Inside Africa - the story so far

Inside Africa: Story so far



Sunday, June 27, 2010

THE Greatest Show on Earth has had its fair share of controversies, fantasy football, ignominious exits for two European giants who contested the 2006 final and dramatic moments.

In fact, the plot synopsis is beyond any award-winning screenwriter's wildest imagination.

The usual suspects Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, the Netherlands and Germany remain in contention, but by right the script was not supposed to have Japan , South Korea , Chile and Slovakia in the Last 16. That's the beauty of South Africa 2010. So, in a nutshell:

France

The story so far: Nicolas Anelka sent home, the team boycotted a training session in a mini French revolution, Raymond Domenech refused to shake hands with Carlos Alberto Parreira, Thierry Henry summoned for a tete-a-tete with President Nicolas Sarkozy.

What's next: The guillotine for sections of the squad and 'Dumbenech' to have all the time to enjoy theatre-hopping.

To think that: They were runners-up the last time.

Italy

The story so far: Defending champions who finished last in the group, had to rely on a penalty to avoid a defeat to New Zealand and Fabio Cannavaro's retirement.

What's next: Marcello Lippi's successor, Cesare Prandelli, to build the Azzurris around the new Didier Drogba, Mario Balotelli.

To think that: Cannavaro lifted the Cup in Berlin four years ago.

John Terry

The story so far: The Chelsea skipper and defender launched a failed mutiny, suggested Joe Cole be included in the starting line-up before apologising to boss Fabio Capello, the team scraped a win over Slovenia, free from the shackles but Germany await in the Last 16.

What's next: Wayne Rooney to finally score from open play and Terry not required to participate in a penalty shootout for the second round tie would be decided in regulation time.

To think that: Terry's extra marital affairs would have taught him to keep a low profile.

Referees

The story so far: Questionable decisions, seemingly valid goals were ruled out, stupid sending-offs and the lack of discretion among a few men in the middle. Oh how we miss Pierluigi Collina.

What's next: More questionable decisions as the stakes become higher.

To think that: Fifa had prepared the 30 referees since 2007.

Jabulani

The story so far: The real star of the tournament. A boon for strikers, a bane for goalkeepers.

What's next: Goalkeepers will continue to be perplexed.

To think that: The research in coming up with the technology was conducted by United Kingdom's foremost sports university, Loughborough University.

Vuvuzela

The story so far: Also another star of the tournament, a real phenomenon.

What's next: For the plastic horn to be the next global craze, from Hanoi right up to Alaska .

To think that: Its reason for being is to summon distant villagers to attend community gatherings.

Gonzalo Higuain

The story so far: A top-notch marksman, illustrated by the hat-trick against South Korea.

What's next: Hotly tipped to bag the golden boot.

To think that: Higuain, being born in France, had the choice of donning French colours, but common sense prevailed.

Argentina

The story so far: Irresistible to watch. Diego Maradona has little experience, but his team play for him. Lionel Messi is well supported by Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria and Carlos Tevez.

What's next: A possible rendezvous with fierce rivals Brazil in the final.

To think that: Argentina only secured a place in South Africa on the last day of the qualifying campaign.

Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh and Martin Hansson

The story so far: Yet to be appointed to officiate in any of the matches.

What's next: May return home with only vuvuzelas.

To think that: All referees at the 2006 World Cup were given at least one game.

Japan

The story so far: The Samurais, powered by the aptly named Keisuke Honda, showed Denmark and Cameroon the door, losing only to a stinging Wesley Sneijder's shot.

What's next: A win over Paraguay for a meeting with Portugal in the quarter-finals.

To think that: The Japanese studied the Malaysian football model in 1980

South Korea

The story so far: A 4-1 defeat to Argentina was nothing to be ashamed of for the Koreans beat Euro 2004 winners Greece and drew with African giants, Nigeria, to earn a ticket to the second round.

What's next: Should be satisfied with their best performance outside their own country.

To think that: Malaysia were on par with the Koreans throughout the 1970s and even beat them at home in a pre-World Cup qualifier in 1985 thanks to a Dollah Salleh 30-yard screamer.


This is the story so far. Next, we need more goals to make South Africa 2010 a real spectacle. And a well-organised team like Brazil or a fantastic Argentina side led by the best player on the planet, Lionel Messi, to lift the Cup for a fitting audience-pleasing finale.

The Brunei Times

Two days before the KL Marathon

The Singapore bladerunner

Marathon running is about overcoming obstacles, the inner strength to beat the odds.
The Standard Chartered KL International Marathon on Sunday will no doubt parade runners with tales to share. A case in point - Singapore Bladerunner or Shariff Abdullah to his family. Born without a left ankle and used to walk with a prosthetic leg, the Bladerunner puts many able bodied individuals like loose cannon to shame. Read his blog here and the Sun's report here

For a group of running enthusiasts from a variety of background, the marathon is an opportunity to run away from the daily stress. Read the Malay Mail's report here

For high performers like Malaysia's Shaharudin Hashim, it's a matter of breaking personal bests. Read the Bernama report here

For first timers, read tips for beginners from Miss Jewelz here

And always count your blessings. Read here

Jabu dan baju

Maaf, sebenarnya peraduan menangi bola dan kemeja t tajaan Maxis dalam blog ini menawarkan bola bukannya buatan Nike...tapi yang menjadi kegemaran Julio Cesar, Faouzi Chaouci dan Robert Green serta Vincent Enyeama.

