Kisah orang Dungun

Dungun...daerah yang melahirkan dua jaguh - satu dalam acara olahraga, satu lagi lumba basikal. Nazmizan Muhamad dan Azizulhasni Awang. Bahkan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, adalah anak jati Dungun.

Sekarang segelintir penduduk di Kampung Sura, Dungun, sudah jadi jaguh membantah dan mengugut. Membantah velodrom dibina di kawasan mereka.

Cabaran besar buat Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek dan Zolkples ialah komunikasi...bagaimana menyalurkan maklumat yang tepat kepada audiens tanpa bergantung kepada ketua kampung.

Dengar khabar velodrom yang bakal dibina turut mempunyai pusat permainan dalam dewan. Selain kegiatan ekonomi yang bakal terbit daripada pembinaan velodrom itu, bukankah lebih banyak aktiviti riadah boleh dikendalikan? Bola jaring, futsal, bola sepak, badminton?

Usah bercakap mengenai duit. Kalau nak infrastruktur, kena belanjalah. Tinggal lagi, berpada-pada dan berbaloi. Jangan nanti runtuh pulak!

Sasaran Kata
Norbakti Alias (pengarang sukan Berita Harian)

BANTAHAN penduduk terhadap pembinaan mini velodrom di Kampung Sura, Dungun, Terengganu, sememangnya sesuatu yang mengejutkan apa lagi majlis pecah tanah yang seharusnya berlangsung hujung minggu lalu terpaksa dibatalkan.

Ketika Terengganu sudah melahirkan ramai pelumba basikal terkemuka sama ada dalam acara lebuh raya dan trek khususnya Azizulhasni Awang yang dilihat antara prospek terbaik pingat emas di Sukan Olimpik 2012, tentu ramai yang beranggapan negeri itu wajar memiliki velodrom.

Namun penulis bukan mahu menyalahkan penduduk setempat atas bantahan itu kerana mereka mungkin punya alasan tersendiri apa lagi jika bantahan itu dibuat demi kepentingan ramai.

Penulis difahamkan tapak yang dicadangkan adalah satu kawasan lapang yang kini digunakan oleh penduduk setempat bermain bola sepak, biarpun ia bukan padang yang sebenarnya.

Berbanding velodrom yang penggunaannya pasti terhad kepada kelompok atlit tertentu sahaja, tentu ramai yang bersimpati dengan penduduk kampung yang lebih mahu mengekalkannya untuk mereka beriadah atau bermain bola sepak di situ.

Cuma penulis tertanya-tanya bagaimana kawasan di Kampung Sura itu dipilih jika rata-rata penduduk di situ dikatakan lebih gemarkan bola sepak? Takkan setakat Dungun dipilih kerana ia adalah daerah kelahiran Azizulhasni.

Bukannya apa, penulis khuatir jika dibina velodrom di kawasan yang permintaannya kurang, ia akhirnya akan menjadi projek Gajah Putih, sama seperti Velodrom Rakyat di Ipoh.

Inilah ujian besar yang harus dipikul Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek dan Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Zolkples Embong, yang kebetulan adalah anak Terengganu sendiri, untuk memastikan kemudahan sukan digunakan sebaik-baiknya bagi melahirkan atlit berkelas dunia.

Perancangan yang teliti harus dibuat bersama kerajaan negeri serta pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapat lokasi paling sesuai, tanpa perlu mengorbankan kawasan sukan atau riadah lain, sambil memastikan kewujudan velodrom itu dapat dimaksimakan penggunaannya. Jangan nanti dikatakan menang sorak, kampung tergadai.

Bercakap mengenai Azizulhasni, penulis tertarik dengan kenyataannya mahu membuktikan prestasi ahli sukan tiada kena mengena dengan perkahwinan, selepas dia melangsungkan pernikahannya Sabtu lalu.

Ia pastinya satu lagi cabaran buat Azizulhasni apa lagi sejarah atlit tempatan menunjukkan fakta yang bertentangan di mana kebanyakannya tampil hambar khususnya pada tahun pertama perkahwinan.

