Kenapa aku pilih Kelantan...

Penulis bola sepak biasanya menulis pakai kepala, tak bersandarkan hati. Guna akal, aku pilih Perancis juara Piala Dunia 1998, Itali juara Piala Dunia 2006, AC Milan juara Piala Eropah 2007, Negeri Sembilan juara Piala FA 2010...sama ada dalam blog ataupun akhbar lama aku The Malay Mail...tapi sesekali apa salahnya tulis ikut hati.

Aku pilih Kelantan untuk angkat Piala Malaysia 2010 bukan kerana aku peminat blogger PakMat di http://tatak-tatak.blogspot.com tapi kerana:

1. Sebagai hadiah buat majoriti penyokong Kelantan yang ghairah tapi sopan dan tertib.
2. Sebagai hadiah buat Tan Sri Annuar Musa yang membawa transformasi luar dan dalam padang.
3. Alah, NS dah menang tahun lepas, bagi chance la kat Kelantan.
4. Sebagai hadiah buat B. Sathianathan, atau ejaan sebenarnya B. Satiananthan...kerana selepas ini dia akan digantung enam bulan!
5. Sebagai hadiah buat Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli yang tak pernah menang gelaran besar sepanjang kerjaya
6. Kesan ekonomi buat negeri Cik Siti Wan Kembang serta menghidupkan pembangunan bola sepak di akar umbi.

So maaflah rakan-rakan senegeri ku Wan Jamak Hassan, Rezal Zambery Yahya, Idris Karim, Norizam Salaman, Shaffik Abdul Rahman, siapa lagi ek...dalam barisan Negeri Sembilan yang berasal dari Johor...oh L Ragesh eh?

Ingat lagi tak free-kick Indra tahun lepas?...gol tercantik final tapi dia tewas...

Nampak kasut seasoned aku tu...ah, aku tengok final view dari sini la, boleh tak? Siap ada kipas lagi tu

Dua pegawai tertinggi FAM, eh silap, reporter tu, Ajitpal (kiri) dari NST dan Eric Samuel dari the Star, penyokong tegar NS, selepas memeriksa keadaan padang...

Aidil, Wan Jamak, Abe Ya dan Indra

Aidil Zafuan dengan rambut pacak dia...boleh tanduk ke bro?  

Minggu lepas bawak family tengok final bola jaring...

Konon-konon nak menyokong presiden bola jaring YB Suraya Yaakob 

OK lah sebenarnya peluang cukup seimbang buat kedua-dua pasukan. Tapi aku terkejut NS mara sejauh final. Maklumlah, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak cedera lutut, jadi mana ada penyerang yang penetrative dalam barisan NS...Rupa-rupanya aku silap. Wan Jamak bijak catur gerak baru. Aku tak sangka Idris Karim dan Shahurain Abu Samah boleh main atas...Halim Zainal pulak matang semacam dia musim ini...Shukor Adan pulak bijak sempurnakan peluang pakai kepala atau kuis atau tonjol bola ke dalam gawang, asal gol cukuplah.

Kelantan pulak memang beza betul banding tahun lepas. Ingat lagi final tahun lalu, apabila Nizad Ayub jadi solitary striker, diapit Indra di kiri dan Norfarhan Muhammad di kanan? Khalid Jamlus dan Che Hishamuddin Hassan mula di bangku simpanan...

Kali ini, Abe Ya mesti turunkan Hairuddin Omar dan Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, manakala Indra dan Norfarhan di bahagian sayap. Akmal aku jangka akan masuk pada babak kedua...jika Kelantan ketinggalan, dia akan dimasukkan pada awal babak kedua...kalau Kelantan leading, dia akan masuk 15 minit terakhir. S. Chanturu pun boleh kacau Tengku Qayyum Ubaidillah Tengku Ahmad dan Ching Hong Aik.

Cuba analisis barisan kemungkinan Wan Jamak, iaitu Sani Anuar Kamsani, Alif Shamsuddin, Tengku Qayyum, Shukor dan Aidil, Qhairil Anwar Roslani dan Halim di tengah, S. Kunanlan di kanan dan Hong Aik di kiri, manakala Idris dan Shahurain di atas. Rezal berada dalam senarai 18 tetapi tempatnya di depan pertahanan selaku defensive midfielder akan diisi oleh Qhairil Anwar.

