Selamat Tahun Baru 2010!

Selamat Tahun Baru 2010.

Semoga tirai tahun baru yang disingkap malam nanti akan menjelmakan sinar baru kepada arena sukan negara.

Banyak cerita kecewa yang sudah kita kongsi bersama, ada juga gembira yang menyentuh jiwa.

Jika ada lakaran yang menyinggung, mohon maaf dipinta. Saya cuba untuk sentiasa bersikap objektif, membicarakan topic dan mengetengahkan pendapat serta pandangan menepati pendekatan 'As I see it, plain and simple.'

Semoga 2010 yang tiba, akan membuka minda kita kepada perbincangan lebih kritis dan rasional. Itu harapan saya.

* Kepada yang 'bising' sebab lama saya tak update blog ini, saya juga mohon maaf. Anda tahu siapa diri anda...hehehe

Sabaidee dari Vientiane

Bergambar di hadapan Tugu Patuxay, Vientiane, dalam perjalanan ke Pusat Media Utama.

Sabaidee (salam sejahtera) dari Laos.

Saya dan rakan-rakan - Devinder Singh (kanan), Azhar Md Taib (kiri) dan Yusni Ariffin (jurugambar) sudah tiba di Laos sejak Selasa lalu, 1 Disember, sebagai pasukan terawal media Malaysia untuk membuat liputan temasya Sukan SEA XXV di Vientiane, Laos, kali ini.

Seperti kebiasaannya, selaku tuan rumah buat kali pertama, Laos masih ada banyak untuk dipelajari. Tetapi warganya mempunyai sifat suka tersenyum, ramah dan setakat inilah, sedia membantu.

Kami akan berada di Vientiane sehingga 20 Disember ini. Temasya serantau itu akan dibuka secara rasminya pada Rabu ini dan penutupnya pada 18 Disember 2009. Harapan kami ialah supaya kontinjen negara dalam memenuhi matlamat membawa pulang di antara 30 hingga 35 pingat emas dan mengekalkan kedudukan kedua keseluruhan daripada segi kutipan pingat.

I told you so!

All troubled teams, magically, had settled all their dues in record time to be allowed to play in next season's M-League.

That's the conclusion that I could made when FA of Malaysia Competitions Committee confirmed no teams will be barred from competing. But do I believe it? That's a different story.

Read the announcement, here.

Do it at your own risk, la!

FA of Malaysia want teams which owed players monies to settle their dues by the end of this month. And if they fail to do that, there will be no place for them in the league, next season.

But wait a minute.

There's a Malay sayings for this - 'Ketam mengajar anak berjalan betul' (A crab trying to teach its son to walk straight). Now that would be impossible, isn't it, since everyone knows that a crab could never walk straight!.

What I say this? Well, FA of Malaysia itself owed many players and ex-staffs. Example? Karl Heinz Weigang's monies when he was the Technical Director for FAM, in the early 2000's, amounting to more than RM100,000. Many letters had been sent to Datuk Azzudin Ahmad, the general secretary. And I have copies of all that too!

How about claims made by ex-general secretary, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan? Dell was never paid a salary when he was holding that post from 2000 to 2005. Why? Because he was holding on the to promise by particular leader that it will be discussed, which at the end, never materialised. So Dell put forward claims, using previous general secretary's pay as his guide.

As far as I know, both are being ignored. Reasons given are aplenty, including 'this is not our problem, this is the old administration's problem.' What a convenience excuse! When Kelantan FA and Perak FA used the same excuse for their unpaid debts, FAM rejected them as UNACCEPTABLE!

There are also many bills left unpaid by this current administration. Their priorities? Renovating offices and hiring people 'from up north', who will then just shake their legs and do nothing. How else could they explain the high number of staffs in FAM, in fact double the number during Dell's time and tripling Datuk Paul Mony Samuel's tenure, but the administration are far worse that before?

I also know of one case in the hands of Labour Department about ex-staff who was 'constructively' dismissed. Salomi Shaari, the admin head, came for the first hearing, but no mandate was given to her to discuss anything. Second hearing, few days ago, no one from FAM bothered to turn up!

Still believe that FAM will keep their word? Do it at your own risk, la!

Laluan 'lega' skuad negara

Keluhan awal betapa Malaysia berada dalam kumpulan sukar untuk layak ke separuh akhir acara bola sepak pada Sukan Sea di Laos, bermula 2 Disember ini, seharusnya sedikit reda selepas jadual perlawanan dikeluarkan, semalam.

Ikuti ulasan laluan di Berita Harian, di sini.

Skuad bimbingan K Rajagobal jelas mempunyai tempoh rehat mencukupi sebelum turun dalam dua perlawanan 'hidup mati' dengan Vietnam dan Thailand. Jadi, kurang sikit lah sepatutnya tekanan.

Apa yang menarik untuk dinantikan ialah reaksi 'pegawai-pegawai penting' FAM.

Takkanlah kita boleh lupa 'jenaka' ciptaan mereka apabila cepat-cepat sudah melaungkan keyakinan 'Kita akan menang pingat emas' selepas aksi memberangsangkan ketika bertemu Manchester United pada perlawanan persahabatan, padahal langsung tidak buat 'kerja rumah' mengenai kekuatan lawan dan pesaing utama lainnya.

Alahai FAM. Harap 'jangan kacau' Rajagobal. Biar dia bersiap tanpa gangguan. Berikan semua bantuan. Kerana hanya selepas itu, barulah adil untuk menilai Rajagobal, sama ada dipuji atau dikeji. Jangan teruskan amalan dulu - bila pasukan nak bersiap, kacau selalu, tapi bila kalah, semua lari dan hanya jurulatih yang terpaksa tanggung malu!

A night to remember

It was a night to remember. For many different reasons.

For Negri Sembilan, it was the night they finally ended their long wait, which started more than a generation ago. The night they finally managed to hoist the Malaysia Cup for the first time. It might be considered as their second triumph in the oldest cup competition in the country, but the last time they won it way back in 1948, it was a different cup - HMS Malaya Cup.

Negri Sembilan players and official celebrating their win over Kelantan

For Kelantan, it was a night that they wished could be erased as soon as possible. Because not only the players failed to live up to the pre-match hype, the fans - albeit a small number from more than 65,000 red-shirted fans - disgraced them even further with their shameful antics.

I have been covering local football for more than 15 years. I had covered many incidents, violent behaviour by fans and other untoward scenes. But nothing like last night. It was suppose to be the celebration of Malaysia football at its finest, the climax of the season. But the Kelantan fans marred it.

There's no excuse. No point for any officials, politicians and the likes to try and spin it. It was disgraceful, shameful and totally disgusting.

For the record, Negri beat Kelantan 3-1 with goals from Shahurain Abu Samah, Hairuddin Omar and Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak. Kelantan's solitary goal was scored by Indra Putra Mahayuddin.

A small group of irresponsible Kelantan fans burned the chairs at National Stadium to vent their frustrations.

Kelantan or Negri Sembilan?

Kelantan and Negri Sembilan will square off in the Malaysia Cup finals, this Saturday


This is the final where even the romantics would find it hard to choose.

Of course, the majority would like Kelantan to win it for the first time. But the last time Negri Sembilan won it was back in 1948 -a period too long ago that not many people could still recall it.

Being a neutral observer, I wouldn't mind who wins it. The most important thing for me is that the final at the National Stadium, this Saturday, should represents what is best about local football.

A lot had been said about Malaysian football. Lately, the chaotic way of how FAM Secretariat being administered, had been hogging the spotlight. Let's hope the players, the true stars of the game, will help save Malaysian football.

A group of officials had shown 'the way' to damage the sports. Its time for the players to show THE RIGHT way to save the game.

Malaysia Cup! Our Cup!

