KEJOHANAN FUTSAL MUHIBAH

Written by G'99
Thursday, 18 December 2008 01:07

KEJOHANAN FUTSAL MUHIBBAH

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Looking for silver lining in new season

Written by boyakhitam
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 09:40

Looking for silver lining in new season

KUCHING: Football hogged the headlines in 2008 mostly for the wrong reasons but towards the end of the year, the seemingly interminable controversies appeared to have petered out.

While 2007 was a year of financial upheaval for Sarawak football with Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) mired deep in the red, this year wasn’t any better as the spillover of money woes continued to cast a long shadow on the team’s campaign in the M-League as well as the effort to develop game in the state.

In 2008, FAS’ debts amounted to between RM3.5 million and RM4 million — mainly carried over from the previous year.

Money aside, Sarawak football was dogged by controversies and more ominously, tainted by match-fixing allegations.

Even as the Anti-Corruption Agency was sifting through the evidence, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad flew into Kuching to appeal to local football officials to help with the investigation to weed out match-fixing.

Although the players hauled up were let off the hook (due to insufficient evidence), one positive to come out of the ACA probe was the separation of the oats from the chaff. Players on the problem list will most probably not be donning state jerseys any time soon.

One problem over but another cropped up as football officials were thrust into the public eye for ‘lack of unity’ in developing the game at the grass roots.

Indeed, when a comprehensive plan was launched by the minister in charge of sports, it was met not with alacrity but lukewarm response (and even opposition), leading to the abandonment of a useful five-year youth development programme.

2008 also saw the resignation of another FAS president, Khaider Zaidell, after nine months at the helm — a month short of his predecessor Nyipa Tinggang in 2007.

Khaider did his best to revamp FAS but the mountain of debts and legal wrangles proved insurmountable, leaving him with the only course open for anyone in a similar untenable position.

He gave up the post, saying the association was like a ship that had sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

Khaider also said Sarawak nearly pulled out of the 2007-08 M-League but went ahead after Zuraimi Sabki, whom he appointed to the FAS fold, undertook to tackle the association’s financial problems.

Zuraimi’s gallant efforts may not have translated into making Sarawak the team to beat but he did his part in securing sponsorships to tide the team through the season.

He also expounded the idea of forming a new entity under the Sarawak FC concept which was adopted by Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk William Mawan Ikom who subsequently brought the matter up at the State Assembly sitting.

Zuraimi’s proposal was to make Sarawak FC a separate entity divorced of FAS’ financial debts and to be run by a board of directors under the state minister in charge of sports.

While the entity would have government financial backing, it was also hoped that the entity’s private-enterprise management style would help attract sponsorships.

In essence, Sarawak FC would be operating as the Sarawak state team — only the management aspect would be changed but not the team per se. However, the idea did not take off for one reason or another.

The 2008 season was also witness to a ‘mini revival’ of the state team with Kunju Jamaludeen taking over as coach after Sarawak lost five straight matches in a dismal start to the season.

The Singaporean injected more professionalism into the team and brought the fans back to Sarawak Stadium in droves, all dressed in red — reminiscent of the Ngap Sayot days.

Under Kunju, the team chalked up a string of memorable victories like beating Perlis 2-1 — something Sarawak had not done both at home or away for almost a decade — and a rare 2-0 triumph over Pahang.

When things were looking up, problems began rearing their ugly heads again. One of the Sarawak players lodged a police report on suspected match-fixing, apparently, feeling several of his teammates were not pulling their weight during matches. What followed was even more amazing — players revolting against the strict training regime on top of officials blaming Sarawak’s string of ‘strange’ defeats solely on the coach.

Kunju was subsequently retired. There was simply too much opposition to the Singaporean’s no-nonsense training style. Some even claimed several qualified local coaches had been overlooked.

Despite the drama and the downsides, the 2008 season, on hindsight, could be said to be the best managed in terms of sponsorships — the players were not owed their salaries and the team were financially okay.

Good foreign imports were signed such as the skilful Moroccan Hamid Termina and Nigerian Piousdinho, who replaced the ineffective Cameroonian striker Nyom Nyom Aloys. The team also had the services of local imports like goalkeeper Azizon Kadir, defenders Shahrizam Mohd, Rezuan Muhd Razi, Hasmawi Bakiri, midfielders S. Sunder, L. Rajesh and striker Mohd Irmie Mat.

Another notable development is that for the first time in the history of Sarawak football, Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry took over the development of the game in the state from FAS.

However, the association has a seat in the steering the State Development Committee, entrusted with development, through its president and secretary.

The other members are the permanent secretary to Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry, Ik Pahon Joyik, former FAS officials Zuraimi Sabki and Daud Dato Aba and the director of Sarawak State Sports Council, Francis Nyurang Ding. The State Education Office is also represented.