Kelantan pula dijangka menampilkan Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Zairul Fitree Ishak, Farisham Ismail, Rizal Fahmi Abdul Rosid, Shakir Shaari, Badhri Radzi, Indra, Norfarhan, Hairuddin dan Norshahrul Idlan.

Jadi skripnya harus berteraskan Hairuddin-Norshahrul lawan Shukor-Aidil, Kunanlan lawan Zairol Fitree, Badhri lawan Qhairil, Alif Shamsuddin lawan Indra, Tengku Qayyum lawan Norfarhan, Halim lawan Shakir dan Shahurain-Idris lawan Farhisham-Rizal Fahmi.

Jika Kelantan mahu menang, antara tugas mereka ialah:

1. Usah beri NS sepakan percuma sekitar petak penalti dan berwaspada sepakan penjuru kerana Shukor dan Aidil bijak dalam perebutan udara.

2. Zairol Fitree kena tutup ruang di belah kiri jika tidak Kunanlan mampu bikin porak peranda.

3. Kena serang belah Tengku Qayyum dan Hong Aik...Hong Aik dimamah usia, manakala Norfarhan dan Daudsu laju.

4. Shakir kena kekang Halim Zainal daripada ledak rembatan jarak jauh.

5. Farisham dan Rizal Fahmi kena pantas lindungi sesama sendiri dan tidak boleh buat silap.

6. Pastikan dapat sepakan percuma sekitar 18 ela kerana Badhri dan Indra boleh score.

7. Indra dan Norfarhan kena time betul-betul cross untuk Hairuddin tanduk...bola muntah bolehlah Matyo rebut.

8. Usah terlalu ghairah pada 20 minit pertama...

Aku harap tidak ada insiden kurang enak diperagakan. Biarlah bola sepak jadi pemenang...dan Kelantan julang piala...heheh. Baca reviu final tahun lalu di blog aku

Sesi bertemu jagoan negara!

Siaran akhbar

Astro Arena akan menganjurkan kempen ‘Wira-wira Malaysia ke Sukan Asia 2010’ untuk menyemarakkan semangat dan memberi sokongan kepada kontinjen negara ke temasya di Guangzhou itu.

Kempen itu akan diadakan selama empat hari bermula dari 28 hingga 31 Oktober 2010, bertempat di Main Concourse Area (Old Wing) Sunway Pyramid jam 11:00 pagi – 5:00 petang . Antara tumpuan kempen itu termasuklah peluang kepada seluruh peminat sukan negara menyatakan sokongan mereka menerusi mesej dan tandatangani di Papan Sokongan yang disediakan.

Bersempena dengan kempen ‘Wira-wira Malaysia ke Sukan Asia 2010’, Astro juga akan melancarkan secara rasmi Liputan Temasya Sukan Asia 2010 yang akan membabitkan liputan menyeluruh di beberapa saluran sukan Astro.

Butiran majlis itu adalah seperti berikut:
Majlis Penyerahan Papan Sokongan Buat Atlit Negara

Tarikh : 31 Oktober 2010 ( Ahad)
Masa : 3:00 ptg
Tempat : Main Concourse Area (Old Wing), Sunway Pyramid

Tetamu jemputan yang akan hadir untuk majlis Pelancaran Liputan Sukan Asia 2010 di Astro termasuklah Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong, yang juga chef-de-mission kontinjen negara ke Guangzhou serta Setiausaha Kehormat Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM), Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

Selain daripada Papan Sokongan untuk kontijen negara, pelbagai aktiviti lain yang akan di adakan termasuk pameran memorabilia lagenda-lagenda tanahair (Lagenda Arena, Hall of Fame), Permainan dan Arkib (Giant Jenga dan F1 Simulator) serta kuiz.

Duta-duta Astro Arena (Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Ester Cheah, kembar pemain bolasepak kebangsaan negara, Zaquan dan Zafuan, Daniel Bego dan P Mariappan) termasuk lagendanya ( Marina Chin, Mirnawan Nawawi, Dato Yogeswaran, Dato Soh Chin Aun dan Dato’Rahim Razali) dan atlit-atlit yang memenangi emas di Sukan Komanwel, New Delhi baru-baru ini turut akan hadir memeriahkan lagi aktiviti yang akan di adakan.