Betul ke nie? Aku tak percaya

Benarkan semua ini akan berlaku?

Enam pasukan, termasuk Pahang - negeri Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Sultan Ahmad Shah - akan disingkirkan daripada musim Liga Malaysia 2010 kerana tidak mematuhi peraturan dan garis panduan yang ditetapkan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM.

Baca di sini, di sini, dan di sini.

Persoalannya, apakah 'kata-kata' ini akan ditukar jadi realiti? Secara peribadi, aku tidak yakin. Jika tidak, takkanlah ada 'klausa penyelamat' seperti ini: "Ini hanya cadangan jawatankuasa, tetapi kata putus akan ditentukan oleh Majlis FAM."

Langkah FAM mengumumkan perkembangan itu juga, seperti yang aku jangkakan apabila mengetahuinya, petang semalam, bingkas mengundang 'teori konspirasi' dengan beberapa peminat Kelantan berkata ia langkah badan induk itu untuk 'mensabotaj' Kelantan yang sedang bersiap untuk final Piala Malaysia, Sabtu ini.

Itulah sebabnya, FAM kena perlu hati-hati. Kalau nak bertegas pun, kena pandai pilih waktu dan ketikanya. Sekarang ni, tak pasal-pasal dah kena tuduh nak sabotaj orang. Nasib baik ada juga akhbar yang cepat dapatkan perkembangan lanjut untuk meredakan kemarahan orang Kelantan.

Ramalan aku? Beberapa pasukan yang 'berpengaruh' dalam Majlis FAM akan tetap dibenarkan bertanding untuk musim Liga Malaysia 2010. Tak percaya? Kita tunggu dan lihat....

What should I do?

I promised a wind of change. But there are few who refused to move with me, automatically blocking the 'wind'. What should I do?

I am aware of the huge expectations which are now on our shoulders. I would like to share the responsibilities. But there are few who refused to help, choosing to stay in their comfort zone. What should I do?

I would like to initiate many new things. But there are few who prefer to build barricades with their scepticism. What should I do?

I know from the beginning that it would not be easy. The road will be full of painful obstacles. I do not have any intention to abandon the journey, yet. But there are few who would be happy if I did. What should I do?

I know there will be conflicts, putting my integrity and priorities at clashing points. I would like to be as optimistic as possible. But there are few who love to see me fail. What should I do?

Politics vs sports...good luck

To say I was disappointed was an understatement.

I was actually disgusted when the Supreme Council of Malaysian Games (Sukma) decided to put politics above sports by allowing requests to add nine more sports, plus two additional events, into next year's games programs. Read my 'report', here.

To hell with the main objective of Sukma - 'to unearth potential young talents for the future national teams.' How about 'ensuring quality competition' for the athletes? Just throw it down the drain, mister!

Yesterday was a classic example where the powers-that-be decided to kow-tow to 'political influence' and putting sports in the 'far, far away land.'

Did you know, Sir, that from the nine sports that were included in the program, majority of them didn't even have state associations in proper working order? Did you know, Sir, that majority of them didn't even have proper offices, what more venues where they can call their own? Ask Datuk Zolkples Embong, Director General of National Sports Council. He knows!

And you know what you did, Sir? With the latest stand - which I am sure you made without even checking the previous decisions - you had embarrassed the previous man-in-power, for he was the one responsible in trying to check the decline in quality by imposing limits for number of sports in Sukma?

And how about Datuk Zol? But did you know, Sir, that last December, Datuk Zol chaired the meeting when the same committee decided to 'REJECT' the appeal of sports which are now in the program. He was even involved in a 'war of words' of some sort in the newspapers to defend the decision. You can check the past articles in several news organisation online services, if you don't believe me, Sir!

I know it was not easy to say no to 'powerful personality' who previously aspires to become the number two man in the country. But for heaven's sake, you are the man in charge!

Like the Malay saying 'terlajak perahu boleh diundur, terlajak kata padah akibatnya.' Now, lo and behold, the new dates proposed by Malacca - the organiser - and approved by the council, happens to clash with the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Ops! why bother!...'We change again, lah.' Its what being flexible is about, right Sir?

And they say politics have no place in sports! Good Luck...

'Weighty fiasco'

Imagine my surprise when I saw this photo in Kosmo newspaper, today.
This photo captured the heated moment between Weightlifting Federation of Malaysia (WMF) President, Datuk Wira Gan Boon Leong (left) and Penang Amatur Weightlifting Association (PAWA) President, Datuk Ong Poh Eng, in full view of media personnel covering the function.

The issue? PAWA, in collaborations with Penang Youth and Sports Exco office, organised the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship 2009 without the consent of WMF, the parent body.

I lauded the effort to bring quality exponents to our country, and to allow our young weightlifters chances to compete with them. But at the same time, we must understand and respect rules that should serve as guidance to all.

In the first place, for MWF to claim ignorance until only when president received invitation to attend the championship, is shocking. There surely were lots of 'noises' made during the whole time the organisers busy trying to get all the things together. Am I to believe that WMF is totally in the dark? No 'kaki' to inform them at all?

And how come PAWA can issue invitation letters to all participating countries without mentioning WMF name and WMF not knowing it?

I do believe that, just like all other international sports bodies, the weightlifting world body recognises WMF as their official representative in Malaysia, and other member countries will only send their exponents after getting the confirmation that the championship is approved and consented by WMF.

Don't tell me that this is the case of the 'son trying to outdo the father?'...And they never really think about the consequences that might befall our young weightlifters?

As of now, if this fiasco is not settled wisely, there exists possibility that our young weightlifters - nurtured by backup program in National Sports Council (NSC) - will face sanction for taking part in the 'illegal' championship. Think about it!

kisah ladanglah lagi...

si polan bin si polan menghantar berita, burung merpatinya sampai setelah lebih sepurnama terbang mencari destinasi....ada perkhabaran terbaru untuk penglipur lara...mengenai keadaan ladang yang kian hari, kian caca marba, ibarat menantik detik untuk ditimpa bencana.

...Al kisahnya, sesudah pengurus kewangan mengundurkan diri, kerana tidak mahu tangan dan kaki makin terus kotornya daki, sekonyong-konyong itu, pengurus ladang mahu bersorak gembira. Ikutkan hati. mahu sahaja diadakannya kenduri tujuh hari tujuh malam, tetapi tahu juga dia, takut nanti tuan punya ladang pulak yang tumbang....


hati gembira bukan kepalang, kerana terpelihara juga segala tembelang. Antara tembelangnya, yang buatkan pengurus kewangan sebelumnya sakit hati, ialah tindakan suka hati pengurus ladang menganugerahkan habuan bukan lagi lumayan kepada dayang kepercayaannya, yang cuma tahu mendengus apabila ditanya apa-apa.

ada yang mahu bersuara, tapi takutlah pulak nanti diherdik tanpa usul periksa. Itu sudah banyak kali terjadi, seperti ketika pengurus ladang dengan bangga diri, mengisytiharkan bahawa pemilik ladang baru sahaja menyambung kontraknya. "Jika ada yang tidak puas hati, lebih baik angkat kaki," begitulah lebih kurang kata pengurus ladang yang disampaikan si polan bin si polan menerusi burung merpatinya....

habuan dayang kepercayaan memang besar, hampir mencecah angka seperti bendahara yang kini berhijrah ke negara padang pasir. Yang pasti, si laksamana pencen janggut putih yang hanya tahu bersuara lantang, habuannya ciput jika mahu dibanding si dayang kepercayaan si pengurus ladang.

ada lagi, bisik burung merpati ajaib ini, yang pandai pula berkata-kata....

kononnya, yang tidak pernah dibuat orang, pengurus ladang juga sudah mengupah hulubalang-hulubang, untuk berjaga malam dan siang, daripada syarikat yang dia ada kena mengena juga. habuannya? dibanding dengan hulubalang lalu yang pernah diupah, habuannya lebih 30 kali ganda dengarnya.


apa yang tuan punya ladang boleh katakan? entahlah...pegawai lain pun nampaknya tak kisah, asalkan tiba waktu nak dipilih untuk kekalkan jawatan nanti, mereka selamat....alahai!

