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AFF SUZUKI CUP 2020 OFFICIAL DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY (SEPT 21)

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) had announced that the
official draw for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 will take place on Tuesday, 21 September at 15:00 MYT (GMT+8).
The draw will be hosted as a virtual event for the first time in AFF Suzuki Cup history.
As the ASEAN region continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, AFF has decided that for the safety and wellbeing of all involved, the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 Official Draw will take place virtually from a studio with the majority of the AFF Member Associations and all stakeholders joining the proceedings remotely from their respective countries.
Fans can watch the proceeding live on the following channels and platforms;
Indonesia
o Champions TV
o Vidio App

• Malaysia
o Astro: Arena Ch 801, Supersport, Go(Digital), Sooka (Digital)
o RTM: RTM Sports HD, RTM Digital platforms

• Vietnam
o Next Media’s social digital channels: Next Sports, VFF channel
o Vietnam Television: channel VTV6 and/or VTV5
o Vietnam Cable PayTV (VTVCAB) service : “ON Sports +” and “On Football”
o Hochiminh City Television: channel HTV The Thao (HTV Sports)
o Binhduong Television : channel BTV2.

AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 Social Media platforms
• AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 website: https://affsuzukicup.com/2020/fan-zone/group-draw
• AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/E7F6fiJ5sic
• AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/affsuzukicup/

AFF President, Major General Khiev Sameth said that the safety of everyone involved in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 is their top priority.

“We cannot compromise on the health of our teams, partners and stakeholders
during these uncertain times. As such, we have decided to host the Official Draw as a virtual event. We feel it is important to proceed with the draw to give teams clarity on their tournament groupings and opponents so as to better prepare for the tournament taking place at the end of the year. We can’t wait to see how the draw pans out, and the action that will unfold in a couple of months,” he added.

Meanwhile Managing Director South East Asia at SPORTFIVE, Malcolm Thorpe said: “This is the first time that AFF will be hosting a virtual official draw for the AFF Suzuki Cup and we are delighted to be able to play a part in bringing this to life. We fully support AFF in changing the official draw to a virtual one to prioritise the health and safety of all involved. With the advance of live streaming and virtual hosting technologies, the opportunity
to deliver a creative solution for the virtual draw has been exciting and we hope that fans from around the region will tune in to be a part of that experience.”

In addition to the Official Draw, there will also be a short pre-post-draw show supported by event sponsor Midea, where Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad will share his insights to the tournament history and give his views on the official draw results and his predictions for some of the upcoming matches in December.

To celebrate this important milestone for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020, Official Timekeeper Sponsor Casio will be launching custom designed watches inspired by some of the participating countries’ national symbols.

Every player from each of the participating national teams will receive a Casio G-SHOCK watch as a memento for competing in the tournament.

The AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 has been scheduled to take place between 5th December 2021- 1st January 2022.

TBPR BUKAN PASUKAN ‘HINGUSAN’

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SEPANG, 19 Sept – Pasukan Tune Boss Pink Racing (TBPR) mungkin gagal untuk menutup kempen pada kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia dengan satu lagi kejutan hari ini, namun disebalik kegagalan itu, mereka tetap melangkah bergaya meninggalkan Litar Sepang Utara yang telah mengukir momen terindah buat TBPR minggu ini.

Dua skrip berbeza telah mereka lalui minggu ini ketika mengharungi saingan Pusingan 3 dan 4 kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia – pertamanya, TBPR berhasil mencipta kejutan selepas meraih kedudukan podium sulung semalam (Pusingan 3) dan keduanya mengalami detik duka apabila dua pelumbanya terjatuh ketika mengharungi perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 pada Pusingan 4.

Begitupun, sebagai pendatang baharu dalam kejuaraan tersebut, TBPR wajar dijulang sebagai wira atas kemampuan mereka meraih kemenangan podium, sekali gus mengatasi cabaran daripada barisan pencabar mereka yang lebih berpengalaman.

Hari ini, nasib mungkin tidak menyebelahi mereka selepas dua pelumbanya, Mohd Harith Farhan Baharin dan Siti Norafizah Mohamad atau Fifi terjatuh ketika perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 itu baharu memasuki lap kedua.