Kasihan Sathia

Aduh, B. Sathianathan dikenakan hukuman gantung enam bulan sehari sebelum separuh akhir kedua Piala Malaysia malam ini?

Kasihan Sathia. Kenapalah FAM kejam sangat? Satu dunia maklum Kelantan ada separuh akhir malam ini tapi jawatankuasa disiplin FAM bersidang Jumaat...untuk membincangkan kes Sathia yang berlaku tiga bulan lalu membabitkan kenyataannya dalam sebuah akhbar.

Benarkah ada elemen sabotaj? Benarkah Sathianathan tidak dipanggil membela diri?

Posh condo for hole-in-one

PRESS RELEASE


SIME DARBY PROPERTY OFFERS A CONDOMINIUM TO EAGLE EYED GOLFERS IN THE NAME OF CHARITY

For Immediate Release October 21, 2010

Kuala Lumpur - Sime Darby Property, Malaysia’s premier sustainable community developer, is getting into the swing of things at the LPGA Malaysia by offering a RM600,000 unit at its upcoming condominium, Isola in Subang Jaya, to the lucky person scoring a hole-in-one at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) during the tournament – all in the name of charity.

Commencing this Friday and running for the three days of the inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia event, the condominium will be on offer to any person who shoots the shot of a lifetime on the par three 15th hole on the KLGCC’s West Course while the tournament takes place on the East Course.

To enter, participants buy a ticket for RM10 before receiving a ball and waiting to get on the tee box and swinging to win the condominium. Every RM10 collected by Sime Darby Property will be presented to the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF) which is dedicated to achieving maximum benefit for Malaysian cancer patients through conducting research in priority areas and developing new therapies.

Raising money for charity and its corporate social responsibility programme is a key component of Sime Darby Property being a responsible member of Malaysia’s business community.

For the lucky person, the condominium at Isola will be a stunning and life-changing prize. The development has not yet been released to the public for buying as yet, so the winner will be the very first person to secure a residence there.

Sime Darby Property will also have a exhibition on the grounds of the KLGCC during the tournament highlighting a number of their sustainable communities, including Isola.

Located right next to the new Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya, Isola consists of 216 units in two 16-storey tower blocks. The condominiums – with a minimum of two bedrooms and two bathrooms - will range in size from 1,076 square feet to the 4,207 square foot Penthouses.

Its contemporary urban design incorporating key feng shui elements creates a positive chi environment. Facilities in the community will include a gym, swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, BBQ area and a kindergarten and covered playground for children.

Tickets to the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia are available through Ticketpro by calling 03 7880 7999 or through Ticketpro’s online servce at www.ticketpro.com.my

Kelantan ke final?

Dalam program Wisel Penamat di TV1 malam tadi, aku memilih Kelantan mara ke final Piala Malaysia, menyarankan agar promosi menerusi pelbagai media dan ground event digiatkan untuk meningkatkan profil saingan tempatan, selain tidak bersetuju Liga Super diadakan pada waktu petang hari bekerja. Mengapit hos Azlan Mubin dan Izwan Mohd Nor ialah Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, bekas naib presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM). Dia sentiasa sporting biarpun selalu dikritik.

Guess who is the track queen under probe

Malay Mail today ran a story...



Ex-athlete under probe
MACC calls upon 1970s track star in BAM investigations

HARESH DEOL
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 12:08:00


KUALA LUMPUR: A former national athlete is said to have come under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) scrutiny in their on-going investigations into the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).


The athlete, who was in her prime during the 1970s, was called upon to help the commission's investigation into an alleged sponsorship deal that turned sour before the Thomas and Uber Cups finals in May this year.


MACC started the probe some four months ago, as first revealed by The Malay Mail on June 25, in an article headlined "BAM under scrutiny".


The commission's officers had then visited BAM’s offices in Bukit Kiara here to check on several documents.


MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali told The Paper That Cares that investigations on the BAM issues were carried out.


“There is a case involving a business transaction in Singapore and we need time to complete our investigations.”


When asked if the former athlete was involved, Mustafar did not confirm nor deny it but said: “All those relevant to the case have and will be called.”


Sources claim the investigations also revolved around BAM’s ousted honorary secretary P. Ganga Rao’s involvement in the supposed deal involving BAM, ING Insurance and Singapore-based Enterprise Sport Group.