A special moment

I went to Port Dickson, last Saturday - a trip which I was eagerly waiting for - to be with my old friends from high school. It was a two-days-one-night gathering, which I honestly wished could last longer.

A welcome banner for Ex-Semestians Second Batch, 1985-1989

It was a gathering of old buddies, who grew up together. We were family, for five years, during our most important formative period in life. We shared joy and sadness, learnt many valuable things in life, especially on how to treasure a special link called 'friendship.'

And now, 20 years later, the gathering was special. For we may have progressed in life - for some, it was a smooth ride all the way, for others, there might still be many obstacles to overcome - but we still come back as family.

Thank you Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan (SEMESTI) for the special link that we share. For the second batch, 1985-1989, may our friendship last forever.

Majority of ex-semestians second batch who came for the reunion

'Sudah tukar ka?'

Dalam memandu ketika perjalanan pulang daripada Johor Bahru ke rumahku, hari ini, aku kerap menukar stesen radio kerana frekuensinya yang berubah-ubah.

Ketika asyik membelek-belek stesen sesuai untuk jadi teman aku dalam perjalanan, terdengarlah satu iklan mengenai kopi serbat (kalau tak silap). Yang aku kenal suaranya ialah watak 'Ravi' dalam sitkom 'Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu' dulu. Trademark ayatnya: 'Sudah Tukar Ka?'

Lantas, mari aku persembahkan 'sitkom terbaru' ciptaan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Dalam Akhbar Harian Metro, bertarikh 8 Oktober 2005, muka surat 59, ada berita bertajuk: 'Presiden Sokong Denda 5 Kelab'.

Petikan beritanya seperti ini:

'Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Sultan Ahmad Shah, menyokong tindakan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan FAM ke atas lima pasukan kelab yang menarik diri daripada menyertai Liga Malaysia musim depan.

Menurut beliau, tindakan tegas terhadap lima pasukan itu adalah wajar kerana ia menyusahkan FAM, termasuk menjejaskan masa depan pemain kelab terbabit.

"Pasukan terbabit sudah menerima pengajaran setimpal dan diharap ia akan menjadi pengajaran terhadap pasukan lain yang ingin menarik diri..."

Beliau mengulas laporan mengenai dua kelab iaitu Public Bank dan MK Land masing-masing didenda RM50,000 dan digantung daripada menyertai sebarang perlawanan sehingga 2010 selepas menarik diri daripada Liga Malaysia musim depan..."

Akhbar Berita Harian, bertarikh 19 September 2006, muka surat 22, ada berita bertajuk: 'MPPJ Kena Gantung, denda RM50,000.'

Petikan beritanya:

Angkara sikap berlengah untuk mengesahkan penyertaan dalam Liga Super musim depan, MPPJ dihukum dengan penggantungan dua tahun dan denda RM50,000 oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), semalam.

Keputusan itu diputuskan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM selepas tiada sebarang khabar berita diterima daripada pengurusan kelab berkenaan selepas tamat tempoh rayuan asal, 30 Ogos lalu...'

Apa yang kita faham daripada dua cerita ini? Satunya, ORANG NOMBOR SATU FAM sokong supaya mana-mana pasukan yang tarik diri, harus kena hukum 'kerana ianya menyusahkan FAM dan menjejaskan masa depan pemain...'

Nombor dua: FAM konsisten mengenakan penggantungan dan denda standard: RM50,000 kepada mana-mana pasukan yang menarik diri selepas 'gagal mengesahkan penyertaan untuk musim akan datang.'

Dah Faham? Okey?

Sekarang, mari kita tengok pula kenyataan dalam akhbar New Straits Times, 14 Oktober 2009, ditulis Ajitpal Singh, dengan tajuk 'Malacca in doubt, Sarawak out.'

Dua perenggan terakhirnya berbunyi macam ni:

'Azzudin said teams that pull out from next season's M-League will not face disciplinary action.

"According to FAM rules, only those who withdraw midway through in the season will be sanctioned," he said.'

Soalan aku sekarang ialah: 'Sudah Tukar Ka?'

* Aku sekarang sedang bercuti. Aku ada salinan peraturan pertandingan Liga Malaysia 2009 yang diluluskan Majlis FAM, tapi tersimpan di pejabat.

Seingat akulah, peraturannya masih sama - sapa tarik diri, dia kena gantung. Sampaikan pegawai pasukan yang tarik diri pun, akan kena gantung. Itu aku ingat sebab masa MyTeam ura-ura nak tarik diri untuk musim depan, Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM ada kata - dalam akhbar juga - yang tiada mana-mana pegawai akan terkecuali daripada digantung daripada terbabit dengan bola sepak jika pasukan mereka menarik diri.

Aku ingat sangat, sebab itu timbulkan kemungkinan Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, yang juga Timbalan Presiden FAM, tidak boleh terbabit dengan bola sepak. Lagilah aku ingat, sebab masa tu, aku langsung tak yakin FAM akan berani buat punya!

Aku akan cuba dapatkan salinan peraturan itu daripada pejabat. Tapi aku mahu terlebih dahulu tuan badan yang mengeluarkan kenyataan paling akhir kat NST tu supaya dapat kemukakan bukti lebih spesifik: peraturan apa, artikel nombor berapa, kat mana dalam buku peraturan itu, yang kata pasukan menarik diri sebelum bermula musim, tidak akan dikenakan hukuman.

Buku peraturan tu pulak mestilah yang sudah diluluskan oleh Majlis FAM, dan sama dengan apa yang ada dalam simpanan mana-mana pasukan negeri serta kelab, jika kita perlu nanti nak jadi bukti tambahan, mana tahu kalau buku versi yang aku ada tak sama dengan apa yang dia ada.


Jika ada bukti, aku akan terima. Jika tidak, macam mana nanti nak jawap kepada 'ketidak adilan' yang terpaksa diharungi pegawai-pegawai bola sepak daripada public bank, mk land dan mppj yang benar-benar ikhlas nak terbabit dalam bola sepak, tapi tak boleh kerana FAM gantung mereka ekoran ada kaitan dengan kelab yang juga tergantung.

Jika takde bukti kepada persoalan 'Sudah Tukar Ka?' itu, mungkin lebih baik kita tukar aje tuan punya badan yang buat kenyataan....betul tak?

A valuable experience in JB

I travelled to Johor Bahru, yesterday, to be with special group of friends.

I was there on the invitation of Jeffry Ngadirin, Director of Backup Branch, National Sports Council (NSC) to share my experience on a topic of 'How to Market Sports Program to Media'. The occasion: 'Management Enhancement Workshop for Officers' from that branch.

The group consists of Head of Units and State Development Officers from all over the country. With more than 100 officers in attendance, it was THE biggest crowd, EVER, that I had addressed. I couldn't even get a good sleep the night before the presentation, worrying about the crowd.

Part of the energetic crowd who 'grilled' me in the end

It was a very interesting session. I do believe that I learnt a lot more than what I could possibly shared with them. It was a very energetic bunch, even though I had to nudge them a bit in the beginning. And for the first time, EVER, I was even 'humbled' with few pointers from some of the oldies in attendance. My sincere thanks.

Thank you Jeff and the whole NSC's Backup Branch team, especially to Yazid, Azrul and Rozaini. Thank you, too, to Johor Sports Council for co-hosting the 'Jamuan Raya' for us. It was a valuable experience.