Dalam perlumbaan, insiden seperti itu memang sering berlaku kepada mana-mana pelumba terutamanya ketika keadaan litar basah dan licin.

Insiden tersebut sudah pasti mengecewakan dua pelumba tersebut terutamanya Harith Farhan yang menanam tekad untuk mengulangi penyudah podium yang dilakarnya semalam ketika mengharungi saingan Pusingan 3.

Begitupun, ia sedikit terubat selepas seorang lagi pelumba TBPR, Saiful Azhari Muhamad berjaya menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan ketujuh dengan masa 12:52.534 saat (s).

Pencapaian tersebut merupakan permulaan terbaik buat Saiful yang merupakan anggota baharu TBPR pada pusingan 3 dan 4 ini –  sekurang-kurangnya dia berjaya memungut mata buat pasukannya.

Ketika perlumbaan akhir itu berlangsung, tiga pelumba TBPR itu tampil dengan rentak yang meyakinkan, malah kekal konsisten berada dalam kelompok hadapan.

Namun, malang tidak berbau apabila Fifi dan Harith tiba-tiba terjatuh, sekali gus terkeluar daripada persaingan.

Insiden-insiden duka seperti itu tidak harus disesali, sebaliknya dijadikan input oleh TBPR ke arah mematangkan lagi prestasi, kemampuan, keupayaan serta keyakinan diri seluruh warga kerja dalam pasukan.

Jika dilihat secara menyeluruh, minggu ini boleh dianggap sebagai minggu cemerlang buat pasukan TBPR ketika ramai yang tidak memandang mereka sebagai pencabar terkuat.

Namun, pasukan yang usianya masih ‘remaja’ ini ternyata sudah mempunyai kemampuan untuk mencabar pasukan-pasukan besar yang sudah sejak sekian lama bersaing di Cub Prix.

Penyudahnya, TBPR meninggalkan Litar Sepang Utara dengan menggengam sebuah trofi menerusi kemenangan Harith Farhan yang menduduki tempat ketiga pada saingan Pusingan 3 semalam dan ia dilihat sebagai pembuka langkah buat mereka untuk terus melakar kejutan dalam pusingan seterusnya.

Pencapaian Saiful pada penampilan pertamanya dengan TBPR hari ini juga memberi mesej positif buat pasukan yang dimiliki Nur Atikah Azwar itu bahawa mereka kini sedang melalui satu proses untuk menjadi pencabar terkuat di Cub Prix.

Perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 itu dimenangi Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman (Ipone YY Pang Racing Team) dengan merekodkan masa 12:43.707s manakala pelumba pasukan Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor, Md Aliff Danial Md Asri di tempat kedua dengan catatan masa 12:51.018s.

Tempat ketiga menjadi milik pelumba pasukan ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team, Md Hafiza Rofa yang mencatatkan masa 12:52.83s.

Dalam kategori Wira, pelumba pasukan TBPR, Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizan nampaknya sudah mula mengorak langkah dan hari ini dia berjaya memungut satu mata pada perlumbaan akhir.

Ia satu perkembangan yang baik buat pelumba muda berasal dari Perak itu yang masih ‘menyimpan’ sikap percaya dirinya dalam beberapa pusingan sebelum ini.

Selepas berakhirnya saingan Pusingan 3 dan 4 hari ini, TBPR kini turun ke kedudukan kelima keseluruhan bagi kategori berpasukan dengan 49 mata manakala bagi kategori pelumba, Hartih Farhan berada di kedudukan ketujuh dengan mengumpul 30 mata.

Fifi pula berada di kedudukan ke-10 dengan 19 mata manakala Saiful menghuni tangga ke-16 selepas mengutip 9 mata hari ini.

Pusingan 5 dan 6 kejuaraan ini dijadualkan berlangsung di Terengganu pada 1 hingga 3 Oktober nanti.