Sebenarnya tidak perlu untuk melihat jauh. Ada beberapa pemain daripada skuad hoki ke Piala Dunia Remaja di Rotterdam, Belanda, pada 2005 seperti Mohd Sufian Mohamad dan Ismail Abu yang berkahwin pada usia muda, dan kemudian hilang daripada sukan negara.

Pemain badminton negara, Hafiz Hashim juga adalah antara contoh terbaik dan sehingga kini masih dalam proses mencari sentuhan lamanya. Tidak hairanlah ada pegawai-pegawai persatuan sukan yang bimbang jika atlit mereka berkahwin muda apa lagi ketika berada pada kemuncak prestasi.

Bukan maksud penulis bahawa ia adalah salah atau satu kesilapan berkahwin pada usia muda, cuma atlit perlu bersedia memberikan pengorbanan yang lebih besar jika mahu terus berjaya dalam sukan yang diceburi mereka, sambil memberi perhatian kepada keharmonian rumahtangga.

Di sinilah disiplin atlit menjadi ukuran dan harus bersikap profesional dalam menentukan baik buruk dalam kerjaya sukan mereka.

Penulis percaya ketika ini pastinya ramai yang tertunggu-tunggu mahu melihatkan kejayaan Azizulhasni bermula di Kejohanan Dunia di Copenhagen, Denmark, Mac ini diikuti Sukan Komanwel dan Asia pada penghujung tahun.

Berkat sokongan isteri dan disiplin serta kemahuan tinggi Azizulhasni, penulis percaya aksinya turut dinanti-nantikan warga sukan di negara ini, untuk membuktikan perkahwinan bukannya penghalang dalam menikmati kejayaan.

Jet ski anyone?

Saifullah and Syakirah

Amy Green and Raja Aris Raja Dzulkifli

Jet ski anyone?

Loose cannon remembers the days covering Alex Yoong and sister Philippa but they were into water skiing.


PRESS RELEASE Kuala Lumpur (Feb 2, 2010) - THE inaugural Terengganu World Jet Race Challenge (TWJC) on February 4-6 is set to create a splash with the presence of some of the world’s leading participants.

TWJC 2010 will be the first State core event for 2010.

According to appointed Event Manager, three-day event will take place on a 1.15km track at the Pulau Duyong waters, in the estuary of Terengganu Rivers.

Set to take part in the prestigious event are three US world champions Amy Green ,Chris Fischetti and Dustin Charrier as well as British champion, Seth Wilkinson. Terengganu World Jetrace Challenge 2010 (TWJC) is in line with the State’s desire to promote Terengganu as a global sports tourism destination.

The official venue of TWJC 2010 in Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort Marina & Spa in Pulau Duyung is also the venue of the prestigious Monsoon Cup which enters its 6th year.

Among the 2010 core events that will be held are Kenyir Lake International Triathlon in March, Kapas Marang International Swimathon in April, Kenyir Cup Goodwill Fishing Competition in October, Perhentian Island Challenge in October and the Monsoon Cup in December.

Besides Green, Fischetti, Charrier and Wilkinson, TWJC 2010 is set to be graced by approximately 100 participants from Serbia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, United Kingdom, and a number of local teams from Malaysia. The objective is two-fold.

One is to promote personal watercraft or known by its generic name jetski based on the brand produced by Kawasaki, the other is to enhance Terengganu’s reputation as a sports tourism destination that is second to none.

Helping to raise the profile of the event is Fischetti, 42, who has the distinction of being the stand overall world champion, stand-up slalom world champion, stand-up super stock and modified world champion and super course world champion.

Green is no slouch either. She has won three world championships and is an 11-time USA national champion.

With a total prize money of RM82,500, the events are divided into 10 categories, for professional, rookie and celebrity riders. For more information, please contact Raja Zarina at 012-295 8151, Shila (012-6045204) or Hatta (012-9163646)

EPLx Kosmo

Former BA of Malaysia (BAM) honorary secretary Datuk Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid remembers the days at Holte End

The lawyer from Ipoh was once a stringer tasked to cover football matches

Heat on Shabery

The Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, has come under fire of late following his return from the visit to Everton FC.

Read Satwant Singh Dhaliwal's Come Clean Minister here and Jaiho's Can You Tell Us the Truth, Minister here.

