as i see it...plain and simple

Untungkah Malaysia?

2011-07-15T10:20:00.003+08:00

Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Singapura (FAS) memeterai perjanjian yang bakal menyaksikan Harimau Muda A beraksi dalam Liga Singapura manakala 'Young Lions' mengambil alih tempat pasukan itu dalam Liga Super, musim depan.

Langkah itu disifatkan pucuk pimpinan kedua-dua persatuan sebagai langkah terbaik untuk 'mengembalikan semangat perseteruan di antara dua negara yang memiliki himpunan sejarah mendalam dalam bola sepak.'

Memang daripada segi luaran, ia nampak bagus. Tetapi pada masa sama, apakah ikatan FAM dan FAS itu terlalu berpaksikan kepada sejarah lalu? Memilih untuk terus diselubungi detik-detik manis lalu tanpa ada banyak pulangan untuk bola sepak negara pada masa depan?

Aku timbulkan persoalan kerana secara peribadi, aku tidak nampak untung banyak bakal diraih skuad Harimau Muda A khususnya, dan bola sepak Malaysia secara amnya, dengan keputusan itu.

Pertamanya, apa bakal mampu diraih skuad Harimau Muda A? Apabila musim depan Liga Singapura bermula, skuad kendalian Ong Kim Swee sudahpun di penghujung kempen kelayakan akhir zon Asia untuk Sukan Olimpik 2012. Majoriti pemain-pemainnya juga akan hampir mencecah usia yang tidak akan membenarkan mereka beraksi pada temasya Sukan SEA 2013.

Jadi, apa untungnya?

Bagi aku, bola sepak Singapura tampak akan mengaut lebih untung. Kenapa? Kerana ia akan menghidupkan semula kancah bola sepak republik itu yang ketika ini ibarat kian malap daripada sehari ke sehari.

Lihat sahaja bandingan mudah. Liga Malaysia, terutama Liga Super, menyaksikan purata terendah kehadiran penonton sekitar 6 ribu penonton. Angka 6 ribu penonton itu pula adalah antara purata terbaik kehadiran penonton menyaksikan saingan Liga Singapura. Jadi daripada segi populariti, nampak sangat bola sepak Singapura akan untung.

Bagaimana pula dengan untung buat pemain?
Bukan rahsia betapa menerusi usaha pembangunan sekian lama, bola sepak negara sudah mula menampakkan peningkatan. Kita sudah ada 'bintang' sendiri seperti Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Safiq Rahim, Amirulhadi Zainal, Ashaari Shamsuddin dan ramai lagi. Lahirnya mereka ketika adanya ruang untuk menyinar ekoran langkah tidak membenarkan pengambil pemain import.

Musim depan, Liga Malaysia akan menyaksikan pemain import kembali. Mungkin pemain-pemain tempatan kini sudah sampai satu tahap yang mampu menyaksikan mereka sudah berupaya berdiri sama tinggi dengan pemain-pemain import. Jadi, mungkin ada baiknya.

Tetapi membawa Singapura kembali? Benarkah pucuk pimpinan FAM benar-benar percaya cabaran bakal dijelmakan 'Young Lions' akan mampu meningkatkan tahap kemampuan pemain tempatan? Atau ia jadi medan untuk pemain-pemain republik itu lebih meningkat, supaya pada masa terdekat, mereka mampu kembali menewaskan skuad negara?

Aku kurang yakin. Kerana itu, aku mahu beri peringatan. Aku tidak mahu bola sepak negara seperti 'menang sorak, kampung tergadai.' Aku juga tidak mahu FAM bertindak seperti 'kera dihutan disusukan, anak sendiri mati kelaparan.

Fikirkanlah!

Ayuh Malaysia!

2011-06-29T08:43:00.002+08:00

Selepas kejayaan yang mencipta ghairah seluruh negara hasil kejayaan menjulang Piala Persekutuan Bola Sepak Asean (AFF), Disember lalu, Datuk K Rajagobal (gambar) dan anak buahnya yang membentuk skuad bola sepak 'Harimau Malaya' akan kembali ke medan kompetitif, malam nanti.

Pentasnya - pusingan pertama kelayakan Piala Dunia 2014. Lawannya - Taiwan. Aksi kedua di gelanggang lawan akan berlangsung, Ahad nanti.

Apa yang penting, dan sudah pasti diharapkan juga oleh jutaan peminat-peminat bola sepak negara, ialah kesinambungan prestasi memuaskan daripada kesebelasan pilihan yang bakal memikul cabaran.

Rajagobal kali ini, seperti sebelumnya juga, tidak bebas daripada dibelenggu masalah kecederaan. Bimbang dicipta tonggak seperti Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Khairul Fahmi dan Hadi Yahya adalah sebahagian daripada cabarannya.

Tetapi jangan lupa, ketika Malaysia mencipta laluan memenangi pingat emas Sukan SEA Laos 2009 dan kemudiannya mencipta lakaran baru layak ke pusingan ketiga Sukan Asia, sebelum disusuli kejayaan menjulang Piala AFF, Rajagobal juga dipaksa berdepan situasi sama.

Lantas, malam ini, harapan pastinya Rajagobal dan anak buahnya mampu mencipta bekalan selesa untuk dibawa bertandang ke Taiwan.

Kerana di atas kertas, ini peluang terbaik untuk Malaysia layak ke peringkat kumpulan kelayakan akhir setanding gergasi-gergasi bola sepak Asia lainnya. Ini langkah ke hadapan yang amat perlu.

Rajagobal mengetahuinya. Lantas, harapan jutaan peminat negara, pasti akan cuba ditunaikan barisan pemain-pemain pilihannya.

Ayuh Malaysia!

Sports as unifying force!

2011-06-22T10:26:00.004+08:00

I am baffled, saddened and shocked with the latest happening in our beloved country.

People condemning each other, defaming and 'kutuking' each other just because we dont share the same opinion and ideology. It is indeed very sad.

With the possibility of KL being engulfed by possible clashes of protesters the weekend of 9th July, I would like to appeal to fellow Malaysians to remember the many factors that make us special in the eyes of the world.

We are multi racial country, with Ahmad, Lim and Mutusamy living in harmony. We should not incite hatred just because we are different. We should celebrate the differences that make Malaysia so beautiful.

There are many factors that could unite us. One of the best example is, of course, sports.

I remember reading how supporters from different political divide put their differences aside,while campaigning for one by-election, to together watch Lee Chong Wei play against Lin Dan in the final of the 2008 Olympics.

Or how Malaysians from all walk of life - be it CEOs, officers, clerks taxi drivers, tea ladies etc - were overjoyed when our national football team emerged as the champions of Southeast Asia!

Lets show the solidarity as Malaysians by supporting our National Olympics Team when they take on Lebanon this Thursday. Lets watch and support our badminton players who are now playing in the Indonesian Open.

Lets be rational, matured adults. Lets show our love to Malaysia. Malaysia have been kind to us. No one could dispute that. Please remember that.

'MALAYSIA TANAH TUMPAHNYA DARAHKU'

Nasib Ong Kim Swee & K Rajagobal

2011-06-20T15:05:00.002+08:00

Dalam tempoh dua hari, dua jurulatih negara, Ong Kim Swee dan Datuk K Rajagobal, diuji dan dinilai menerusi persembahan skuad bimbingan masing-masing di pentas aksi antarabangsa.

Ketika Rajagobal kian memperkukuh reputasi menerusi persembahan bersemangat anak buahnya ketika membenam Myanmar 2-0 di Kota Bharu, Kim Swee sebaliknya jadi objek penilaian lebih kritis selepas barisan Olimpik negara kendaliannya sekadar seri 0-0 dengan Lubnan di Beirut.

Ada yang mempersoalkan pendekatan terlalu bertahan skuad Kim Swee di babak pertama. Kerana apabila mereka mengubah pendekatan di separuh masa kedua, ternyata pemain-pemain mampu menandingi dan kerap kali mengancam kubu lawan.

Memang boleh difahami betapa Kim Swee mungkin lebih mahu mengejar seri di gelanggang lawan dan mengharapkan prestasi hebat untuk membenam Lubnan di Stadium Nasional, Khamis nanti.

Namun pada masa sama, bila ada peluang, persoalannya ialah mengapa ia tidak dimanfaatkan? Ada juga yang lebih kritis dan mula menganggap 'skuad Olimpik memiliki barisan pemain bagus tetapi ditunjangi jurulatih yang salah.'

Aku belum mahu membuat penilaian terburu-buru. Aku masih mahu memberi peluang kepada Kim Swee.

Kerana Rajagobal juga kini menyerlah bersama anak-anak buahnya setelah diberikan masa untuk 'meningkat.' Jika Rajagobal mampu melakukannya, tidak mustahil Kim Swee juga berupaya menuruti jejak sebegitu.

Cuma, Kim Swee perlu akur betapa dia tidak mampu lari daripada jadi tumpuan. Kerana itu, aksi di gelanggang sendiri nanti, amat penting untuk dia mengukuhkan lagi reputasi. Jangan sekadar nanti, kita tenggelam kerana hanya syok sendiri.

Aku percaya, ramai yang kini menanti untuk melihat apa yang bakal ditukar jadi realiti.

Happy Father's Day, Ayah!

2011-06-18T22:03:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow is Father's day.

Today, two years ago, my beloved father passed away.

I would like to always remember all the good memories I shared with him.

He was, directly or indirectly, responsible in shaping me to become who I am today.

For that, I am forever indebted and grateful to him.

Thank you Ayah!.

Al-fatihah..,

Conflicting stands - Shabery vs Rais Yatim

2011-06-12T16:15:00.006+08:00

Youth & Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek is passionately advocating for the 'Sports Industry'. He believes that it can become one of the major revenue sources for the country and offer job opportunities for many Malaysians.

However, Information, Communication and Culture Minister, Dato' Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, seems to have different ideas.

Whilst Shabery embraces the idea of 'open competition' to bring the best out of all stakeholders in the sports industry - be it athletes, officials, sponsors, companies, media etc - Rais apparently is clinging to different ideology.

This assumptions were based on Rais latest statement to 'curb the monopoly of broadcaster to popular sports (coverage).'

I am puzzled with Rais latest announcement. Everyone knows that broadcasters have to pay rights fees in order to broadcast sports events in their respective channels. RTM also does that. They spent huge amount of money to buy last year's World Cup fees and many other events.

