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THE BEAT GOES ON FOR HARIMAU MALAYA

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 – It was a touching emotional scene when newly naturalised Malaysian Guilherme De Paula scored from the spot on 72 minutes for Malaysia to equalise 1-1 against Vietnam in a Group G match of the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers.
The Brazilian earned the penalty when he was pulled down inside the penalty box by Doan Van Hau after Vietnam had gone ahead with Nguyen Tien Linh’s headed goal off a corner kick in the 27th minute.
Just when the Malaysians got their rhythm and looked good for a draw, Japanese referee Ryuji Sato blew for a spot-kick for Vietnam when he judged that Brendan Gan had fouled Nguyen Van Toan inside the box and this was in the 82nd minute.
Que Ngoc Hai scored from the spot for his team to regain the lead and Vietnam walked away with a 2-1 win to stay on top of the group with 17 points from seven matches.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), 5-0 winners over Indonesia is second on 15 points followed by Thailand, ahead of Malaysia on goal difference with nine points each.
Vietnam and the UAE will battle for the top for the third-round slot in the World Cup qualifiers.
Malaysia faces Thailand on Tuesday with hopes of making the third round (qualifier) for the Asian Cup Finals.
Guilherme’s goal sent emotions high as the Brazilian ran to the Malaysia bench and hugged chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe.
The Brazilian, who came in for a lot of flak in Malaysia’s 4-0 defeat to the UAE, was emotional because of the trust placed on him by the coach although  football fans and critics had called for him to be replaced.
On the other hand, Cheng Hoe got news of his father’s death hours before the match. Tan Chooi Siak, 95, died of old age in Alor Setar.
Cheng Hoe has decided to stay back with the team in Dubai due to the tight SOPs in place for the Covid-19 pandemic which includes quarantine.
It was a better performance by the Malayan Tigers in the match against Vietnam but it could have been better with a little more effort.
Cheng Hoe, at the post-match press conference, said he is not going to blame anyone for the defeat to Vietnam.
”Football is a team game. We win as a team and we lose as a team. We have another match on Tuesday.  Let us work towards a positive result against Thailand in the next match,” said Cheng Hoe.
For the record, Malaysia beat Thailand 2-1 in the first round in Kuala Lumpur.

DALAM BOLA SEPAK MACAM-MACAM BOLEH BERLAKU, JARINGAN MENGGUNAKAN TANGAN PUN DISAHKAN PENGADIL

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SALAM sejahtera dan selamat berjumpa lagi.

Semalam, skuad bola sepak kebanggaan kita – Harimau Malaya tewas lagi pada perlawanan kelayakan Piala Dunia 2022/Piala Asia 2023 peringkat Kumpulan G menentang Vietnam.

Skuad bimbingan Tan Cheng Hoe itu tewas 1-2 kepada Vietnam dan ia merupakan kekalahan kedua di bumi Dubai selepas tersungkur 4-0 kepada Emiriah Arab Bersatu minggu lalu.

Kekalahan itu menambahkan duka buat Cheng Hoe yang pada sebelah paginya telah kehilangan bapanya tercinta di Alor Setar.

Kekalahan tersebut sudah pastinya meranapkan cita-cita pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan kita untuk meneruskan langkah lebih jauh pada aksi pusingan kelayakan ini.

Apa pun, berdasarkan prestasi dalam dua perlawanan setakat ini, kita perlu menerima kenyataan bahawa gaya bola sepak Malaysia ketika ini masih belum mampu untuk menempatkan dirinya dalam kelompok pasukan elit di rantau ini.

Perjalanan kita masih jauh, namun ia bukan sebuah pengakhiran kerana usaha-usaha untuk pembangunan semula sedang giat dijalankan.

Kita tetap berharap moga hasil daripada program-program pembangunan di Akademi Bola Sepak Kebangsaan mampu membawa perubahan suatu hari nanti…insyaAllah.

Berbalik kepada aksi menentang Vietnam semalam – pelbagai cerita, ulasan, komentar mahupun kritikan dilontarkan oleh para peminat menerusi saluran sosial media.

Menarik untuk dibaca…dan ia membuktikan bahawa ramai yang berdiri teguh di belakang Harimau Malaya.

Sasaran utama atau topik yang ‘trending’ daripada para neitizen adalah gol kedua Vietnam menerusi sepakan penalti.