Dah tak ngaum...

DIKEMAS KINI.

Satwant Singh Dhaliwal ada kisah dalaman berhubung penggantungan Azraai Khor dan dua lagi penolongnya. Baca di sini

Wisma FAM bergegar dengan berita Azraai Khor, penolongnya Azman Eusoff dan jurulatih penjaga gol, P. Mohana Sundram digantung daripada menjalankan tugas mengendalikan Harimau Muda A.

Untuk memahami serba sedikit masalah yang membawa kepada isu ini, sila baca di sini.

Ramai yang menuding jari ke arah Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM). Tapi kaji dulu urutan peristiwa ini.

1. Azraai sudahpun diberi amaran mengenai keupayaan Mohan selaku jurulatih penjaga gol. Namun kisahnya Azraai hendak menolong Mohan atas dasar compassion.

2. Apabila prestasi penjaga gol dipersoal di Slovakia, Azraai menganggap Mohan gagal melaksanakan fungsinya. Ada juga yang melihat Mohan sebagai duri dalam daging.

3. Astro Arena mengirim Fina Nasrom ke Slovakia. Terdedah perihal penasihat teknikal Ladislav Totkovic mengambil alih tugas Azraai. Totkovic dilantik bagi menasihatkan Azraai mengenai kekuatan dan kelemahan pasukan lawan. Azraai menafikan tugasnya diambil alih Totkovic.

4. Azman, selaku penolong Azraai, dilihat lebih strict dan disegani pemain. Berbeza dengan Azraai yang lebih "relaxed" dalam pendekatannya.

5. Timbalan Presiden FAM, Datuk Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad, melawat pasukan di Vion.

6. Kepulangan Harimau Muda A ke Kuala Lumpur disambut meriah hujung bulan lalu. Pulang daripada bercuti, baru-baru ini, Azraai memecat Mohan tanpa merujuk kepada FAM.

7. Akhirnya setiausaha agung Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad memaklumkan kepada panel kejurulatihan itu mereka digantung manakala tugas mengendalikan Harimau Muda A secara sementara digalas K. Rajagobal.

8. Nasib Azraai, Azman dan Mohan ditentukan Jawatankuasa Teknikal Rabu depan.

OK, kaji pula status Facebook Azraai - redha dengan keputusan FAM untuk direhatkan, berpunca daripada menolong anjing tersepit.

Enter this contest/Mahu menang hadiah? Sertai kuiz ini...

Peraduan 1.
1. NAMAKAN EMPAT DUTA JENAMA MAXIS YANG MENGANGGOTAI SKUAD PRA-OLIMPIK MALAYSIA PADA 1980.

2. NAMAKAN KETUA PASUKAN SKUAD PRA-OLIMPIK NEGARA PADA 1980.

3. PASUKAN MANA BAKAL MUNCUL JUARA PIALA DUNIA FIFA DAN KENAPA?

Sempena demam Piala Dunia FIFA ke-19 di Afrika Selatan, blog http://rizalhashim.blogspot.com menawarkan hadiah empat biji bola Nike yang ditandatangani khas oleh duta jenama Maxis serta lapan kemeja t Maxis sebagai hadiah cenderahati.

Tinggalkan sebanyak mana komen dengan alamat emel anda.

Bagaimanapun, kami akan memilih hanya empat pemenang bertuah yang memberi jawapan yang tepat beserta komen paling kreatif dan menarik.

Terima kasih kepada Maxis atas tajaan peraduan ini.

Sebelum menyertai kuiz ini, sila baca syarat penyertaan.

Peraduan ini terbuka kepada semua.

Penyertaan dalam Bahasa Malaysia dan Bahasa Inggeris.

Pembaca dikehendaki menulis komen dan meninggalkan alamat emel di posting terbabit.

Jika peserta dipilih sebagai pemenang peraduan, dia harus memberi nama penuh.

Penyertaan/komen hendaklah dicatat selewat-lewatnya pada 11.59 malam pada 27 Jun. Penyertaan atau komen melepasi tarikh tamat tidak akan berpeluang menerima hadiah.

Pemenang akan diumumkan dalam blog ini dan nama serta nick pemenang akan dikirimkan menerusi emel. Hadiah akan diberikan oleh penganjur disaksikan seorang wakil Maxis.

Seorang peserta boleh menghantar sebanyak mungkin penyertaan. Bagaimanapun peserta hanya boleh diisytihar pemenang sekali.

Keputusan penganjur adalah muktamad.