SARAWAK UNITED SENT REELING WITH FINES AND SUSPENSIONS

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PETALING JAYA, Sept 18 – Newly promoted Sarawak United has been virtually left crippled by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) Disciplinary Board, chaired by Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, with a spate of suspensions and hefty fines on players and officials, for various offences in the match against Negeri Sembilan at the KLFA Stadium, Cheras, on Sept 10.
In an ill-tempered match, Negeri Sembilan edged Sarawak United 1-0 in a top of the table Premier League clash – a match that was the focus of the football fraternity as both teams are in battle for the title.
While the Disciplinary Board came down hard on the Sarawak United players and officials, what about referee Kamil Zakaria and other match officials? Kamil Zakaria was cleared of any wrong doing when he was the main actor in the scenario.
What about the Sarawak defender Badrul Affendy who was elbowed and left with a deep gash on his right eyebrow.
Frantic appeals by the Sarawak United players were just ignored with Francis Kone netting the winner with a header for Negeri Sembilan’s win following the incident. It was this situation that “worked up” the Sarawak United players and led to the after match scenario.
No one is questioning the outcome of the match but has the FAM given a thought for his poor handling of the match. It was a big match in every sense and the two teams will now only know their fate as to will win the title when the final Premier League matches are played this Tuesday.
Negeri Sembilan will be at home to Police at the Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi, Seremban while Sarawak United travel to Johor Bahru for the away match against JDT II at the Larkin Stadium.
What about the match officials who blundered in Negeri Sembilan’s defeat to Kelantan FC in Kota Bharu by allowing five substitutions. This shows the referee and the match officials were ignorant of the rules and yet allowed to officiate matches.
The match officials were not named but a report by the FAM said they (without naming them) have been suspended.
Kelantan FC was fined RM30,000 for the folly of the match officials. That fine imposed by the FAM hurts. Do some soul searching FAM and stop protecting the match officials.
Referees must be respected, says FAM Referees Committee chairman Datuk S. Sivasundaram,  but do the referees respect teams when the whistle is the all powerful tool that has often been abused by them?
Are the referees and match officials the so called “untouchables”? This is ruining the game in the country. It is not accusing the referees just for the sake of accusing them (but there a couple of them) who don’t deserve to be match officials.
No doubt we have have made the grade as Fifa referees who have made the grade to officiate at major international tournaments but there are only a handful of them. We salute them.
The Disciplinary Board found Sharbinee Allawee guilty for gross indiscipline and was fined RM7,000 while Badrul Affendy was handed a RM4,000 fine and banned for four matches while Amer Saideli was fined RM2,000 and suspended for two matches.
Head coach E. Elavarasan was slapped with a hefty RM10,000 fine apart from a 12 months suspension (suspended).
Another team official Abang Fomay was fined RM10,000 with two match suspension. Another official Rudy Bujang was given a six-month suspension with a RM10,000 fine.
All suspensions can be appealed but heavier sentences await for repeat offenders.

HARITH FARHAN TUNAIKAN IMPIAN PODIUM TUNE BOSS PINK RACING

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SEPANG, 18 Sept – “Sasaran kami untuk Harith di Pusingan 3 kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia minggu ini adalah penyudah podium tetapi tetap bergantung dengan kestabilan jentera. Kalau semuanya lancar insyaAllah ia mungkin berjaya dicapai.”

Itu ungkapan pemilik serta pengurus pasukan Tune Boss Pink Racing (TBPR), Nur Atikah Azwar atau lebih dikenali sebagai Ika dua hari lalu sebelum bermulanya aksi Pusingan 3 di Litar Sepang Utara minggu ini.

Ternyata, hasratnya itu menjadi kenyataan apabila pelumbanya, Mohd Harith Farhan Baharin berjaya menjejak kaki di podium selepas menamatkan perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 di tempat ketiga hari ini.

Perlumbaan 8 lap sejauh 21.648 kilometer (km) itu telah berlangsung dalam hujan, namun ia tidak menjejaskan misi Harith untuk menghadiahkan podium pertama buat pasukannya yang baharu membuat penampilan pada kejuaraan Cub Prix musim ini.

Malah, dia telah beberapa kali memimpin perlumbaan tersebut sebelum berdepan masalah dengan tahap kelajuan jenteranya pada dua lap terakhir, namun pelumba asal Terengganu itu tetap berupaya mengawal keadaan dengan baik sehingga ke garis penamat.

