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CRICKET LEGEND DATO DR. HARJIT REMEMBERED

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JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 19 – Johor Cricket Council President’s XI will play Cricket Malaysia President’s XI in a 30 overs cricket match in memory of the late Dato Dr. Harjit Singh who passed away in October last year due to complications after a heart surgery at the National Heart Institution (IJN).
”Celebrating The Life of late Dato Dr. Harjit Singh” cricket match will be played at the Dato Dr. Harjit Singh JCC Academy and Oval in Mutiara Rini, on the outskirts of Johor Bahru.
The Academy and Oval was renamed after him for his vast contributions to the sport in Johor and Malaysia.
Cricket Malaysia will be captained by its president Iqbal Ali while JCC will be led by JCC deputy president Idris Abdul Rahman, a former international.
The guest of honor at the match will be Datin Kaldip Kaur, wife of the late Dato Dr. Harjit, who was Mr. Cricket in the cricket fraternity for his deep involvement in the game.
Among those in the JCC lineup, apart from Idris, are former internationals Yazid Imran, (a double international who was also a national javelin thrower), Chew Pok Cheong (who is the current coach of Sarawak Cricket), Azhar Zainal, Sudesh Narayanan, Yusri Rahaman, Prof Dr Faidz Rahman (vice-president JCC and vice-president UTAR, Haikal Harith (JCC Hon Secretary) and Tham Teck Kiong.
Cricket Malaysia, apart from Iqbal Ali, include Dr. Arun (deputy president), Dato Feisal (vice-president and treasurer OCM), Gordon Chong (vice-president), Conrad Young (Hon Secretary), Mahnorizal (Hon treasurer), Dr. Razli, Nordin Abdullah, Edwin Seah, Vijilingam, Haris A. Bakar and Kalidas (all former internationals).
”This will be an annual affair from this year onwards,” said Idris, adding that several other cricket personalities like K. Ramadas, Azmi Majid and P. Banerji and former staff of Kelinik Harjit will be attending the match.
Dato Dr. Harjit is the man who took cricket to the Felda schemes in Johor before the Kancil Programme “Catch ’em Young” policy went nationwide. He took the bat and ball game to schools in the Felda schemes with his Kancil Program and turned it into game of passion among Malay students.
The late Dato Dr. Harjit was the president of the Johor Cricket Council (JCC) since 1987 and was the longest serving head in any sports association in the country – something which will be difficult to emulate by the present generation.
He also served the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) as the deputy president from 1990 to 2003 and was in charge of development, which was closest to his heart.
For his contributions to the sport Dr. Harjit was inducted in the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall Fame in 2017. He was also a three-time winner of the Johor Sports Leadership Award – in 1989, 1995 and 2007.

ARIF GEM TAKES JDT TO MALAYSIA CUP SEMIS

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PETALING JAYA, Nov 19 – A stunning goal by 19-year-old Arif Aiman Hanafi sent defending champions Johor Darul Takzim to the Malaysia Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Kedah FC in the return leg quarter-final at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru on Thursday.
The win enabled JDT to advance to the last four on a 1-0 aggregate after both teams drew 0-0 in the first leg in Alor Setar.
The young Arif made all the difference for star-studded JDT on a night when their foreign stars Gonzalo Cabrera, Bergson Da Silva, Guilherme De Paula and Leandro Velezquez failed to shine in front of their home fans.
However, Leandro set up Arif for the winner which came on 41 minutes. Arif coolly slotted home the ball with a rising shot that Kedah keeper Shahril Saari failed to keep out. Kedah, however, can thank Shahril for keeping the score line down with numerous saves.
The Southern Tigers will face East Coast hopefuls Terengganu in the two leg semi-finals with the first leg to be played at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
Terengganu made the last four with a 4-2 win over Sarawak United at the UiTM FC Stadium in Shah Alam. The Turtles advanced on a 6-3 aggregate, having won the first-leg 2-1.
Two goals by Jordan Mintah (3, 63) and one each by Faisal Halim (11th) and Faiz Nasir (44th) fired Terengganu FC to a 4-2 win over gritty Sarawak United FC.
The Golden Hornbills did not give up despite the odds and scored two late goals through Sandro Mendonca and Uche Agba in the 79th and 89th minutes respectively.
It was the end of Selangor FC’s “Mission 34” when the former kingpins of Malaysian football bowed out on a 3-0 aggregate against Kuala Lumpur City FC.
The City Boys won the return leg at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras, with Colombian ace Romel Morales netting the winner in the 51st minutes for their 1-0. KL City won the first leg 2-0.
Selangor have won the Malaysia Cup for a record 33 times and the Red Giants were confident of regaining the prestigious silverware with their German DNA under head coach Karsten Neitzel.
Melaka United defeated Sabah FC 2-1 at the Hang Jebat Stadium to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
Brazilian Adriano Narcizo opened scoring after three minutes and Sony Norde added a second in the 78th minute. Sabah’s consolation goal came via a penalty converted by Risto Mitrovski deep in injury time.