Had to use the mike, my voice is not loud enough for the whole room

With NSC's Mohd Johari Zainal Abidin, listening to NSC Director General, Dato' Zolkples Embong speech.

With Jeffry Ngadirin (right), Director of NSC Backup Branch, during the Jamuan Raya

Dato Zolkples Embong being greeted on arrival by Johor Sports Council Director, Tuan Haji Ismail Abdul Rahman, for the Jamuan Raya.

Piala Malaysia: FAM 'makan diri'

Aku hadir dijemput Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) sebagai tetamu untuk rancangan 'Wisel Penamat', awal pagi tadi. Ini adalah panggilan terbaru, selepas aku beberapa kali muncul dalam rancangan sama dan program berkaitan dengannya, termasuklah Sukan@1 dan Sebelum Wisel. Tumpuan perbincangan ialah mengenai saingan suku akhir Piala Malaysia yang akan bermula, minggu depan.

Biarpun siaran rancangan itu bermula jam 1 pagi, masih ramai yang menanti untuk menontonnya. Bukti? masih ramai pemanggil yang menghubungi sepanjang rancangan itu, termasuklah seorang peminat yang berasal dari Pulau Pinang tetapi kini mencari rezeki di Pulau Batam, Indonesia.

Daripada ramai-ramai pemanggil itu, satu kesimpulan terjelma. Rata-rata mereka hairan dengan format 20 pasukan yang bertanding pada peringkat kumpulan kali ini ketika format membabitkan 16 pasukan, yang layak secara merit sejak bertahun-tahun, diabaikan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) pada kali ini.

Sebenarnya, tidak susah mencari rasional penambahan jumlah itu. Ia bermakna semua 14 negeri dan dua ahli gabungan lain - Tentera serta Polis - dapat layak secara automatik. Baki empat tempat pula adalah ihsan yang diberi kepada empat kelab. Ia bermakna faktor merit diketepi, ketika 'aku jaga kamu' tampak diberi perhatian.

Akibatnya, seperti disebut Haji Zainal Rawop dan jurulatih Ismail Ibrahim - yang aku juga bersetuju - Piala Malaysia ibarat hilang prestijnya. Apakan tidak, kejohanan tertua dan paling digeruni, kini maruahnya dibiarkan tercalar apabila ada pasukan kalah sampai 6-0, 7-0 dan 8-0.

Aku ada katakan, konsep Piala Malaysia sejak dahulu, yang pernah ditegaskan Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel kepada aku - ketika aku jadi 'budak baru' dalam kewartawanan sukan - ialah Kejohanan Terbaik Malaysia, disaingi kelompok Pasukan Terbaik di Malaysia dan finalnya dilangsungkan di Stadium Terbaik yang Malaysia ada.

Tapi itu dulu, ketika perkataan 'integriti' mungkin masih ada maknanya. Sekarang ini, entahlah...

First Touch 'hijacked'

Was the First Touch football, exclusively organized by FA of Malaysia all this years through the employees’ company, Semi-Pro Sdn Bhd, being hijacked by the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFA Malaysia)?

That thought immediately crossed my mind when I received email from PFA Malaysia General Secretary, E R Subramaniam, few days ago, inviting media representatives for the launch of PFA Malaysia ‘First Touch Program’ on the 10th October 2009.

I know Subra was closely linked with the First Touch Program when he was still with FAM. The program practically existed because of his tireless efforts in organizing and coordinating the enrollment of players and rostering coaches for the weekend sessions.

But it doesn’t mean First Touch Program belong to him. It has been associated with FA of Malaysia for many years, back from the days when Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel was still the ruling body general secretary. It has name-recognition. It has value attached to it, simply because it is associated with FA of Malaysia.

There are many other talent development programs being run by various parties, but none carry the name 'First Touch' because every one know the name is associated with FAM. Why can't you do the same, Subra?

By ‘hijacking’ the First Touch Program, Subra will save valuable resources and time because what they are launching and promoting already enjoys the ‘familiarity’ factor. And trust me, there will be sizeable parents who will mistook this to be still under FA of Malaysia stewardship, when it fact, it will no longer be the case.

I heard the ‘hijacking’ was done with the consent of someone with authority in the FA of Malaysia Secretariat. The reason given was that First Touch not FA of Malaysia program. It belongs to the company jointly owned by all employees of FAM.

Well, if that’s true, it just goes to show how this particular leader never has the interest of his people in his heart. I also heard, though I could not confirm it, that some percentage will be channeled back to him. This is hearsay and if someone can confirm it please let me know.

Do you know that through fees collected from First Touch programs, employees of FAM will get some percentage which they affectionately called ‘bonus’, since the national body never give any ex-gratia payments for the last five years?

Now, looks like PFA of Malaysia and certain individuals only will enjoy the ‘bonuses. What a pity!

And I wonder how many members PFA of Malaysia already signed up? To carry out their primary objective of existing, which is to take care of the welfare of 'professional players in Malaysia.'

Since when kids below 12 classified as 'professsional footballers?' Another case of association losing its focus? For the sake of the game? C'mmon!

Trivia for Numero Uno

You are the Number One (Numero Uno) leader in one of the most high-profile organization in Malaysia. Your Chief Executive, who runs day-to-day affairs of your organization, has been ALLEGEDLY found to ‘nurture the seed of nepotism and cronyism into its full-blown state of chaos.’

The ALLEGED elements of nepotism:

i) Wife’s brother appointed as storekeeper
ii) Son appointed as Director for a newly set-up body related to the main organization with main objective to collect annual fees and also to focus on welfare and well-being of members.

The ALLEGED elements of cronyism:

i) Appointed retired personnel from same professional background (with age way passed the mandatory retirement numbers) to handle department in charge of many young professionals who are more familiar with higher level of professionalism used previously.
ii) Appointed wife of a schoolmate to an important post in charge of all personnel in the organization.
iii) Appointed few companies with links to his previous appointment to carry out jobs / task without proper bidding / tendering process.

His other ALLEGEDLY ‘meaningful’ contributions:

i) Successfully engineered the resignation of influential leader who are famous for his ‘no nonsense approach’ towards wrongdoings.
ii) Successfully, in a period of less than 20 months, engineered resignations from top executives based on many reasons, which ultimately points to one direction – his ability to stifle their potential and enthusiasm.
iii) Successfully transferred a proven young talent program to the newly set-up body which his son is now a director. Mind you, this program collect fees every three months.
iv) Succeeded in ‘taking care’ of his previous rival, who are now being given extra leverage to do things his way with the chief executive either turning the other way or closing both his eyes. Now, both are reportedly happy with the arrangement. It gives new meaning to the phrase ‘I scratch your back, you scratch mine.’

So, What Will You Do, Numero Uno?

(*the words ALLEGED and ALLEGEDLY were inserted to protect this author from any possible legal actions. This is just an attempt at fictional characterization of certain situation / event.
* Any feedback / comments with direct reference to any organisation will be deleted. This is an advance notification to safeguard the author)

Chong Wei kalah: Salah siapa?

Pemain utama negara, Lee Chong Wei, kalah mengejut pada pusingan kedua Siri Super Terbuka Jepun, petang tadi. Kekalahan di peringkat awal kepada pemain nombor tiga Indonesia, Simon Santoso, memang mengejutkan.

Laporan agensi berita AFP menyebut puncanya kerana kecederaan lutut dialami Chong Wei. Blog fair play news dan malaysian sports bingkas mahukan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) untuk mendedahkan secara jelas di mana silapnya.

Andaian yang cuba ditimbulkan ialah mungkin BAM cuba menyembunyikan kecederaan Chong Wei.

