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PERAK FOOTBALL IN TURMOIL AS COACH MEHMET QUITS IN A HUFF

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 – Long-serving Australian coach, Mehmet Durakovic has quit as the head coach of Perak FC citing “family commitments” as his reason although the M-League is set to kick off in less than two weeks.
The bombshell has left the football fraternity, especially die-hard Perak fans and supporters puzzled, but they are aware that it has not been smooth sailing for Perak football since the collapse of the Perikatan Nasional in December last year.
The resignation of Perak FA president, Datuk Ahmad Faizal Azumu early this year further drove home the message that all is not well with the game in Perak.
Perak was even contemplating pulling out its feeder squad, Perak II from the Premier League. That was until Monday before they decided that Perak II will compete.
Montenegro-born Durakovic is reportedly the highest-paid coach in the M-League and the change of the state administration has hit the FA’s coffers hard.
It is learned that finance was a critical factor in Mehmet quitting his post.
The former Australian international has been missing from training since Feb 15 but, Perak FC board member. Khairul Shahril Mohamed tried to cover-up Durakovic’s absence with a commonly used excuse ”maybe he is not well” – typical of a politician.
Reported to be the highest-paid football coach in the M-League, Durakovic’s exit from the Bos Gaurus is a real shocker when the team is scheduled to face Petaling Jaya City at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on March 7.
The new man in charge of the team is Chong Yee Fatt (pic left) who was Perak’s assistant coach to well-known German Karl Heinz Weigang from 2011-2013 and in 2017.
It is left to be seen if Yee Fatt can wave his magic and gel the team to his style of playing and only a positive result against P. Maniam’s outfit can win the fans.

NSC MUST INSTILL ‘THE CHAMPION’S MINDSET’ – REEZAL MERICAN

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 –  The National Sports Council (NSC) is 50 years old today.
At that ‘age’ the council has been urged to instill ‘The Champion’s Mindset’ in an effort to bring national sports aspirations to a greater height.
That was the message from Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican during the launch of NSC Golden Jubilee which was broadcast live on NSC’s Facebook and YouTube channel today.
In his message, Reezal urged all NSC employees to have the mindset  as the development of a great and respected sports champion must start from the institution.
“The Champion’s Mindset is the path to our excellence in many sporting events as there are so many Malaysian achievements in history which we could recall,” said Reezal as quoted by the local daily.
He said the determination of the mind was also the lifeblood of the success of national heroes who toiled to bring honour to Malaysia’s name at the highest level such as Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, Datuk M. Rajamani, Sazali Samad, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol David, Ziyad Zulkifli and Abdul Latif Romly.
Nicol David

The determination of the mind is also inherited by champions such as Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Pandalela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee, Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Lee Zii Jia at the moment, explained Reezal Merican.

“The coming years and decade, will actually test the seriousness and commitment of all of us. The real challenge is for us to produce more world-class athletes.
“While we are proud of history, we need to create more success stories and new names etched in gold for sports. As the Minister of Youth and Sports, I assure you that I will continue to provide strong and solid support for the continued success of NSC for the years to come, ” he said.
MSN established under the Malaysian National Sports Council Act 1971 and the National Sports Council Act (amendment 1979) was launched by the Second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on 21 Feb 1972.
During these five decades, NSC has been a catalyst in the development of talent and preparation of athletes for high performance sports through programmes such as Jaya 98 programme, Gemilang 2001 programme, Road to Rio 2016, Kita Juara 2017 programme and Road to Tokyo 2020.
The ceremony was also attended by NSC Director General, Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.
Happy 50th Anniversary National Sports Council!

AZIZAN BABA BATTLES CANCER

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 – The caterpillar scar on his left thigh tells the story that life is precious for footballer Azizan Baba as he battles the Big C (cancer) at the age of 39 years. The deadly disease has certainly thrown his life upside down.
As a professional footballer, the midfielder has taken many knocks in his career which saw him crisscross the country to earn a living.
In his prime, Azizan played for Melaka, Johor FC, Sarawak, Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad FC and Penang.
However, in a bizarre twist of fate, one knock while playing a friendly match with ex-state players in Lendu, Melaka last August has completely changed his life and he’s not sure what is in store for him. Azizan is now admitted at Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Bahru.
The life-threatening disease strikes when you least expect it.
According to Azizan, it was ”just a normal knock” in the match in Lendu. However, at the end of September there was some swelling on his left thigh but left it at that.
It was only in December when things did not improve, he sought treatment at the Melaka General Hospital where an ultrasound scan revealed a hematoma and the blood clots removed on Dec 14.
Ten days later, Azizan said he got himself discharged from the hospital but the swelling became worse and the pain unbearable.
Azizan does not have an insurance policy or a medical card and when his predicament became known, his fans and supporters donated money for him to do an MRI at the Putra Specialist Hospital in Melaka. The blood clots were removed through surgery.
The laboratory tests on the blood clots confirmed it was an aggressive cancerous tumor and he was referred to the Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Bahru on Feb 9.
It is the scariest thing he is going through in his life but the father of eight is putting up a brave front to face the “Big C” battle.
On the financial front, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit him hard when the M3 League was canceled.
He was the head coach of Melaka City/Syarikat Air Melaka. The political upheaval saw a change of government in the state and unpaid salaries have made matters worse for Azizan.
Those who want to make financial contributions to Azizan can do so through his Maybank account 154026372544.
Robert Alberts