Is Rais serious with this latest statements? That all broadcast should be shared between all tv stations? Are there 'hidden hands' behind all this? People who will benefits without paying a single sen?

If coverage of the Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) is the main point, I do hope people in RTM briefed their big boss properly. Tell Rais the real reason why there's no live coverage of events. It was quoted as the reasons why Rais wants to end this so-called 'monopolization by certain parties'.

Tell Rais that for SUKMA, there's no rights fees involved. That any TV stations are free to show live coverage of events, free of charge. Its up to the 'powers-that be' in various stations to decide whether to air the events live or just cover it in the news or highlights programs. Tell Rais that the decision was made by RTM, not other people, to only cover SUKMA in the news and highlights programs.

I would not want to comment on why RTM, this time around, decided not to show any SUKMA events 'live'. They did a good job with the coverage of SUKMA in Melaka, last year.

But to shift the blame to others - who give wider coverage of the events - and try to use that to 'justify' policy changes? I do believe its not a very solid arguments, right Dear Sir?

I understand that there's a need to balance the need of the public. But at the same time, it should not come at the expense of 'open competition', or denying the rights of others who have the means to compete.

Seriously, I do hope this latest hiccups does not come out from the mindset of 'since I didn't have it, no one can have it, too!'.

The full story on Rais' announcements:

No more monopoly For TV broadcast for popular sports, said Rais.

Kota Kinabalu, June 11 (Bernama) - The Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture will implement a new policy to ensure that popular television programmes, especially popular sports, are no longer monopolised by a particular broadcasting or media corporation.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, said the matter had been conveyed to the parties concerned, including Astro.

"We want Astro, for example, to create a productive and fair cooperation network with Media Prima and especially the RTM.

"Those without Astro facilities don't get (TV sports programmes) whereas the RTM is a government broadcasting body, and in this matter, I apologise on behalf of the ministry," he told reporters after the simultaneous launching of the 1Malaysia Community at the Sabah state level and Mobile Post as well as appreciating the election workers for the Batu Sapi (Sandakan) parliamentary by-election, here.

Rais said this to reporters when asked to comment on the complaints, especially from those who don't subscribe to Astro, who could not watch the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) held in Kuala Lumpur this year.

"We want to implement the new policy and under the licence issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), we will change this situation." - BERNAMA.

Final FA penuh debar, Terengganu berhak muncul juara

2011-06-12T15:44:00.007+08:00

Penantian Terengganu untuk muncul juara Piala FA buat kali kedua dalam tempoh 11 tahun, akhirnya dinoktahkan di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, malam Sabtu lalu.

Wajah penuh riak kepuasan yang terpancar itu jelas satu bukti rasa gembira ibarat di puncak dunia. Apa tidaknya, ia dilakukan menerusi cara kebangkitan terhebat, menerusi gol penyamaan di minit-minit terakhir masa permainan, disusul gol kemenangan cantik di masa tambahan, ke atas Kelantan yang diperakui kini sebagai kuasa utama bola sepak negara.

Skuad kendalian Irfan Bakti jelas berhak merasai gembira, berhak diulit bangga, kerana mereka memang wajar dinobat selaku juara.

Gol Ahmad Nordin Alias pada minit ke-110 memastikan piala kembali ke Kuala Terengganu, dengan kemungkinan piala itu mampu terus kekal dalam koleksi Sang Penyu ketika ada ura-ura piala baru akan diperagakan untuk kancah saingan sama, musim depan.

Namun pada masa sama, tahniah juga kepada Kelantan yang telah memberikan tentangan hebat. Juga, tahniah buat penyokong-penyokong The Red Warriors yang membuktikan betapa ghairah mereka terhadap pasukan sanjungan, tiada tolok bandingnya ketika ini.

Cuma, masih ada segelintir yang mencipta onar. Balingan mercun yang jelas bertujuan menjejas kelancaran perlawanan, adalah tindakan yang bukan 'anak jantan,' bukan sesuatu yang boleh dijadikan teladan. Perlakuan itu bagaimanapun tidak harus diibarat 'akibat nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga,' kerana majoriti peminat Kelantan jelas bukan daripada 'acuan sama.'

Tahniah Terengganu. Jangan kecewa keterlaluan barisan Kelantan.

Apa yang penting, ia final menarik. Ia wajah cerminan terbaik bola sepak Malaysia!

The EPL clubs are coming!

2011-05-24T09:16:00.005+08:00

I would like to apologize for my failure to update this blog for a very long time. Many things happened, many issues surfaced and many other commitments emerged and need to be prioritised.

The main thing is that I am back and will try to update this blog as often I as can.

The time has come once again for the arrival of English Premier League clubs to our shore. Malaysian fans could consider ourselves lucky because every year, there's at least one club who will make Malaysia their destination.

This year, we are lucky times three. Three EPL giants - Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, have confirmed their trips to Malaysia. And all thanks to event promoter, ProEvents.
All this to coincide with Proevents 10 years anniversary in Malaysia. The first team they brought in when ProEvents first made their mark in Malaysia? Manchester United. I just joined FAM at that time and had the 'pleasure' of directing Sir Alex Ferguson to leave the field after the warm up sessions just before the game started.

Got the pix to prove it too! :-)
This time, I am even more excited because my team, Liverpool, is also coming. So stay tuned.
And the bestest of all, I do believe that our National Team will - this time - give a good account of themselves. Because we are the champions of Southeast Asia!

SAM-100Plus 'Athlete of the Year' race too close to call

2011-03-05T18:34:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR (March 5, 2011): The race to be crowned the SAM-100PLUS 'Athlete of the Year' Awards 2010 winner is too close to call.

Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) president Ahmad Khawari Isa said the award, which will be presented tomorrow, has seen all five nominees - five-time world squash champion Datuk Nicol David, world No. 1 shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Kierin king Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (cycling), diver Pandalela Rinong and shooter Nur Suryani Taibi - each receiving their fair share of votes.

"Like last year, the voting is done by SAM members instead of a panel. We felt this is fairer as the writers are the ones who cover the athletes all the time," said Khawari.

"The members are delighted to be part of the process and have come out in force to name the best athlete and this has resulted in a close race."

The ‘Athlete of the Year’ will take home RM10,000 in prize money and a trophy while a special ‘Outdo Yourself’ award will also be announced during the SAM-100PLUS Award ceremony.

Pandelela created history when she won Malaysia’s first ever diving gold medal at the Commonwealth Games after defeating several top divers to win the women’s 10-metre platform event.

Going into her last dive, the Sarawak athlete needed a high score of 80.05 points to secure the gold. Pandelela did not crack under pressure but instead rose to the occasion and scored 81.60 points to deliver the historic gold medal.

She also won two silver medals at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Suryani delivered a gold and a bronze in the Commonwealth Games. She scored 496.9 in the women's 10m air rifle individual event to finish third. Team mate Nur Ayuni Halim (497.5) was second. Suryani and Ayuni then teamed up to beat Jasmine Ser and Cheng Jian Huan 793-790 to take the gold medal in the 10m rifle women's pairs event.

It was only the second time in the history of the Games that Malaysia struck gold in the shooting event. The first was at the 1998 KL Games when Nurul Huda Bahrain won the 10m air rifle individual event.

To cap off a wonderful year, Suryani then won a bronze medal in the women's 10m air rifle event to become the first-ever Malaysian female shooter to win a shooting medal in the Asian Games.

Azizulhasni, who won this prestigious award last year, ended a 40-year drought when he won the gold medal in the Asian Games keirin cycling event.

The Terengganu lad was also crowned overall winner 2010 Keirin World Cup. He had also finished first in his pet event at the Commonwealth Games but was unfairly disqualified

Chong Wei, meanwhile, continued his dominance of the badminton world, winning 10 titles after taking part in 12 Open tournaments in 2010.

Besides retaining the Commonwealth Games team and individual gold medals, Chong Wei also triumphed in eight international tournaments, including six Super Series titles in Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Switzerland, Indonesia and Japan.

He also bagged GP Gold titles in Malaysia and Macau and was a silver medallist at the Asian Games.

Nicol ruled supreme in squash, and was unbeaten in 12 tournaments last year. The Penangite also won all her nine Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) titles last year en route to winning a record equalling fifth world title and was crowned WISPA player of the year for the sixth consecutive time.

She was also the only Malaysian to win gold medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Meanwhile, there are two additional awards with the introduction of the inaugural 'Anugerah SAM Atlit Remaja Terbaik' (Young Athlete) and also an 'Anugerah Khas' (Special Award) for a National Sports Association (NSA) to recognise their most promising athlete at the awards ceremony.

The 'Atlit Remaja' award is the brainchild of SAM in their bid to recognise and motivate the future stars of Malaysia. The SAM Exco decided that the recipient of this award should be 18 and below. The winning recipient picked by SAM will receive an incentive of RM3,000 and a trophy.

Kami berbangga denganmu, Azizulhasni Awang!

2011-02-21T09:09:00.003+08:00

Inilah kecederaan yang dialami Azizulhasni Awang. Serpihan kayu yang menusuk terus menembusi betis kirinya ketika final acara keirin di Kejohanan Trek Berbasikal Siri Piala Dunia di Manchester.

Apa yang amat membanggakan ialah kegigihan dan kekentalan semangat anak muda kelahiran Terengganu ini, yang tetap gagah bangkit selepas perlanggaran untuk menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat ketiga, sekali gus membolehkannya dinobatkan sebagai juara keseluruhan selepas empat sirkit Piala Dunia itu.

Azizul sememangnya bukti ahli sukan negara yang amat berdedikasi, bersemangat tinggi dan mempunyai kecekalan hebat untuk menangani dan menongkah segala rintangan yang mendatang.

Alhamdulillah juga diucapkan kerana selepas menjalani pembedahan hampir empat jam, serpihan kayu itu berjaya dikeluarkan tanpa ada langsung merosakkan sebarang arteri darah ataupun otot yang mampu meyingkirkannya daripada medan saingan untuk tempoh panjang.

Syabas buat Azizulhasni Awang, kami warga Malaysia sememangnya berbangga dengan kegigihan dan kejaguhan anda! Semoga Azizul cepat sembuh dan dapat meneruskan impian peribadi - dan juga jutaan rakyat Malaysia - untuk dikalungkan pingat emas pada temasya Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London nanti.

'Aku mahu percaya...'

2011-02-16T10:34:00.002+08:00

Aku terdorong untuk 'mengusik' ekoran komen salah seorang yang 'tidak bernama' (anonymous) mengenai cabang kewartawanan sukan ketika ini.