INDONESIA MASTERS 2021: MALAYSIAN IN THE QUARTER-FINALS TODAY

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19 November 2021
Men’s Doubles:
1. Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik vs Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin (TPE) – TV court.
2. Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin vs Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi
Women’s Doubles:
1. Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah vs Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (JPN) – TV court.
Mixed Doubles:
1. Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See vs Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA)

DOUBLES DELIGHT FOR MALAYSIA IN BALI

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 – Malaysia has been assured of a place in the men’s doubles semi-finals at the USD600,000 Daihatsu Indonesia Masters in Bali when Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani play Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in the quarter-finals after winning their respective second round matches in Bali on Thursday.
Also through to the quarter-finals is Malaysia’s top-ranked men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medal winners beat Indonesia’s Panjer Aji Siloka Dadiara-Bryan Sidney Elohim 21-12, 21-8 in quick 21 minutes.
The Malaysians will face No 3 seeds Lee Yang-Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipeh in the last eight.
The Taiwanese defeated compatriots Lu Ching Yao-Yang Poh Han 21-13, 21-16 in their second round match.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi strolled past Indonesia’s Sabar Gutama-Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 21-17, 21-12 while Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin battled for 42 minutes to subdue Shohibul Fikri-Bagus Maulana 21-18, 22-20.
There was also joy for Malaysia in the women’s doubles. No 8 seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah outplayed Fitriani-Yulia Susanto of Indonesia 21-18, 21-14 in 29 minutes to advance to the last eight.
The Swiss Open champions will next play Japan’s Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida who defeated Koreans Baek Ha Na- Lee Yu Rim 23-21, 21-15.
Rising mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See also sealed a place in the quarter-finals with a 21-14, 21-19 win over Germans Jones Ralfy Jansen-Linda Efler.
It’s a tough hurdle for the Malaysians for a place in the last four when they take on top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
The Thais needed three games to stop another Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei with a 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 win.
Meanwhile, there was a major upset in the men’s singles when India’s Prannoy HS came back from a game down to blow away reigning Olympic champion and No 2 seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 14-21, 21-19, 21-16 in a 71 minute thriller.
This is the first win for the Indian in six outings. He face off compatriot K. Srikanth for the place in the semis.
Srikanth, a former World No 1, broke the hearts of the local fans when he knocked out No 6 seed and reigning Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie 13-21, 21-18, 21-15.