Former national Under-19 coach, Robert Alberts who also had coaching stints with Kedah, Sarawak and with clubs in Singapore (Tanjung Pahar and Home United), is sad to know about Azizan’s predicament.

”Azizan is a gentleman and a good player…a top-class professional giving his best both on and off the field,” said Alberts who now coaches Persib Bandung in the Indonesian League.

AFC’S DECISION IS ‘GOOD NEWS’ FOR CHENG HOE

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 – National football coach, Tan Cheng Hoe not only enjoyed his dinner on Thursday night but also had a peaceful sleep after knowing that he will have the much needed time to prepare the Harimau Malaya for the second round matches in Group G of the pandemic hit World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Thursday that all five countries in Group G have agreed to have the matches played in June and it will be held on a carnival basis at a venue which is yet to be decided.
Venue bids are now open but Malaysia has decided against bidding due to the strict SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that need to be followed by the host nation.
Apart from Malaysia, the other countries in the group are Vietnam, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, and Indonesia.
Putting that aside, Cheng Hoe is relieved with the June dates as it will give him time to get his team into shape.
Harimau Malaya has been ”idle” for more than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Being in ”cold-storage” comes with rustiness and at the same time, Cheng Hoe is aware that their rivals Vietnam, Thailand and UAE had been able to train together and even played friendly matches as part of their preparations.
”We need centralized training. You have to be physically and mentally prepared for the remaining matches and with the M-League scheduled to kick off next month it will be the perfect start for the national players,” said Cheng Hoe.
Cheng Hoe has now decided that the national squad will start training only next month. The Malaysian football league is now scheduled to begin on March 5 with JDT taking on Kedah for the Charity Shield.
This curtain raiser will be held at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
”The June dates is perfect for us. It will allow the national team the much need centralised training. After being out for so long it will take time for the players to gel and get into the rhythm. It takes time to get into the system.”
Malaysia is currently in second place behind leaders Vietnam with nine points after five matches.
Vietnam leads the group with 11 points while Thailand third on eight followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on six with a game in hand. Indonesia is at the bottom without a point.
In the earlier fixtures, Malaysia is scheduled to play UAE in Dubai on March 25 followed by a home match against Vietnam on March 30, and complete their fixtures against Thailand on June 15.

FAM ELECTION – SOME SHOULD GET THE BOOT

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 – Incumbent Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin is set to retain his post as President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for a second term after reportedly returned unopposed when nominations closed last Thursday.
The 57th FAM Congress is scheduled to be held on March 13 to elect the office bearers for the 2021-2025 term.
Hamidin deserves to be given another term as he still has some unfinished business after he was voted in at the last elections.
However, the national football body needs to seriously take stock of some of the incumbents and those who are vying for a post in Hamidin’s cabinet for reasons known to many.
There are some who are there in pursuit of their personal agenda. They should be booted out as they are a disgrace to Malaysian football.
The intense campaigning, both, by the incumbents and the newcomers has already begun and battle for votes is expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks. As usual the campaign comes with plenty of promises – just like politicians campaigning in a general election.
Coming back to the incumbents it is a known fact that some have been dropping names, including royalty, during their campaign. There are also some who have become ”runners” to secure royal or state awards to be in the good books of their boss.
To ”butter” the boss or someone in power is a norm in Malaysia – let it be in the government or private sector. It is sad but true this culture is very much alive in sports bodies in the country.
The recent cases of unpaid salaries for players, both foreign and local, and team officials, kept Malaysia’s flag flying in FIFA. It is a shame for Malaysian football.
The FAM was harsh in dealing with some teams on this matter while some were given lot of leeway to sort out the financial mess.
Why?  – Some of the teams were given a lot of leeway while others felt the brunt with strong warnings.
Those who got leeway had a ”godfather” to work things out or coverup their shortcomings. This sad when much has been said about professionalism in the sport.
It did not stop at that. A high ranking FA official even went to the extent of telling a foreign player that he can help the player secure is back wages for a çertain amount. Do we need such official in the set up.
Take a hard look at such officials who bring shame to the country. They need to be booted out for the sake of pride and dignity.

