Saturday, August 15, 2009
No squash in 2016 Olympics...
Out of the seven sports seeking to be included in the biggest sporting extravaganza that is the Olympics, there was only one world No 1 who spoke on behalf of her sport in Lausanne last month. It was Nicol Ann David. But to no avail... read Joe Marcose's blog here and the Hindu report here.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Analysis on Awani
I was invited by Astro Awani's Fadzrie Hazis and Ian Johan Ariff recently to talk about the English Premiership 2009/10 season kicking off Aug 15. Awani ran the special report on four consecutive days.
Uttering barely audible words on Sukan Awani
In memory of loose cannon's trip to England with Harian Metro's Azahar Mohd Taib in 2002
Alone at the Shankly Gates...somewhere near Nottingham, eh, Liverpool...
Loose cannon with Azahar. This picture could have been taken somewhere in Liverpool...can't remember exactly...but looking at the poster in the background, it must be...
Chelsea
What I said on TV: I've admired Carlo Ancelotti since his playing days at AC Milan and AS Roma. He could be the coach to maintain the winning mentality into Chelsea following the brief tenure of Guus Hiddink. Not too old as a team but tactically mature and disciplined.
My personal opinion: I hope Chelsea's left-channel is set alight by the combo of Ashley Cole, new signing Yuri Zhirkov and Florent Malouda. If Malouda performs below par, Zhirkov's mazy dribbling skills will compensate for it, provided he adapts quickly to the Premiership.
Arsenal
What I said on TV: No way they can lift the title. This Arsenal team is being built for five years down the road, not today. The possible return of Pat Vieira smacked of desperation on Wenger's part to seek a leader and stabilising factor for a team too young to win anything. The departure of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure is a huge loss. Still one of the most attractive teams that play cultured football.
My personal opinion: I wish them well and the 4-3-3 formation could prove crucial. Let's see if Jack Wilshere is over-hyped or not and whether or not Wenger can keep holding on to Fabregas.
The other contenders would be Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City. Everton, with Fellaini, Arteta and Osman supplying the ammunition to Cahill, Saha, Anichebe and Yakubu, may finish among the top three. City, backed by the Abu Dhabi Group, will not be able to gel as a team immediately but I expect them to provide something spectacular!
Uttering barely audible words on Sukan AwaniManchester United
What I said on TV: They may have lost their star attraction Cristiano Ronaldo but United appear the favourites for the title yet again. Crucial to United's season is Wayne Rooney's exact position. Nani and new signing Gabriel Obertan, both equally adept on either flank, will gradually fill in the void left by Ronaldo. Michael Owen, judging from his performances in Kuala Lumpur, has not lost his goalscoring touch, though he was a bit unlucky against Valencia in front of Fabio Capello.
My personal opinion: United has a rich tradition of using the width of the pitch through fleet-footed flankers. Through Obertan, Nani and Valencia, Ferguson will continue to uphold the tradition. A throwback to the days of George Best, Gordon Hill, Steve Coppell, Andriiy Kanchelskis and Ronaldo. United for the title. (I'm not a Red Devil).
Liverpool
What I said on TV: Liverpool's players are sub-standard, with few exceptions of course. The Reds continue to be over-reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Lucas not in the same standard of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso and though new signing Alberto Aquilani is attacking-minded and a great addition to the squad, he's injury-prone and currently plagued by an ankle injury. Redeeming factor - the wily Rafa Benitez.
My personal opinion: Most of my friends, relatives and colleagues are die-hard Liverpool fans, really. I pity them. I'm sorry but the 20-year wait for the league title will continue for yet another season lah...the worst part for these Scousers is that they have to go to Singapore to have a closer look at their idols...
What I said on TV: They may have lost their star attraction Cristiano Ronaldo but United appear the favourites for the title yet again. Crucial to United's season is Wayne Rooney's exact position. Nani and new signing Gabriel Obertan, both equally adept on either flank, will gradually fill in the void left by Ronaldo. Michael Owen, judging from his performances in Kuala Lumpur, has not lost his goalscoring touch, though he was a bit unlucky against Valencia in front of Fabio Capello.
My personal opinion: United has a rich tradition of using the width of the pitch through fleet-footed flankers. Through Obertan, Nani and Valencia, Ferguson will continue to uphold the tradition. A throwback to the days of George Best, Gordon Hill, Steve Coppell, Andriiy Kanchelskis and Ronaldo. United for the title. (I'm not a Red Devil).