My concerns are:

1. Is Shabery dealing directly with Everton FC or there's a middleman somewhere?

2. Does the discussion centre on the training stint for the Under-23 squad or a comprehensive development programme that is grassroots upwards?

3. Will the technical experts in FAM be involved in the discussion?

4. Is the staggering 1.3 million pound for the programme true?

My take:

1. I remember very well when Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said launched the Everton community project in 2005, it was conducted by a local event management company. So if Shabery deals directly with Everton, then its good.

2. I sincerely hope the plan is for a comprehensive development programme with the stint for the Under-23 team thrown into it as part of the deal.

3. I know Lim Kim Chon, FAM director of coaching, has been tasked to discuss the details with Everton. Since he's the technical expert, let him do his job.

4. Since nothing is decided, we shall wait for the official announcement.

Jaiho highlighted this:

So many other programs are held all over the country, they are starving or dying for the lack of money and funding, and find it hard to continue. Just like the Ken Barnes grassroots programme that was developing players from ages 12-17. NSC was supporting it for a few years, but has stopped now. And this programme had links with the top EPL clubs, having sent some 15 players for attachments in clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Birmingham, and Wigan.

So how many of the players are actually in the various national teams?

The ultimate travel experience

A giant version of Jabulani placed at the Jakarta Convention Centre

The chartered McDonell Douglas MD-80 criss-crosses the globe with an entourage of less than 20 people to give football fans over 200 countries the chance to catch a glimpse and pose alongside the FIFA World Cup trophy...it landed safely at the KLIA at 1.0pm from Jakarta

The cabin is bigger than loose cannon's living room...talk about ample leg room. Truly the province of the privileged...

The much anticipated FIFA World Cup trophy that is on a global tour has finally landed in the country earlier today and it is available for a public viewing at the Mid Valley Convention Centre on Thursday and Friday.

More than 10,000 people thronged the Jakarta Convention Centre to experience what the tour organisers describe as the football fan experience culminating with a personal picture alongside the trophy and the tour organisers are expecting a similar reception in Kuala Lumpur.

“We are expecting a rousing response from fans in Malaysia," said FIFA media officer, Liu Lingling, the official spokesperson for the Asian leg of the tour.

Coca-Cola General Manager for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Antonio del Rosario, said the event promises to be a real football celebration.

"There'll be plenty of activities lined-up designed to appeal to the football fans."

The tour is a joint effort by FIFA and Coca-Cola.

“Fans can obtain tickets with purchase of McDonald’s Prosperity Burger Meal in restaurants in the Klang Valley from now while stocks last and alternatively fans can also visit the Coke booth set up at Mid Valley,” he said.

The trophy which started its journey from the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Sept 21, 2009, will travel across 83 cities, covering a distance of 134,017km or more than three times the circumference of the earth before reaching South Africa on May 4, 2010.

In 2006, the trophy had only visited 31 cities from 29 countries and covered a distance of 102,570km. Kuala Lumpur was one of the stops as well.

Next stop - New Caledonia.

A rare glimpse

Long queue for the rare opportunity to take a glimpse of the trophy

The waiting...outside the Jakarta Convention Centre

Very few individuals have held this trophy aloft. Franz Beckenbauer, Daniel Passarella, Dino Zoff, Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthaus, Dunga, Didier Deschamps, Cafu and Fabio Cannavaro are the elite few. Who would be the special one to join them in 2010?

Loose cannon looking stiff...

The FIFA World Cup, the authentic one, is in Jakarta. It was unveiled for public viewing at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC) earlier today. Loose cannon was privileged to be part of the celebration.

Next stop is of course Kuala Lumpur. On Friday, the FIFA 2010 World Cup trophy tour by Coca Cola makes the much anticipated stop at Mid Valley Convention centre.

Passes for the event can be obtained with the purchase of a McDonald’s Prosperity Burger Meal at restaurants in the Klang Valley, as long as stocks last.

Alternatively, fans can visit the Coke booth at the east atrium of Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, on Jan 28 and 29 to purchase 2x1.5L bottles and get a chance to spin a wheel to win the tickets or Coke premiums.