As discussed in a BAM exco meeting on Feb 19 this year, ING Insurance was to be the new sponsors for a one-year term and the company’s logo displayed on the front of the player’s shirts, replacing Proton.


Article 7.3 of the BAM minutes stated: “The ING Insurance sponsorship with RM2.1 million coupled with a reduction in Proton’s sponsorship would give BAM a net increase of RM1.6 million in sponsorship money compared with earlier funding received from Proton.”


However, Ganga had refuted claims linking him and several others, including the former athlete, of having secured RM3 million from the deal.

Wajah-wajah bos KBS

Beberapa perubahan wajah di peringkat tertinggi kepemimpinan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) berlaku berikutan persaraan Datuk Yasin Salleh selaku Ketua Setiausaha Ogos lalu.

Tahniah diucapkan kepada Datuk Mohid Mohamed, yang kini menjawat tugas KSU KBS. Timbalannya pula bekas timbalan Pesuruhjaya Sukan yang juga bekas pengarah penguatkuasa JPJ, Datuk Salim Parlan.

                                                                  

Mohid                                                                     

Salim

Yasin pula bakal memulakan tugas selaku Pesuruhjaya Sukan bulan depan selepas menerima pelantikan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Cuma satu harapan aku...agar Datuk Yasin, orang Johor yang boleh berbicara Itali, tidak segan mengambil orang yang cekap dan berfikir untuk menolongnya mengukuhkan struktur pejabat Pesuruhjaya Sukan (PPS). Orang yang pintar biasanya mahu diri mereka dikelilingi orang yang bijak pandai. Tapi ada juga manusia yang bukan saja lupa jasa orang bahkan hendak tekan lagi individu yang dianggap ancaman. Golongan manusia macam ini biasanya suka lantik Punahsihat, bukannya Penasihat.

Yasin

Tapi aku percaya Datuk Yasin ni, seorang yang cool dan tidak mudah melatah, bukan tergolong dalam kelompok manusia gemar punahsihat.

Setuju atau tidak dengan jadual Liga Super?

Komen MatRock ini disiarkan dalam posting Apa Nak Jadi.

UCAPAN setinggi-tinggi tahniah dan syabas kpd para cerdik pandai JKPT FAM kerana selepas memerah otak selama hampir 3 jam, maka satu resolusi yang bernas dicapai.


JKPT telah membuat ketetapan mulai musim 2011, semua perlawanan liga super akan diadakan pada setiap Isnin dan Jumaat, manakala waktu sepak mula terpulang kpd pihak FA negeri sama ada memilih jam 5.00 petang atau 8.45 malam.


Seandainya cadangan main pukul 5.00 ini menjadi kenyataan, maka saya dengan rendah diri ingin menarik diri dari menonton liga tersebut atas sebab-sebab:
1. Isnin dan Jumaat merupakan hari bekerja saya dan habis kerja pukul 5.00 petang (selepas tu nak kena amek anak sekolah pulak)
2. Jika saya pergi ke stadium selepas selesai (1) di atas, confirm stadium dah kosong dah...


Saya yakin dan penuh percaya, walaupun hanya saya seorang saja yang tidak dpt dtg ke stadium, tetapi dengan jadual baru ini, puluhan ribu penonton lagi akan berduyun-duyun memenuhi setiap inci ruang stadium yang sekaligus akan menyaksikan matlamat JKPT itu tercapai.


Sekian dan harap maaf kerana tidak dapat bersama kalian pada tahun depan.


MatRock

The Sultan of Selangor's Cup - downgraded

My sympathies to the Selangor team. A day after they were shown the exit by Kelantan in the Malaysia Cup, they had to return to Shah Alam and play the Sultan of Selangor Cup, an event that has been downgraded due to  poor timing. Not suprisingly, Selangor were outplayed by their Singaporean counterparts, being on the receiving end of a 6-0 whitewash.

If you were a footballer who had just suffered a defeat in the country's premier tournament away from home, I don't think you would be in the right frame of mind to play another match, an insignificant one at that, 24 hours later.

Now, who would be so smart to schedule the Sultan of Selangor Cup right smack in the middle of the Malaysia Cup? Must ask Karim Munisar!

March 2003...I don't think the match was held anywhere near a Malaysia Cup date...

 I wonder what ever happened to former organising secretary S. Siva (right), who helmed the event from 2001 to 2007?