Katanya 'wartawan sukan ketika ini lebih kejar glamour...kalau nak glamour, lebih baik jadi wartawan hiburan...'

Aku mahu percaya - bahawa asas kewartawanan - iaitu menulis yang benar - tidak sama sekali digadai ketika membuat laporan.

Aku mahu percaya - bahawa segala usaha untuk mempengaruhi penulisan dan laporan menerusi 'sogokan', tidak akan sama sekali dilayan.

Aku mahu percaya - bahawa rakan-rakan mampu meminggirkan individu-individu yang tidak segan silu bercakap dengan pihak lain bahawa 'aku bagi dia duit', supaya mereka-mereka ini tidak lagi mempersendakan cadang kewartawanan sukan.

Aku mahu percaya - bahawa rakan-rakan mampu kekal objektif, berpaut kukuh kepada fakta dalam menangani sesuatu isu, bukannya berpaut kepada 'keakraban' dengan segelintir pihak hingga mampu mengabui pertimbangan.

Aku mahu percaya - semua tanggapan negatif itu, hanya sekadar satu tanggapan, bukannya kenyataan.

Aku mahu percaya!

Misbun 'dikuasai'?

2011-02-15T22:43:00.003+08:00

Ini perkhabaran menarik terbaru mengenai isu 'tarik tali' antara Datuk Misbun Sidek dan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM).

Aku dengar, Misbun kini tidak tenang. Fikirannya kusut. Dia sayangkan anak didiknya, Lee Chong Wei. Dia mahu tolong Chong Wei untuk terus berbakti kepada negara. Sampailah mengejar misi pingat emas pertama Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London nanti.

Tetapi ada yang katanya sudah 'control' Misbun. Yang bercakap bagi pihak Misbun. Ada ramai kawan-kawan yang kata, motifnya pasal duit. Ada pihak yang mahu Misbun keluar, supaya peruntukan kerajaan kepada BAM dalam Program Road to London 2012 pun keluar sama, mengalir ke kantung mereka.

Iyelah, Chong Wei kan ke harapan utama? Jika Misbun keluar BAM, dan Chong Wei pun keluar BAM, diorang fikir duit tu pun akan ikut keluar.

Aku dengar ada jugak personaliti yang pernah aku 'usik dan tegur' dalam posting sebelum ini, mainkan peranan jugak pada awalnya. Aku rasa macam dia nak 'tumpang sekaki' jugak kot. Tapi tak pulak aku tahu apa perkembangan atau sejauh mana 'pembabitan' personaliti ini.

Aku dah lama tak mengintai kat dalam BAM dan orang-orang luar yang suka mengusik BAM ni. Mungkin sudah tiba masa untuk aku 'aktif' balik kot. Tunggu la, mungkin ada perkembangan terbaru akan timbul lagi tak lama lepas ni.

'Kisah si buli' dan 'tukang sorak'

2011-01-30T22:56:00.007+08:00

Aku nak cerita pasal bola. Pasal apa yang dapat kita tengok. Dan sudah tentu orang-orang di belakang yang jadi pemegang watak untuk membolehkan jadi realiti 'apa yang dapat kita tengok.'

Tapi aku juga realistik. Aku tak mahu terjunam dalam sup panas (hot soup). Jadi, yang ada ialah 'alkisah', dengan pemahaman terpulang kepada setiap individu.

---------------------------
Lokasi cerita, apa kata si tukang cerita letakkan di lokasi sekolah. Di kantin sekolah lah, untuk lebih tepat.

Di kantin itu, ada tukang masak yang jadi tumpuan. Dia dulu pernah sajikan hidangan hebat, yang jadi tumpuan ramai orang. Malah pernah ada 'budak' kaya yang suka hisap rokok, yang sanggup berbelanja besar untuk memastikan hidangan terbaik jadi miliknya. Resepi budak kuat hisap rokok ini mudah sahaja. Dia 'control' masakan, pada masa sama, dia juga jual rokok. Jadi, makanan itu jadi sinonim dengan rokok yang dijualnya.

Tapi tak lama lepas itu, guru besar sedar apa dilakukan budak suka hisap rokok itu. Jadi, dia kena 'ban.' Dah kelam kabut tukang masak ini nak cari pembeli yang konsisten. Jadi, datang la pulak 'budak gila handphone'. Tapi dia tak sanggup belanja besar. Cuma bezanya, kerana takde orang lain yang berani nak beli lebih mahal, terpaksalah tukang masak ini terima sahaja tawaran budak gila handphone ini.

Tak lama lepas itu, ada seorang budak yang wawasan bisnesnya lebih mantap. Dia nampak ada potensi. Dia mahu kembangkan lagi potensi ini, tapi dengan syarat dia mahu jadi 'rakan kongsi' dengan tukang masak itu. Apa yang dia nak buat ialah sama-sama fikirkan jenis masakan terbaik, sama-sama pasarkan masakan itu, sama-sama cari pelanggan, sama-sama pastikan masakan akan sentiasa jadi tumpuan.

Jadi, budak ini pun putuskan untuk beli semua hak masakan. Tujuannya mudah. Apabila dia beli, tukang masak tak payah nak risau lagi. Tukang masak boleh 'concentrate' untuk menaikkan lagi mutu masakan. Budak ini pulak boleh pasarkan dengan lebih berkesan, supaya wujud situasi 'menang-menang.'

Tapi nak jadi cerita, ada pulak si buli sorang ni. Dulu, masa budak gila handphone 'control' masakan, si buli ini tak berani nak bersuara. Mungkin sebab bapak budak gila handphone ini kenal ramai orang, termasuklah mungkin bapak si buli ini.

Jadi, si buli masa itu tak buat bising. Hanya beli sahaja masakan. Tapi kali ini, bila budak yang wawasan bisnesnya mantap beli dan bekerjasama dengan tukang masak, si buli ini tiba-tiba nak tunjuk belang.

Budak yang wawasan bisnesnya mantap ini, sejak awal-awal lagi, dah bagitahu yang dia sanggup jual kepada semua orang, termasuk si buli ini, dengan harga yang sama. Malah, kemungkinan besar dengan mutu lebih tinggi, rasa masakan lebih enak.

Tapi si buli ini, tiba-tiba nak main kotor. Dah beberapa kali mereka duduk semeja untuk berbincang, setiap kali itulah juga si buli ini dok tukar fikiran. Mulanya abang senior si buli, namanya Kamal Sang Uban, dah setuju harga dengan abang kepada budak yang wawasan bisnesnya mantap itu.

Si buli ini pulak cepat ubah cerita. Dia setuju nak beli, tapi dengan harga lebih rendah. Lebih hebat, sebab si buli rasa tertekan, sebab kawan-kawan dah mula buat bising yang diorang nak tumpang makan dengan dia, si buli ini putuskan untuk berkeras.

"Aku nak jugak masakan yang pertama ini. Aku tak peduli, walaupun kita belum setuju harga. Malah, sebab aku lebih besar, lebih ramai, dan bapak aku tuan punya bas sekolah bernombor MCMC yang engko naik tiap hari, aku nak makan beberapa lagi masakan lepas ini, sampailah aku decide bila aku nak beli," kata si buli.

Dan kawan-kawan yang selama ini untung kerana dapat makan free setiap kali si buli beli - dan tetap dapat makan free bila si buli kali ini makan tanpa nak bayar - semuanya bersorak girang. Siap berani kutuk-kutuk lagi budak yang wawasan bisnesnya mantap itu.

Jadi sekarang tukang cerita nak tanya. Fahaman si tukang cerita, bila kita makan tak bayar, bukan ke maksudnya kita makan 'barang haram'. Tindakan si buli yang tetap mahu makan free, sampai dia decide bila nak bayar, itu maknanya sama jugak, kan?

Bukan ke lebih bagus si buli ini cepat-cepat decide dan beli dengan harga yang sama? Jadi dia tak makan 'barang haram', dan kawan-kawan dia yang dok bersorak kerana dapat rasa 'barang haram' juga tak la sokong membuta tuli ajer.

-----------------

Kembali kepada realiti. Ini cara industri sukan yang dimahukan? Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek mungkin boleh komen. Takkanlah selepas kita berbelanja besar, termasuk kini dalam perancangan akhir sebelum bermulanya Tahun Industri Sukan, kita mahu biarkan pihak-pihak tertentu, yang layak digelar 'Little Napoleons' dan sekian lama cuba diperangi YAB Perdana Menteri, terus bermaharajalela?

Going solo? Not as easy as A,B,C

2011-01-21T15:20:00.002+08:00

When Misbun sent his resignation letter, Lee Chong Wei threathened to follow suit. And then suddenly, Hafiz Hashim confessed that he, too, had sent letter to resign from the national badminton team.

Misbun reasons? Until now, no official version of why he wants to quit. Chong Wei? He has not make up his mind. The only indication is that, if Misbun leaves, he will most likely walk out the door, too.

Hafiz? Now, this is a surprise. His reasoning? He believes that by becoming an independent player, he will be able to raise him game. To be honest, I have my doubts. For me, leaving BAM might also signal the end of Hafiz badminton career.

Maybe Hafiz should digest the statement by Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat:

'Saya rasa lebih enak (selesa) di dalam (persatuan). Semuanya diuruskan persatuan dan kita hanya perlu fokus kepada latihan. Jika menang, insentif tambahan turut disediakan dan kita tidak perlu bimbang dengan masa depan...'

(I think its more comfortable in the Association. All is being taken care by the association and we only need to focus on training. If we win, additional incentive is also offered and we dont have to worry too much about our future".

Ambush, the 'Malaysian sports' way!

2011-01-19T08:18:00.003+08:00

I know how does it feel to be 'ambushed'. I just 'kena' one few days ago. It was a horrible feeling. When you lost your bearings, not even knowing whether you could ever trust someone again.

But then, one thing that I learn from it is that, nothing is sweeter than when you able to stage a comeback and initiate your own 'ambush' move.

That's what I did. Victorious or not? Its different matter altogether.

Why I mentioned 'ambush'? There's few things that's been happening in the Malaysian sports scene which were akin to an act of ambush.

Misbun issue is one. He 'ambushed' BAM at the right time and the right moment. There's many people with many theories, but for me, Misbun knew the importance of timing and execute the 'ambush' perfectly. I dont want to go into the motives behind it, but I salute him for executing the 'right ambush.'

