Do it at your own risk, la!

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

But wait a minute.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laluan 'lega' skuad negara

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

Ikuti ulasan laluan di Berita Harian, di sini.

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

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

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

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

A night to remember

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

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

Negri Sembilan players and official celebrating their win over Kelantan

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

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

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

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

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

Kelantan or Negri Sembilan?

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


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

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

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

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

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

Malaysia Cup! Our Cup!

Betul ke nie? Aku tak percaya

Benarkan semua ini akan berlaku?

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

Baca di sini, di sini, dan di sini.

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

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

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

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

What should I do?

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

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

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

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

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