Liverpool
What I said on TV: Liverpool's players are sub-standard, with few exceptions of course. The Reds continue to be over-reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Lucas not in the same standard of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso and though new signing Alberto Aquilani is attacking-minded and a great addition to the squad, he's injury-prone and currently plagued by an ankle injury. Redeeming factor - the wily Rafa Benitez.
My personal opinion: Most of my friends, relatives and colleagues are die-hard Liverpool fans, really. I pity them. I'm sorry but the 20-year wait for the league title will continue for yet another season lah...the worst part for these Scousers is that they have to go to Singapore to have a closer look at their idols...
In memory of loose cannon's trip to England with Harian Metro's Azahar Mohd Taib in 2002
Alone at the Shankly Gates...somewhere near Nottingham, eh, Liverpool...
Loose cannon with Azahar. This picture could have been taken somewhere in Liverpool...can't remember exactly...but looking at the poster in the background, it must be...Chelsea
What I said on TV: I've admired Carlo Ancelotti since his playing days at AC Milan and AS Roma. He could be the coach to maintain the winning mentality into Chelsea following the brief tenure of Guus Hiddink. Not too old as a team but tactically mature and disciplined.
My personal opinion: I hope Chelsea's left-channel is set alight by the combo of Ashley Cole, new signing Yuri Zhirkov and Florent Malouda. If Malouda performs below par, Zhirkov's mazy dribbling skills will compensate for it, provided he adapts quickly to the Premiership.
Arsenal
What I said on TV: No way they can lift the title. This Arsenal team is being built for five years down the road, not today. The possible return of Pat Vieira smacked of desperation on Wenger's part to seek a leader and stabilising factor for a team too young to win anything. The departure of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure is a huge loss. Still one of the most attractive teams that play cultured football.
My personal opinion: I wish them well and the 4-3-3 formation could prove crucial. Let's see if Jack Wilshere is over-hyped or not and whether or not Wenger can keep holding on to Fabregas.
The other contenders would be Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City. Everton, with Fellaini, Arteta and Osman supplying the ammunition to Cahill, Saha, Anichebe and Yakubu, may finish among the top three. City, backed by the Abu Dhabi Group, will not be able to gel as a team immediately but I expect them to provide something spectacular!
Footie on 89.9
NEWS RELEASE
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 AUGUST 2009: Saturday 15 August 2009 at 7pm will witness a change in the landscape of Malaysian radio, when the Barclays Premier League Season 09/10 hits the airwaves LIVE for the very first time, only on BFM89.9.
With made‐for‐radio commentary LIVE from the UK for all weekend matches, and original local programming supporting the live matches, BFM89.9 are delivering ‘Football Anywhere’ for Malaysian fans, bringing not only the best football league in the world to their listeners, but also introducing a new advent in sports radio programming.
BFM’s local content delivery will focus on the latest Premier League news, hot off the press with exclusive interviews direct to the UK, opportunities for fans to have their say, prematch predictions, energetic and lively discussions, debates and lots of humour!
Extensive fan interaction with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of presenters provide Malaysian football fans the opportunity to communicate their opinions and predictions on arguably the most well‐known and widely supported football league in the world today.
Programme Rundown:
‘Thank Friday It’s Footie (TFIF)’
Friday night preview show of the weekend’s Premier League action,
7.30pm – 8.30pm only on BFM89.9
‘Live & Kicking Soccer Saturday’
Kicks off at 7pm every Saturday, with football chat and predictions before the
Saturday football action LIVE from the UK
‘Live & Kicking Soccer Sunday’
Kicks off at 7.30pm every Saturday, with football chat and predictions before the
Sunday football action LIVE from the UK
‘Life's a Pitch’
Monday night highlights show with the best goals, interviews and news from the weekend.
Daily News Bulletins
Every morning on the hour, starting at 6.30am through to 9.30am, hourly Barclays
Premier League Bulletins to bring you up to date with the latest news and gossip before you get to the office.
BFM’s Managing Director, Malek Ali commented today, “To bring the Barclays Premier League to Malaysian radio, and more importantly, deliver live sports radio to Malaysians, is part of BFM’s culture of constantly pushing the boundaries.”
He continued, “The opportunity to do something truly unique and irreverent is what we strive for, and taking the Barclays Premier League into a new medium, with an original style of broadcasting, delivers on this promise. At BFM we only go for the best, and the best football in the world is the Barclays Premier League.”
So can’t get to a TV? Now there is NO excuse for missing all the action.
About BFM89.9
BFM launched in September 2008, and is a 24‐hour independent radio station focused on business news and current affairs. Core programmes include the latest business news and stock market reports from Malaysia and other financial centres, interviews with business personalities, financial analysts, entrepreneurs, technologists and marketers.