DO NOT WRITE OFF THE UNDERDOGS FROM A PLACE IN THE MALAYSIA CUP SEMIS

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Pic credit to JST
PETALING JAYA, Nov 17 – Defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) are confident of reaching the last four in the Malaysia Cup competition when they face Kedah FC in the return leg quarter-finals at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru on Thursday.
So are the East Coast giants Terengganu FC – hoping to ride on their 2-1 win over Sarawak United in the first leg played at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu. The return-leg will be played at the UiTM FC Stadium in Shah Alam.
At the KLFA Stadium in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur City FC are confident that they can check and deny 33 time champions Selangor FC after winning the first leg played at the Petaling Jaya Stadium by a 2-0 margin.
Melaka United, after winning the first-leg at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu against Sabah FC 1-0 are also confident that they can overcome the Rhinos at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka for a place in the last four.
However, none of the quarter-final teams can be overly confident on Thursday night. The big showdown between JDT and Kedah down south is the main drawcard after both teams battled to a scoreless draw at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.
The Red Cards were severely handicapped in the first leg without big names like Kipre Tchetche, Anumanthan Kumar and Rabih Ataya but gave the Southern Tigers a big fright and Kedah’s Singaporean coach Aidil Sharin Sahak could just spoil the party for the champions.
”It was a close match in the first leg. I am proud of  my players who gave their best and could have walked away with a win. Still, it was a morale booster for us and now we can go for the return-leg with confidence,” said Aidil of the match on Thursday.
Rightly said Aidil Sharin. However, at the same time, Kedah and their die hard fans must keep their fingers crossed that the match officials will do a good job without “Fear or Favour” when playing at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
The first leg in Alor Setar saw eight bookings and one could expect the scenario in Iskandar Puteri.
JDT’s head coach Benjamin Mora has not shown the jitters yet but deep down he is certainly having butterflies in his stomach – knowing that any goal from Kedah could be a big, big disadvantage to his team.
For Terengganu FC head coach Nafuzi Zain, he is aware that the 2-1 win from the first leg does not give his Turtles any advantage against the gritty Sarawak United.
Besieged with a bagful of off field issues, the Golden Hornbills, have become the envy of many for the tremendous fighting spirit, guts and determination apart from pride and glory.
Sarawak United head coach E. Elavarasan is a known shrewd tactician, and, despite injuries to his key players, has been able to keep the East Malaysian side alive in the prestigious Malaysia Cup.
The key to success or a positive result on the field, in Elavarasan’s own words is ”mental strength” and how his injured Brazilian playmaker Sandro Mendonca responds to the injury he picked up in the first leg.
Elavarasan was quick to point out that team is ready eventuality to wipe out the one-goal deficit. “If the need arises, we will make do without Sandro and adopt different match plans,” he said.
A fired up KL City is the favourite against Selangor. With Romel Morales in top form with nine goals in the Malaysia Cup, KL coach Bojan Hodak can count on the Colombian who has been simply fantastic in his new role as hitman.

CHENG HOE LEAVES OUT SOME BIG NAMES FOR AFF SUZUKI CUP

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PETALING JAYA, Nov 17 – Overdose of football plus injuries saw national football head coach Tan Cheng Hoe leaving out several big names from his initial training squad of 28 players for next month’s AFF Suzuki Cup tournament in Singapore.
Among those not in the list are Farizal Marlias (goalkeeper), Corbin Ong (left back), Matthew Davies (right back), Syamer Kutty Abba (midfielder) and rising striker Arif Aiman – all from eight-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT).
Cheng Hoe, however, is keeping faith with naturalized Malaysians – Gamba-born Mohamadou Sumareh and Brazilian-born Guilherme De Paula – both of whom are also with JDT for the Asean championships.
Corbin (right) not in the squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup

As usual, Cheng Hoe is once again flak on the social media for his choice of players. The former international, however, has got used to the ”bombardment” as he is aware that there are far too many football ”experts” in the game.

Cheng Hoe will only bring 24 players to Singapore. The first phase of training begins on Monday (Nov 22) for those whose clubs fail to make the Malaysia Cup semi-finals. Those whose clubs don’t make (Malaysia Cup) final will report on Nov 28. Players whose clubs will feature in the Malaysia Cup final will report on Dec 1.
The Harimau Malaya will leave for Singapore on Dec 3 and play their Group B matches at the Bishan Stadium. The other teams in group are defending champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia.
”It’s not easy naming the squad. We (coaching panel) took everything into consideration before deciding in the training squad. There is bound to be unhappiness but the coaching panel had take all in its stride,” said Cheng Hoe.
”At the same time we have to take the future (playing career) of a player. Football is their livelihood and we don’t want a burnout. We took all this into consideration to come up with (training) squad.”
Even before the squad was named national football manager Datuk Yusoff Mahadi has put the pressure on Cheng Hoe and said Malaysia not only wants to reach the final but also wants to win the silverware.
It is an outrageous statement that rattled Cheng Hoe and his coaching and the players. Yusoff should be more careful with his statements that are made only for cheap publicity without deeper and technical knowledge of the game.
As reported by HubMedia earlier, National Under-23 goalkeeper Azri Ghani (pic) has been called up for the AFF Suzuki Cup.
The two other goals named are Khairul Fahmi Che Mat who has played an instrumental role in Melaka United reaching the Malaysia cup quarter-finals and Selangor FC’s Khairul Azhan Khalid.
Cheng Hoe has named a squad of youth and experience for the Asean meet and has retained the experienced Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Shahrul Saad, Safawi Rashid, Rizal Ghazali, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Darren Lok and Shahrel Fikri.
Three players – goalkeeper Kallamullah Al-Hafiz (Petaling Jaya City FC),  defender Rodney Celvin (Kedah), striker Hakimi Abdullah (Terengganu FC) – have been put on the standby list.
The four foreign based players in the squad are Luqman Shamsuddin (KV Kortrjik), Dion Cools (FC Midtjylland) and Dominic Tan (Police Tero FC) and Junior Eldstal (Chonburi FC). The four will fly straight to Singapore from their respective clubs due to the pandemic quarantine if they return to Malaysia first.
Fixtures
Malaysia versus Cambodia (Dec 6)
Malaysia versus Laos (Dec 9)
Malaysia versus Vietnam (Dec 12)
Malaysia versus Indonesia (Dec 19)