Namun sebelum jari dituding tanpa usul periksa ke arah BAM, saya ingin menarik perhatian semua kepada artikel saya disiarkan di Berita Harian, 10 September lalu. Di dalamnya, Misbun Sidek selaku pembimbingnya, sudah secara nyata melahirkan kebimbangan mengenai situasi Chong Wei.

Siapa yang bertegas Chong Wei tidak akan apa-apa? Bacalah sendiri....

Berita Harian, 10 Sept 2009

'Gerak hati saya selalu benar: Misbun'

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa

ADA rasa bimbang masih berlegar dalam pemikiran Misbun Sidek di sebalik penelitian doktor betapa kecederaan ditanggung anak didiknya, Lee Chong Wei, mampu bertahan untuk pentas saingan Masters China dan Terbuka Jepun, bulan ini.

Perasaan itu tidak mampu disingkirkan jauh-jauh, kerana ada gerak hati dan firasat yang membuatkannya mahu supaya apa yang dialami Chong Wei ketika ini, ditangani dengan penuh waspada.

"Sekarang ini, saya tidak tahu. Hanya yang saya tahu ialah reaksi balas daripada doktor pakar. Cuma, saya sudah lama jaga dia, saya nampak dia macam mana. Ini bukan mahu menakut-nakutkan, tetapi gerak hati sayaselalunya benar.

"Sebab itu, amat penting untuk menangani masalah ini dengan cermat.Chong Wei adalah atlit komited dan berkualiti Olimpik, sebab itu kita kena ambil iktibar dan berikan perhatian menepati kualiti yangdimilikinya, tidak boleh ambil ringan.

"Contohnya, kalau tiba-tiba dibuat pembedahan dan perlukan tempoh pemulihan, susah untuk dia kejar balik mana yang tertinggal. Saya anggapkeputusan mengenai rawatan untuknya sebagai sesuatu yang amat penting dan kena buat keputusan yang amat tepat dan terbaik," katanya.

Kebimbangan mengenai kecederaan Chong Wei timbul ekoran `ketumbuhan' kecil di betis kanannya - yang kali pertama dikesan Misbun `ketika sebesar syiling lima sen dan kini sudah sebesar syiling 50 sen'.

Chong Wei sudah pun menjalani pemeriksaan awal tetapi diberikan lampu hijau oleh Ketua Pengarah Institut Sukan Negara (ISN), Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz, untuk menyertai Masters China dan Terbuka Jepun yang dijadualkan bermula, minggu depan.

"Memang saya bimbang kerana ia mengganggu Chong Wei. Jika dulu, dia hanya fikirkan prestasi sahaja tetapi kini ada satu lagi tali kebimbangan yang perlu difikirkannya, membabitkan struktur fizikal. Kalau boleh, kitabuangnya, tetapi ia perlu dilakukan supaya dia rasa selesa.

"Persoalan yang perlu diambil kira ialah berapa besar pembedahannya, berapa lama pula tempoh pemulihannya. Banyak terjadi sebelum ini, seperti Yap (Kim Hock), selepas pembedahan, ia tidak pulih seperti sebelumnya.Ada juga yang jalani pembedahan lutut, asalnya tak serius, tapi bila dah dibuat, hasilnya tidak sebaik diharapkan.

"Saya nampak perubahan yang dialaminya. Kerana itulah, saya harap ia diambil perhatian dan diberi tumpuan serius," kata Misbun.

Windsor...Azzuddin

I know Windsor John Paul (pix). Quite well, actually.

Our path first crossed in early 1990s, when I was just a rookie reporter and Windsor was coaching Selangor youth team. He then joined FA of Malaysia and helped the national body to be recognised as one of the best-run football association in the world.

Our friendship started then, and it remain strong until today.

And then he left, just few months before I joined FA of Malaysia in May 2001. First, to be the Executive Secretary of the Asean Football Federation. From there, he moved on to be the Development Officer for FIFA Goal Project. During that time, he established himself as one of FIFA top General Coordinators. Appointed as the General Coordinator for the final match between Italy and France at FIFA 2006 World Cup in Berlin was, undoubtedly, the icing on the cake for him.

Yesterday morning, Windsor called. He is resigning from Fifa Development Office, effective from this Wednesday, 30th September 2009. I was shocked, but considering the circumstances that he was in, I understood his decision.

He will forever deny it, but Windsor is a local sports celebrity. Proof? Few hours after our conversation - jaihomalaysia, malaysian sports and fair play news blogs - posted the news about his departure.

So what now, Windsor? Obviously, the first link will be with FA of Malaysia. With the FAM secretariat in chaotic state, Windsor is seen as the best candidate to put things back in order. This, however, should not be treated as my way of championing him for FAM.

On the same breath, I have few things to say about the current state of the FAM secretariat.

Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad might not like this, but as far as the truth goes, he has failed to perform his duties as a GOOD FAM General Secretary. I do believe that I have the right to say this because, in my own small way, I helped him to be there. Azzuddin knows this!

To err is human. It takes a great man to know when his time is up. Like the malay saying, 'jangan jadi seperti tikus membaiki labu.'

Its better to walk away when we still have some respectability left. Dont wait to walk away when its too late, when more unpleasant things are exposed. If FAM secretariat is not already a sunken ship, it is sinking now. Think about it.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Saya dan keluarga - Sophia Rosly, Izzah Hadirah dan Ahmad Hamizan - ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada semua rakan dan taulan yang menyambutnya.

Di kesempatan ini, saya menyusun sepuluh jari memohon maaf zahir dan batin di atas segala kesalahan. Jika ada tersalah kata, tersilap perbuatan dan tersinggung perasaan, saya dengan rendah diri memohon keampunan.

Kepada teman-teman pembaca blog saya sejak sekian lama, terima kasih diucapkan. Memandulah dengan penuh hati-hati, kepada yang pulang ke kampung. Bergembiralah bersama keluarga.

'SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI, MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN'

Thank you

The buka puasa gatherings organized by Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) and Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) on Monday, 14th September 2009, was a huge success.

More than 100 people attended the event, marking the first time that sportswriters from all media organizations converged for SAM after quite some time.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my sincere 'thank you’ to all friends from the sports writing fraternity for your presence. This is a good indication for SAM. It also proves that SAM is still very much relevant for all of us!

I do hope all of you will continue to support SAM events in the future.

Special thanks also to Youth and Sports Minister, Yang Berhormat Dato Ahmad Shabery Cheek, for his presence and generous gestures to SAM. The RM100,000 annual contributions from Ministry will be used wisely, primarily to recognize fellow sportswriters who excel in their jobs.

Willingness shown by the Ministry to sponsor two SAM members, each year, to pursue professional short courses is something that caught me by surprise. I am deeply touched.

It was a huge success. Thank you.

* For more photos from the buka puasa event, please visit SAM Blog, here.

FAM Treasurer resigned?

I just heard that FA of Malaysia Treasurer, Datuk Cheong Keap Tai, has resigned from his post, effective immediately.

As of now, I am still searching for confirmation, because it seems that everyone in FAM have been told to keep their mouth shut.

General Secretary, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, was apparently very angry, but I have no independent sources to verify this bit of rumours, too.

If all this is true, I fear for FAM. Because Datuk Cheong - formerly with PriceWaterhouse Coopers auditing firm - is one excellent manager of financial matters in FAM. Thanks to him, FAM still have plenty of money in the fixed deposit.

When he took over the financial mantle in early 2000, Datuk Cheong has been responsible in recovering several million ringgits which was lost due to bad investment strategies by the previous treasurers.

I know this for a fact, because at that time, I was privileged to observe this first hand when I was still in the employment of FAM.

There are many rumours behind this sudden decision to resign, mostly because of ‘chaotic and problematic relationship’ with FAM Secretariat headed by Azzuddin.

Again, I need help to verify this. Please.