Pengadil, Ryuji Sato dari Jepun menjadi mangsa serangan gara-gara menghadiahkan sepakan penalti kepada Vietnam pada minit ke-83 sekali gus membolehkan pasukan lawan memperoleh gol kedua.

Ramai berpendapat pemain Vietnam itu melakukan ‘dive’ dan sebagainya.

Apa pun itu hak masing-masing untuk meluahkan pandangan berdasarkan apa yang dilihat menerusi kaca televisyen.

Namun, saya ada pandangan tersendiri dan pengadil dari Jepun itu yang berada dekat dengan insiden itu berlaku, sudah pastinya nampak sesuatu sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan.

Ada kemungkinan ketika Brendan Gan berusaha untuk menghalang pemain Vietnam itu, dia ‘tersepak’ tumit pemain berkenaan dan terjatuh.

Secara logiknya, apabila kita sedang berlari dengan pantas dan tumit kita terhalang oleh kaki pemain lain atau terkena kaki sendiri, sudah pastinya kita terjatuh –  dan insiden tersebut mungkin  berlaku antara Brendan Gan dan penyerang Vietnam ketika itu.

Yang sedihnya, ia berlaku dalam kotak penalti.

Paling mudah adalah kita tengok reaksi para pemain itu terlebih dahulu – adakah mereka MEMPROTES SEKERAS-KERASNYA keputusan pengadil atau sebaliknya?

Dalam bola sepak, macam-macam boleh berlaku. Pemain yang menjaringkan gol menggunakan tangan pun turut disahkan jaringannya.

Sebab apa jaringan disahkan? Jawapannya mudah iaitu kelekaan pengadil. Pengadil yang kurang ‘sharp’ pandangannya tidak akan nampak benda yang ‘luar biasa’ berlaku dalam permainan.

Sebenarnya, pemain yang bijak akan mempergunakan sepenuhnya peluang atau insiden seperti itu terutamanya ketika berada di dalam kotak penalti dengan harapan untuk mendapatkan sepakan penalti.

Apa pun, semuanya sudah terjadi dan terpulang kepada masing-masing untuk menilainya.

Dari sisi lain, rentak permainan Harimau Malaya pada aksi menentang Vietnam itu dilihat lebih baik berbanding ketika menentang Emiriah Arab Bersatu.

Mungkin disebabkan ‘level’ kita dengan Vietnam lebih kurang sama atau sebaliknya.

Begitupun, Vietnam memiliki kelebihan tersendiri. Kawalan bola mereka kemas, hantar pendek juga nampak kemas dan mereka mempunyai kepantasan ketika melakukan serangan balas.

Mereka lebih berstrategi ketika melakukan serangan dan begitu juga ketika bertahan.

Saya bukannya tidak memuji corak permainan Harimau Malaya, tetapi saya agak kesal kerana jarang dapat melihat gerakan yang betul-betul menarik ketika memasuki kawasan lawan.

Kita mengamalkan corak permainan bola sepak biasa tanpa ada strategi khusus ketika melancarkan serangan.

Saya juga jarang melihat gerakan menarik ketika mereka melakukan serangan balas kecuali larian pantas daripada dua bek sayap Gorbin Ong dan Matt Davies, tetapi tetap tiada kesudahannya.

Selepas ini, pemain seperti Syafiq, Arif Aiman, Lokman, Nazmi wajar beraksi lebih kerap kerana mereka ini telah memperlihatkan keyakinan, keberanian serta kemampuan ketika berada di lapangan hijau itu.

Kita sudah ada ‘material’ tetapi strategi permainan yang diterapkan dalam skuad kebangsaan terlalu mudah untuk dibaca pasukan lawan.

Apa strategi kita ketika berpeluang melakukan serangan balas? Apa pula strategi kita ketika merancang dari bahagian tengah, sayap dan sebagainya?

Pada pandangan peribadi saya, ini yang masih kurang dan perlu diambil perhatian.

Naturalisasi – kita sudah lakukan tetapi kesannya sangat mengecewakan. Jadi, semoleknya utamakan pemain tempatan kerana ramai yang berada di bangku simpanan mampu melakukan yang lebih baik jika terus diberi pendedahan secukupnya.

Demi Lencana Di Dada, Selamat Maju Jaya Harimau Malaya!