Of hits and misses

Congratulations to the Malaysian contingent, athletes, officials, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the National Sports Council for exceeding expectation in scooping 12 gold medals in the just concluded 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

In a nutshell:

Malaysian won 12 gold from seven disciplines - weightlifting (two), shooting (two), badminton (four), rhythmic gymnastics (one), diving (one), cycling (track) (one), squash (one).

In 1998, the 10 gold medals came from badminton (three), weightlifting (one), shooting (one), athletics (one), tenpin bowling (two), boxing (one) and rhythmic gymnastics (one).

In Manchester 2002, the seven gold medals were produced by weightlifting (three), badminton (three) and lawn bowls.

In Melbourne 2006, badminton (four),  lawn bowl (one), weightlifting (one) contributed to the medal tally.

Hits

Pandelela Rinong, for winning the country's first ever gold in diving, overshadowing media darling Leong Mun Yee

Arrico Jumitih, for bettering fellow Sabahan Matin Guntali's silver medal feat in 1994 and bronze in 1998 and 2006

Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim, for redeeming his pride after years in the wilderness

Josiah Ng, for finally winning a gold medal, albeit by default, a thoroughly deserved reward for creating the buzz in track cycling

Nicol Ann David, for completing her remarkable career with a gold in the Games

Bibiana Ng, for rediscovering her form after a doping offence

Nor Suryani Taibi and Nor Ayuni Halim

Misses

NSC, OCM for not providing the contingent the normal baju melayu during the opening ceremony march past

Arrico Jumitih, for wearing Sabah colours during his golden feat

Lawn bowls, for failing to meet the target of four gold, time for Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid to conduct a post-mortem

Hockey team

Road cycling team

Little known facts:
1. Weightlifting, diving and artistic gymnastics were barely represented in the SEA Games but things changed when Jaya'98 programme was launched in 1993 with NSC on the driving seat. As a result, greater emphasis was given in the ISSF shooting events for women, as opposed to previous practice when the contingent were reliant on the skeet and trap team and men's pistol team. In the 1994 Games in Victoria, the cycling team were represented by road riders. Strategic thinking was required while MNCF were embroiled in internal strife, with track considered as medal producers.

2. The decision to utilise naturalised Malaysians was crucial to create immediate impact as a short-term measure, with Irina Maharani, Hidayat Hamidon and Yuan Yufang instrumental in helping their respective disciplines make the quantum leap.

But hold your horses...we should not go overboard in jumping for joy. The Guangzhou Asian Games is just around the corner. The same athletes being put on the pedestal now would be facing world-class opponents in China...

Proton's two-car assault in Scotland

PRESS RELEASE

RALLY OF SCOTLAND
INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE (IRC)






DEFENDING RUNNER-UP AND REIGNING BRITISH RALLY CHAMPION SPEARHEADS PROTON’S CHALLENGE AT THE RALLY OF SCOTLAND

The PROTON Satria Neo S2000’s second place finish last year and the pairing of Scotsman Alister Mcrae with newly-recruited reigning British Rally champion Keith Cronin in a two-car assault places PROTON among the top contenders to look out for at this weekend’s Rally of Scotland.

The three-day rally beginning Friday (15 October), also the 11th and penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), covers a total of 196.92km of competitive special stages. The Rally gets under way with two dramatic evening stages on Friday through the grounds of Scone Palace before teams face the high-speed and fast-flowing special stages in the forests of Perthshire and Stirlingshire. The ceremonial finish will be at Stirling Castle on Sunday.

With last year’s Rally of Scotland regarded by many as being among the wettest rallies on the IRC, weather conditions is again anticipated to influence the outcome of the event. This time round however, the forecast for the weekend seems to be brighter skies, which essentially means more grip for the drivers.

“The car has definitely improved throughout the year, with the work on the engine and damper settings paying dividends… I’m certainly looking forward to competing at home and this rally has good memories for me as it was my first IRC round for PROTON and it also became PROTON’s best result in the IRC so far,” said McRae, who alongside co-driver co-driver Bill Hayes, finished second overall in the rally in 2009 to record PROTON’s best ever finish in the IRC to date.

“I know most of the stages well from my earlier career which could be an advantage, particularly if we get a bit of good old fashioned drizzle which is always a possibility at this time of
year!”