BFM also offers business education programmes spanning areas like marketing, finance, technology and business productivity to raise the management proficiency of the Malaysian business and professional community.
BFM targets people who aspire for professional and personal success.
As part of its programming, BFM is also renowned for providing listeners with a timeless music experience, which has rapidly gained a growing fan base. BFM is also embarking on meeting the lifestyle, as well as business, needs of its target group, including health, the arts and now sports, with football spear‐heading the weekend programming.
BFM can be received on frequency 89.9 in Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and parts of Melaka. TonyM was there at the launch, read here.
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 AUGUST 2009: Saturday 15 August 2009 at 7pm will witness a change in the landscape of Malaysian radio, when the Barclays Premier League Season 09/10 hits the airwaves LIVE for the very first time, only on BFM89.9.
With made‐for‐radio commentary LIVE from the UK for all weekend matches, and original local programming supporting the live matches, BFM89.9 are delivering ‘Football Anywhere’ for Malaysian fans, bringing not only the best football league in the world to their listeners, but also introducing a new advent in sports radio programming.
BFM’s local content delivery will focus on the latest Premier League news, hot off the press with exclusive interviews direct to the UK, opportunities for fans to have their say, prematch predictions, energetic and lively discussions, debates and lots of humour!
Extensive fan interaction with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of presenters provide Malaysian football fans the opportunity to communicate their opinions and predictions on arguably the most well‐known and widely supported football league in the world today.
Programme Rundown:
‘Thank Friday It’s Footie (TFIF)’
Friday night preview show of the weekend’s Premier League action,
7.30pm – 8.30pm only on BFM89.9
‘Live & Kicking Soccer Saturday’
Kicks off at 7pm every Saturday, with football chat and predictions before the
Saturday football action LIVE from the UK
‘Live & Kicking Soccer Sunday’
Kicks off at 7.30pm every Saturday, with football chat and predictions before the
Sunday football action LIVE from the UK
‘Life's a Pitch’
Monday night highlights show with the best goals, interviews and news from the weekend.
Daily News Bulletins
Every morning on the hour, starting at 6.30am through to 9.30am, hourly Barclays
Premier League Bulletins to bring you up to date with the latest news and gossip before you get to the office.
BFM’s Managing Director, Malek Ali commented today, “To bring the Barclays Premier League to Malaysian radio, and more importantly, deliver live sports radio to Malaysians, is part of BFM’s culture of constantly pushing the boundaries.”
He continued, “The opportunity to do something truly unique and irreverent is what we strive for, and taking the Barclays Premier League into a new medium, with an original style of broadcasting, delivers on this promise. At BFM we only go for the best, and the best football in the world is the Barclays Premier League.”
So can’t get to a TV? Now there is NO excuse for missing all the action.
About BFM89.9
BFM launched in September 2008, and is a 24‐hour independent radio station focused on business news and current affairs. Core programmes include the latest business news and stock market reports from Malaysia and other financial centres, interviews with business personalities, financial analysts, entrepreneurs, technologists and marketers.
BFM also offers business education programmes spanning areas like marketing, finance, technology and business productivity to raise the management proficiency of the Malaysian business and professional community.
BFM targets people who aspire for professional and personal success.
As part of its programming, BFM is also renowned for providing listeners with a timeless music experience, which has rapidly gained a growing fan base. BFM is also embarking on meeting the lifestyle, as well as business, needs of its target group, including health, the arts and now sports, with football spear‐heading the weekend programming.
BFM can be received on frequency 89.9 in Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and parts of Melaka. TonyM was there at the launch, read here.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Aug 15 - D-Day for SAM
I wish to urge existing members of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) to attend Saturday's annual general meeting not only to elect a new set of office-bearers but also to show that the fraternity is indeed united in the need to revive a once-respected NGO. Those who have yet to register as members can do so ahead of the meeting at 3.0pm to be held at the Wisma OCM and are entitled to vote. Exercise your right!
Berita Harian's Ahmad Khawari Isa is challenging TV3's Abu Bakar Atan for the presidency. Two key posts are uncontested as Ibrahim Abu Bakar, a former tennis official and radio sports commentator, was the sole candidate as deputy president while the new secretary is Rahim Lajis, whose status at Utusan Malaysia is vague.
Rahim, 48, was a sports journalist at Berita Harian and covered the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi alongside the then sports editor, Zainuddin Bendahara. A youth goalkeeper for Malacca, he left BH in 1989 to pursue law before joining Utusan Malaysia in 1991. Apparently now stationed at the Umno HQ, his last designation at Utusan was assistant editor.