CHRISTOPHER RAJ DILANTIK PENGURUS PASUKAN SKUAD B-17 NEGARA

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PETALING JAYA, 15 Nov – Ahli Exco Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), Christopher Raj telah dilantik sebagai pengurus pasukan skuad Bawah 17 tahun negara.
Pelantikan tersebut diumumkan Presiden FAM, Datuk Hamidin Mohd. Amin hari ini selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Eksekutif FAM kali ketiga pagi tadi.
Keputusan tersebut telah mendapat persetujan daripada semua ahli yang menghadiri mesyuarat berkenaan.
Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini mengucapkan terima Kasih kepada Presiden FAM (Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin) dan barisan kepimpinan FAM atas kepercayaan melantik saya selaku Pengurus Pasukan Bawah-17 tahun kebangsaan.
“Ini adalah satu penghormatan dan cabaran buat saya untuk mengetuai pasukan remaja kebangsaan. Pasukan ini adalah generasi baharu bola sepak negara dan sudah pasti tugas berat untuk saya memastikan kelompok pemain ini berjaya pada masa akan datang,” jelas Christopher.
Sebahagian besar pemain skuad tersebut terdiri daripada produk Akademi Mokhtar Dahari. Pasukan ini juga akan bersaing dalam Kelayakan Piala Asia B-17 pada 2022 nanti.
Justeru, persiapan rapi akan dilakukan bagi memastikan pasukan ini layak secara merit ke pentas Asia.
 

LIFE – ONG KIM SWEE

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PETALING JAYA, Nov 15 – For Sabah’s newly minted football coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee it is ”mixed feelings” playing his home state Melaka in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals but sentiments take a back seat for the former international.
”As a professional, work comes first as it is my rice bowl and I have a family to feed. Of course I have mixed feelings playing my home state (Melaka) for a place in the semi-finals,” said Kim Swee before leaving with the team for this Thursday’s return-leg quarter-final.
”This is the first time I am in such a situation…however, I am not letting sentiments get into my way. Professionalism takes priority.”
The return-leg encounter will be played at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka. In the first-leg  played at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday, the Rhinos lost the encounter 1-0 with Haitian striker Sony Norde netting the winner in the 52nd minute.
Kim Sweei still has three days to decide on his team but is in haste to name the line up yet knowing that he needs the best 11 on the field to get an early goal to put the pressure on Zainal Abidin Hassan and his team.
”No doubt, Melaka (United) is a strong team with good foreigner players compared to us. With the right strategies and match plans we have to look at the positives for a win. You must have the players who can score…if you don’t score you can’t win a match,” said Kim Swee.
”There is a certain criteria to be fulfilled before I decide on the team. Some of the youngsters are shaping up well and it is part of team building for the new season.”
For one, Kim Swee and his Rhinos have not given up hope of staying alive in the prestigious Malaysia Cup. On paper, for now now at least, Melaka has the plus factor after the 1-0 win on Sunday.
However, is stops at that for Kim Swee and company as there is still another half of the battle to be won.
”We must be focused. At the same time we must score from the chances we create. We cannot afford to waste scoring chances,”’ added Kim Swee, who quit his post the FA of Malaysia (FAM) technical director to become the Sabah head coach.