Much of the previous week has been spent in Wales testing and further developing the Satria Neo S2000 in preparation for rally. It was also an opportunity for Cronin, who will only be making his second appearance with PROTON, to get better acquainted with the car. In his debut at the Barum Czech Rally earlier this year, the 24-year-old had been on course for a top five performance before retiring on the penultimate stage.

“I’m more familiar with the car and with what’s going on inside the cockpit. At the end of the event, I’d like to think we’re going to be aiming for a top-five result, but there’s a lot of strong competition out there,” said Cronin who only last week, captured his second consecutive British Rally Championship title.

The rally will also see a third Satria Neo S2000 privately-entered by 19-year-old Welsh driver Tom Cave who finished eighth overall in 2009. Driving under Davies Motorsport Services but with service assistance from the PROTON Team, Cave in 2007 was the United Kingdom’s first and only minor international rally drivers.

With a host of developments and upgrades designed to breathe more horsepower into the Satria Neo S2000 and enhance its ability to withstand the punishing Scotish forest stages, PROTON is confident of bringing to the rally a strong package although downplaying its chances of securing the manufacturer’s first victory in the IRC.

“Returning to Scotland raises the expectations many have on PROTON. It would certainly be great to repeat or better last year’s performance but we’ll just have to wait and see how the rally progresses. We’ve definitely made a lot of improvements to the car throughout the year but our selected participation in the IRC this season is also more geared towards trying a lot of new things as well as driver combinations in preparation for a stronger assault in 2011,” said PROTON Group Managing Director Dato’ Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

“Having said this, and between McRae’s podium finish in 2009 and where we are today in terms of rallying and international awareness as a car manufacturer, PROTON has been able to establish a strong following in Scotland and we’re looking forward to giving our Scottish fans a good show this weekend.”

PROTON’s participation in the IRC is part of its marketing and branding strategy to propel the brand globally via motorsports. The IRC provides PROTON with an excellent and cost effective platform to enhance brand awareness in line with the aspirations of becoming a global car manufacturer. The championship attract enormous international media interest and commands a large television audience worldwide with the events broadcasted in 59 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and America, reaching 240 million television viewers.

Al-Fatihah, Dollah Kassim

Slightly a year after he collapsed at half-time during the veterans' match at the Sultan of Selangor Cup, Singapore icon Dollah Kassim, known as dribbler extraordinaire during his heyday, passed away this morning. Read here

His death came just two days before the latest edition takes place at Shah Alam Stadium.

Dollah, also nicknamed the Gelek King, was the second former Singapore international to suffer a heart attack during the Cup - a friendly between ex-internationals from Malaysia and Singapore - in the last four years.

S. Rajagopal, another household name from the 1970s, also had a heart attack while on the pitch in 2006.

Apa nak jadi...

Lebih 40,000 penonton di Stadium Shah Alam malam tadi, menyaksikan Kelantan mengikat tuan rumah Selangor tanpa jaringan pada perlawanan suku akhir pertama Piala Malaysia 2010. Sayang ia dicemari insiden baling mercun, pergaduhan dan kematian seorang penonton akibat sesak nafas. Apa nak jadi....

Iklan percuma - perbarisan kontinjen

Aku dengar ramai naik angin dengan komen bekas Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad baru-baru ini. Khabarnya sampai ke Kabinet. Baguslah. Usah ulangi kesilapan!

Atlanta Olympics 1996...Pn Tay's blog

Laos SEA Games 2009

APA SUDAH JADI DENGAN PAKAIAN KEBANGSAAN KONTINJEN KITA DI NEW DELHI
OLEH DATUK WIRA MAZLAN AHMAD


Sukan Komanwel ke-19 telahpun bermula dengan rasminya pada Ahad malam dan disiarkan secara langsung ke negara ini juga. Tumpuan sekarang ialah kepada pertandingan dalam acara-acara sukan yang disertai oleh setiap atlet yang mewakili 71 negara. Jumlah atlet dan pegawai yang menyertai Sukan Komanwel di New Delhi 2010 mencatat rekod baru mengatasi penyertaan di Melbourne, 2006. Penyertaan pada tahun 1998 di Kuala Lumpur juga telah mencatatkan satu rekod yang baru pada masa itu.


