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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.

TWO RED CARDS MARS NEGERI SEMBILAN-SARAWAK UNITED MATCH AT KLFA STADIUM CHERAS

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PETALING JAYA, Sept 11 –The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will have to seriously look into the standard of refereeing in the Malaysian Football League. Except for a handful, the match officials in the Premier League, especially, are of mediocre standards.

Those who watched the Negeri Sembilan-Sarawak United top-of-the-table clash on Friday at the KLFA Stadium, Cheras, will agree that the 1-0 win secured by Negeri Sembilan was a farce.
Referee Kamil Zakaria Ismail allowed Negri Sembilan the injury-time winner by Francis Kone although it is clear that Sarawak United defender Badrul Affendy (pic left) was elbowed in the six-yard box before he scored the header. The injury left Badrul with a deep gash on his right eyebrow.
Earlier, Kamil Zakaria red-carded Sarawak United goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee in the 68th minute after the former international raised his leg in a 50-50 situation when Negeri Sembilan’s Zamri Ramli clattered into him.
A yellow card would have been more appropriate but the referee chose to give the former international a red card. Kamil Zakaria also awarded Negri Sembilan a penalty which Francis Kone, however, skied the ball from the spot.
Substitute goalkeeper Shaiful Wazizi took over the job between the posts and did a marvelous job while his teammates did extremely well despite the numerical disadvantage after Sharbinee was told to take an early shower.
It was a crucial match which both teams wanted to win. A win for the Golden Hornbills would have given the East Malaysian outfit the silverware. With the outcome going against them the title chase has now gone down the wire.
Negeri Sembilan will play Police at home while Sarawak United will travel to Johor Bahru to face JDT II to complete their league fixtures on Sept 21. For the record, Negri Sembilan and Sarawak United have already won promotion to the elite Super League next season.
Sarawak United head coach E. Elavarasan is visibly upset with the match officials but believes the FAM referees committee would pick experienced match officials for crucial matches (like the Sarawak United – Negeri Sembilan match where a lot was at stake).
It must be noted that teams spend millions on their teams to win titles and the FAM needs to help these teams for professional football is to prevail.
The FAM referees committee should have picked a much more experienced referee….not someone who spent more time on the field as a fourth official.

SARAWAK UNITED READY FOR THE CRUNCHER AGAINST NEGERI SEMBILAN

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PETALING JAYA, Sept 9 – The shock 1-0 defeat to Kuching City FC in a midweek match was painful for leaders Sarawak United FC, but they are inspired enough to play Negeri Sembilan in a top of the table clash at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras on Friday.
The Golden Hornbills, under head coach E. Elavarasan, are determined to make up for the defeat and beat the Deer for the title.
Both teams have already earned promotion to the elite Super League next season.
”In football, you have to face the skids that can derail your targets. Yes, we lost to Kuching City but it stops at that. That defeat instead will serve as an inspiration for us to face Negeri (Sembilan),” said Elavarasan.
”I must admit that the players were down after the defeat. Now they back to normal, with plenty of zest and enthusiasm shown in training. They are aware of what needs to be done to win the silverware.
”There is hunger in them. This is a plus factor and I have all the players available to pick my best team on merit.”
Elavarasan, who is into his second season with the East Malaysian outfit, has worked his magic with his good buddy B. Satiananthan.
Satianantan, a former national coach, is the technical director of Sarawak United FC.
Sarawak United go into Friday’s match, sitting on top of the league standings with 37 points after 19 matches – two more than second-placed Negeri Sembilan.
The Golden Hornbills complete their league fixtures with an away match against Johor Darul Takzim II while Negri Sembilan will be at home to Police on the last day of the league on Sept 21.
In the first round match in April at the Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi, Seremban the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
On Friday, the pressure is on Negri Sembilan. For Sarawak United it is ENCANG SAMPE CHAMPION.

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