Harith yang memulakan perlumbaan tersebut di petak ketiga, telah dipintas oleh dua pelumba, Md Hafiza Rofa (ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) dan Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman (Ipone Yamaha YY Pang Racing Team) kira-kira 500 meter daripada garisan penamat, sekali gus meletakkannya di kedudukan ketiga dengan catatan masa 13:15.750 saat (s).

Perlumbaan akhir itu dimenangi Hafiza dengan masa 13:15.56s manakala Fareez yang menghuni kedudukan kedua tiba di garisan penamat dengan catatan masa 13:15.644s.

“Saya sudah menjangka keadaan ini akan berlaku kerana jentera saya menghadapi masalah di dua lap terakhir. Saya tetap fokus dan cuba sedaya upaya untuk mempertahankan kedudukan dan alhamdulillah berjaya menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan ketiga.

“Saya bersyukur kerana beraya menghadiahkan sesuatu buat pasukan yang telah bekerja keras selama ini menyediakan jentera terbaik buat kami,” jelas Harith.

Walaupun gagal menjuarai perlumbaan tersebut, namun ia suatu kejayaan yang sangat bermakna buat Harith dan pasukannya kerana ia dianggap sebagai permulaan buat mereka untuk terus tampil dengan cengkaman yang lebih berbisa pada pusingan akan datang.

Sebagai pendatang baharu dan masih mentah dengan pengalaman, ia adalah suatu yang sangat berharga buat Tune Boss Pink Racing yang telah memasang impian besar dalam sukan permotoran tempatan.

Dua lagi pelumba TBPR yang bersaing dalam kelas CP125 iaitu Siti Norafizah Mohamad dan Saiful Azhary masing-masingnya menamatkan perlumbaan tersebut di kedudukan ke-19 dan 18.

Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizan pula yang menggalas cabaran dalam kategori Wira sekadar menamatkan perlumbaan akhir kelas tersebut di kedudukan ke-16 dengan catatan masa 9:45.117s.

Esok, mereka akan sekali lagi turun ke gelanggang bagi menghadapi saingan Pusingan 4 dan jika momentum yang mereka pamerkan hari ini dapat dipertahankan, barisan pelumba TBPR pasti mampu melakar satu lagi kejutan.

Setakat ini, TBPR terus mengukuhkan kedudukan mereka di tempat keempat keseluruhan bagi kategori berpasukan dengan kutipan 49 mata.

Harith pula berjaya mengubah kedudukannya dalam kategori pelumba untuk berada di tempat keenam dengan mengumpul 30 mata manakala Fifi di tempat ke-10 dengan 19 mata.

 

TBPR BUKAN YANG TERPANTAS, TETAPI PEJUANG

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SEPANG, 17 Sept – Mereka bukan terpantas tetapi barisan pelumba Tune Boss Pink Racing (TBPR) adalah pejuang.

Itu yang dibuktikan oleh TBPR, pasukan yang dimiliki sepenuhnya oleh seorang wanita, Nur Atikah Azwar pada aksi pembuka tirai saingan Pusingan 3 kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia yang berlangsung di Litar Sepang Utara hari ini.

Hari ini mereka kembali melangkah ke litar untuk meneruskan perjuangan sebaik kejuaraan ini bersambung semula selepas ditangguhkan sejak Mei lalu gara-gara pandemik Covid-19.

Agenda bermula dengan sesi latihan bebas pada sebelah paginya yang dipergunakan sepenuhnya oleh krew pasukan untuk melakukan kerja-kerja pelarasan jentera agar bersesuaian dengan gaya tunggangan para pelumbanya.

Hasilnya agak memuaskan meskipun sukar untuk memastikan ia sempurna seratus peratus, lagi pun setiap pelumba mempunyai pelarasan yang berbeza.

Ketika mengharungi dua sesi latihan bebas bagi kelas CP125, hasilnya telah menunjukkan peningkatan yang amat ketara terutama pada sesi kedua apabila tiga pelumbanya Mohd Harith Farhan Baharin, Siti Norafizah Mohamad dan Saiful Azhary berjaya menempatkan diri dalam kelompok 15 pelumba terpantas.