But it was a different story with MAAU and its deputy president, Karim Ibrahim. He must learn from Misbun on how to stage an 'ambush' la.

Why I say that? Because his attempt to 'ambush' National Sports Council with the announcement to move the training base of our national athletes from Bukit Jalil to Ranau, Sabah, was not a clever one.

He said that its for altitude training, but Ranau was not even as high as Genting Highlands. He said the place has good facilities, but do anyone believe there's exist better place than NSC in this country for the athletes?

And to top it all off, everyone know that all this while, MAAU office bearers are too busy with their politicking. And NSC is the one funding all their athletes all this while. They say they can find the RM3 million to fund the 'Ranau escapade'? Come on la!

Tahniah Harimau Malaya!

2010-12-30T12:09:00.003+08:00

Tahniah skuad bola sepak negara. Tahniah K Rajagobal. Tahniah kapten, Safiq Rahim. Tahniah barisan pemain-pemain muda negara.

Biarpun kecundang 1-2 kepada Indonesia pada final kedua di Stadium Gelora Bung Karno, hak skuad negara bergelar juara Piala AFF Suzuki buat julung kalinya memang tidak dapat dinafikan. Mereka memang berhak.

Lebih menarik ialah melihatkan situasi di mana seluruh warga Malaysia, tidak kira usia, kaum mahupun latar belakang, yang sama-sama bersorak gembira dan berkongsi keghairahan hasil kejayaan ini.

Ini hanya permulaan. Perjalanan masih jauh. Kita bangga dan hargai pencapaian mereka. Kita juga mahu percaya, barisan pemain-pemain ini mampu mengangkat Malaysia ke tahap lebih tinggi lagi - supaya tidak lama lagi, kita mampu dengan mudah menamakan kesebelasan skuad negara, bukan lagi hanya tahu barisan utama kelab-kelab liga asing yang jadi pujaan.

Tahniah, sekali lagi, Harimau Malaya. Garuda dipatahkan sayap, kini detik Harimau Malaya mengaum bangga!

Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku!

2010-12-28T20:50:00.002+08:00

Sudah lama aku tidak berkesempatan untuk membuat posting terbaru dalam blog ini. Sibuk dengan tugasan. Kini baru ada sedikit kelapangan.

Aku baru terima berita daripada wartawan Nadi Arena, Fina Nasrom, mengenai 'gangguan' dihadapi skuad negara sehari sebelum final kedua Piala AFF Suzuki di Jakarta.

Sesi latihan yang awalnya dijadualkan di padang yang lebih hampir, ditukar ke gelanggang lebih jauh tidak sampai dua jam sebelum sesi bermula. Akibatnya, skuad negara tersangkut dalam kesesakan lalu lintas dan terpaksa berpatah balik ke hotel penginapan.

Pilihan alternatif dicari. Lantas, Rajagobal memilih untuk berlatih di kawasan berhampiran hotel. Tetapi sesi mereka disedari penyokong tuan rumah yang kemudiannya bertindak untuk bukan sahaja menghampiri, memegang sepanduk berbaur provokatif, tetapi turut menjeritkan pelbagai lagi kata nista terhadap seluruh skuad negara.

Aku memang sedih dengan perilaku itu. Ia ada terakam dalam visual yang disiarkan di Nadi Arena. Apakah kerana keinginan melampau untuk tetap meraih kemenangan, Indonesia lupa mengenai erti semangat kesukanan? Atau mereka memang langsung tidak tahu apa makna perkataan itu?

Ketika skuad republik itu di Malaysia, mereka dilayan dengan layanan terbaik. Padang latihan terbaik diberikan. Kawalan keselamatan sentiasa ada. Peminat tempatan juga tidak pernah bertindak keterlaluan. Dalam erti kata lain, kita rakyat yang bersopan!

Tetapi mereka berbeza. Ia memalukan. Tetapi tidak bagi mereka. Kerana itu semua 'dihalalkan' demi mahu mencapai kemenangan, biarpun mungkin dengan cara yang layak dianggap terlalu 'kotor.'

Kerana itu, aku sentiasa sayangkan Malaysia. Mungkin tidak keterlaluan untuk menyimpulkan betapa seberapa fanatik pun kita, kita lebih bertamaddun. Ini tanah tumpahnya darahku!

Aku harapkan kemenangan. Itu bukti terbaik betapa skuad bola sepak negara adalah perwira sejati, yang menggegar biarpun lawan menghumban segala bentuk cabaran penuh mencabar!.

FAM 'bunuh angsa bertelur emas'? Kroni puas?

2010-10-27T09:10:00.005+08:00

Bukan kejutan apabila FAM bertindak menaikkan harga tiket untuk perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia di antara Negeri Sembilan dan Kelantan.

Kenapa aku katakan begitu? Kerana FAM tidak pernah berfikir panjang. Tiada strategi jangka panjang. Apa yang difikirkan ketika ini ialah final ini satu peluang, kenapa tidak naikkan harga tiket supaya lebih wang dapat dihasilkan.

Kenapa aku katakan FAM tidak berfikir panjang? Kerana ini strategi perniagaan yang sudah lapuk dan kolot - 'ambil kesempatan apabila ada peluang, untuk keuntungan jangka pendek. ' Seperti 'membunuh angsa bertelur emas'. Itu resipi perniagaan yang sudah terbukti gagal.

Kerana apa? Kerana orang yang sudah 'terkena', mereka tidak akan kembali lagi ke perniagaan kita. Seharusnya begitu ramai 'bussinessmen' dalam FAM tahu teori dan pendekatan ini.

Aku terpanggil untuk mengulas selepas mendapat sms seorang rakan:

'(Aku) cuma kesian kepada penyokong kerana mereka penyokong setia bola sepak tempatan yang memenuhkan kantung FAM tak kira venue home atau away....(mereka) ditindas...di kala most of Malaysians tengok 'live' BPL, puak ini yang rajin ke stadium....'

Itu betul. Aku setuju. Susahnya ialah FAM masih hidup dalam 'kepompong' sendiri, masih percaya mereka boleh berbuat apa sahaja dan penyokong akan tetap setia, seperti lembu dicucuk hidung.

Itu kesilapan parti pemerintah sebelum PRU 12 lalu. Dan sudah ada petanda parti pemerintah tahu dan sudah mahu belajar daripadanya. (sorry, aku terpaksa bawa persamaan supaya 'orang politik' dalam FAM boleh faham).

Tetapi adakah FAM nampak mahu berubah? Sebelum kongres lalu, bukan main lagi dijanji angin perubahan. Aku sendiri disanggah dan dihentam penyokong segelintir pemimpin apabila aku mempersendakan segala janji itu secara sinis. Terbukti salahkah aku ketika ini?

Angin perubahan itu sudah jadi angin sepoi-sepoi bahasa yang bukan sahaja langsung tidak menyakitkan, tetapi menyejukkan lagi FAM. Siapa menanggung akibat? Penyokong dan peminat yang sebelum ini mengharapkan perubahan, tetapi kini dipaksa menanggung beban apabila ramai dalam FAM hanya mengangguk kepala tanda setuju apabila harga tiket dinaikkan....Kalau tak setuju, kenapa tak 'berkokok'?

FAM sepatutnya lebih bijak. Jadikan kesempatan final ini sebagai strategi 'menawan' lebih ramai lagi penonton supaya meminati bola sepak tempatan. Final adalah pentas terbaik untuk 'membalas budi'. Mungkin tidak dapat untung segera, tetapi pupuk minat dan daya tarikan supaya penyokong akan sanggup hadir secara lebih kerap lagi, semata-mata selepas mendapat pengalaman manis ketika final ini.

Tiada rugi kita berbudi, kerana untungnya akan kita rasainya juga suatu hari nanti.

Satu lagi. Aku tertanya-tanya apa rasional Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan hanya mahu menjual 10 ribu tiket dengan harga RM30. Dan baki 20 ribu tiket dijual menerusi pakej berharga RM40 untuk tiket berharga RM30 dan juga barangan cenderamata pasukan. Siapa yang untung? Jangan anggap aku bodoh dan guna ayat seperti 'duit ini untuk persatuan dan pasukan juga.' Takkan tiada siapa yang mengaut untung?

Belajarlah daripada pengalaman lalu. 'Orang kita' bukan bodoh lagi.

Sathia 'mangsa', Jawatankuasa Media FAM buta?

2010-10-24T20:49:00.004+08:00

Angin perubahan yang melanda negara, daripada aspek lebih terbuka terhadap peranan media, nampaknya langsung tidak dirasai oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Itu sahaja mampu aku simpulkan ketika mendengar perkhabaran FAM menjatuhkan penggantungan enam bulan terhadap ketua jurulatih Kelantan, B Sathianathan - sehari sebelum Kelantan turun pada aksi kedua separuh akhir Piala Malaysia.

Bagi aku, memang FAM sebagai badan induk bola sepak negara, ada kuasa. Tetapi kenalah tindakan dan hukuman kena dengan kesalahannya. FAM tidak boleh berselindung dengan kuasa yang ada. Kerana itu adalah resipi kegagalan pasti untuk sesiapa sahaja di FAM yang cuba berselindung di belakangnya.

Aku setuju dengan pendapat sahabat karibku, Eric Samuel, ketika ditemubual di Nadi Arena, Sabtu lalu. Kata Eric: 'Kalau kesalahan Sathia seperti dia keluar kawasan teknikal dan pergi pukul pengadil, itu kita boleh terima. Ini tidak menjejaskan apa-apa. FAM perlu lebih rasional dan tidak hanya menggunakan kuasa untuk menghukum begitu sahaja...'

Itu memang tepat. Malah lebih penting, 'FAM must not only do the right thing, but MUST BE SEEN to be doing the right thing.'

Dalam hal ini, menggantung Sathianathan, sehari sebelum aksi penting pasukannya - untuk kesalahan yang berlaku hampir tiga bulan lalu - mendedahkan tafsiran FAM ada agenda sumbang terhadap Sathianathan dan Kelantan.

Walaupun itu mungkin buat niatnya, tetapi itulah yang ditafsirkan umum.

Seperkara lagi, sebagai Presiden Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (FAM), aku mahu membawa perhatian Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Media FAM, Datuk Subahan Kamal, kepada sikap 'selective prosecution' yang didakwa dilakukan oleh segelintir pegawai Sekretariat FAM.

