwhile Brian Baker, the American tennis player who for almost a decade was not able to compete on the Tour because of injuries and surgeries, has been given a new lease of life.

Now, at the age of 27 he has been given a second chance. Since late April, Brian Baker has been on a wonderful journey and that journey will be making a transit stop in Kuala Lumpur, as the ATP World Tour weaves its way through Asia later this month.

“We are excited that Brian has accepted the first singles main draw wild card,” Freyer said. “His story is truly inspirational; to think that a year ago he was coaching a college team in the United States having undergone five major surgeries to include a repaired elbow, hip and more.

“His comeback has been one of the most talked about stories in tennis and his determination to never give up has allowed him to move his world ranking from the deepest depths, to now be at a career high of 70. His story is one of THE sports stories of 2012 and our very welcoming tennis fans will have the opportunity to congratulate him for his achievements live when he plays the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur.”

Tales from London, according to the mole

A number of moles told me:

1. Officials from Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had to take turns in rubbing shoulders with the who's who in the world of sports due to the limited Olympic passes in London. One official though was accorded special privileges - a pass from his/her international governing body, another pass from OCM's allocation. Class! Since OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar is a member of the elite club IOC, his presidential pass was given to his deputy Datuk A Sani Karim who however could not make it. The NOC President's pass entitled the holder to a chauffeur-driven car/limo among the privileges! Wow. So who got to enjoy the ride?

2. Assuming Pandelela Rinong Pamg's prospects looked bleak after a poor first dive in the 10m platform women's individual final, a top OCM official chose to go to the Olympic Stadium to watch the blue riband event - athletics, thus missing diving's medal ceremony which put Malaysia onto the world map. Of course the opportunity to watch Usain Bolt in the flesh is much better than celebrating Malaysia's first medal outside badminton!

3. Extra tickets already paid for were not given away to fans or supporters for selected events...apa susah, not their money...

4. Up to 15 officials from the National Sports Institute (NSI) flew to London, with chief medical officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz and two physiotherapists embedded with the contingent, the rest outside the Games Village. Wah co-ordinator from Bath to London ah, what else to co-ordinate from outside? Balik saja lah...A few balik, like chef, fitness and conditioning experts...but need two sportscode operators ah?

5. A few OCM office-bearers were privileged enough to be accompanied by their partners/spouses. One of the perks of holding office.

Bathing, not basking, in the glory. Bath is basically Hertfordshire II on a smaller scale. Read  here and here. Read the debate here

Thanks to the huge profit from organising the Malaysian Open, BAM officials got to enjoy the London Games.

6. The Malaysian contingent were served by two secretariats - one inside the Games Village, one outside. Maybe one to serve athletes/coaches, another to be at the beck and call of VVIPs.