Perkembangan tersebut pastinya akan memberi kayakinan kepada barisan pelumba TBPR untuk terus tampil konsisten ketika mengharungi saingan Pusingan 3 dan 4 minggu ini.

Detik-detik paling menarik pastinya ketika mereka beraksi dalam sesi kelayakan kelas CP125 itu.

Jentera nampak stabil, namun barisan pelumbanya tetap menggunakan sesi tersebut bagi menguji sejauh mana kemampuannya untuk memberi saingan kepada para pencabar mereka.

Malah, pada sesi kelayakan itu Norafizah atau lebih dikenali sebagai Fifi pernah mempimpin kedudukan sebelum membuat keputusan untuk menyimpan ‘senjatanya’ sebagai persiapan menghadapi saingan sebenar esok.

Hartih Farhan juga dilihat semakin memperagakan gaya tunggangan yang agak mencengkam manakala anggota terbaharu TBPR, Saiful Azhary masih mencari rentak bagi menyesuaikan diri dengan suasana baharu.

Namun, dia tetap mampu menampilkan aksi terbaik walaupun masih belum dapat menyesuaikan diri sepenuhnya dengan jenteranya.

Pada sesi kelayakan itu, Harith muncul pelumba terpantas buat TBPR apabila menghuni kedudukan ke-10 dengan catatan masa 1:24.092 saat (s) manakalan Fifi dan Saiful masing-masingnya  menamatkan sesi tersebut di kedudukan ke-13 dan 14.

Dengan kedudukan tersebut, Harith akan bersaing dalam sesi Shoot-Out esok bagi merebut kedudukan petak.

Md Hafiza Rofa dari pasukan ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team menguasai sesi kelayakan kelas CP125 itu dengan catatan masa terpantas 1:22.229s.

Seorang lagi pelumba TBPR, Siti Norsyafiah Alia Saarizan yang menggalas cabaran dalam kategori Wira, kini sudah mula memperlihatkan kayakinan dan berharap dia mampu menjelmakan kejutan pada saingan sebenar esok.

Bagi TBPR, walau apa pun keputusan yang bakal diraih oleh barisan pelumbanya, mereka harus terus berjuang kerana ia merupakan kunci untuk meraih kejayaan.

Pengurusnya, Nur Atikah Azwar tetap berbangga dengan apa yang diperagakan oleh para pelumbanya.

“Walaupun sudah berehat lebih tiga bulan, namun saya tetap berbangga dengan apa yang dibuktikan oleh semua pelumba. Mereka tahu dengan tanggungjawab masing-masing dan tahu apa yang perlu dilakukan ketika mengharungi perlumbaan.

“Selepas berehat lama, semua kerja-kerja pelarasan jentera seolah-olah bermula dari awal dan ini suatu yang sangat mencabar buat kami. Saya bersyukur kerana semua krew pasukan serta pelumba dapat menyempurnakannya dengan baik,” jelas Nur Atikah.

Sebagai pasukan baharu dalam kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia, mereka tidak meletakkan sasaran tinggi kerana mereka percaya bahawa setiap kejayaan itu memerlukan proses sebelum ia berjaya direalisasikan.

 

 

 

 

 

JOHNSON KOH RETURNED UNOPPOSED AS SABAH TENNIS PRESIDENT

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 – Well-known businessman Johnson Koh, who has taken tennis in Sabah to new heights under his leadership for the past 13 years, was a unanimous choice and returned unopposed at the Sabah Tennis Association annual general meeting (AGM) held in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 15.
The Sandakan-based Johnson Koh was the only nomination at the AGM which was held via Google meet due to the current Covid-19 pandemic and has promised to “deliver” uncompleted projects over the past two years.
For the record, Johnson Koh is also a vice-president of Tennis Malaysia and is a strong advocator of the game to be made a compulsory sport in the Sukma (Malaysia Games).
For the vice president’s post, incumbent Christopher Lim declined nomination due to work commitments after being transferred to a new plantation and will be busy with his work.
The current president of the Kota Kinabalu Tennis Association, Datuk Idrus Shafie was proposed and won unopposed as the new vice-president of Sabah Tennis.