 

 

 

 

 

GRIEVING CHENG HOE STAYING WITH THE TEAM IN DUBAI

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 – Hours before Malaysia plays Vietnam in a do-or-die mission in a Group G qualifier of the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 in Dubai, national football head coach Tan Cheng Hoe received news of his father’s death.
However, Cheng Hoe is staying back with the team despite the demise of his beloved father, Tan Chooi Siak who was 95, died of old age in Alor Setar on Friday afternoon.
”It is something we all have to go through in life…losing a loved one. I am staying back with the team in Dubai until the end. I’ll continue with the team,” said Cheng Hoe from Dubai today.
Cheng Hoe added that his father was an inspiration to him in his football career.
”I will miss him,” added a sad Cheng Hoe who is hoping for a positive result against Vietnam at the Al-Maktoum Stadium.
HubMedia extends its deepest condolences to Cheng Hoe and his family during a difficult time.

CHENG HOE CALLS THE SHOTS, NOT OTHERS

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 – National football chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe sends his usual morning greetings without fail – no matter where he is on the day.
Despite his busy schedule in Dubai, where the Harimau Malaya is battling to stay alive in  Group G of the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers, I received a very motivating message from Cheng Hoe that carries a lot of meaning.
It read:
“A DREAM DOES NOT BECOME A REALITY THROUGH MAGIC; IT TAKES SWEAT, DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK.”
It simply means that Malaysia has a mountain to scale when the team faces group leaders Vietnam at the Al-Maktoum Stadium on Friday (11 June) in a do-or-die match. It is 12.45 am (June 12) in Malaysia due to the time difference.
Malaysia lost its first second-round match in Dubai, against hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 4-0 and the defeat drew flak, especially on social media.
Individual players were singled out and naturalised Malaysians Guilherme De Paula (Brazil) and Liridon Krasniqi (Kosovo) were the main targets.
Cheng Hoe, admits that the players were down and out after the big defeat to the UAE with The Whites netting twice in injury time.
Until then Malaysia was still in the picture despite a below-par performance.
The critics want Cheng Hoe to make changes to the team and some even suggested who should be fielded and who should be on the bench.
As the head coach, Cheng Hoe calls the shots because he has his own match plans after seeing the Vietnamese defeated Indonesia 4-0.
He is aware that Vietnam’s wily South Korean coach Park Hang-Seo has built the team into a strong contender.
The Korean has a young team that has been together over the years. It has a solid team with depth on the bench.
However, Vietnam will be without their ace – Nguyen Quang Hai who will sit out the match against Malaysia to serve a one-match suspension.
It does not make Malaysia’s task any easier. Malaysia needs to be braver with the ball and be hungry for goals and success will come.
Cheng Hoe, speaking from Dubai on Thursday, gave strong hints that Guilherme and Liridon will feature in his match plans.
However, he did not reveal if they will be in the first team or start from the bench.
“We must show sterner stuff and aggressiveness. Vietnam is fast and strong on counterattacks and we need to break this rhythm,” said Cheng Hoe adding that team spirit is high and the players focused on getting a positive result.
Cheng Hoe also confirmed that Junior Eldstal will miss the Vietnam match because of a heel injury he sustained in the match against the UAE.
Another Thailand-based player Dominic Tan could replace Eldstal.
As Cheng Hoe’s message said: “IT TAKES SWEAT, DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK” and we hope that it will be a positive result and the three points will haul Malaysia back on track to qualify for the Asia Cup.
*(Pic credit to FAM Media)

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2020 FORGES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH GOAL AND HERBALIFE

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Gambar hiasan

SINGAPORE, June 10 – The AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 has forged an exciting new partnership with the world’s biggest football content and media business Footballco, where its flagship digital platform Goal will come on board as the Official Football Website Partner of the tournament.

This is the first time the South East Asia’s top football tournament will be joining hands with the football platform to increase the reach of the Championship.

Goal will gain exclusive access to the tournament, including special behind-the-scenes access as well as rights to use archive videos to capture and produce compelling content for the tournament.

It is expected to reach its 10 million website and App users in South East Asia with a social reach of 50+ million in the region.

According to Footballco Asia Pacific Vice President Andy Jackson, they are delighted to partner with the AFF Suzuki Cup which will undoubtedly allow them to bring the 50 million South East Asian fans Goal reaches each month, much closer to the tournament that they care about the most.