The football blueprint emphasising youth development under Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry is a personal triumph for Daud, who together with Zuraimi, have contributed admirably towards Sarawak football. It is their passion for the sport that spurs them to lend a ready hand. Daud is collaborating with English League One club Hartlepool FC to help Sarawak in terms of development and managerial expertise.

And at the time of writing, there is even a chance that Sarawak may be allowed into the Super League through the backdoor due to the omission of Brunei DPMM FC from the M-League.

Wing Hong sertai Singa Utara

Written by G'99
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 05:36

Pemain berusia 31 tahun yang sebelum ini menyertai pasukan Brunei DPMM berkata, beliau sangat teruja untuk memulakan latihan bersama pasukan barunya itu terutama dalam memburu Piala Malaysia tahun depan.

''Saya sangat gembira kerana dapat berkhidmat dengan pasukan Singa Utara di bawah jurulatih berpengalaman, Irfan bakti Abu Salim yang merupakan antara jurulatih yang disenangi ramai.

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FAM alu-alukan penubuhan kesatuan pemain

Written by G'99
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 05:40

Setiausaha Agung FAM, Lt. Jen. (B) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad berkata, pihaknya juga kini mendapat tahu sebuah badan seumpama itu yang bergelar FIFPro sedang berusaha mendapatkan pengesahan penubuhan sebuah cawangannya di Malaysia daripada Pesuruhjaya Sukan.

"Saya berpendapat memang wajar sebuah kesatuan seperti FIFPro yang diiktiraf oleh Persekutuan Bola Sepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) ditubuhkan demi menjaga kepentingan pemain profesional tempatan," katanya pada sesi soal jawab Hari Bersama Media/FAM di Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya, semalam.

Sesi berkenaan turut mengundang Pegawai Pembangunan FIFA, Windsor John Paul memberikan taklimat mengenai cara pengiraan ranking dunia yang biasanya dikeluarkan pada pertengahan setiap bulan oleh badan induk bola sepak tersebut.

Azzuddin mengulas laporan laman web Persekutuan Bola Sepak ASEAN (AFF), Sabtu lalu mengenai penubuhan sebuah divisyen FIFPro Asia yang turut cuba mengembangkan operasinya di India, Malaysia, Indonesia, China dan Korea Selatan selepas bertapak kukuh di Australia dan Jepun.

Katanya, penubuhan badan berkenaan juga mampu memastikan majikan pemain iaitu persatuan bola sepak (FA) negeri atau kelab tidak lagi dengan sewenang-wenangnya cuba bersikap lepas tangan atau mengambil mudah terhadap setiap tuntutan gaji tertunggak pemain mereka yang berbulan-bulan lamanya.

Menurutnya, kelengahan atau sikap tidak apa FA dan kelab berkenaan turut memburukkan reputasi sesebuah badan induk kebangsaan terutama apabila bekas tiga pemain dan seorang jurulatih import sebuah negeri cuba merujuk masalah itu kepada FIFA bagi menuntut penjelasan gaji mereka yang tertunggak tiga bulan.

Azzuddin menjelaskan, sebarang kes tunggakan gaji yang mulanya dirujuk kepada FAM biasanya disusuli tuntutan penjelasan terhadap majikan berkenaan dalam tempoh dua minggu dan ditangani Jawatankuasa Status Pemainnya sebelum diputuskan supaya sebarang subsidi atau geran tahunan untuk FA atau kelab itu dipotong bagi melunaskannya.

Sementara itu katanya, FAM masih bertegas untuk menolak rayuan terakhir DPMM Brunei dalam menyertai Liga Malaysia musim 2009, bulan depan sekalipun pasukan jemputan tunggal luar negara itu sempat menghantar pegawai mereka ke Wisma FAM untuk merundingkannya, semalam.

"Kami perlu berpegang teguh kepada keputusan sebelum ini. Peraturan tetap peraturan," katanya, merujuk kepada status Persatuan Bola Sepak Brunei (BAFA) yang dibatalkan pendaftaran oleh pendaftar pertubuhan negara itu baru-baru ini sekali gus menjejaskan penyertaan DPMM Brunei dalam Liga Super dan Piala FA.

SUMBER: Utusan

Cong Vinh delivers first AFF Suzuki Cup crown to Vietnam

Written by G'99
Sunday, 28 December 2008 22:58

It could not have been a more dramatic finish at the My Dinh Stadium tonight. With time up, including the three added minutes, Vietnam's number one player, Le Cong Vinh, sent the entire nation into a frenzy when he headed in the winner to deliver the prestigous AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 to his country for the very first time in the history of this competition.
 
Vietnam, making only their second final appearance, were awarded a freekick in the added time when Suree Sukha brought down Cong Vinh on the left edge of the box. Skipper Phan Tan Vai Em let loose the freekick which Cong Vinh cooly glanced in to provide Vietnam with a fairy-tale like finish.

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