Before the nominations for the 5 EXCO members, Johnson Koh reminded that under ITF guidelines all associations are requested to involve gender participation.

The five committee members returned unopposed were:

  1. Mohd. Rashid Abdul Ghani – Keningau.
  2. Jamad Ahmad – Semporna.

  3. Madeezuan Madzi – Kuala Penyu.

  4. Mahmuddin Mohd  Onon – Kota Belud.

  5. Claire Godon – Kota Kinabalu (Female Nomination).

The two nominated auditors are Shamsuddin Mustamin and Judy Ngui.
Two amendments to the constitution were approved at the AGM to be resubmitted to the Sports Commissioner for approval.

First is the official address of the association and the other is the appointment of an official to be in charge of a district that a registered association has not been formed or cancelled due to technical reasons but able to participate in the association’s tournaments.

The two important resolutions passed are:

  1. To write and pursue with the relevant authorities on the inclusion of tennis as a compulsory sports in any Malaysia Games (Sukma).

  2. To write and pursue with the relevant authorities on the appropriate SOP for tennis.

  3. Tennis should not be lumped together with badminton, squash and ping pong with the same SOP as tennis is completely different in terms of size of court, distancing specifications and an outdoor sports.

The AGM also passed a motion to thank past Sabah sports ministers and welcome the new sports minister. Same was also recorded for the permanent ministry secretaries.

SAIFUL SENJATA BAHARU TBPR DALAM KATEGORI CP125

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KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Sept – Pasukan Tune Boss Pink Racing (TBPR) terus mengorak langkah apabila membawa masuk pelumba baharu, Saiful Azhary dalam misi untuk mengukuhkan lagi cengkaman pasukan pada kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia musim ini.

Saiful, 21 tahun yang berasal dari Johor akan beraksi dalam kategori CP125 bersama-sama dua lagi pelumba sedia ada, Siti Norafizah Mohamad dan juga Mohd Harith Farhan Baharin.

Dengan kehadiran Saiful dalam pasukan TBPR, mereka kini mempunyai tiga pelumba bagi menggalas cabaran dalam kelas CP125, kategori yang baharu diperkenalkan musim ini bagi menggantikan kelas CP115.

Saiful yang merupakan adik kepada Norafizah atau Fifi, mula aktif dalam sukan permotoran pada tahun 2005 dengan pembabitan awalnya menjinakkan diri dengan pocket bike.

Dia telah beraksi dalam kejuaraan minibike itu sehingga tahun 2012 sebelum meneruskan kariernya ke kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia.

Sepanjang pembabitannya dalam sukan permotoran, Saiful pernah muncul juara keseluruhan kategori Honda Future One Make Race pada musim 2014 selain bergelar naib juara keseluruhan kategori Wira pada tahun 2015.

Ketika sesi ringkas bagi mengumumkan penyertaan Saiful dengan pasukan Tune Boss Pink Racing malam tadi, pelumba asal Johor itu menjelaskan bahawa matlamatnya adalah untuk mencari pengalaman baharu dalam kariernya.

“Semua pasukan mempunyai kelebihan tersendiri tetapi keputusan untuk menyertai TBPR adalah disebabkan kemajuan yang telah dibuktikan oleh mereka. Walaupun pasukan ini masih baharu, tetapi mereka telah menunjukkan konsistensi dalam setiap pusingan. Ini antara faktor yang menarik perhatian saya.

“Selain itu, gaya pengurusan pasukan ini juga amat teliti dalam segala hal,” jelas Saiful yang sudah mempunyai pengalaman tiga tahun beraksi dalam Cub Prix.

Dia yakin, kehadirannya dalam pasukan TBPR akan memberi pengalaman baharu kepadanya dalam usaha untuk terus memantapkan kariernya.

Dalam perkembangan sama, pemilik serta pengurus pasukan TBPR, Nur Atikah Azwar menjelaskan bahawa mereka ada misi tersendiri untuk menambah anggota dalam pasukan bagi menghadapi baki saingan Cub Prix musim ini.