Ada rungutan rakan-rakan wartawan permohonan mereka untuk kad media perlawanan akhir Piala Malaysia - yang dihantar sebelum tarikh tutup - tidak diluluskan kerana pernah mengkritik FAM.

Aku sedang buat siasatan. Jika dakwaan itu terbukti benar, aku harap Datuk Subahan dapat perbetulkan segera. Ingat kata nasihat, kesabaran ada hadnya. Jika selama ini berdiam diri membiarkan segelintir pegawai berbuat sesuka hati terhadap media, ia tidak akan berpanjangan lagi.

FAM sebelum ini tidak pernah ada Jawatankuasa Media. Datuk Subahan adalah pengerusi pertamanya. Jadi, tolong buat kerja, pantau dan intai mana yang perlu. Juga, ajarkan segelintir pegawai di FAM untuk lebih bijak menangani Media. Jangan pilih pendekatan 'pekakkan telinga, butakan mata, hentam sahaja sesiapa yang kita tidak suka!'

Jika tidak boleh - dilakukan secepat mungkin kerana final hanya beberapa hari lagi - lebih baik tutup Jawatankuasa Media. Ia tidak harus jadi platform mencari publisiti, jika tidak pandai menjaga hubungan dengan pihak yang akan memberikan publisiti itu.

Tahniah Elaine Koon!

2010-10-14T15:55:00.003+08:00

Sasaran 10 emas kontinjen negara di temasya Sukan Komanwel 2010 sudahpun dipenuhi.

Menariknya, angka sasaran itu dicapai menerusi gimnas berirama negara, Elaine Koon - atlit yang sebelumnya tidak langsung diramal mampu menandingi kelentukan aksi gimnas berirama lainnya.

Ia bukti betapa, ketika negara amat memerlukan, akan ada yang mampu bangkit menangkis segala cabaran, menenggelamkan reputasi gemilang lawan, untuk membuatkan negara berbangga, dan Jalur Gemilang berkibar megah di angkasa!.

Tahniah Elaine Koon! Tahniah juga semua pemenang pingat - baik emas, perak mahupun gangsa - yang mengharumkan nama negara di New Delhi.

MALAYSIA BOLEH!!

Ditelan mati emak, diluah mati bapa

2010-10-14T15:32:00.003+08:00

(Detik keganasan penonton Selangor dan Kelantan di Stadium Shah Alam, 12 Oktober 2010. Gambar diambil dari laman web Berita Harian, tanpa kebenaran)

Belum pernah dalam lebih 20 tahun terbabit dalam arena sukan tempatan, termasuk majoritinya membuat liputan bola sepak, aku didedahkan dengan berita kematian penyokong yang hadir menyaksikan sesuatu perlawanan.

Malam Selasa lalu, ianya berlaku. Ia memang berita cukup menyedihkan. Tambahan pula ketika mutu bola sepak negara belum lagi mencecah tahap tinggi, seperti di negara-negara hebat yang memang terkenal dengan budaya 'hooligans', atau samseng bola sepak.

Ia memang menyedihkan. Lebih sedih kerana serentak itu juga, 'permainan Malaysia' - menuding jari kepada orang lain - juga cepat dimainkan. FAM juga bersikap aneh kerana reaksi terawal badan induk itu ialah 'Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor (FAS) tidak bersalah. Ia berlaku di luar stadium.'

Apa sudah jadi ni?

Apakah awal-awal lagi FAM menghantar isyarat 'layanan kes ini akan berbeza?'

Kita pastinya masih ingat insiden keganasan penonton di Kota Bharu tahun lalu. Ia juga berlaku di luar stadium. Tetapi Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa) tetap didapati bersalah, dan dihukum - gantung stadium dan denda mencecah ratusan ringgit. Hukuman itu dijatuhkan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM.

Esok, Jumaat, 15 Oktober, Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM akan bermesyuarat. Persoalannya kini, apakah akan ada dalam agenda mengenai insiden terbaru di Shah Alam itu? Atau adakah FAM akan hanya berdiam diri kerana Setiausaha Agung FAS, Datuk Hamidin Amin, adalah pemegang jawatan Naib Presiden FAM dan juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan?

Aku tidak mahu buat banyak spekulasi. Tetapi atas nama konsistensi, harus ada pendirian dan langkah serta tindakan yang sama. Jangan nanti dituduh FAM bersikap pilih kasih. Lagi satu, harap jangan ada alasan yang dibuat-buat untuk menutup kesalahan mana-mana pihak. Kata orang, bangkai gajah tidak akan dapat ditutup dengan nyiru kelapa!

Ini memang menarik. Tepat makna 'ditelan mati emak, diluah mati bapa.'

Goodbye my friend...R.I.P Matt McKeown

2010-09-27T21:59:00.002+08:00

I received a call from my friend, Azizi, at around 3.30pm today.

"You mean to say you dont know what happened to him?"

That's how I found out the news about the passing of our 'captain', Matt McKeown. He died of a heart attack at home, about an hour before that.

It was a huge shock to all of us in Astro Arena. Matt was not only Astro Arena General Manager, but he was our leader, the man that made all of this happen.

I still remember the first time Matt and I met. It was some time back in November last year. When he interviewed me for a position in Astro Arena. My first impression? Someone who clearly knew what he wants to achieve.

There were two meetings after that, occasions that I believe was used by him to size me up, to check whether I was suitable to be a member of his pioneer group to launch Astro Arena. On that third meeting, he told me straight that he's giving me the job.

"Any questions," he asked.

"Will you be a typical Malaysian boss," I replied.

"No. That's my guarantee..."

That's when its all started. Matt was true to his word, providing not only a stable leadership, but also a refreshing management style in steering Astro Arena during our formative months.

He hated it when, on many occasions, I called him 'Boss'. "Everytime you called me Boss, you owe my five ringgit," he said. I was lucky because few times that I absent-mindedly called him that, he was kind enough not to punish me for it.

But yes, he 'punished' few people who regularly called him that. Like our office manager, Yvonne, who was made to buy few cakes - to be shared with us - as a punishment.

He was accessible at any time of the day. There was several occasions, when I was disturbed by certain happenings in the office, when I sms-ed or emailed him, and I will get prompt answers from him.

We will miss him, that's for sure. We will miss his leadership, his kindness and his devotion to Astro Arena. He was a great man. And a good friend.

Rest in peace, my friend...

Hutang MSN bertimbun!

2010-09-19T14:34:00.003+08:00

Apa sudah jadi? Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) didedahkan sebagai menanggung 'hutang' yang banyak dengan pelbagai persatuan sukan kebangsaan...

Bukan sahaja dengan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM), tetapi juga kriket, gimnastik, skuasy dan banyak lagi. Angkanya dikatakan mencecah beberapa juta ringgit.

Pendedahan itu dilakukan Berita Harian. Baca di sini.

Kalau kail panjang sejengkal....

2010-09-19T14:23:00.004+08:00

Sudah lama aku tidak dapat membuat posting baru dalam blog ini. Susah juga nak kekalkan momentum sebegini...jadi aku tabik rakan-rakan blogger seperti rizalhashim dan ramai lagi yang sentiasa berupaya.

Namun daripada sudut positif, ia juga memberi alasan cukup baik untuk aku. Kerana sepanjang Ramadhan yang lalu, tiada posting baru bermakna tiada pula aku mengkritik mana-mana pihak.

Aku juga dapat meredakan rasa tersinggung, terutama daripada segelintir pihak yang terlalu taksub dengan seseorang individu pemimpin hingga mengecam aku tanpa langsung malu dengan adab serta tata susila sebagai orang timur, apatah lagi sebagai saudara seagama.

Aku titipkan olahan mengenai Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Annuar Musa sebagai nasihat kepada beliau. Tetapi ada pihak yang taksub dengan tokoh ini bingkas terus menghentam aku. Aku cuma mahu beri nasihat.

Untuk pengetahuan pihak yang menghentam, aku pernah berada 'dalam FAM' untuk tempoh hampir lima tahun. Aku tahu asam garam 'permainan politik' FAM. Tan Sri Annuar ada niat baik, samalah seperti ramai lagi barisan pemimpin yang pernah mengisi jawatan penting juga. Tetapi apa yang mungkin Tan Sri Annuar belum rasai, yang sudahpun dijadikan pengalaman oleh pemimpin yang lain, ialah betapa sukarnya untuk membuat perubahan, apatah lagi mahu memulakan revolusi.

Aku tersenyum apabila cepat Tan Sri Annuar membuat penjelasan mengenai perlantikannya. Aku 'salute' niat ikhlasnya. Aku doakan beliau berjaya.

Tetapi pada masa sama, seperti dinyatakan oleh Tan Sri Annuar, beliau perlukan masa.

Jadi, atas alasan sama juga, aku tersinggung dengan segelintir pihak yang bingkas menuding jari, menyerang tanpa alasan, semata-mata kerana 'nasihat' aku kepada Tan Sri.

Aku tahu apa yang aku katakan!

Kepada penyokong-penyokong ini, jangan terlalu taksub menyokong, lantas menyerang orang lain, jika kita tidak tahu hujung pangkalnya. FAM bukan KAFA. Banyak ranjau dan liku menanti.

Aku tidak mahu nanti terpaksa ketawa, dalam sedih, apabila nasihatku ternyata jadi kenyataan!

Fikirkanlah...

Annuar Musa mangsa 'mainan politik?'

2010-08-24T15:33:00.003+08:00

'Duka' berganda nampaknya terpaksa ditelan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA) yang juga Timbalan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Tan Sri Annuar Musa (gambar).

Sudahlah pasukannya kalah kepada Selangor pada perebutan gelaran Liga Super, nampaknya 'kemenangan awal' ketika Kongres FAM lalu juga bukan diterjemah jadi kejayaan kekal apabila Annuar nampaknya tewas dalam 'percaturan kuasa' di koridor badan induk itu.

Lihat sahaja senarai pengerusi jawatankuasa yang diputuskan Exco FAM pada mesyuarat sulung, semalam, itu buktinya.

Apa yang Annuar - sebelumnya mengatasi 'percaturan' kem diterajui Selangor untuk memintas Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad dalam perebutan jawatan timbalan presiden kedua - dapat hanyalah jadi pengerusi jawatankuasa wanita. Jawatankuasa yang boleh diibaratkan sebagai 'hidup segan, mati tak mahu.'

Annuar juga diberi tanggungjawab sebagai Pengerusi Malaysian Super League (MSL), syarikat yang diberi tanggungjawab mencari sumber kewangan menerusi penajaan untuk FAM dan Liga Malaysia.