Young gamblers?

Finally, it took Hendrawan (pix) to say what has been an 'open secret' in the national badminton team.

"Our players are only thinking of competing in tournaments without having to put much effort into the preparation. And if they lose, the defeat does not affect them greatly. This mind-set has to change."

This scenario is actually something that has been allowed 'to prosper' for quite some time.

I am not pointing fingers at BA of Malaysia, but the governing body also cannot be totally absolved from the blame.

This 'tidak apa attitude' is, sadly, very evident amongst the back-up players. While Lee Chong Wei and the top shuttlers are giving their best in training and competitions, the same cannot be said about several youngsters who are merely fond of travelling to various tournaments, but couldn't care less about their performance on court.

I also heard whispers from local badminton fraternity that there were several backup players who spent more of their time in casinos in Macau after defeats in early rounds than spending time to analyse reasons behind their disappointment. True?

Angkara taksub mengejar gemilang

Berita mengenai pelumba basikal negara, Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi, yang didapati positif kerana menggunakan dadah terlarang, anabolic steroid, memang mengejutkan. Baca berita di sini.

Ketegasan Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (MNCF) untuk meminggirkannya menerusi penggantungan dua tahun, memang dipuji. Sukan berbasikal negara sudah mencecah tahap dunia secara merit, sudah tentu tiada ruang untuk penipuan sebegitu yang mampu mencemarkan imej dan maruah negara.

Episod ini harus jadi pengajaran kepada semua atlit negara, betapa usaha dan kegigihan adalah tunjangnya, bukan cuba mencari jalan pintas menerusi bantuan 'negatif' sebegini. Ingatlah!

Disposable assets?

When we refer to 'assets' in an organisation, it's not only the physical ones like office building, furnitures etc. In fact, employees are commonly identified as the most valuable assets any organisation can have.

When 'valuable' employee decided to quit, it should normally set alarm bell ringing. Either something is wrong with him/her, or something is not right with the present working environment, right?

If that's the case, how about when few good ones quit? A few holding senior positions? In a period of less than a year? Common sense will tell us that something MUST be seriously wrong with someone at the top in this particular national sports association.

To top it off, I heard that several complaints have been lodged with the industrial employees department. The latest was by an experience clerk who was demoted to become a receptionist.

I heard latest romours that an 'ex-uniformed body' guy, who has wide experience in the 'Area A,' will be drafted in - not to help strengthen the 'Area A' department - but to be the new officer for 'Area Z'. This last one is just a rumour, I have no confirmation whatsoever. But if that's the truth, this will be the best example of 'cronyism at play.'

Whatever it is, I wonder what the top brass are doing. They just close one eye and pretend they don't know anything or they honestly don't know because they never pay any attention to whats been going on.

Or maybe, no one really cares? Scary, man!

Al-Fatihah buat Allahyarham Kapt (B) Abdul Halim Hamid

Allahyarham Kapten Abdul Halim Hamid (kiri) mengadili perlawanan kumpulan A Piala Dunia di antara Maghribi dan Norway di Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, Perancis pada 10 Jun 1998.

Allahyarham Kapten (B) Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, antara pegawai perlawanan bola sepak negara yang pernah melakar sejarah tertinggi apabila menjadi sebahagian kemeriahan pusingan akhir Piala Dunia 1998 di Perancis, menghembuskan nafasnya yang terakhir, malam tadi.

Blogger Rizal Hashim, berkongsi penghormatan kepada Allahyarham, di sini.

Allahyarham yang ku kenali sepanjang tempoh perkhidmatanku di Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), adalah seorang yang cintakan bidang kepengadilan.

Pencapaian tertingginya, sehingga masih dikekalkan dalam kelompok terakhir pegawai-pegawai perlawanan hingga ke final Piala Dunia 1998, tidak pernah dijadikan Allahyarham selaku bahan untuk berbangga.

Allahyarham pernah berkongsi kepadaku, betapa pencapaian itu harus dilihat sebagai langkahan awal untuk nanti ada pula pegawai perlawanan negara yang akan mengadili di tengah padang, lantas mengatasi pencapaiannya di garisan tepi.

Buat keluarga Allahyarham, ku doakan semoga tabah merelakan pemergian Allahyarham pada bulan Ramadan Al Mubarak ini.

Semoga rohnya ditempatkan di kalangan orang-orang soleh dan sentiasa mendapat perlindungan serta petunjuk daripada-NYA. Al-Fatihah.

'Perubahan tanpa sedar' FAM

Tiada sesiapapun dalam dunia yang mampu menganggap dirinya sempurna. Baik dalam apa bidang sekalipun, pasti ada yang lebih baik daripada kita.

Lantas, dalam memperkatakan mengenai bola sepak negara, Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) seharusnya juga mengambil iktibar sebegitu. Jangan hanya menganggap diri terlalu handal, terlalu sempurna, kerana banyak lagi yang mungkin kita tidak tahu, sebenarnya.

Paling terbaru ialah keputusan 'ubah tapi tak jadi ubah' Format Liga Malaysia untuk tempoh lima tahun berikutnya. Dengan akhirnya memilih untuk tidak berubah, FAM - dalam lebih tepat lagi, Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan serta Sekretariat FAM yang menerajui keputusan itu - sebenarnya berubah secara tidak sedar.

Paling utama, ia perubahan ketara apabila 'mengingkari' arahan Tuanku Presiden yang mahukan supaya Liga Malaysia musim baru menyaksikan rombakan besar-besaran. Jarang sebelum ini, ada yang begitu 'terang-terang berani menyanggah' saranan pemimpin nombor satu itu!

Satu lagi yang kebelakangan ini kerap ditimbulkan ialah masalah membabitkan Jabatan Pengadil FAM. Saya sebenarnya enggan mengulas lanjut, tambahan pula pernah dituduh punya 'agenda peribadi' ketika tiada pula bukti dikemukakan untuk menyokong tuduhan sebegitu.

Tetapi daripada perkhabaran yang diterima, ada unsur 'kronisme' yang ketara kerana dikatakan pengadil tidak lulus ujian kecergasan, kerap kali diberi tugasan ketika ada lain yang lulus, tidak pula diberi perhatian.

Saya akui bahawa tiada bukti nyata. Kerana itu, saya anggap perkhabaran itu sebagai desas desus. Tetapi pada masa sama, jika tiada angin, masakan pokok bergoyang. Terpulanglah kepada peneraju FAM, sama ada pucuk kepimpinannya ataupun peneraju sekretariat, untuk menelitinya.

Paling penting diingat, sekali lagi, ialah kita bukannya sempurna. Mungkin ada yang terlepas pandang!

Ikuti pandangan rakan saya, Eric Samuel, di The Star, di sini.

SAM have a home

Sportswriters Association of Malaysia now have a blog, sammalaysia.blogspot.com.

Hope members can utilise the blog to air any views, comments, feedback and inputs for the betterment of SAM.

Passionate Rexy

Rexy Mainaky is an illustrious name in world badminton. As a player, he has won all the major titles – world championship, Thomas Cup, Olympics gold and countless others.

I started to get close to him when I was assigned the badminton beat in early 2006. I do believe we have a good friendship, based on mutual trust and respect – knowing when to push him for stories and when to give him space whenever he wants to be left alone.

Rexy is also an emotional man. Few can forget his public show of sadness when his players failed to contribute points in the team event during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Trust me when I say that it was not an act, but genuine tears from someone who was truly hurting inside.

I got in touch with him yesterday, our first contact after his two double pairs were eliminated from semi-finals of the just concluded World Championship in Hyderabad.

I could sense a tinge of regrets, maybe even disappointments, from the tone of his SMSes. Indirectly, I could conclude that Rexy feels all the hard work put in by him and his assistants were being ridiculed, undermined and questioned by some quarters in Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and National Sports Council (NSC).