A conservative estimate by the organisers in Jakarta - 10,000 people thronged the JCC. Now let's see if loose cannon's fellow Malaysians are as passionate.

Planting the seeds of success

Talk about great timing! The speed merchants in the Malaysian track cycling team featuring the pocketrocketman Azizulhasni Awang have obtained a much coveted sponsorship from the government linked giant Sime Darby, through its foundation Yayasan Sime Darby, days after taking the Beijing meet by storm. The plantation giant's media invite came about a few days before Azizulhasni bagged the keirin gold at the World Cup classic in Beijing on Saturday.

Keirin Title A Pre-Wedding Gift For Fiancee, Says Mohd Azizulhasni

SEPANG, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- National track cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang's gold in the keirin event at the World Cup Classic in Beijing, China, last Saturday, was a wedding gift for his fiancee, Athiah Ilyana Abdul Samat.

The wedding will be this Saturday.

Azizulhasni said Athiah had been asking for him to win a gold as her wedding gift.

"I promised to win the gold as a wedding gift for her and am glad that I did and also be able to wear the white jersey," he told reporters on arrival at the KL International Airport on Monday.

The Terengganu lad said the victory had made him more determined to win the keirin event at the World Track championship in Denmark in March.

"I will give my best and will not disappoint the Malaysian people and others who are hoping to see me succeed," he added.

He regarded the win in Beijing as his biggest victory after failing to win two previous titles at the Track Cycling World Cup circuits in Manchester and Melbourne recently.

--BERNAMA

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Yayasan Sime Darby To Help Malaysian Cyclists Win A Medal At The 2012 London Olympics


Kuala Lumpur, 26 January 2010: Winning a medal at the Olympics has long been the dream of the country and her sportsmen and sportswomen.

This dream could be achieved again in 2012 when the Malaysian cycling team, which has world class riders in Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Josiah Ng, competes in the London Olympics.

To help Mohd Azizulhasni, Josiah Ng and other cyclists realise this goal, Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) has come forward to help them participate in several world cycling events prior to the 2012 London Olympics.

These world class events, to be held in 2010 and 2011, include the World Cup Classics, Continental Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the World Championship.

YSD, in partnership with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), will allocate RM2 million over the next 34 months to help, among others, defray travelling costs, competition and directors’ fees, allowances, accommodation and apparels.

Besides Mohd Azizulhasni and Josiah Ng, other cyclists to benefit from this sponsorship include Mohd Rizal Tisin, Muhammad Edrus Md Yunos, Junaidi Nasir, Mohamad Hafiz Mohamed Sufian and Fatehah Mustapa.

Today, YSD and MNCF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the initiative to produce Malaysia’s first medal winners in cycling at the London Olympics. A mock cheque presentation was also held in conjunction with the signing of the MOU.

YSD was represented at the signing ceremony by its Chairman, YABhg Tun Musa Hitam, while MNCF by its Deputy President and Chairman of the Track Cycling Committee, Datuk Naim Mohamad. Also present were YSD Council Members; Director General of National Sports Council, Dato’ Zolkples Embong; and Head Coach of the Malaysian Cycling Team, John Beasley.

Tun Musa, in his speech, said YSD supports the initiative to help Malaysian cyclists develop their full potential to be world beaters as well as to help them realise their dream of winning their first Olympics medal in cycling.

“We believe Malaysian cyclists have a very real opportunity to win their first Olympics medal for the country based on their fine performance in several world cycling events. We hope our sponsorship will spur them to achieve greater heights in world cycling.”

Tun Musa added that YSD, as part of its Youth Sports and Recreation Pillar, has already been involved in raising the standards of lawn bowls and cricket in the country.

“YSD, in line with Sime Darby’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, will always support sporting events that benefit the country and society. It will make available the resources at its disposal to promote and raise the quality of sports in Malaysia,” he noted.

Datuk Naim thanked YSD for the sponsorship which will prove beneficial in preparing national cyclists for the 2012 London Olympics.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to YSD for this timely contribution. We are honoured that MNCF was chosen by YSD to be one of its partners in sports, and our association with the Sime Darby Group will only spur us to achieve greater success.”

At the signing ceremony, seven Malaysian cyclists were presented with tracksuits to be used during international cycling events.