Kenapa Annuar dianggap 'tewas?

Kerana selain dapat jawatankuasa yang 'tidak relevan,' Annuar kemudiannya dipertanggungjawab mencari wang mengisi tabung FAM, tetapi dia tidak mempunyai kuasa terhadap wang itu - kerana ia di bawah bidang kuasa jawatankuasa kewangan FAM.

Lebih sedih, sudahlah wang dicari atas nama Liga Malaysia, Annuar kemudiannya akan tahu bahawa dia juga 'tiada suara' dalam menentukan perjalanan liga, kerana itu bidang kuasa jawatankuasa pertandingan tempatan, yang dipengerusikan 'kingmaker' satu lagi, Datuk Hamidin Amin.

Nak tambah goyahkan Annuar, blogger sukan Rizal Hashim dedahkan bahawa Hamidin dan Datuk Subahan Kamal, dikatakan ada berjumpa 'secara senyap' dengan Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, dalam misi menyingkirkan setiausaha agung, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, dan digantikan dengan 'calon pilihan mereka.' Baca di sini

Jadi, selepas ditolak dan dicampur, Annuar akan sedar dia dapat 'jawatankuasa tak relevan', 'cari duit untuk orang lain belanjakan,' 'tiada suara dalam urusan perjalanan liga,' dan berdepan pula 'sekretariat FAM yang mungkin diketuai personaliti pilihan kem berbeza.'

Ibarat 'menabur garam di luka', seorang lagi tokoh dari Kelantan, Datuk Afandi Hamzah - yang berjaya mengekalkan jawatannya sebagai naib presiden - diberi satu lagi jawatankuasa yang juga kurang relevan, jawatankuasa undang-undang dan peraturan.

Ini macam kes 'orang bukan politik' mengatasi 'orang politik?' Atau 'orang bukan politik' kini dah lebih pandai berpolitik daripada 'orang politik?'.

Kita renung dan tafsirkanlah...

Senarai Pengerusi Jawatankuasa FAM:
Bola Sepak Wanita: Tan Sri Annuar Musa
Futsal & Bola Sepak Pantai: Datuk Seri Abdullah Hishan
Keselamatan: Datuk Hussin Ismail
Kewangan & Pengurusan: Sultan Ahmad Shah
Media & Perhubungan Awam: Datuk Subahan Kamal
MSL: Tan Sri Annuar Musa
Audit Dalaman: Datuk Seri Mohamed Sulaiman
Pemeriksaan, Pemantauan & Ketelusan: Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat
Pengadil: Datuk Astamam Aziz
Pengurusan Pasukan Kebangsaan: Sultan Ahmad Shah
Pertandingan Antarabangsa: Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah
Pertandingan Tempatan: Datuk Hamidin Amin
Perubatan & Sains Sukan: Dr Hamdan Khalib
Rayuan: Gnanarajah C Ayathurai
Status Pemain: Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan
Tatatertib: Datuk Taufik Razak
Teknikal & Pembangunan Belia: Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah
Tiket & Pintu: S Sivasundram
Undang-undang & Peraturan: Datuk Afandi Hamzah

Pemilihan Hamidin tidak sah?

2010-08-12T14:40:00.004+08:00

Updates:

Penjelasan daripada Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, menerusi kiriman sms:

'Salam Khawari. Actually, anybody can contest, as long as they are being nominated by a Member. The new FAM Statute is effective officially on 31 July. Hamidin's case, there was nothing wrong.

"Only at the next Election Congress in 2014, an Exco Member cannot be a delegate. Other than that, anybody can be a candidate, as long as he or she being nominated by a Member...'

Original posting:-

Keraguan kini timbul mengenai status Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor (FAS), Datuk Hamidin Amin (2 dari kanan), yang terpilih dengan undi kedua terbanyak untuk mengisi jawatan Naib Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Kenapa?

Sebab mengikut perlembagaan FAM, yang digunapakai untuk pencalonan calon-calon ke jawatan itu, calon-calon yang mahu bertanding harus daripada kalangan ahli-ahli yang menduduki Majlis di ahli gabungan.

Dalam hal Hamidin ini, dia adalah Setiausaha Agung FAS yang menerima gaji. Jadi, dia bukan Ahli Majlis FAS, tetapi ex-officio yang berada dalam Majlis kerana tugas dan tanggungjawabnya. Dengan status sebegitu, Hamidin tidak mempunyai undi dalam Majlis FAS.

Statusnya sama seperti Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel masa dia jadi Setiausaha Agung FAM dulu. Dia pun terima gaji dari FAM, jadi dia tak ada undi jugak. Jadi, dia bukan ahli Majlis FAM.

Jika terbukti Hamidin bukan Ahli Majlis FAS, ia sekali gus bermakna pencalonannya untuk bertanding jawatan di peringkat FAM itu tidak sah. Jika tak sah pencalonan, kemenangan itu pun boleh dikira tak sah jugalah.

Aku bukan nak mengungkit atau jadikan Hamidin sebagai sasaran, apatah lagi statusnya sebagai antara 'kingmaker' bola sepak tempatan.

Tapi jika terbukti suara-suara yang timbul mempertikaikan kesahihan pencalonan itu ada kebenarannya, ia bermakna Hamidin tidak boleh berfungsi sebagai Naib Presiden FAM.

FAM juga tidak boleh memilih tutup mata, tambahan pula ketika badan induk itu sebelumnya mencanangkan kejayaan meminda perlembagaan yang kini lebih selari dengan FIFA.

Jadi cadangan aku, eloklah perkara ini diselidiki sebaik mungkin. Jangan ada pihak cuba memutarbelitkan keadaan, sebaliknya kita selidiklah fakta yang ada. Itu penting.

Jangan kita cuba 'halalkan' benda yang tak betul, semata-mata kerana kita terlepas pandang! Jika terbukti 'halal', Alhamdulillah...

Nakhoda popular, tak pandai kemudi?

2010-08-02T11:05:00.002+08:00

Masih ada dalam pemikiran yang mengganggu, selepas melihatkan barisan kepimpinan baru Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM).

Paling utama, mengenai nasib Liga Malaysia yang membabitkan Liga Super, Liga Perdana dan Piala Presiden.

Aku nak tanya, siapa yang akan diberi tanggungjawab jadi 'nakhoda' untuk mengemudi perjalanan pertandingan? Siapa yang benar-benar layak? Yang mampu ketepikan kepentingan dan agenda persatuan negeri sendiri demi kepentingan bola sepak negara?

Semua orang tahu, untuk cari pemain terbaik, kita perlu ada liga dan pertandingan yang mantap. Pertandingan pula perlu ditadbir dengan baik - berdasarkan keputusan-keputusan terbaik yang diputuskan oleh jawatankuasa pertandingan.

Persoalannya kini, siapa nak jadi Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM? Tradisinya, jawatan ini diisi oleh salah seorang Naib Presiden. Tetapi minta maaflah, daripada empat yang terpilih, aku tak nampak ada yang cukup berwibawa.

Mari kita lihat satu persatu:

Datuk Subahan Kamal - ahli politik yang punya komitmen pelbagai. Tidak mungkin akan ada masa untuk duduk memikirkan butiran-butiran kecil dan halus untuk menjadikan liga lebih kompetitif. Jadi penolong pengurus pasukan negara bolehlah, sebab tuntutan masanya tidak akan sehebat untuk jadi pengerusi jawatankuasa pertandingan.

Datuk Hamidin Amin - kingmaker yang tidak boleh 'kikis bau Selangor'. Hamidin memang sentiasa perjuangkan nasib dan kepentingan Selangor, itu tugas dia. Jadi, susah untuk nampak dia jadi pengerusi jawatankuasa pertandingan. Sebab kalau keputusan yang dibuat baik pun, dia tak boleh lari daripada dituding jari sebagai nak jaga kepentingan Selangor.

Datuk Afandi Hamzah - berkesan sebagai pengerusi jawatankuasa peraturan. Buktinya? FAM dah berjaya ditukar ikut perlembagaan Fifa - kerja yang bukan senang sebab ia bermakna kuasa persatuan negeri dalam badan induk sudah kurang. Tapi untuk jadi pengerusi pertandingan, aku rasa dia belum cukup kuat.

Datuk Abdullah Hishan - lagi lah tak boleh. Bukan nak menafikannya, tetapi Hishan must understand that ' berkokok di luar lebih mudah' daripada jika dah duduk kat dalam FAM. I know!

So, sebagai gambaran kegagalan barisan kepimpinan baru FAM kali ini, aku ramalkan kemungkinan BUKAN Naib Presiden akan jadi pengerusi jawatankuasa pertandingan. Itu akan jadi polemik wajar untuk kita fikirkan -apakah pemilihan FAM itu lebih bersikap 'undi calon popular, bukan undi calon terbaik' yang menepati kehendak FAM?

Fikir-fikirkanlah...

Muka baru, revolusi baru FAM?

2010-07-31T21:30:00.003+08:00

(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?

2010-07-29T10:06:00.002+08:00

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!

2010-07-24T15:56:00.002+08:00

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?'

2010-07-19T10:57:00.006+08:00

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!

Journalist vs Blogger

2010-05-25T08:23:00.002+08:00

What is the difference between a blogger and a journalist?

Whilst journalist will have to be go through his editor, who act as his 'gatekeeper', before his news is published, blogger does not have such 'restrictions.'

I am, again, skating on thin ice here. Because blogging is something that is widely accepted now.

It just that, being someone who was raised in the nitty gritty of the traditional media before I embarked onto the blogosphere, I am 'concerned and worried' about the 'half-truths' that had been dished out by certain quarters lately.

I am not against gossip or whatever bits of news that you heard from the grapevine. I did that too. But before I post something, I normally will do my own checking first.

Just that lately, there are bloggers who simply post something which they casually heard. Or commenting, making stand, influencing or even criticising based on what they would like to believe.

Take, for example, trip by technical group comprised of reps from National Sports Council, Football Association of Malaysia and Ministry of Education to Everton football academy to check out the place, last month.

That trip was quickly branded as a waste of money, that Malaysia should not pick Everton, with one pundit - who obviously doesn't have much information on the topic - quickly wants to be clever and suggested that 'Barcelona is the better destination!'.

Let me ask you something - when you want to buy a car, what you normally do? You go to the showroom and have a good look at it first, right? How about if you want to marry someone? You check the person out, too, right?

