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INDIVIDUAL MISTAKES COST MALAYSIA DEARLY

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 – Malaysia gave a far better performance in their Tier I international friendly against Bahrain at the Bahrain International Stadium in Riffa on Friday, but it ended in a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat for the Harimau Malaya due to individual mistakes.
To add salt to injury, Malaysia picked up a red card in an off-the-field incident. And it has not been confirmed if it is Safawi Rasid or Liridon Krasniqi who got the sack.
Both picked up a booking earlier in the match and were subsequently substituted.
Malaysia fared far better against Bahrain, ranked 98 after the 4-1 defeat to Kuwait in another friendly which was played in Dubai.
The Malaysians conceded the first goal in the 41st minute when Irfan Zakaria felled Mahdi Abduljabbar inside the box.
Mahdi picked himself and made no mistake with his spot-kick- sending goalkeeper Farizal Marlias the wrong way.
And it was Farizal in the limelight again when Bahrain scored their second goal just after the hour mark. Farizal blundered when he could not trap Krasniqi’s back pass and lost his balance.
This allowed substitute Jassim Marhoon to gleefully finish off the opportunity that came his way – firing home into the far corner of the empty goal.
In all fairness, Malaysia gave glimpses of their brand of football with short passes and build ups from the flanks.
Let us hope that it will give the team hopes of a better when the second round qualifying round matches in Group G for the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 get underway in Dubai next month.
(*Pic credit to FAM Media)

CHENG HOE ‘COOL’ ABOUT DION COOLS

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 – The social media was abuzz about former Belgium Under-21 international Dion Johan Cools donning Malaysia colors in the second-round World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers from Group G in Dubai next month, but chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe is not getting distracted by the news.
The right-back whose father is Belgian while his mother is Malaysian – was born in Kuching. He celebrates his 25th birthday on June 4 – a day after Malaysia takes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Harimau Malaya is currently in the Middle East preparing for the second-round matches.
As part of Malaysia’s preparations, Harimau Malaya lined up two friendly matches. Malaysia played Kuwait in Dubai on May 23 and will play in a Tier 1 friendly against Bahrain in Manama on Friday. The match against Kuwait ended with a 4-1 defeat for the Malaysians.
Cools has played for the Belgium Under-18, Under-19, and Under-21 teams. He is eligible to play for Malaysia through his mother’s Malaysian roots. The defender currently plays for Danish Superliga side Midtjylland.
”There is no confirmation yet,” – all Cheng Hoe could say on the matter when contacted in Manama on Thursday where the Malaysians have set up their training base after arriving from Dubai on Tuesday.
”My focus is on the team. For other matters, I leave it to the management and FAM (FA of Malaysia) to handle.”
Meanwhile, Cheng Hoe said naturalised Malaysian, Brazilian-born Guilherme de Paula, will not feature in the match against Bahrain which offers FIFA ranking points.
Guilherme does not meet FIFA’s residential qualifications for him to play for Malaysia in the match.
The other naturalised Malaysians in the team are Gambia-born Mohamadou Sumareh and Kosovo-born playmaker Liridon Krasniqi.
Cheng Hoe will use the match against Bahrain, (ranked 99), to identify his team for the qualifiers.
In the second round matches of Group G, Malaysia kick-off their campaign against UAE on June 3 followed by Vietnam on June 11 before completing their mission against Thailand on June 15.

SAFAWI’S KNEE INJURY CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 – Malaysia had its first training session in Manama on Wednesday night to continue its preparations for next month’s second-round World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers from Group G.
The stint in Manama includes a Tier 1 friendly match against Bahrain, ranked 99 in the world this Friday.
The Harimau Malaya arrived from Dubai on Tuesday where they lost 4-1 to Kuwait in another friendly match and the match against Bahrain will be used by national football coach, Tan Cheng Hoe to identify his final squad for the Group G campaign.
Speaking from Manama on Wednesday, Cheng Hoe said the squad had a light workout at the hotel’s gym after undergoing a swab test on arriving in Manama.
The 4-1 defeat to Kuwait is something of the past for Cheng Hoe and the rest of the coaching staff.
The match against Bahrain, Cheng Hoe ”will test our best first eleven” and hopes to field Safawi Rasid.
Safawi, who plays for JDT in the Malaysia Super League, was not fielded against Kuwait due to a recurrence pain in his knee.
 
