Untungkah Malaysia?

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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!

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

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!

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...'

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'?

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'

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.

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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

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!

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!