SELANGOR BASHED AT HOME, TERENGGANU, MELAKA WIN

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Pic credit to MFL media
PETALING JAYA, Nov 15 – Defending champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) could only manage a scoreless draw against an understrength Kedah in the first-leg Malaysia Cup quarter-final match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Sunday.
Kedah were without three of their key foreign pillars – Kipre Tchetche (Ivory Coast), Rabih Ataya (Lebanon) and Anumanthan Kumar (Singapore) because of national duty for their respective countries – it was morale boosting stalemate that keeps their flickering hopes alive for the return-leg this Thursday.
The return-leg will be played at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru and the Southern Tigers won the season opener 2-0 (which was in the Charity Shield match, which also counted towards the league. JDT also won the return-leg league match 1-0 in Alor Setar.
Sunday’s match saw eight players getting into the referee’s little book. It was a hotly contested match that threatened to get into a free for all after skirmishes from both sides.
Putting that aside, it was the Klang Valley derby between Selangor FC and Kuala Lumpur City FC. The much talked about Selangor’s German DNA under chief coach Kartsen Neitzel took another blow with the City Boys winning 2-0.
Colombian hitman Romel Morales, had a goal disallowed as early as the 10th minute for an infringement but there was stopping the lanky ace in the pack when he headed home on 14 minutes from an assist Ryan Lambert.
KL’s Croatian head coach Bojan Hodak is on the verge for a place in the last four with the City Boys having a proud unbeaten home record at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras.
At the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Melaka United snatched a 1-0 win over the Rhinos with Haitian hitman Sony Norde netting the all important goal in the 52nd. Norde fired the winner with an unstoppable shot into the right corner after a Sabah defender failed to make a clean clearance.
At the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu FC was made to slog for their 2-1 win over Sarawak United.
International Faisal Halim got the home fans celebrating with the opening goal for the Turtles in the 16th minute – planting a scorcher past Sarawak United goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee from outside the box.
However. it was all square five minutes later when Terengganu defender Shahrul Nizam Ros Hasni headed the ball into his own net. Faiz Nasir netted the winner for Terengganu in the 51st minute.

AALIYAH RECEIVES YSD SCHOLARSHIP TO BOOST WORLD NO 1 DREAMS

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PUTRAJAYA, Nov 13 – Teenage waterskiing sensation Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah has been granted a huge boost in her bid to pursue her dreams of becoming a world champion.

The 18-year-old who is ranked 5th in the world under 21 women tricks in 2021 was awarded the Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Star Scholarship Award, a grant that will enable her to pursue her tertiary education whilst also juggling between training and competitions.

Under the YSD Scholarship, Aaliyah, who is also chosen as a YSD ambassador, will look to pursue her tertiary education in psychology in the United States.

It is certainly a massive opportunity for Aaliyah who is currently ranked fifth in the world in tricks and has been a bright spark for the country for the past decade.

She was the youngest ever gold medallist at the SEA Games when she won the tricks event at the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang aged eight.

Aaliyah has since gone on to win two more gold medals at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, 3 gold medals in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and also created history by becoming the first Malaysian to reach a final at the World Waterski Championships in 2019.

“I would really like to express my gratitude to YSD for providing me with this huge opportunity,” said Aaliyah.

“This will certainly help to take a huge load off my parents’ mind and my mind in looking after my education from today onwards.

“This will truly go a long way to help me achieve my dream to be No 1 in the world in waterski and I’m very excited and hopeful for what the future holds.”

Aaliyah also added that she hoped to play the role of YSD ambassador to encourage more women and youth to take up sports.

“I realised women in sports are quite niche and there are less women in sports in comparison to the men,” said Aaliyah.

“As an ambassador, I do hope to encourage more women and youth to participate in sports and to realise their full potential.”

Meanwhile YSD chairman Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, spoke highly of Aaliyah.

“Our scholars come from diverse backgrounds with varying passions. This year, we are proud to award Aaliyah with the prestigious YSD Star Scholarship, to help her achieve her ambition of becoming a clinical psychologist specialising in Sports Psychology; while she continues her training and exposure in waterski,” said Tunku Imran.

“Aaliyah’s outstanding values and drive align with YSD’s aims of assisting youths to realise their fullest potential; as well as cultivating role models to inspire youth, especially girls and women in sports.

We are thrilled to have Aaliyah on board as a YSD Ambassador as she strives to become the waterski world champion someday soon, while we ensure that Aaliyah receives the critical support to achieve her academic dreams.”

The YSD awarded a total 209 scholarships and bursaries worth more than RM17mil to youths to pursue their tertiary studies.

The award ceremony was held online on Thursday.

 

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