So, if that's the case, why must certain quarters make a lot of noise when something is still just at the 'merisik' (finding out) stage? Unless they have hidden agendas which require all 'that noise' in order to realise it!.

To make it worse, little birds whisper to me that at Everton was never a shoo-in. Everton was just a few of the places which are being scrutinised. At the end, Everton might not be the one at all.

But I can also foresee that this certain quarters, if its true that Everton will not be the one, will claim credit that they ACTUALLY prevented the choice.

This is the beauty of blogosphere.

You can criticise something that not yet existed, crucify people whose sins were just to lead the 'merisik' delegation and then claim credit for something which is NOT supposed to happen in the first place! FANTASTIC!!!

Let's be objective, la.

That's why, for all the clamours of the modern era and freedom that the blogosphere provides, it has not won the battle of credibility that still tilts towards the traditional media.

Antara Azizul dan Chong Wei

2010-04-27T13:20:00.004+08:00

Updates:

Azizulhasni Awang telah dipilih sebagai pemenang Anugerah Olahragawan Kebangsaan 2009 pada majlis penuh gilang gemilang, malam tadi.

Azizul, dalam ucapan sebaik diumumkan selaku pemenang, berjanji akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk menjelmakan pingat emas pertama negara pada temasya Sukan Olimpik di London pada 2012 nanti.

Original posting:

Antara dua jaguh sukan negara ini - Azizulhasni Awang dan Lee Chong Wei - tidak banyak jadi pemisah.

Daripada segi komitmen terhadap tanggungjawab selaku atlit utama negara, kedua-dua memang dipuji dan jadi ikutan.

Kesungguhan Azizul memang tidak pernah dipertikai. Chong Wei pula diakui sebagai atlit yang sentiasa mahu memperbaiki persembahannya.

Cuma malam ini, akan ada penentuan terpaksa dilakukan. Kedua-duanya adalah calon utama untuk memenangi Anugerah Olahragawan Kebangsaan 2009.

Apa yang pasti, walau siapapun yang menang, kedua-duanya memang berhak diberi pengiktirafan!

Astro Arena - Nadi Sukan Malaysia

2010-03-18T23:01:00.005+08:00

Astro Arena - dengan 'tagline' Nadi Sukan Malaysia - dilancarkan secara rasminya oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, di Wisma Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (OCM), pagi tadi. Himpunan jaguh-jaguh sukan negara - daripada dahulu hingga sekarang - turut hadir menggemilangkan majlis pelancaran itu.

Bersama 'bos' saya, Pengarang Urusan Astro Arena, Dez Corkhill

Saya bertuah dan gembira kerana berpeluang menjadi 'ahli keluarga perintis' kepada apa yang mungkin boleh dianggap sebagai satu lembaran sejarah baru sukan negara.

Astro Arena, di saluran 801 dan 'percuma' kepada semua pelanggan Astro - termasuk yang hanya menikmati pakej asas keluarga - adalah saluran sukan pertama tempatan yang akan beroperasi 24 jam dan menyiarkan majoriti perkembangan sukan tempatan apabila mencecah tahap operasi maksimum nanti.

Saluran ini akan ke udara pada 26hb Mac ini. Antara paparannya - buletin sukan 'Nadi Arena' yang akan disiarkan setiap hari pada jam 7.30 malam. Saya punya watak dan pembabitan secara langsung dengan buletin yang dipertanggungjawab kepada Jabatan Berita Astro Arena.

Turut dalam 'menu' sebaik ke udara nanti ialah rancangan bual bicara 'Kafe Sukan' setiap malam Isnin, rancangan khas bertopikkan bola sepak 'Formasi' setiap malam Rabu dan 'Aktifpedia' yang akan memberi peluang kepada penonton untuk lebih mengenali persatuan-persatuan sukan dan atlit-atlit negara daripada pelbagai jenis sukan - baik sukan utama mahupun sukan yang mungkin sekian lama dipinggirkan.

Dari kiri - Wan Norbazly (wartawan Astro Arena), saya, Datuk Rohana Rozhan (Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Measat Broadcast Network System), Tunku Imran (Presiden OCM), Datuk Ahmad Shabery, Venu Ramadass (Pengurus Saluran Astro Arena) dan Ahmed Faisal Jamal (Penerbit Nadi Arena).

Terima kasih

2010-02-22T21:44:00.002+08:00

Kini tahulah aku tentang apa yang dinamakan sebagai 'pengorbanan tanpa mengejar balasan.'

Dalam hidup, ada kalanya kita beruntung kerana diberi kesempatan untuk belajar dan merasai pengalaman serta pendedahan baru. Bagi aku, antara rintisan peluang terbaru yang hadir ialah sepanjang tempoh sama-sama berusaha untuk menjayakan penganjuran Majlis Anugerah Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus-KBS yang berjaya dilangsungkan, Sabtu lalu, 20 Februari 2010.

Alhamdulillah, semuanya berlangsung dengan lancar. Di luarannya, segalanya nampak sempurna. Ramai yang gembira, ramai juga yang terharu dengan beberapa 'sentuhan peribadi' yang SAM jelmakan.

Namun banyak juga cerita 'di sebalik tabir' yang mencipta gelisah, menimbulkan rasa panik, mahupun mencetus detik yang ada kalanya membuatkan darah menyirap ke muka.

Cuma pada kesempatan ini, aku mahu mengingati semua 'yang baik-baik sahaja.'

Aku telah katakan ketika memberi ucapan sebelumnya. Cuma kali ini, aku mahu rakamkan juga penghargaan di laman blog ini:

Saudara Eric Samuel dan Asan Ahmad - dua naib presidenku yang juga Pengerusi Bersama Majlis Anugerah SAM-100Plus-KBS 2009 - pujian ikhlas di atas kegigihan, kesungguhan, semangat kental dan ketabahan menangani segala macam cabaran yang menjelma. Anda berdua punya watak dan kualiti selaku pemimpin yang wajar diketengahkan. Anda berdua bukti betapa masih ada yang rela berkorban, tanpa langsung mengejar sebarang habuan!

Juga terima kasih dan pujian buat seluruh ahli-ahli exco lainnya. Anda semua tahu bahawa anda sudah memainkan peranan masing-masing. Berat sama-sama kita pikul, ringan sama-sama kita jinjing.

Terima kasih juga kepada ahli-ahli SAM yang 'sudi untuk kembali hadir' ke majlis kali ini. Ia bukti anda semua masih menyokong SAM. Betapa SAM masih relevan, kerana anda semua masih mempercayainya.

Aku juga terharu dengan kesanggupan barisan pemimpin nombor satu sebelumnya - Datuk Fauzi Omar, Shaukei Kahar, Mustakim Aminuddin dan Abu Bakar Atan - untuk menerima jemputan hadir ke majlis kali ini. Sumbangan tuan-tuan kepada SAM amat besar dan tidak ternilai harganya.

Terima kasih. Banyak yang aku pelajari. Semua ini adalah penambah pengalaman.

Thank you 100Plus. SAM Awards 2009 is officially on!

2010-02-12T11:07:00.004+08:00

In a well-attended Press Conference, yesterday, Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) renew it's partnership with 100Plus for the annual 'SAM-100Plus Awards' ceremony. This year, the awards ceremony will be held on the 20th February 2010 at the PJ Hilton.

100Plus was represented by Datuk Kamal Harun and Jen Yin. SAM Exco, led by myself, were present. Overall, there were more than 30 media personnel who came and cover the press conference to officially launch the 'SAM Awards 2009', yesterday.

For more details, check out sammalaysia.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Berita Harian

2010-02-08T12:02:00.003+08:00

Honestly, I never thought that I will go down this road again.

When I accepted Berita Harian offer to rejoin them in November 2005, I thought that the second homecoming will be a permanent one. I was happy to be back in familiar surrounding, meeting and working together again with friends who I know very well.

But life, and Allah, have other plans for me. The opportunity comes for me to expand my horizon. To utilise whatever knowledge I have, the experiences that I had accumulated, the networking that I have cultivated over the years, in the new environment.

To Berita Harian, and all the good people that I have the pleasure and honour to work with - especially in the Sports Desk - I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Berita Harian will always have special place in my heart. This is an organisation which presented me with my very first opportunity to embark into journalism. I was only 18, fresh out from school, when I started my sojourn in the newspaper.

My sincere thanks to my first boss, Zian Johari who steered me into the right direction. My second boss, Datuk Hishamuddin Aun for allowing me the freedom to grow as a journalist and writer.

In mid-2001, I left Berita Harian. Briefly, for about four and a half years, to join FA of Malaysia - a period which allowed me to learn many other things - especially in the management of people.

Sincere thanks to Badrulhisham Othman - my 'third boss' - for initiating and opening doors for me to come back to Berita Harian. Last, but not least, to my boss and close friend, Norbakti Alias, thank you so much for your confidence in me.

Yesterday was my last 'working day' in Berita Harian. Overall, I had the opportunity of serving Berita Harian for more than 15 years. I must say that it was difficult to say my goodbyes. I will need a few more days to pack my stuffs.

I would like to apologise for any mistakes and wrongdoings. For any individuals which I might have hurt, intentionally or unintentionally, I humbly seek your forgiveness. I would like 'the bridge' that I have with Berita Harian and all the good people there, to remain strong for the rest of my life.

Thank you, once again.

Labours of love

2010-02-03T09:18:00.005+08:00

It's been a while, even by my own 'lazy' standard, since I updated this blog. Been too busy.

Firstly, I have been worrying about the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) 2009 Awards Ceremony, which will be held on the 20th February 2010. The first hurdle was overcome when Deputy PM, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, agreed to be the Guest of Honour.

Now the hard work. Been having weekly meeting with my overworked SAM Exco to prepare for this event. Must give credit to my deputy, Haji Ibrahim Abu Bakar, for his role in securing Muhyiddin's presence.

Loads of credits to my two VP - Eric Samuel and Asan Ahmad, who are the main organisers. They have been visiting the event venuescountless times, discussing, haggling, tormenting etc etc, in our effort to make this event a success.

The rest of SAM Exco are excellent too! I sincerely hope all the time and efforts that we invested in this will produce the desired results.

I, too, sincerely hope the Members will help us make this an even 'GRANDER' event than last year!

More details at sammalaysia.blogspot.com.

Bayang yang ditinggalkan

2010-01-20T09:28:00.004+08:00

Tiada lagi dia cuba mengelak. Malah diajukan persoalan itu, Lee Chong Wei (gambar) langsung tidak teragak-agak untuk menjawabnya.