“Ini mungkin strategi pasukan, malah ia memang sudah lama dirancang. Pemilihan Saiful untuk menjadi anggota pasukan juga telah melepasi beberapa kriteria yang menjadi pertimbangan kami. Ia bukan soal ‘main pilih’ saja, tetapi telah melalui beberapa penilaian baik dari segi prestasi, disiplin (sama ada di dalam dan luar gelanggang), komitmen dan juga personaliti yang ada pada diri seseorang pelumba itu sendiri,” jelas Nur Atikah yang amat mementingkan semangat kekeluargaan dalam pasukan miliknya itu.

Minggu ini, TBPR akan kembali ke gelanggang bagi meneruskan saingan Pusingan 3 dan 4 kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia yang akan berlangsung di Litar Sepang Utara.

Kejuaraan ini ditangguhkan sejak Mei tahun ini ekoran situasi pandemik Covid-19 yang semakin memburuk di seluruh negara.

Selepas mengharungi dua psuingan setakat ini, TBPR kini berada di kedudukan keempat keseluruhan bagi kategori berpasukan dengan mengumpul 33 mata, dan ia dianggap pencapaian yang membanggakan bagi pasukan yang baharu membuat kemuculan pada kejuaraan berprestij itu.

Pelumbanya pula kini berada dalam kelompok 10 terbaik bagi kategori pelumba kelas CP125 yang menyaksikan Fifi menghuni tangga keenam keseluruhan dengan mengumpul 19 mata manakala Harith di kedudukan kesembilan dengan meraih 14 mata.

Seorang lagi pelumbanya, Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizan pula menggalas cabaran dalam kategori Wira dengan menduduki tangga ke-19 keseluruhan selepas mengharungi dua pusingan.

 

 

 

 

EASY FOR JDT, TOUGH FOR TERENGGANU IN THE MALAYSIA CUP 2021 DRAW

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PETALING JAYA, Sept 15 – Defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) should not have any difficulty in getting into the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after being drawn in Group D with two other Super League sides – Petaling Jaya City FC and Sabah FC, to be joined by the fourth-placed Premier side.
Teams from the Premier League teams will only complete their league fixtures on Sept 21, which will decide their fate in the Malaysia Cup, which is the oldest football tournament in this region.
The Southern Tigers have recently won the Malaysian Super League champions for the eighth consecutive and are hot favourites for the Malaysia Cup, which has a history of its own in Malaysian football scene.
However, Selangor FC, winners of the Malaysia Cup for a record 33 times, has a tough Group B with east coast hopefuls Terengganu FC, relegated Perak FC, and the third-placed team from the second-tier Premier League.
For Terengganu FC, who could only finish fourth in the Super League this season, it gives head coach Nafuzi Zain the opportunity to redeem its disappointment in the league, and the Turtles look good enough for a top-two finish in the group to advance.
”It is a tough group but it is also for us to make up for the big disappointment in the (Super) league,” said Nafuzi, who was given a show-cause letter by the team’s management for the dip in form in the last four matches.
Last year’s Premier League champions Penang FC, who went great guns in the elite Super League for a creditable third behind JDT and Kedah FC, will battle with Kuala Lumpur FC City FC, Sri Pahang plus Premier League runners-up – which could be either Negri Sembilan or Sarawak United.
Kedah FC drew Melaka United and two Premier League outfits in Group C – the Premier League champions and the fifth-placed team.
The group stage matches, the quarter-finals, and the semi-finals will be played on a home and away basis.
The Malaysia Cup Draw
GROUP A
Penang FC
Kuala Lumpur City FC
Sri Pahang
Premier League runners-up
GROUP B
Terengganu FC
Selangor FC
Perak FC
Premier League third-place
GROUP C
Kedah FC
Melaka United FC
Premier League champions
Premier League fifth-placed
GROUP D
JDT
Petaling Jaya City FC
Sabah FC
Premier League fourth-placed