I know Rexy is not someone who likes to ‘create trouble’. He would prefer that his work, through the performance of his players, be the judge. But the latest episode, if there are some truths in it, is indeed troubling.

Maybe top people in BAM or NSC should take a look at this.

First meeting SAM

The new executive committee of the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) will be meeting for the first time this Thursday.

Would appreciate feedback and suggestions from all parties to help us reenergise SAM.

Thank you

Thank you, Bakar

On Saturday, Abu Bakar Atan really caught me off guard when he announced his decision to withdraw from defending the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) presidency and effectively handing me the top post on a silver platter.

Honestly, I was shocked! I never expected that, not even when one of my friends mentioned the possibility when he called me on my way to the EGM.

Bakar is a good friend of mine. I can still recall how he guide and advice me when I was just a rookie sports reporter in the early 1990's when he already established his reputation as one of the top football writers in the country.

In the one and only time SAM organized sports carnival, I believe in 1993, Bakar and I formed partnership in table tennis and we managed to qualify to the final before we lost to a pair from Nanyang Siang Pau.

I am thankful for his friendship.

When I decided to contest the SAM top post, it was never with the intention to undermine him. I am too small to be compared with him. Bakar has done and achieved much more, when I am practically still in the early part of the journey to the same desired destination.

Bakar, I appreciate what you have done to SAM, and to me, personally. From the bottom of my heart, I am humbly requesting you to continue giving your support and guidance for me - for the betterment of SAM.

Thank you Bakar!

Angin perubahan terhalang

Ditunjangi dorongan rakan-rakan, aku memberanikan diri untuk cuba mengubah situasi yang ketika ini lebih tepat digambarkan seperti 'nyawa-nyawa ikan' dan 'hidup segan, mati tak mahu.'

Namun angin perubahan cuba dibawa - tercipta menerusi keghairahan majoriti yang mahukan supaya organisasi pernah gemilang dahulu, kembali ke landasan keunggulan - kini terhalang.

Atas alasan elemen teknikal - bertunjangkan perlembagaan yang anehnya tidak pula dipatuhi 'golongan pemerintah' ketika mereka terpilih, tiga tahun lalu - kesanggupan rakan-rakanku, diperlekehkan menerusi keputusan bahawa mereka tidak berhak untuk bertanding.

Bukan mahu organisasi diperkudakan selaku milik peribadi, jauh sekali aku mahu memperjuangkan agenda pentingkan diri. Keikhlasan membantu, bersama-sama barisan rakan yang sedia memikul tanggungjawab untuk 'sama-sama bekerja', jadi sandaran kami ketika memilih untuk menawarkan diri.

Pintu untuk tiupan angin perubahan itu kini sudah tertutup rapat. Dimanggakan dan dikunci mati. Kerana hajat 'golongan pemerintah' tampak masih utuh, ketika tugas untuk membangkitkan kembali organisasi yang kian longlai, belum tentu mahu mereka langsai.

Aku di persimpangan. Mahu terus melangkah buat mencabar, tetapi bersendirian pula menongkah arus. Mungkin berundur pilihan terpuji, tetapi bimbangkan pula masa depan organisasi yang kian hari, kian menginjak ke ambang mati.

Sanggupkah Aku Mengalah? Sampai Akhirnya Mereka....Selesaikan Agenda Masing-masing?

Pahang - Privileged and Protected?

Latest rumour that emerged from FAM corridors is that Pahang - the President's state team - will be saved for the third time when ONLY ONE (1) team will be relegated from Super League to the Premier League, next season.

The proposal will also see three teams from Premier League promoted to the top league.

For the record, Pahang was second from bottom when 2009 Super League concluded recently. Based on current competitions rules, TWO TEAMS will be relegated to the second tier league.

This proposal was linked to FAM Competitions Department. Competitions Committee Chairman, Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, apparently was informed and he does not register any objections.

Honestly, if this bit of info is true, it will be a clear evidence of FAM insensitivity towards public. They don't care what the football-loving public says and it's further strengthen the embarrasing 'you scratch my back, I scratch yours' culture n the national body.

Maybe it's about time National Sports Council - which has been funding FAM to a tune of several million ringgits per year - look into this 'excellent culture.'

And Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pix) to finally tackle something serious like the addressing the ills in FAM, instead of giving advice to badminton players - who, by the way, are frequent fliers, on how to do stretching in the plane.

Need I remind you, Datuk, about what New Zealand's General Manager of High Performance, Sports and Recreation, Mr Martin Toomey, said during Malaysian Sports Industry Convention (KISMAS), last weekend, on the importance of 'placing QUALITY people in influential roles' in sports associations?

Now is the time, sir!

Kejohanan Dunia 'diancam' pengganas

Barisan pemain negara bersama Menteri Belia dan Sukan sebelum berlepas ke Hyderabad, Jumaat lalu.

Barisan pemain badminton negara sudahpun berlepas ke Hyderabad, Jumaat lalu.

Namun hari ini, sehari sebelum kejohanan bermula, muncul berita bahawa skuad England sudahpun menarik diri daripada saingan di Hyderabad, India, ekoran ancaman daripada kumpulan pengganas, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Diharapkan pemain-pemain berada dalam keadaan selamat. Diharapkan juga mereka akan dapat memfokuskan tumpuan dan tidak terganggu dengan ancaman sebegini untuk melakar sejarah dan membawa pulang gelaran dunia sulung buat negara.

Mari kita sama-sama doakan keselamatan dan kejayaan mereka di Hyderabad.

RM6 million headache

Want to know how bad is M-League, financially? Let just say (as far as FAM is willing to admit) it's a RM6 million headache.

And that is just the debt owed by seven teams to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). FAM admits there are other debts, including to the Inland Revenue Board, which will make the figures easily surpassing the RM10 million marks.

Read my story here and Eric Samuel article, here.

The end of clubs in top league?

Officially, details for the 2010 M-League format were discussed briefly in the session conducted today, with representatives from State FAs given an extra week to digest proposals by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Competitions Department.

Unofficially, I was told that a drastic proposal - which is to demote all clubs from top tier league and confine them to play amongst themselves in the second division league - was discussed at length by gathering which consist primarily from State FAs.

The top tier league - a name will be proposed soon to replace 'Super League' - will see all state teams, including Sarawak and Pahang which are supposed to be demoted after finishing as bottom two teams in the just-concluded Super League, keeping their places automatically.

But in a move designed to appease the clubs, FAM will allow them to hire foreign players for the second tier competition.

Honestly, this is not the first time 'FAM affiliates' try to sideline clubs to protect their interest. If I am not mistaken, there was a proposal, either for last year's competition or for this season, to bar clubs from taking part in the Malaysia Cup competition.

Luckily, this is still just a proposal. But if what I heard is true - that no clubs will be invited for the second 'brainstorming session' on the 15th August - it could possible that this 'drastic proposal' will be given the green light.

Will this be the right thing to do? Will keeping the clubs out from top competitions help State FAs to be more competent in handling their affairs? By paying players' salary on time? Settling debts to EPF and Inland Revenue Board?

My fear is that FAM is trying to come up with cure which is not relevant to the disease. Like giving a flu jab to a man suffering from gout!

'Double trouble'

The signs were there. But to their credit, Fairuzizuan Tazari and Mohd Zakry Latif are good at covering it.

However, the crack in their partnership was finally too evident to ignore and Fairuz admitted it to a group of journalists, yesterday. Read my story, here and The Star's Rajes Paul here.

Well, admitting you have problems is the first step taken to correct it. Let's hope Rexy Mainaky would be able to do something to ensure both of them will be in the best state of mind for the upcoming World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad, India.