“We have a number of new and exciting editorial initiatives in the pipeline leading into this year’s tournament that will build excitement and anticipation amongst fans by celebrating the rich history of the tournament, shining a light on the emerging stars as well as presenting Suzuki Cup sponsors with the opportunity to benefit from the unrivalled scale we offer in the region,” he added.

Meanwhile Executive Director, Digital & Brand Marketing SEA SPORTFIVE, Tilman Wend strongly believed that football fans in the Asean region have been anxiously waiting for fiitball event to return after the pandemic.

“With the AFF Suzuki Cup centred around the thrilling regional football rivalries and the great passion of fans, the partnership with Goal is a great opportunity for us to not only amplify the tournament campaign #RivalriesNeverDie but also a chance to create unique stories to engage with Goal’s digital audience across South East Asia.

“By combining Goal’s and SPORTFIVE’s capabilities, we are confident that we can maximise the content for the benefit of our fans.”

Earlier in the week, leading nutritional and wellness company Herbalife has also joined the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 as an Official Supporter.

Partnering South East Asia’s most-watched football tournament for the first time, Herbalife aims to tap the tournament’s popularity to strengthen its brand presence in the region.

The deal was brokered by SPORTFIVE, the exclusive commercial partner of the AFF Suzuki Cup.

As an Official Supporter, Herbalife will have the rights to use the tournament event mark and official status across its marketing platforms, advertising collateral and in premiums and products produced in relation to the event.

The brand will also get opportunities for brand exposure and fan engagement in South East Asia through multiple touchpoints – through being prominently featured on official tournament collateral, the event’s digital channels, in-stadia TV commercials and on perimeter advertising boards in every stadium where a match is held.

As part of the partnership, Herbalife will also get to display its products during the tournament, conduct activations, as well as host fan engagement and promotional activities to connect with football fans.

Herbalife’s sponsorship of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 comes as part of the brand’s strategy to increase its market share regionally and globally, through tying up with sporting events as well as with athletes.

With the tournament being one of the most popular in the region, Herbalife is confident that the AFF Suzuki Cup is the perfect platform to boost its brand awareness and sales in this region.

General Manager of Herbalife Vietnam and Cambodia Vu Van Thang said: “As a global nutrition company with a mission to improve nutritional habits with great-tasting, science-backed nutrition products that help people achieve unique health and wellness goals, we are proud to be an official supporter of this important football competition in the region. I believe that through this sponsorship, we can help spread positive energy and promote healthy active lives among the local communities. This sponsorship of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 is part of our comprehensive partnership with Vietnam sports to help athletes and sport players unleash their full strength and achieve optimal performance. We wish the participating players the best and look forward to an exciting event.”

AFF President, Major General Khiev Sameth said: “The AFF Suzuki Cup continues to generate enormous commercial interest throughout the region. With a population of over 600 million people where football is the number one sport, the AFF Suzuki Cup offers a priceless link for sponsors to connect with South East Asian fans through their passion. Herbalife is a renowned international brand and we are delighted to welcome them into the AFF Suzuki Cup family. We are confident that they will deliver great value to our fans in Asia and have a meaningful connection with them. We look forward to a purposeful partnership with Herbalife for a better future.”

Late last year, the AFF announced that the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 will be held from 5 December 2021 to 1 January 2022 following the postponement of the tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The AFF is continuing to work closely with the various Member Associations and partners to provide further updates on the 2021 tournament as soon they are available.

 

“I AM MOTIVATED AND COMMITTED TO THE TEAM” – GUILHERME

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 – Brazilian-born naturalised Malaysian Guilherme De Paula has swallowed all the criticism and negatives hurled at him on social media after Malaysia’s 4-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a second-round match in the Group G World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifier.
Instead, the 34-year-old Johor Darul Takzim player had a strong message to his critics and said: “Nobody is on holiday as everyone knows that the team is here (Dubai) on a mission. That mission is still on track despite the defeat to UAE.”
De Paula was the target man for his poor game against the UAE. Many believe that he should be rested but one poor performance certainly does not deserve the chop for the next match. Malaysia is still very much in contention to qualify for the Asia Cup.
The Harimau Malaya next face group leaders Vietnam on Friday in a must-win match to stay alive in the group.
This is not impossible if Tan Cheng Hoe and his team can “fire on all cylinders” at the Al-Maktoum Stadium.
”We have been working very hard at every training session to improve our game and do better in the coming matches,” said De Paula who is likely to feature in Cheng Hoe’s match plans against Vietnam.
“I am proud to wear the Malaysian jersey and I am proud of my new country. It is my wish to play my part and take Malaysia to greater heights in the region. I am motivated and committed to the team.”
This alone sums up De Paula’s wish. He is a naturalised Malaysian, not a criminal. Let us give him the emotional boost he needs to deliver for his new country.
*(Pic credit to FAM Media) 

