Muka baru, revolusi baru FAM?

(Dari kiri: Datuk Abdullah Hishan, Datuk Subahan Kamal, Tengku Abdullah, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Hamidin Amin dan Datuk Afandi Hamzah)

Kongres Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) berakhir dengan kembalinya Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah ke jawatan nombor dua badan induk itu. Turut bersamanya kali ini ialah Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA).

Untuk jawatan 'pemimpin pelapis utama', Datuk Subahan Kamal, Datuk Hamidin Amin, Datuk Afandi Hamzah dan Datuk Abdullah Hishan, mengisi jawatan Naib Presiden FAM.

Lapan kerusi Ahli Jawatankuasa Eksekutif FAM diisi oleh:
Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Datuk Astamam Abd Aziz, Mejar Rani Abdul Rahim, S Sivasundram, Dr Hamdan Katib, Othman Salleh, Rosmadi Ismail, Jeffry Loh.

Tahniah kepada semua yang menang. Kepada yang kalah, itu bukan alasan untuk 'mencipta huru hara.' Aku kagum dengan keperibadian Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, bekas Naib Presiden yang kecundang dalam cubaan untuk jawatan Timbalan Presiden. Dia tetap 'cool.'

Aku harap mereka yang menang mampu melaksanakan tugas dan tanggungjawab tergalas dengan sehebat mungkin. Sama hebatnya dengan keghairahan berkempen, terutama pada beberapa hari terakhir menjelang kongres itu.

Aku memilih untuk tidak membuat ulasan sebelum pemilihan, untuk mengelak posting dalam blog ini disalahtafsir sebagai menyokong mana-mana calon bertanding. Aku pernah terbabit dalam 'permainan' sebegini sebelumnya, jadi kali ini, aku memilih untuk bersikap neutral.

Tapi itu tidak menghalang beberapa calon daripada menghubungi aku. Minta untuk membantu.

Aku sedar, dengan sedikit pengaruh yang ada, mungkin aku mampu memainkan peranan. Tetapi pada masa sama, dengan 'kemarahan' peminat begitu membuak-buak - mahu melihat barisan kepimpinan baru yang lebih berwawasan - aku memilih untuk membiarkan perwakilan berdikari membuat pilihan.

Tapi itu bukan bermakna tiada yang berusaha. Banyak! Ramai! Lihat sahaja ulasan dan ramalan di dada-dada akhbar dan juga di saluran lainnya. Itu pilihan masing-masing. Itu agenda tersendiri.

Aku, seperti yang lain, amat mahukan angin perubahan. Bukan setakat sepoi-sepoi bahasa. Jika bola sepak negara perlukan taufan melanda, ia harus diusahakan. Jika gegar tsunami dituntut, ia wajar dijelmakan. Semuanya demi bola sepak negara - agenda yang harus kekal satu di minda setiap pemimpin yang diberi tanggungjawab sebaik berakhirnya kongres kali ini.

Ingat-ingatlah!

FAM in legal troubles?

The focus might be centered on the on-going campaigns by various individuals jockeying for top positions in the upcoming FA of Malaysia election, this Saturday.

But this is the latest info that I heard. Apparently, FAM is involves in some legal tussles.

I heard that FAM had been served with some court papers with regards to some unpaid monies owed to their former general secretary, Datuk Dell Akbar Khan. I also heard that FAM had decided to fight this one head-on. The national body had apparently hired one of the top law firm in the country to handle this case.

FAM had been dragged into some mess before. Remember their sacking of former national coach, B Sathianathan? I heard that it was settled amicably between the two parties. I also heard that, barring any last minute compromises, Azraai Khor might decide to go the same way and bring his 'premature termination' to court.

Datuk Dell? Apparently he was not being paid his dues during his tenure as General Secretary from 2000 until early 2005.

Can't comment much. Dont want to put myself in trouble. Anyone with some reliable info and confirmation, please enlighten me, okay?

One year!

On this day, last year, I started this blog. It's been a long year, with so many happenings.

There were many things that I had highlighted. Good and bad. Many stories in our local sporting scene which captured my attention. Along the way, few friends had turned into foes, many acquantainces have in fact become my friends.

I will try my best to remain true to the original idea when starting this blog - to highlight issues which I deemed as important, without fear of repercussions or bowing to favours from interested parties.

Its not easy, I must admit. There were 'interesting incidents' such when I was 'threatened' by people who dont like what I wrote. People who said things like 'I can put him in trouble because I know his boss' etc etc.

Well, what can I say. I say things as I see it. Plain and simple. If you feel that you have done nothing wrong, there's nothing to worry. But if you are in the wrong, please don't try to intimidate me. The truth, even when it's being hidden six feet deep, will always find its way to the surface.

For all my readers, thank you. I appreciate the interest shown towards my blog.

Here's hoping for many interesting years ahead! Thank you

MAAU = 'Must All Account (be) Unveiled?'

Surprise! surprise!.

Yesterday, I received an email from someone who I consider as friend. He said that I am in danger of turning my blog exclusively for badminton. He said that its better if I expose more wrongdoings in other sports associations too.

Understood sir. Okay, lets start with something else. Why not we train our sight towards Malaysia Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU).

To be precise, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon which was 'organised' by MAAU recently.

I would like to ask few questions to MAAU, and the 'real organisers' .

I found it puzzling that for such a big event, no one really know the true figures of monies being made. Apparently, transparency is not the order of the day. I was told that Standard Chartered gave around RM1.5 million for the right to be the title sponsor.

Other sponsors also chipped in, either in term of money or kind. For argument sake, lets just say all that amounted to around RM1.75 million.

This year, as acknowledged by the organisers, about 15,000 runners took part. One runner's entry fee is about RM50. So, 15,000 X RM50 = RM750,000.00. Combined both figures, we get a solid number of RM2.5 million.

Lets minus the cost of running the event. Lets estimate it at RM1 million. Believe me, that figure is already very high. But never mind.

All that will leave us with RM1.5 million. And how much of that profits goes to MAAU? RM500,000.00! Only 33.33 percent! What happened to another 66.66 percent?!

This is another case of sports association being run by 'clever people' who let other people take the big chunk of profits. Just like BAM and the ING sponsorship which I highlighted before.

Or....is there a hidden agenda somewhere...With no transparency, it means that no one will really know who pocketed how much, right?

I am guessing here. Maybe little bit of speculation too. So, anyone with credible info, please help me in this, ya!