“Safawi was not played against Kuwait as he had a bit of pain in his knee and we did not want to risk him in the friendly match,” said Cheng Hoe.
Malaysia’s rivals in Group G are Vietnam, Thailand, the United Arab Emirate – all with a fighting chance of advancing to the next round.
Indonesia, the other team in the group is out of contention without a point to show after five matches.
Vietnam leads the group with 11 points from five matches followed by Malaysia on nine, Thailand eight, and UAE (from four matches) on six. Indonesia is at the bottom without a point.
Cheng Hoe also revealed that the mood in the camp is good and the players are fully focused. They have avoided reading negative reports on the team after the defeat to Kuwait.
”Team spirit is high and there is lot of enthusiasm among the players knowing that they will have to raise their game against Bahrain. A positive result against Bahrain (ranked 99 in the world) will be an added boost to the team for the battle in the qualifiers.
“‘There were shortcomings in the Kuwait match but we have been working on that. Hopefully, we will give a better performance in Manama.”
For the first time Malaysia have three naturalised players in the team for the second round matches – Gambia-born Mohamadou Sumareh, Brazilian hitman Guilherme de Paula and Kosovo-born playmaker Liridon Krasniqi.
In the second round matches in Group G, Malaysia faces tough hurdles, starting with UAE on June 3 followed by Vietnam on June 1 before completing their mission against Thailand on June 15.
*Pic credit to FAM Media

DON’T WRITE OFF MALAYSIA DESPITE DEFEAT TO KUWAIT IN FRIENDLY

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 – The writing was on the wall, but the 4-1 defeat to Kuwait at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Sunday is certainly not the end of the world for Malaysian football as they chase a place to advance to the next round from Group G in the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers.
Malaysia’s hopes are as good as others in the group – Vietnam, Thailand, the United Arab Emirate – all confident of cutting their rivals out.
The other team in the group is winless Indonesia. Vietnam leads the group with 11 points from five matches followed by Malaysia on nine, Thailand eight, and UAE (from four matches) on six points. Indonesia is at the bottom without a point.
The Kuwait friendly is the first of two lined up for Malaysia which will be utilised by national football chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe to try out his 25-member squad before identifying his team.
Malaysia’s next friendly is against Bahrain in Manama this Friday. For the record, Malaysia is ranked 153 in the world while Kuwait is 148 and Bahrain 99.
Friendlies give you the chance to try out your combination – more so when the Harimau Malaya last played an international game some 18 months back – thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic which has hit sports hard.
The strict operating procedures (SOP) imposed by the government curtailed sporting activities and football was not spared.
Cheng Hoe was quick to admit that the result and the performance was “disappointing” and will not use any excuse…like not having played a match in 18 months to sum up the negative outing.
“Frankly, the newcomers have yet to gel with the rest. I don’t blame them but it is something I expected. We have to move on and use the Kuwait match to up our ante for the match against Bahrain and also our (competitive) matches in the group,” said Cheng Hoe from Dubai.
Cheng Hoe is extremely concerned with his defence without the tried and tested Shahrul Saad who was left behind due to a knee injury.
He is also not blaming goalkeeper Khairul Azhan Khalid for letting in three goals after replacing Farizal Marlias. Khairul was later replaced by newcomer Samuel Somerville who plays for Penang FC in the Malaysian Super League.
”The players themselves are disappointed with their performance. They are aware that they are capable of of a better performance. Now, we have to pull up our socks and take stock of the shortcomings. It was defensive lapses that saw us crumble, ” added the former international.
Apart from Gambia-born Mohamadou Sumareh, Malaysia have added two more naturalised players to the team – Brazilian hitman Guilherme de Paula and Kosovo-born playmaker Liridon Krasniqi.
Guilherme scored Malaysia’s consolation goal against Kuwait. He scored in the 28th minute after Kuwait opened scoring through Ahmad Aldhefeery on 21 minutes.
Kuwait’s other scorers were Fahad Alhajeri (55th minute), Shahab Alkhaldi (61st) and Fahad Al-Alabraim in the 68th minute.
The Malaysians leave for Manama at 3pm (Malaysian Time) on Tuesday.
In the second round matches in Group G, Malaysia faces tough hurdles, starting with UAE on June 3 followed by Vietnam on June 11 before completing their mission against Thailand on June 15.
(*Pic credit to FAM Media)