LAST MILE COVID-19 VACCINATION: ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has voiced out their readiness to offer services and assistance to the government especially with the purpose to tackle the last mile delivery challenges in vaccination. – and ensure that all communities are equitably and completely vaccinated so that  can return to some semblance of normalcy.

In an open letter to the goverment, the CSOs representing National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), Yayasan Mynadi and Malaysian Women Action for Tobacco and Health (Mywatch) hoped that their role would be able to help the goverment to ensure all communities are equitably and completely vaccinated so that they can return to some semblence of normalcy.

Following the letter written by NCSM President, Dr Murallitharan M, Yayasan Mynadi President, Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar and Mywatch President, Roslizawati Md Ali.

YAB Prime Minister, YB Minister in charge Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV).
Over the past weeks, we have seen the ramp-up of vaccinations nationwide. We are
heartened by the government’s moves to increase the number of mega vaccination centres,
as well as to the increase in the number of GP clinics who will be providing vaccinations to
the public.

However, there will always be a segment of the population who will be difficult to
access; and in turn face difficulties in trying to access vaccination – often termed in project
management as ‘last-mile delivery challenges’. These include vulnerable groups;
underprivileged, those living in remote rural areas and those from the lowest socio-economic groups.

Among the challenges these individuals and communities will face in getting
vaccinated will be issues of transport and logistics, language barriers, financial burden, lack
of health and even general literacy in understanding the need to vaccinate among others.
The issues surrounding successful ‘last-mile delivery’ are myriad; and added to this mix is
the ‘powder-keg’ of fake news which has further worsened suspicion and distrust among
quite significant numbers of our communities.

We represent long-standing, long-serving Civil Society Organisations (CSO)s working
on the ground would like to offer our services and assistance to the government especially
with the purpose to tackle the last mile delivery challenges in vaccination and ensure that all our communities are equitably and completely vaccinated so that we can return to some
semblance of normalcy.

Why CSOs will be beneficial in ‘last-mile delivery’?
Our CSOs have the experience of working specifically with communities at the
ground level for many years, if not decades. They understand the workings of these
communities and in many instances, already have very effective and successful partnerships with them in terms of programmes and services.

What is more important is that these organisations enjoy strong relationships and
trust with community members – trust that is needed to be leveraged on to overcome the
trust deficit which seems to be prevalent and driving issues of vaccine hesitancy.

Rather than listening to some WhatsApp video of some unknown expert persuading
them of the benefits of taking the Covid-19 vaccine, what is needed is the trusted
community partner who has worked with them for many years providing individual level
explanations and, if needed, even one-to-one counselling that will enable individuals to
register and subsequently be guided through the vaccination process.

CSOs will also be extremely beneficial to the process because they draw upon a
different reservoir of human resources not from the Ministry of Health. Our news pages and
social media pages are filled with stories of how our clinical colleagues in MOH and MOE are
swamped with issues of managing the continuing burden of Covid-19. They are busy
treating, contact-tracing, swabbing and containing the disease spread – and spread quite
thinly at that.

CSOs can alleviate this burden somewhat, bringing in external manpower and able to
work across both the public/private divide. CSOs also have a strong base of volunteers and
capabilities to maximise the use of limited resources to be able to deliver. These will enable
delivery to be done using highly cost-effective means.

How will CSOs carry out ‘last mile’ delivery?
CSOs can work together with MOH at the ground level, within sub-districts and
districts to take on the load of vaccination across many different states. They can be used to deploy in either small teams; or via mobile vehicles to quickly and efficiently reach multiple areas- especially those that have multiple branches and state/district level organisations.

CSOs will also be able to carry out counselling, structured health education and
outreach in multiple languages within a diverse range of communities and groups. This is
critical to convince individuals to overcome their hesitation and accept vaccination.
Additionally, CSOs will also be able to provide transport and overcome other logistics
barriers that different individuals and communities may face.