AZIZULHASNI AWANG ADA PELUANG RAIH EMAS DI OLIMPIK TOKYO

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 –  Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) percaya juara dunia 2017, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang kini berada pada landasan terbaik untuk menghadiahkan kilauan pingat emas pada temasya Sukan Olimpik 2020 di Tokyo, Jepun Ogos nanti.

Pengurus pasukan acara berbasikal ke Sukan Olimpik 2020, Datuk Ashakari Abu Noor menegaskan bahawa persatuan kini memantau prestasi semasa pelumba ranking nombor satu dunia acara pecut (sprint) bersama Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN).

Beliau yang baharu kali pertama memikul tanggungjawab sebagai pengurus pasukan di Sukan Olimpik, menegaskan Azizulhasni atau lebih dikenali sebagai The Pocket Rocketman berada pada prestasi terbaik untuk menghadiahkan pingat emas pertama Sukan Olimpik kepada negara.

“Atas kertas, Azizulhasni berpeluang cerah untuk menang pingat emas. Beliau menduduki ranking pertama sprint dan ranking kedua keirin. Beliau boleh menguasai mana-mana acara sama ada sprint atau pun keirin.

“Saya percaya tiada calon dari Eropah, Britain atau Australia yang boleh mendabik dada kononnya mereka ialah calon pilihan untuk merangkul pingat emas. Buktinya beliau baru-baru ini menang pada Kejohanan Trek Kebangsaan Australia.

“Sebagaimana yang kita tahu, pelumba ternama Australia seperti Matthew Glaetzer memang sangat hebat, tetapi Azizulhasni berjaya tewaskan beliau pada Kejohanan Trek Kebangsaan Australia pada Disember lalu.

“Ini menunjukkan Azizulhasni sudah bersedia untuk menguasai acara sprint mahupun keirin di Olimpik Tokyo nanti. Saya berasa yakin beliau akan menghadiah emas Olimpik pertama negara ,” kata Ashakari dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan PKBM semalam.

Ashakari menjelaskan Azizulhasni kini mempunyai pengalaman yang sangat luas, kekuatan dalaman, ranking dunia, kematangan ketika berlumba dan kebijaksanaan untuk menilai prestasi pesaing dari Eropah, Britain, Australia atau Jepun.

“Gara-gara pandemik Covid 2019 (Coronavirus 2019), ramai pelumba tidak dapat sertai kejohanan besar. Mereka berlatih tapi tidak sertai kejohanan besar. Di sinilah berlaku banyak andaian. Bagaimanapun, saya percaya Azizulhasni memiliki banyak kelebihan berbanding pelumba lain,” katanya.

Azizulhasni yang bakal tampil pada temasya Sukan Olimpik ke-4 selepas Beijing pada 2008, Britain 2012 dan Brazil pada 2016 kini diiktiraf pelumba ranking pertama sprint dan ranking kedua keirin berdasarkan ranking dikeluarkan Kesatuan Berbasikal Antarabangsa (UCI).

Ashakari yang pernah menjadi pengurus pasukan ke Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Asia 2009 (ACC 2009) di Kalimantan, Indonesia dan Sukan Asia 2014 di Incheon, Korea Selatan, mendedahkan betapa beliau sendiri mengambil pendekatan pro-aktif berhubung dengan perkembangan Azizulhasni daripada semasa ke semasa menerusi aplikasi Whatsapp.

“Kali terakhir kami berhubung ialah pada 13 Februari lalu. Azizul meminta sokongan padu daripada semua pihak di Malaysia. Beliau mahu semua pihak mendoakan agar persiapan beliau berjalan lancar dan berpeluang untuk menang pingat emas di Olimpik Tokyo nanti,” katanya.

Ashakari menegaskan Azizulhasni juga memiliki sedikit kelebihan kerana pernah berlumba di Velodrome Izu dekat Tokyo sebelum ini.

 

LUQMAN, LIRIDON ON CHENG HOE’S CALL UP LIST

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 – It will be a first for two household names in Malaysian football – 18-year-old Luqman Hakim Shamsudin and 29-year-old naturalized Malaysian Liridon Krasniqi – earning a callup with the senior squad for the coming World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers.
Incidentally, both are currently based with overseas clubs. Kota Bharu-born Luqman is currently attached to Belgian First Division club KV Kortrijk while Kosova midfielder Liridon, who is with seven-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim, is on loan with Australian club Newcastle Jets.
Tan Cheng Hoe

National football head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has decided to give the duo a big-break with Harimau Malaya as the national team prepares for the remaining three matches in Group G – against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Vietnam and Thailand.