In the meantime, I would appreciate some help in digging the real truth behind this problem, which I heard got something to do with staff from National Sports Institute (ISN).

Cracks in Mini Olympics

Truth hurts! But it is always good to tell the truth so we would be able to learn from it.

I realised that I might lose some friends in National Sports Council (NSC) with series of articles questioning the rationale of the on-going Mini Olympics. But at the same time, it must be looked at positively, instead of condemning it without acknowledging the positives that we can learn from this episode.

Read my take on several cracks in the planning for the Mini Olympics, here and here.

Mini chaos?

I have been informed by few friends in the national sports associations about the chaotic situation surrounding the staging of Mini Olympics, multi games carnival by National Sports Council (NSC) which will start this Wednesday.

Apparently, there are no clear guidelines to help associations, either in choosing top athletes to participate, or general competition rules which is a must-have for such games.

It has resulted in the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) selecting more than 350 athletes - with 100m event alone having 16 sprinters - to compete in the games when other sports only naming eight athletes in each category.

Obviously, there are many questions left unanswered by NSC in their hurry to stage the first edition of the Mini Olympics. I know my friends in NSC are trying their best, but the many ‘not so nice’ stories that I heard obviously pointed toward poor planning by NSC.

Maybe Jalil Abdullah, acting DG of NSC, can shed some light to this confusion.

'Masih ada yang sayang'

Pada malam ketiga tahlil sempena pemergian ayahku, 20 Jun lalu, aku bertemu seorang yang layak dipanggil rakan. Dia, seperti diakuinya sendiri, adalah peminat setia pasukan bola sepak Perak.

Dia mungkin tidak pernah menjejak kaki keluar daripada Perak, tetapi Stadium Perak di Ipoh ibarat rumah kedua kerana kekerapannya hadir dan memberikan sokongan kepada pasukan 'Kejor Yob Kejor'.

Kami sempat bersembang dan bercerita. Apa yang menariknya ialah wajah gembira penuh ikhlas ketika dia menceritakan 'belanja' yang dinikmatinya apabila terserempak ayah penyerang Selangor, Safee Sali.

"Pagi tu, aku ke Tapah, terjumpalah bapak di Safee. Anaknya baru bagi duit kat dia selepas dapat bonus dari Selangor. Jadi, aku untungle dapat makan free pagi tu," katanya sampai disusuli ketawa.

Itu bukan kali pertama. Malah beberapa tahun lalu, ketika aku pulang ke kampung dan kebetulan menghadiri satu majlis tahlil jiran, perbualan di antara orang kampung ketika menjamu selera ialah mengenai bola sepak. Ketika itu, Perak antara tiga pasukan teratas Liga Super, jadi sudah tentu makin rancak cerita mereka.

Aku percaya, ini bukan sesuatu yang asing. Masih ramai peminat bola sepak di seluruh ceruk kampung yang setia dengan pasukan negeri masing-masing. Bagi mereka, naik prestasi pasukan, makin rancaklah cerita di kedai kopi. Turun pencapaian pasukan, analisis mereka pasti lebih hebat daripada pengulas sukan di kaca televisyen.

Itulah wajah sebenar bola sepak kita. Tetapi yang aku hairankan, mengapa tidak ramai mahu peduli? Aku percaya bukan sahaja di Tapah, Temoh, Malim Nawar ataupun Bagan Datoh di Perak, tetapi banyak lagi kampung di setiap negeri dengan peminat yang masih sayangkan bola sepak kita.

FAM dan persatuan negeri sebagai ahli gabungannya, hanya tahu merangka ikut sedap diri saje. Percayalah, aku tahu itu hakikatnya. Belum lagi aku boleh percaya dengan kata-kata 'keputusan ini demi untuk memartabatkan bola sepak negara'. Selagi ada sikap 'aku tolong kamu, kamu tolong aku' sesama ahli gabungan badan induk itu!

Perubahan sepatutnya bermula daripada diri kita dahulu. Janganlah kita terpekik terlolong mahu orang berubah, jika kita sebaliknya tidak mahu keluar daripada 'zon selesa' kita.

Mungkin sudah tiba masa FAM berfikir sebaik-baiknya. Ikhlas, demi martabat bola sepak negara! Entahlah...

The 'giant killers'?

Che Mat and Alan Rickman's Snape

In the latest installment of Harry Potter's movie - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Professor Severus Snape kills the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, in what appear to be an act of betrayal by him.

I never read any of Potter's books, but must say that I enjoy all the six films so far.

Why mentioned the killing? I just thought Snape is one brave guy, killing the most popular headmaster the Hogwarts School has ever had. All for what we later will find out to be for the greater good of the school and all the good guys.

With the conclusion of the Super League when Selangor were crowned champions, yesterday night (even though several matches still to be played) Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, chairman of the FAM Local Competitions Committee, now has the option to follow what Snape did in order to help local football not continue to be the butt of jokes.

What he must do? Che Mat must first find the courage to convince his committee members that Pahang - the team from the President's state - deserve and should be relegated to the lower league.

Whatever league format they use next season, two bottom teams from Super League this season must be relegated.

FAM was 'guilty' on two occasions - when they changed the league format whenever Pahang was supposed to be relegated. I can't remember exactly the first one, but the second was at the end of 2004 season, when Pahang keep their place in the newly-launched Super League in the following season after winning the specially-designed playoff.

To be fair, Che Mat was not the chairman of the committee then. Maybe this time, he and his members will behave differently. And maybe this time, they will choose only deserving teams to be in the top league next season. No more enlarging the league or arranging special playoff just to accommodate certain 'preferred team’.

I am not a gambling man, but even if I am, I will not bet for it to happen. Let's wait and see...

SAM - Selecting A Man (or woman)

The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) will hold its EGM on 15th August 2009 to elect new office bearers.

My name had - on several occasions - being mentioned, linked and rumoured when the election was brought up as topic of conversation within the local sportswriters’ fraternity. I am indeed, and truly, honoured.

SAM, which was founded 39 years ago, has enjoyed many glorious moments, and I believe, will be able to once again scale the height of recognition, if and when a committed team is in place.

I heard that there are a lot of activities going on now. I would not be able to comment much, for I am not privy to many of it. But one thing for sure, the sudden surge of interest amongst friends to become SAM members again, is encouraging.

Like a Malay saying, BERSATU KITA TEGUH, BERCERAI KITA ROBOH (together we are strong, apart we are doomed?)

The fun has just started!

Dance with my father...

Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around 'til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved

If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again

When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me, yea yea
Then finally make me do just what my mama said

Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me

If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
'Cause I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again

Sometimes I'd listen outside her door
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me

I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying
To dance with my father again

Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream - Luther Vandross

(For my beloved father, Mohd Isa Mohd Abas, who passed away on 18 June 2009. Semoga rohmu ditempatkan di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman. Al-Fatihah)

Life is precious! Starting a journey...

Salam All,

I have been contemplating - like a coward who is too scared to leave his comfort zone - on starting this journey into the blogsphere for quite some time. I must admit that it was not easy, trying to pluck the courage to do it.

Which direction should I follow? The safe one - with all the familiarity that surrounds it - or starting a journey into something that will be too alien, but yet interesting and adventurous, for me.

I would not want to make a choice, because doing it will limit this blog into something predictable. Let just say, this is a start to an interesting journey.

In all my professional existence, I am closely link with sports. Thus, it is only natural for this blog to reflect that reality. I have been, and still are, a writer, a critic and - to a certain extent - an opinion-shaper on various issues related to sports in Malaysia.

But I would also like to treat this blog as an avenue to share other things in life - like my love for good books, my fascination with serious movies, and my enjoyment of soothing and relaxing music.

So my friends, lets enjoy it, for that's the only thing I want when I finally found the courage to embark on this interesting journey. Keep reading!