How do we engage CSOs into the vaccination effort and what will they need ?
The entire premise of this effort is based on the idea that CSOs are ready and wiling
to go. Many of us have been continuously engaged since the Covid-19 pandemic in various
initiatives including working hand-in-hand with government agencies. We are no strangers
to the system and can begin work immediately.

What we need is: i) the approval and willingness of government to utilise us in the
vaccination effort- this is why we are appealing to the YAB Prime Minister and YB Minister
directly; and ii) integration into the overall vaccination effort- via supply of vaccines and
direction on geographical distribution of tasks.
Countries like Bhutan managed to vaccinate their entire population entirely based
on the strength of volunteers. We, the Malaysian CSOs are ready and willing to serve our
nation during this time of dire need and play a role in relieving the burden of our strained
public healthcare services. All we need is the green light…. so we can finally all see the light
at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel.

SARAWAK UNITED’S UCHE AGBA WINS PFAM AWARD FOR APRIL

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 – Sarawak United FC’s Uche Agba was a runaway winner of the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia’s (PFAM) Player of the Month Award for April in the Premier League – garnering 14,609 votes (55.37 percent).
Ghana striker, Jordan Mintah who plays for Terengganu FC II came in second with 7,922 votes with former international Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak coming in third with a 2,708 tally.
This is the second time the Nigerian hitman has won the award. The first was in July 2019 when he was playing for Police in the Premier League.
Incidentally, both times he won the award the coach is E. Elavarasan.
Agba, who lost his mother in April, dedicated the award to his later mother and singled out Elavarasan for playing a big part in him winning the award twice.
”I have won this (award) twice playing under coach Elavarasan’s coaching. It means a lot to me,” said Agba who plundered four goals in Sarawak United’s 7-1 win over FAM-MSN Project squad on April 10 – a week after his mother’s death.
Agba is Sarawak United’s top scorer with eight goals in the league. The Golden Hornbills are perched on the top of the league with 23 points from 10 matches and have a match in hand over second-placed Negeri Sembilan with 22 points.
Elavarasan has this to say: ”Agba is a very committed and disciplined player. He fully deserves the award.”
The Player of the Month in the Super League went to Kedah’s Liberian ace Kpah Sherman who polled 15,730 votes – defeating Terengganu FC’s Hakimi Abdullah with 11, 460 votes while Johor Darul Takzim’s Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva (5,389 votes) came in third.

‘SPY’ CHENG HOE HAS A MAMMOTH TASK ON HIS HAND

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 – The Harimau Malaya is more than ever determined to succeed against Vietnam on Friday (June 11) to stay afloat in the second round of the Group G  World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers in Dubai.
For head coach Tan Cheng Hoe “it is a challenge, not pressure” to deliver against Vietnam.
Vietnam is perched on the top in the group and leads with 11 points after five matches. (Vietnam plays Indonesia later today, at the Zabeel Stadium).
Malaysia lost 4-0 to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and the defeat plunged Malaysia to fourth place on goal difference although second-placed the UAE and third-placed Thailand have the same points.
Cheng Hoe will turn spy and watch the Vietnam-Indonesian match today to decide on his team against the Vietnamese and some changes are expected in his lineup.
Junior Eldstal is nursing a heel injury (sustained during the UAE match) but Cheng Hoe has not decided on the Thailand-based defender yet.
”There are a couple of days for training and we will see how Junior responds to the medical treatment. We are not rushing into things on deciding the team for the Vietnam match. If there is a plus factor it is the mood of the players now.
“They were down and out after the defeat to the UAE. Certain players were singled out for the defeat and this was demoralising. That is why I have asked them to cut out the social media and stay positive,” said Cheng Hoe from Dubai on Monday.
Cheng Hoe and his coaching staff have a mammoth task for the Vietnam match. It is a must-win match and Cheng Hoe is aware that past results against Vietnam do not favour. But it stops at that. For now, past results will take a back seat for the Harimau Malaya.
Malaysian players need to handle ball possession, speed and work on ball movement. More importantly, the need to execute scoring chances that are created.
With so many ”super coaches” on social media, it went to town over the defeat by the UAE.
Let us not forget that football is a team game and to nail individual players is unfair – not when there are two more matches to go to decide the outcome in the qualifiers. Let us throw our support behind the team.
Demi lencana di dada, Good luck Malaysia!
*(Pic credit to FAM Media)

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