IT HAPPENED IN DUBAI AND LIRIDON KRASNIQI IS THRILLED

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – He certainly did not expect to meet his idol in Dubai, but it happened and could spell better things to come for naturalised Malaysian Liridon Krasniqi, who is expected to play a big role for Malaysia in next month’s Group G qualifiers for the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023.
The Kosovo-born playmaker bumped into Brazilian legend Ronaldinho and was thrilled to bits when he managed to have a chat with his idol.
It is something he never imagined but Dubai happened to be his lucky destination.
The 29-year-old who is with seven-time Malaysian Super League champions, Johor Darul Takzim, is currently on loan to Newcastle Jets in the Australian League and has earned his first national call-up under coach Tan Cheng Hoe.
Krasniqi could well turn out to be an ace in the pack for Harimau Malaya as Malaysia chase an automatic berth to advance from Group G in the qualifiers.
In fact, there is a strong possibility that naturalised players – apart from Krasniqi – there is Mohamadou Sumareh (Gambia) and Guilherme De Paula (Brazil).
Incidentally, all three are with with JDT, popularly known as the Southern Tigers – who have established themselves as the kingpins of Malaysian football.
JDT club owner is Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor.
Coming back to Ronaldinho, the Brazilian legend wished Malaysia ”good luck” for their campaign in Dubai.
It means a lot to Malaysia and Krasniqi, who is set to earn his first international cap when Malaysia plays Kuwait in a friendly on Sunday.
In the meantime, Cheng Hoe is pleased with his charges. Young Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin was the last to check into Dubai.
The 19-year-old Kelantan-born Luqman is based in Belgium and played for KV Kortrijk and is also in line for his first cap with the senior team.
Another youngster is JDT’s Arif Aiman Hanapi. The 18-year-old has done well with the Southern Tigers and did enough to impress Cheng Hoe to be in the squad.
After the friendly against Kuwait, the Malaysians will fly to Manama – to play Bahrain in another friendly on May 28. The two friendlies will be used by Cheng Hoe to give every player in the 25-member squad a chance.
”Every player is focused on winning a place in the team. I will also use the matches against Kuwait and Bahrain to see who can fit into the system,” said Cheng Hoe from Dubai on Saturday.

SEPAK TAKRAW: A KICK IN THE BUTT FOR PSM AS ASTAF SACK MALAYSIA

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – Malaysia has been booted out of the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF) with immediate effect from May 20 (Thursday) – paying a heavy price for the folly of Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail, the president of the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM).
It is another devastating blow for the sport and it comes in the wake of the 15-year ban slapped on Ahmad Ismail for gross indiscipline during the recent ASTAF elections for the 2021-2025 term.
Malaysia failed to win any seat contested in the elections. For the record, Ahmad Ismail was the incumbent ASTAF deputy president.
For the latest – the sack from ASTAF – Malaysia has 14 days to appeal the verdict which was reached by the ASTAF Disciplinary Committee chaired by Yogender Singh Dahaya of India. If PSM decides to appeal it will have to pay a fee of USD2,000.
“It is with utmost sadness that ASTAF made this painful decision, but it has to be done for the good of sepak takraw fraternity. It is also to send a strong signal to the sporting fraternity that irresponsible behavior will not be condoned,” ASTAF said in a statement.
The “Red Card” by the ASTAF Disciplinary Committee came after Ahmad Ismail guilty of breaking the written undertakings to the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) and ASTAF on March 2008 – “to support ISTAF and ASTAF to establish and maintain efficient administration” of the two Federations.
Instead, Ahmad Ismail, a politician from Penang, breached the undertakings by writing a letter to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with a copy to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in his capacity as ASTAF deputy president on Feb 2.
On the local front, Ahmad Ismail has also been nailed and has been steadily losing support from PSM affiliates who have “lost faith in his leadership” with Kelantan, Johor, Selangor, Kedah, and the latest Putrajaya, together with Perak, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan pulling out from the national sepak takraw body.
In the ASTAF elections, Halim Kader, who has helmed the Asian body for a decade, fought a three-cornered fight against Ahmad Ismail and Singapore’s Mohd Nasri Haron.
Halim Kader won hands down, securing 30 votes for the 2021-2025 term while Ahmad Ismail and Mohd Nasri failed to get a single vote.
Ahmad Ismail claimed that the elections were rigged and alleged the elections of the new ASTAF office bearers were null and void.