IT IS NOT JUST HEALTH ISSUE IN JIN WEI’S DECISION TO QUIT

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 – Former Youth Olympics champion and two-time world junior champion, Goh Jin Wei has quit the national team, sending shock waves in Malaysian badminton – citing health as the reason for the bombshell.
Only 21, the Penang-born Jin Wei quit the national team on Monday, catching many by surprise although many of the top guns in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), including president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, tried to soften the unexpected news.
The affable Jin Wei dropped the bombshell on Monday after the BAM named their teams for the Sudirman Cup to be held in Vaantha, Finland (Sept 26-Oct 3) and the Thomas Cup, Uber Cup Finals to be held in Aarhus, Denmark ( (Oct 9-17).
Sources close to her revealed Jin Wei was “disappointed” to be dropped from the Sudirman Cup.
“That left her frustrated…as her health was the excuse. She had been training diligently for the two tournaments. Health is not the main issue here for her omission. There are several other factors involved.
“If health is the issue why drop her from one tournament and name her for another tournament. Both tournaments are back to back. It is puzzling but there is nothing much you can do,” said the source.
Citing poor health is “diplomacy” as Jin Wei thanked the Penang Badminton Association and the BAM for playing a big role in developing her badminton career. Jin Wei joined the national setup at the age of 14.
Winning the world junior title twice – in Lima, Peru (2015) and again in Markham, Canada (2018) – Jin Wei also won the Youth Olympics gold in Buenos Aires in 2018.
She also won the SEA Games gold in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, apart from winning the bronze at the biennial games in Singapore in 2015.
In the Youth Olympics final, Jin Wei defeated compatriot Lee Ying Ying 21-15, 21-16 in an all-Malaysian affair.
Tan Sri Norza and other BAM officials tried to persuade Jin Wei to put off her decision to quit but to no avail.

BLAME YOURSELVES TERENGGANU

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PETALING JAYA, Sept 13 – East Coast giants Terengganu FC are out of the AFC Cup after finishing a poor fourth place in the Super League with a 2-2 draw against 10-men Penang FC at the City Stadium in Georgetown on Sunday – the last day of the Malaysian Super League.
It was a case of Terengganu paying a heavy price for a missed penalty, and a disallowed goal against the Panthers.
However, what topped it all was the show cause letter issued to head coach Nafuzi Zain after defeats to Kedah (1-2), Kuala Lumpur City (1-0) and Johor Darul Takzim (1-0).
It was the wrong timing to issue the show-cause letter. To a certain extent, it affected the team’s morale on and off the field.
Issuing the letter showed the lack of professionalism by the management, especially when the league was at the tail end of the competition.
It is the worse time to issue such a letter. If only the management had waited for the league to end or held a verbal discussion with the head coach and his coaching staff instead of the letter it would have been a different end for the team.
There is no guarantee the Turtles, would have finished better but there are a lot of factors that needed to be taken into consideration before issuing the show cause letter to Nafuzi. Let us not forget that certain matters were out of Nafuzi’s hands.
Terengganu qualified for the AFC Cup last season but the coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be canceled.
The stalemate at the City Stadium was a heartbreaking result for the Turtles who had everything going for them in the must-win match after Latif Suhaimi was given a direct red card for bringing down the last man David da Silva in the box, as early as the 13th minute.
However, the Brazilian muffed his spot-kick much to the delight of the Panthers. Still, Terengganu grabbed the lead through skipper Argzim Redzovic with a delightful header on 25 minutes, from an assist by Lee Tuck.
Undeterred Penang, despite the numerical disadvantage, fired home two quick goals through Sheriddin Boboev and Casagrande, in the 40th and 45th minutes, respectively, for a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Midway into the second half, Terengganu had a goal disallowed for offside but Lee Tuck, on loan from Pahang, equalized in the 81st minute. Penang had to work extra hard after this to thwart Terengganu’s onslaught in search of the winner.
The Panthers held on for a share of the spoils for the one point earned gave Penang 41 points and a third placing in the 12-team league – something they can be proud of after gaining promotion by winning the Premier League last season.
Terengganu can now look towards the Malaysian Cup to redeem its battered pride. Nafuzi should be allowed to handle the team. The East Coast side, for the record, was the only team to put a dent in eight-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim with a 1-0 win over the Southern Tigers at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru.

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