Jelas, sudah tiba masa untuk dia tidak lagi hidup dalam 'bayang-bayang' Lin Dan. Ikuti luahan hati Chong Wei, di sini.

'Kebanggaan Seorang Anak Malaysia''

2010-01-14T09:10:00.006+08:00

Terima kasih kepada kecanggihan teknologi terkini, aku dapat berhubung kembali dengan ramai rakan-rakan lamaku, daripada seluruh pelusuk rantau dan dunia. Ramai yang kembali dapat saling berkomunikasi, saling mengirim berita dan memaklumkan perkembangan terkini.

Antaranya ialah rakan sepersekolahan aku selama lima tahun di Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan (SEMESTI), Azmi Abdul Rahim (gambar).

Apa yang mahu aku kongsikan di sini ialah bukti betapa, biar di mana sekalipun kita berada, semangat cintakan Malaysia sebagai tanahair - dan perkembangan sukannya, terutama bola sepak - tidak pernah terhakis dalam sanubari.

Azmi jelas antara 'generasi terpilih masa depan' dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia. Jika tidak, masakan ketika ini dia sedang mengikuti pengajian di universiti ketenteraan Amerika Syarikat di Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Namun apa yang mahu aku kongsikan ialah semangat 'Jalur Gemilang' yang dijelmakankannya biarpun beribu-ribu batu jauhnya daripada tanahair.

Ketika skuad bola sepak negara berjuang di Laos, semangat mereka dikongsi Azmi. Ketika anak buah K Rajagobal mencipta kejutan dengan menewaskan Thailand untuk mara ke separuh akhir, dia memaklumkan kepada aku betapa akhirnya dia dapat mentertawakan rakan sepengajian daripada Thailand.

Ketika Malaysia turun menentang Laos di separuh akhir dan Vietnam pada final, di depan pintu biliknya tergantung megah Jalur Gemilang. Malah sebaik Malaysia meraih pingat emas, Azmi berdiri di dalam kelasnya dan dengan bangga berkongsi berita kejayaan itu dengan rakan-rakan lain yang hadirnya daripada seluruh pelusuk dunia.

Beberapa hari lalu, skuad bola sepak negara 'kalah melawan' kepada Emiriyah Arab Bersatu (UAE) 0-1 pada kelayakan Piala Asia, angkara gol lewat lawan pada masa kecederaan.....Ini yang dikongsinya menerusi emel kepada aku, pagi ini, yang bertajuk 'Kebanggaan Seorang Anak Malaysia'

'Salam bro,
Pagi tadi, setelah a few days tak berjumpa rakan officer di negara lain disebabkan kesibukan masing-masing, saya terserempak dengan officer dari UAE. Dia memang kurnag hendak menegur saya sebelum ini...almaklumlah orang kaya...
Jadi bila dia menahan saya yang sedang berjalan, ia amat mengejutkan saya. Rupa-rupanya dia nak mengucapkan tahniah kerana peningkatan mendadak skuad bola sepak Malaysia...dan dia kata amat susah untuk mengalahkan Malaysia walaupun bermain di tempat mereka sendiri...
Dia juga dengar bahawa skuad Malaysia itu merupakan muka baru...dan saya confirmkan berita itu betul kepada dia...
Dia kata, kalau sekarang pemain muda Malaysia sudah bermain begitu, satu hari nanti Malaysia akan muncul salah satu kuasa bola sepak Asia...
Alhamdulillah...saya tersenyum...dan dalam hati saya, usaha sudah menampakkan hasil...cuma kita perlu terus ke hadapan, tidak perlu menoleh ke belakang lagi...
Kilang sudah meneruskan produk pemain berkualiti...dan satu perkara selain dari skil..pemain muda kita mempunyai kecergasan dan semangat juang yang luar biasa...yang tiada atau jarang ada pada pemain kebangsaan sebelum ini..."

Buat pemain-pemain negara, harus ini jadi sebagai sesuatu yang wajar kekal dalam ingatan!

RM10 million only ka?

2010-01-13T08:45:00.003+08:00

He came late. After the Prime Minister.

Not long after his arrival, his voice could be heard complaining, "Only RM10 million? I thought Government will give RM50 million. I was there when the Sports Minister announced it."

Further check, however, revealed that he was not even in the SAME COUNTRY when the Sports Minister announced the setting up of the fund. He was in Laos when the minister made the announcement in Malaysia.

What to say? Dunno la. Better don't say too much. I am not trained in the art of 'tomoi'.

It's not that difficult, right?

2010-01-07T22:33:00.004+08:00

Football is a beautiful game. It evokes passion.

That's the best explanation that I could come up with when, out of a sudden, my so-called 'soft stand' on the suggestion to send national under-23 football players was being highlighted and questioned by few of my fellow bloggers.

Take this one from blogger Level-Field, Tony Mariadass...

"Khawari's posting simply stumped me because he was taking a different stand from Rizal and he was actually pleading to give the Sports Minister, Ahmad Shabery Cheek, a chance to go ahead with the idea.

"Khawari has been known to be critical writer especially when it comes to soccer and the powers that be.

"But his soft stand really took me by surprise. Does he know something the rest do not know. And Rizal's comment to Khawari, where the former virtually apologised for his earlier stand and said that he should have checked with the Minister, again suggested that something is classified information for the 'chosen ones' only."

To my friend Tony, thank you. I am, honestly, flattered. But rest assured, sir, I am not 'the chosen ones.'

Let me try to explain why I choose this stand.

When I first heard the idea, my initial reaction was to oppose it. I have been in this line for more than 15 years, and believe me when I say that 'I have heard and seen it all.'

I am sceptical, sure. But at the same time, I would like to believe that out of what many people called this 'ridiculous idea', something good might emerge from it. Maybe not all that players will be able to utilise their chances with clubs in Europe, but a few maybe.

I chose to be different not to be popular, neither because I like to be the subject of ridicule by my fellow bloggers.

The sole reason? I was there in Vientiane. I was a witness to something that many people thought was not possible. I agree with Tony that we should not gone overboard with it. But I also saw something which I have not seen in the many national teams that I covered since the early 1990s.

I would like to believe, again. Call me a romantic, a fool, or whatever that you like. As mentioned in my earlier posting, all that I would ask is for us to give the idea 'a benefit of doubt.'

Please also note that I reserved my rights to condemn it if it's failed. But at this moment, let they try to make it work. It's not that difficult, right?

I beg to differ, LC

2010-01-05T11:20:00.002+08:00

I have high regard for my close friend, blogger Loose Cannon. My respect for him are enormous and huge. He knows that. As friends, we are close. But we quarrel a lot too. Professionally, that is.

Today, my friend Loose Cannon feels that Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek has erred when he announced the move to send our National Under 23 players to England for attachment stint.

I would, however, like to give this Minister a benefit of doubt.

Yes, the same thing had been done before, in fact, countless times by different Sports Ministers who happen to need some publicity or to justify their 'shopping trip' to England.

This time around, as mentioned by the Minister, the emphasis will be on the effort to secure trial period with clubs in Europe. If the players are good enough, then clubs are free to sign them. No worries about contractual obligations or compensation payment, because FAM and Ministry own this players after 'buying out' their contracts from state or club teams.

For a start, a group of 30 players will be identified.

A friend of mine used to say 'you can't expect different results by doing the same thing.' True. But don't you think its too early for us to criticise when we dont really know what will they be doing?

We are pessimistic when it comes to our football. Remember the lesson from Vientiane? How many actually dare to predict confidently that we will win the gold medal in Laos? My esteemed colleague himself predict their challenge will end at the group stage. But we, pleasantly, were proven wrong.

I would like togive this idea a chance. Let's see what difference can this Minister bring to these approach. If he later proves to be just another 'shopping trip' minister, then we will know what to do.

* I am, however, opposed to the idea of putting the under-23 football team under the 'Road to London 2012' program. That is going too far in term of ridiculous idea, Mr Minister!

Selamat Tahun Baru 2010!

2009-12-31T17:31:00.002+08:00

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

2009-12-03T20:08:00.004+08:00

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!

2009-12-03T20:04:00.002+08:00

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!

2009-11-25T09:07:00.003+08:00

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

2009-11-18T09:17:00.002+08:00

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

2009-11-08T14:00:00.005+08:00

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?

2009-11-06T07:50:00.004+08:00

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

2009-11-03T11:15:00.003+08:00

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?

2009-11-02T20:42:00.004+08:00

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

2009-10-30T09:08:00.004+08:00

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'

2009-10-22T10:54:00.002+08:00

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...

2009-10-21T16:34:00.002+08:00

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

2009-10-19T14:50:00.005+08:00

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?'

2009-10-15T00:27:00.004+08:00

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

2009-10-14T17:38:00.007+08:00

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'

2009-10-11T17:43:00.004+08:00

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'

2009-10-05T12:12:00.005+08:00

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

2009-09-25T01:54:00.005+08:00

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?

2009-09-24T23:39:00.003+08:00

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

2009-09-24T17:29:00.004+08:00

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

2009-09-17T10:12:00.003+08:00

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

2009-09-17T09:49:00.006+08:00

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?

2009-09-14T15:30:00.002+08:00

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?

2009-09-11T00:51:00.005+08:00

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

2009-09-07T11:18:00.003+08:00

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?

2009-09-01T16:37:00.005+08:00

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

2009-08-27T23:48:00.004+08:00

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

2009-08-23T23:07:00.008+08:00

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

2009-08-21T11:33:00.008+08:00

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

2009-08-21T09:54:00.004+08:00

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

2009-08-18T20:49:00.003+08:00

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

2009-08-17T00:00:00.003+08:00

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

2009-08-10T23:16:00.008+08:00

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?

2009-08-10T10:06:00.005+08:00

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

2009-08-09T19:08:00.005+08:00

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

2009-08-04T08:53:00.003+08:00

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?

2009-08-03T23:45:00.006+08:00

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'

2009-07-31T10:55:00.003+08:00

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

2009-07-30T07:35:00.003+08:00

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?

2009-07-27T23:34:00.002+08:00

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'

2009-07-27T00:27:00.005+08:00

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'?

2009-07-26T21:21:00.009+08:00

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)

2009-07-24T16:52:00.005+08:00

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...

2009-07-24T15:42:00.005+08:00

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...

2009-07-24T15:06:00.004+08:00

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!