Kampung Baru-born and bred Ibrahim, 68, was a match official at the Australian Open in 1988 and was team manager of the Malaysian tennis team to the SEA Games in 1977, 1985 and 1997.
Rahim Lajis and Ibrahim Abu Bakar won their posts uncontested
Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood (left) of RTM and Asan Ahmad, Kosmo!'s sports editor, are vying for the vice-presidency
Yu Nee Kong may or may not cast his vote for Alimi on Saturday...
The Star's Eric Samuel and Kosmo!'s Asan Ahmad are vying for the vice-presidency with incumbent RTM's Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood for the two seats.
The key in reviving SAM is the co-operation and understanding from the sports editors from the various media houses, particularly the Star and the New Straits Times.
SAM those days was driven by mainly sportswriters from Jalan Riong. A pity that sports editors of major newspapers, with the exception of a few, give scant regard to SAM these days.
Berita Harian's Ahmad Khawari Isa is challenging TV3's Abu Bakar Atan for the presidency. Two key posts are uncontested as Ibrahim Abu Bakar, a former tennis official and radio sports commentator, was the sole candidate as deputy president while the new secretary is Rahim Lajis, whose status at Utusan Malaysia is vague.
Rahim, 48, was a sports journalist at Berita Harian and covered the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi alongside the then sports editor, Zainuddin Bendahara. A youth goalkeeper for Malacca, he left BH in 1989 to pursue law before joining Utusan Malaysia in 1991. Apparently now stationed at the Umno HQ, his last designation at Utusan was assistant editor.
Kampung Baru-born and bred Ibrahim, 68, was a match official at the Australian Open in 1988 and was team manager of the Malaysian tennis team to the SEA Games in 1977, 1985 and 1997.
Rahim Lajis and Ibrahim Abu Bakar won their posts uncontested
Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood (left) of RTM and Asan Ahmad, Kosmo!'s sports editor, are vying for the vice-presidency
Yu Nee Kong may or may not cast his vote for Alimi on Saturday...The Star's Eric Samuel and Kosmo!'s Asan Ahmad are vying for the vice-presidency with incumbent RTM's Wan Alimi Wan Mahmood for the two seats.
The key in reviving SAM is the co-operation and understanding from the sports editors from the various media houses, particularly the Star and the New Straits Times.
SAM those days was driven by mainly sportswriters from Jalan Riong. A pity that sports editors of major newspapers, with the exception of a few, give scant regard to SAM these days.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Aug 15 - EPL v FAM
Aug 15 marks the official kick off of the English Premiership. So happens the 2009/2010 season's opening day of our former colonial masters' best ever product co-incide with the day the FA of Malaysia is supposed to meet to decide on the new league structure.
I've appeared on TV, saying and hoping the FAM would opt for meritocracy and restrict the top-tier to teams that meet the requirements, regardless of their status. Separating the clubs and putting them in one league, away from the State teams is not the answer.
If the State-based sentiments are being used as an excuse, an idea we should explore is for the existing clubs to merge with the State teams, for example Johor FC, since they are financially backed by Johor Corp, to be absorbed into Johor or Plus to sponsor Kuala Lumpur. Read S.S. Dhaliwal's take here. My fellow blogger also broke the story FAM's head of international department, E.R. Subramaniam, has quit the national body to join FIFpro. Read here.What's FIFpro? Read jaihomalaysia's FIFpro signs MoU with AFF.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Shaukei says...
Renowned sports commentator Shaukei Kahar (centre) is now a blogger. Kindly visit his blog here. When Shaukei presided over Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) in 2000, loose cannon served as the general secretary. The president and secretary sometimes could not see eye-to-eye on various issues. Shaukei also runs www.mediasukan.com.my here.Sunday, August 9, 2009
Perspektif Kita, from my perspective...
He's no Aquilani lah
Host Dino or Syed Farradino Syed OmarWhen loose cannon was invited by Astro Awani to appear on Perspektif Kita two months ago, the topic was Mengasah Jaguh Sukan or Nurturing Sporting Talent, with an event manager, a couple, a gymnastics coach, a government official and a blogger representing a cross-section of the fraternity.
Former Business Times journo, Adlin Murtadza Zabri
Venu Gopal, whose son attends the UKRC football academy
Jefri Ngadirin, National Sports Council director of the junior/back up division
Loose cannon is not managing the finances of pensionersThanks Zarina and Dzul from Awani. I did not touch on football and FAM but what I did highlight was the fact our kids in general are not given the proper basic teaching by master coaches during their formative years, that despite having the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development, there seems to be a lack of co-ordination among the relevant agencies and stakeholders and perhaps we should consider having sports schools that cater for kids Under-13.
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