Saya tidak sempat melihat upacara perasmian ini tetapi melihatnya melalui liputan akhbar di pagi Isnin. Apa yang terdetik di hati sanubari saya ialah mengenai pakaian anggota kontinjen negara yang mengambil bahagian dalam upacara perasmian tersebut. Kontinjen kita tidak memakai pakaian kebangsaan ataupun baju Melayu sebagaimana yang biasa dilakukan apabila menyertai upacara perasmian di sukan temasya yang lalu.


Saya dimaklumkan bahawa Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) tidak membekalkan anggota kontinjen dengan baju kebangsaan sebagaimana lazimnya oleh sebab-sebab yang tidak saya ketahui. Mungkin MSN menghadapi kesempitan kewangan sehingga tidak memungkinkan pakaian tersebut disediakan. Itu tekaan saya sahaja.


Berarak ketika upacara perasmian sukan temasya yang biasanya diberi liputan secara langsung keseluruh negara yang mengambil bahagian patut diambil kesempatan dalam mempamerkan identiti negara kita. Saya telah berdebat dengan seorang pegawai kanan Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) mengenai perlunya kontinjen kita memakai pakaian kebangsaan ketika menyertai upacara perasmian mana-mana sukan temasya samada di Sukan Sea, Sukan Asia, Sukan Komanwel dan Sukan Olimpik. Saya terpaksa memaklumkan kepada beliau tradisi berkenaan telah bermula sejak Sukan SEAP 1965 di Kuala Lumpur. Dengan bukti tersebut, barulah pegawai berkenaan mengalah tetapi beliau meminta MSN menyediakan pakaian ini oleh kerana MOM telahpun menyediakan seluar dan blazer sebagai pakaian kontinjen untuk berangkat pergi dan pulang ke tanah air. Mulai dari saat itu, MSN bertanggungjawab menyediakan pakaian perbarisan untuk upacara perasmian.


Kita perlu melihat perkara ini dengan serius. Sekiranya MSN atau KBS menghadapi masalah maka saya cadangkan pandangan dan bantuan Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Malaysia patut diminta untuk membantu menyediakan baju perbarisan ini. Kementerian berkenaan juga mungkin boleh memberi input terhadap rekabentuk pakaian berkenaan supaya dilihat menarik dan menggambarkan cantiknya budaya negara kita.


Pakaian blazer dan seluar tidak memberi apa-apa perbezaan dengan kontinjen-kontinjen negara lain kecuali songkok dan papan tanda yang menyebut nama negara kita. Kesempatan yang ada patutlah digunakan dengan sebaik mungkin supaya identiti negara kita dapat dipamerkan tanpa membayar apa-apa kos pengiklanan. Kita patut menggunakan peluang ini untuk ‘showcase’ negara kita supaya boleh ditonton oleh rakyat negara-negara lain. Barang diingat negara kita pernah menganjurkan sukan ini dan sudah tentu komentator televisyen akan menceritakan sedikit perihal negara kita sebagai negara Asia pertama menganjurkan sukan ini.


Kementerian Pelancongan Malaysia juga boleh memainkan peranan dalam menghias kontinjen kita untuk menyertai acara perasmian. Kementerian berkenaan patut juga mengambil peluang ini untuk mempromosi negara kita sebagai sebuah negara yang kaya dengan seni budaya rakyatnya. Pendek kata kita boleh melihat perkara ini secara strategik yang melibatkan kementerian atau agensi lain. Ini boleh dilihat secara merentasi sempadan tanggungjawab antara kementerian atau agensi dan bukan setakat di MSN sahaja.


Pakaian yang sama juga boleh dipakai oleh kontinjen yang akan bertanding di Sukan Asia pada penghujung tahun ini. Saya percaya sebahagian dari atlet terlibat dalam kedua-dua temasya besar ini dan kos boleh dijimatkan secara keseluruhannya.


Saya berharap perkara ini akan diperbetulkan supaya identiti kontinjen negara kita lebih terserlah di temasya sukan pada masa akan datang termasuk Sukan Olimpik 2012.

Two ex-Wimbledon champs are here...

Pat Cash (left), rock star, grandfather, ex-Wimbledon champ, TV host with Goran Ivanisevic, ex-Wimbledon champ, fan of AC Milan and West Bromwich Albion

ZZ earns the Chance to meet Wenger

PRESS RELEASE


NIKE MALAYSIA ANNOUNCES MOHAMMAD ZAKY B. ZULKIFLI AS THE CHANCE WINNER IN MALAYSIA

Top Talent Handpicked by Coach K Rajagobal to undergo trial with Arsene Wenger in London

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 October 2010 – Nike Malaysia today announced Mohammad Zaky B. Zulkifli as the winner of The Chance in Malaysia who will represent the country at the Global Trials in London next year.