1. NAME THE FOUR MAXIS BRAND AMBASSADORS WHO WERE PART OF THE 1980 MALAYSIAN PRE-OLYMPIC SQUAD.

2. WHO WAS SKIPPER OF THE 1980 SQUAD?

3. WHO DO YOU PICK TO WIN THE FIFA WORLD CUP AND WHY?


IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 19TH FIFA WORLD CUP, HTTP://RIZALHASHIM.BLOGSPOT IS GIVING AWAY FOUR NIKE FOOTBALLS SIGNED BY MAXIS BRAND AMBASSADORS AND EIGHT MAXIS T-SHIRTS AS CONSOLATION PRIZES.

Leave as many comments as you want with your e-mail address attached.

However, we will only pick 4 lucky winners with the correct answers and most creative and interesting comments!

Thanks to Maxis for sponsoring this contest.

Before participating, kindly read the terms and conditions.

This Contest is open to all.

Language of Contest English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Contestants are required to post comment(s) and leave their e-mail address on this blog post.

If contestants are selected as winners of this contest, he/she shall provide their full names.

Entries/comments must be received by the Organiser on or before 11:59pm on June 27, 2010. Entries/comments received after the stipulated time will not be eligible for consideration for prizes.

The winners’ names/nicknames will be announced by the Organiser via e-mail and will be posted on this blog. Prizes will be given away by the Organiser with a representative of Maxis in attendance.

A contestant may submit multiple entries but he/she can only win once in this contest. Any subsequent wins (if declared) will be automatically declared void.

Organiser's decision is final.

Meja Bulat

Tiga minggu lalu, loose cannon dipelawa Astro Awani bagi diskusi Meja Bulat bertajuk Membangunkan Pasukan Pelapis Sukan. Perantara, Suhaimi Sulaiman, duduk semeja dengan bekas Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad, timbalan presiden Persatuan Berbasikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (PKBM), Datuk Naim Mohamad, Rosmanizam Abdullah, orang besar Utusan Malaysia yang juga Setiausaha Persatuan Kriket Melayu Malaysia, guru muda Suhasni Hayani dan B. Ravichandran manakala loose cannon dan Ian Johan Ariff dari meja sukan Awani di Arena Media.

Antara yang disentuh - peranan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) dan pakar sains sukan dalam mengenal pasti bakat, dasar sukan, mengurus bakat seperti Azizulhasni Awang dan sama ada kita dapat membuat quantum leap selepas ini.

Suhaimi membuka bicara dengan sistem di China yang membuka pintu kepada bakat muda sejak kecil selain ujian DNA dilakukan sebagai usaha mengenal pasti bakat bertaraf dunia sebelum melontarkan soalan kepada loose cannon. "Di China, bukan saja ada pusat untuk kecemerlangan sukan, bahkan ada pusat khas untuk mereka yang ada bakat dalam matematik, seni tari dan lain-lain," kata loose cannon.

Selain kepakaran sains sukan, kena ada technical know-how. Loose cannon mengambil contoh Edwin Ozolin, yang pernah bertugas sebagai pakar kajian CSKA Moscow. Dia datang ke Malaysia dan membimbing Noraseela Mohd Khalid, tak sebut pula Moh Siew Wei dan G. Shanti dan tidak sebut juga bagaimana Sergei Sidorenko memupuk bakat Muhammad Malik Tobias sebagai pakar dekatlon.

Datuk Wira Mazlan berkata eye for talent penting, sambil mengingatkan kita Azizulhasni dikenal pasti oleh panel jurulatih Russia dan tempatan ketika dia belum menang apa-apa gelaran

Mazlan menyebut dua teori dalam membangunkan bakat, iaitu pendekatan multi-lateral, iaitu pendedahan kepada pelbagai disiplin sukan sebelum pengkhususan dan specialisation, pengkhususan dari kecil. Ada bukti menunjukkan atlet yang terdedah kepada sukan lain pada waktu kecil dan remaja lebih cemerlang apabila mereka memilih untuk specialised.

Mazlan turut mengakui pakar sains sukan yang ada di Malaysia belum mencapai tahap yang perlu untuk membangunkan bakat.

Suhasni pula berkongsi pengalaman di peringkat sekolah. Rata-rata guru tidak mengaplikasikan sains sukan dengan betul manakala Ravichandran melihat pembangunan di China yang mentikberatkan cara mengelak kecederaan.

Rosmanizam pula berkata tiada masalah dalam mencari bakat manakala Naim mengakui pelbagai masalah dan kekangan yang membelenggu sukan Malaysia.

Loose cannon turut menyentuh kajian kaki Watson Nyambek lembik sebelah tetapi tiada kajian fisiologi untuk memperbetulkan keadaan.

Loose cannon yang diberi peluang oleh Suhaimi untuk menutup bicara, kurang yakin kita boleh membuat quantum leap jikapun mengamalkan pemikiran lateral. Keikhlasan harus mengiringi keghairahan...

When will Subkhiddin be given the chance?

Loose cannon's column in the Brunei Times here