A DAY OF DELIGHTS FOR JDT

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JOHOR BAHARU, May 21 – Malaysian football kingpins Johor Darul Takzim has confirmed a couple of good news with a strong message to keep its status as the best team in the country but also to further widen the brand name in the region with an eye on the AFC Champions League.
Topping the list of ”goodies” is on-loan striker Bergson da Silva from his Brazilian club Fortaleza and his stint with JDT is scheduled to end at the end of June. However, the Southern Tigers have now secured his services till the end of this year.
It is certainly good news for JDT die-hard fans and supporters. Bergson has been a big hit with JDT. The 30-year-old is a bane to goalkeepers in the Malaysian Super League – and is on a hot streak, scoring 11 goals in 11 matches.
Bergson is a big boost for JDT who will compete in the AFC Championships League to be held in Thailand from June 22-July 7.
The Southern Tigers will play in Group G with Nagoya Grampus (Japan), Pohang Steelers (South Korea), and Ratchaburi (Thailand).
JDT sporting director Martin Prest announced the good news on the Southern Tiger Facebook on Thursday – the same day JDT confirmed the signing of Australian Shane Lowry on a free transfer. He joins from Al-Ahli of Qatar Stars League.
Lowry has played for a host of English clubs – Leeds United, Sheffield United, Millwall, and Leyton Orient.
The 31-year-old defender, who stands 1.85m tall, also played for Perth Glory in the Australian League apart from playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-17 and Under-21 teams.
Another piece of good news is Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan who is of mixed Malaysia-China parentage.
Nathaniel, now with the Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23 side will join JDT soon to replace Singapore international Hariss Harun who has returned to his country.

TIME IS PRECIOUS FOR HARIMAU MALAYA IN DUBAI

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 – Hours after arriving in Dubai on Thursday, the Harimau Malaya will get down to work as head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has lined up a training session for the squad that will be reinforced by four-based players who are already in Dubai.
The four are Thailand-based Junior Eldstal (Chonburi FC), Dominic Tan (Police Tero), Liridon Krasniqi (Newcastle Jets, Australia) and Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin (KV Kortrijk, Belgium). All four were given the green light to join the squad in Dubai.
Cheng Hoe is eager to see his full squad in training and who can fit into the team. He is not too worried about the physical condition of the four as he has been keeping in touch with them apart from getting reports from their respective clubs.
The Harimau Malaya leaves for Dubai from KLIA at 9am on Thursday (May 20).  With a four-hour time difference between Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, he has made arrangements for a training session for the squad on the same day of their arrival.
“Time is against us and we have to take every opportunity to make the best out of it. This will be our first training session with all the players,” said Cheng Hoe, glad that it has been “smooth going” when the second phase of centralised training began at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on May 16.
While there have been some minor ”off field” issues for the Harimau Malaya, which he knows will be well handled by the FA of Malaysia (FAM), Cheng Hoe has been concentrating on his job – confident that his charges are fully focused for the upcoming matches in the Middle East.
Malaysia will play two friendly matches as part of their preparations for the remaining three matches in Group G.
The two friendlies are against Kuwait (May 23) and Bahrain (May 28). Cheng Hoe has made it clear that he will use the two friendlies to test out every player who can play to his system.
Malaysia’s remaining matches in Group G in the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June are against UAE (June 3), Vietnam (June 11) and Thailand on June 15.
Malaysia will be without two pillars – defender Shahrul Saad and striker Shahrel Fikri – both of whom are kayoed by injuries but Cheng Hoe is not too disturbed by their absence as he has enough material to choose from the squad.
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the strict SOPs enforced by the Malaysian government curtailed Malaysia’s preparations for the qualifiers.
Malaysia is currently second in the group standings with nine points – two behind leaders Vietnam on 11 points after five matches.
Thailand is third on eight points followed by UAE with six points (from four matches) while Indonesia is without a point after losing all five matches.
The squad
Farizal Marlias
Khairul Azhan Khalid
Samuel Somerville
Matthew Davies
Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak
Adam Nor Azih
Corbin Ong
Rizal Ghazali
Junior Eldstal
Dominic Tan
Syahmi Safari
Irfan Zakaria
Azam Azih
Safawi Rasid
Brendan Gan
Liridon Krasniqi
Mohamadou Sumareh
Akhyar Rashid
Syamer Kutty Abba
Nazmi Faiz Mansor
Arif Aiman Hanapi
Guilherme De Paula
Syafiq Ahmad
Norshahrul Idlan Talaha
Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin

BADMINTON UMPIRING ‘GURU’ SUDHAKAR VEMURI DIES OF COVID-19

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – The badminton fraternity in the world is mourning the death of former international umpire, Sudhakar Vemuri who passed away in a hospital in Hyderabad, India today after being infected by the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).
The 72-year-old was Badminton Asia Technical Officials Committee deputy chairman and was a member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Umpire Assessment Panel.
He was a popular figure in badminton tournaments across the world – grooming future badminton umpires.
Badminton Asia can be proud of this soft-spoken Sudhakar who always brought his ‘acar’ (pickles) from India as he was a vegetarian, for his meal.
He also had extra two or three small bottles of the menu with him to be given to his friends.
Some of the tournament officials also had the luxury of tasting his home-cooked Hyderabad biryani when a tournament was held in the Indian city.
Described as Umpire Par Excellence, the ever-smiling, affable and helpful Sudhakar had excellent knowledge of the shuttle sport and put to ease many of the aspiring umpires who were assessed by Sudhakar in badminton tournaments around the world for their upgrading.
As their mentor, he had simple messages for those under “test” – one who never put any of them under pressure with his fatherly approach.
With his vast knowledge of the game and his good command of the English language, Sudhakar was an excellent ”teacher” for aspiring umpires who aimed to see the world through umpiring.
To him, the umpires need to have moral conduct and behavioral aspects as the key to a good umpiring decisions when they were assessed for upgrading. He had a hawk’s eye for mistakes which he jotted down in his notebook.
It is not a surprise that he was the first Asian to be awarded the BWF Distinguished Service Award (the highest award for badminton technical officials) in 2015 in recognition of his long and distinguished exemplary service to badminton at the international level.
He was also a three-time Olympian, having officiated at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Atlanta (1996), and Sydney in 2000 – a rare achievement and something Badminton Asia can be proud of.
”We lost a great mentor, a great teacher and a great human being. No one can substitute him. An irreparable loss to the world’s badminton fraternity. We lost a gem,” said Gaurav Khanna, chief coach of India’s Para-Badminton.
Sudhakar leaves behind a wife Subalakshimi, daughters Sowmya and Sindhura.
May his soul Rest in Peace.

AFTER THE ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ IN ASTAF, NOW THE ‘KICKS’ IN PSM

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 – The sport is at its lowest ebb and there are no signs of an end to the turmoil that has hit the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) following the 15-year ban slapped on its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF).
Several affiliates of PSM have pulled out from the national sepak takraw body and more are expected to follow suit after the Hari Raya holidays.
Kelantan was the first to pull out followed by Johor, Selangor and the latest Kedah.
The main reason given by the affiliates who have pulled out from PSM is that “they have lost faith” in the leadership of Ahmad Ismail, who has been blamed for the current mess. If this continues it will have a serious effect on the game in the country.
Just to recap the scenario, Malaysia suffered an embarrassing whitewash at the ASTAF elections in March with no Malaysian elected to the posts they contested.
It was a real embarrassment for Malaysia as PSM president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail was an incumbent deputy president of ASTAF.
The election results did not go down well with Ahmad Ismail, who was hell-bent on removing incumbent ASTAF president Datuk Halim Kader of Singapore from the post. Instead, it was a clean sweep by Halim Kader’s camp.
It was a bitter blow for Malaysia – a country that once reigned supreme in the popular rattan ball sport in the region.
Malaysia was a prime mover of the game as its popularity grew worldwide, especially among Asian countries.
Fed up with the intense politicking in PSM, affiliates of the national sepak takraw body, want to set up a rival body so that Malaysia can regain its status in the popular sport in the region. Kelantan, Johor, Selangor and Kedah have shown the way.
In the ASTAF elections, Halim Kader, who has helmed the Asian body for a decade, fought a three-cornered fight against Ahmad Ismail and Singapore’s Mohd Nasri Haron.
Halim Kader won hands down, securing 30 votes for the 2021-2025 term, while Ahmad Ismail and Mohd Nasri failed to get a single vote.
Ahmad Ismail claimed that the elections were rigged and alleged the elections of the new ASTAF office bearers were null and void.
ASTAF acted fast and called for disciplinary action to be taken against Ahmad Ismail. The ASTAF disciplinary panel found him guilty and slapped Ahmad Ismail with a 15-year ban on May 5 for violating several ASTAF bylaws and articles.
On top of that Ahmad Ismail will have to reimburse USD25,000 to cover the cost of covering the ASTAF disciplinary panel.
On the local front, Ahmad Ismail, a politician from Penang, irked several affiliates of PSM with his “politics” in the sport. His highhanded grip on the national body, was waiting to “explode” anytime soon.
The crisis that has engulfed PSM is not likely to end anytime soon.  Ahmad Ismail has also threatened legal action against ASTAF and it is left to be seen what will happen next.
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