Playing under the watchful eyes of Arsenal FC manager, Arsene Wenger, Mohammad Zaky B. Zulkifli will join 99 other footballer from 40 countries with the hope of being one of the selected eight that join the Nike Academy, a high performance training program supported by the Premier League in England.

The announcement was made at The Chance final camp held at Bukit Jalil and was attended by Kelly Sathiraj, Assistant General Secretary, Football Association of Malaysia and national team coach K Rajagobal.

“The Chance is a wonderful program that affords young footballers the opportunity to take their first step towards playing football in a professional level under the under expert guidance from coaches like Arsene Wenger. The Football Association of Malaysia congratulates Nike Malaysia on their efforts to develop and bring football to a level that is on par with the powerhouses of the game in this region,” said Kelly Sathiraj.

Launched in September, The Chance in Malaysia saw more than 500 talented young players attending open trials in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Penang and Pasir Gudang with national team coach K. Rajagobal and his panel of coaches having the arduous task of selecting the top 30 players to attend the final camp held on 5th and 6th October at Majlis Sukan Negara, Bukit Jalil.

“Throughout theses trials, we saw a lot of young talent within the Malaysian football community. The players were put through physical, mental and agility testing and we closely scrutinized them in these disciplines. The overwhelming response to the open trials showed that Malaysia is not short of football talent,” said coach K Rajagobal.

“The program is certainly a boost for Malaysian football as it gives our young players the chance to prove their worth and possibly excel at the highest levels of participation. It brings out that drive and determination showing how badly the Malaysian youths wanted this chance,” he added.

The 30 selected players who attended the camp were put through physical and physiological tests by the experts from the National Sports Institute to assess their speed, stamina and mental endurance. Apart from this, the players also had to undergo football skills tests for the panel of coaches to evaluate their technical football abilities as a silo player and as part of a team. The tests were conducted with the aim of indentifying player with the right balance of physical and mental strength that will enable him to compete on a global level with his compatriots at the trials in London .

Staying true to their commitment to grassroots development of football, Nike Malaysia believes that The Chance is a recognizable platform for not just scouting youth potential, but also to develop the young football spirit in Malaysia and bring out the fullest of their capabilities.

“With the selection complete, we are proud to announce Mohammad Zaky as the Malaysian representative at the Global Trials where he will ply his trade with Arsene Wenger watching closely – this is the chance of a lifetime for any footballer and we believe that Mohammad Zaky will do the country proud. The Chance is a reinforcement of Nike’s ongoing efforts in developing and recognizing youth talent, whilst contributing to the football community in Malaysia ” said Menaha Nadaraja, Country Market Manager for Nike Malaysia .

Mohammad Zaky B. Zulkifli, hailing from Johor, attended The Chance open trials in Pasir Gudang and was one of the 8 players selected from the Southern region to attend the final camp.

“It has always been a dream for me to become a professional footballer and thanks to Nike I am now presented with this golden opportunity to take that first step towards achieving my goal,” The Chance winner Mohammad Zaky excitedly commented.

He also added, “I am truly grateful for this chance that Nike has awarded me with and I hope to write my future by qualifying to be one of the eight that is chosen for the Nike Academy ”

As members of the Nike Academy , players become full- time participants at a residential training centre in England with access to elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners in addition to the world class facilities to perform at the highest level
The eight who are chosen will have their expenses paid to live in the United Kingdom for a year starting in July 2011 and be enrolled as a full time member of the Nike Academy .

The Nike Academy offers non-contract players unattached to professional clubs a chance to enter the professional game through world-class coaching and games against the elite academies and professional reserve teams. Since the academy’s start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.

Famous Amy...

The New Delhi Commonwealth Games has begun amidst all the commotion portrayed by the media. I'm glad Malaysia has one gold medal to its name, produced by our own Badang, Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim or Amy to his family.

Amy who used to lift gas cylinders in his kampung in Kuala Rompin, shot to fame way back in Manchester eight years ago. Read a personal account Rise and Fall of Amy. Read his latest exploits here and here.