The remaining matches could be played on a carnival basis depending on the decision made by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
With the latest Movement Control Order (MC0) extended to Feb 18, it has been a rocky phase for the national squad as it has been ”grounded” since the standard operating procedure (SOP) came into force due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cheng Hoe has now decided that the national squad will start training only next month. The Malaysian football league is now scheduled to begin on March 5 with JDT taking on Kedah for the Charity Shield. This curtain raiser will be held at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
Due to time constraints, Cheng Hoe is not likely to bring more new faces into the national squad although he wanted to give newcomers a call-up but the pandemic has thrown a spanner in his plans.
Liridon
Luqman is described as a raw ”gem” waiting to be polished but is also cautious with the talented striker who won praises for his exploits with in the national Under-16, Under-19 and the Under-23 teams in the age-group tournaments.
”Sometimes you are good in the age-group tournaments but don’t hit it right with the senior team. Still, he is in my call-up list,” said Cheng Hoe.
Liridon needs no introduction as Cheng Hoe knows the player when turned out for Kedah in the M-League from 2015 to 2019 before the midfielder moved to Melaka for a season in 2019. It was an unhappy stint with Melaka and he moved further south to JDT last year.
Malaysia is currently in second place behind leaders Vietnam with nine points after five matches. Vietnam leads the group with 11 points with Thailand third on eight followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on six with a game in hand.
Malaysia is scheduled to play UAE in Dubai on March 25 followed by a home match against Vietnam on March 30 and complete their fixtures against Thailand on June 15.
However, Malaysia, UAE, and Thailand have asked for a postponement of the matches to June.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has not decided on the matter as Vietnam has not given a reply to the June suggestion.
There is also a suggestion for the matches to be played on a carnival basis in Dubai.
Cheng Hoe is keeping his fingers crossed that those called up for national training will come well prepared as time is a major concern.
”You can ill afford to have injuries especially when you know that centralised training was not possible due to the strict SOPs and the league last year was shortened. National players need at least 30 to 40 matches to play international matches,” added Cheng Hoe.

MORI – VOICE OF TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS RESIGNS

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WITH nearly 80 percent of the Japanese, in a recent survey, opposing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to be held in July-August this year, the mega sporting event took another blow on Friday.
Yoshiro Mori, a former Prime Minister of Japan, has resigned from his post as president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organising Committee following his sexist comments recently.
”My inappropriate statement has caused a lot of chaos worldwide and I wish to resign from my post,” Mori told a meeting of the Tokyo 2020 council and executive board on Friday.
The 83-year-old Mori’s recent comments that female members of the Japan Olympic Committee talk too much and caused a furor and the meeting on Friday was called to discuss the matter.
Although Mori later apologised for his remarks, the damage was already done, both at home and internationally.
Mori handpicked former Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi but the latter turned down the nomination.
Kawabuchi is the Mayor of the Athletes’ Village for the Games and is a member of the Tokyo 2020 Council.
Meanwhile, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in a statement announced that the Super 300 Yonex German Open scheduled for March 9-14 has been canceled.
The tournament was the second for the 2021 season after the Yonex Swiss Open (March 2-7). Both offered Olympic qualifying points.
The German Badminton Association canceled the event after consultation and agreement with the BWF due to the strict Covid-19 restrictions and complications imposed by Germany.

CONGRATULATIONS AZIZULHASNI AWANG!

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FIGURE 8 – A DREAM ‘MARRIAGE’ FOR JDT AND SAFIQ RAHIM

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JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 10 – ”Welcome Home SR8. 8 for mission 8” wrote Johor Darul Takzim club owner Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim on the club Instagram –  and it is enough to spell out the Southern Tigers mission in the new season.
After plying his football trade with Melaka United for two years, former international Safiq Rahim is back with seven-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) to finish off some unfinished business.
The 34-year-old Selangor-born was unveiled as JDT’s latest addition to the already heavily-laden football talent in the south.
Safiq is no stranger to JDT having donned JDT colors from 2013 to 2018 before moving to Melaka (2019-2020).
During his previous stint with the Southern Tigers the midfielder who is known as a free-kick specialist, had won five Super League titles (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), apart from winning the Malaysia Cup (2017), the FA Cup (2016) and the Charity Shield in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
In 2015 he skippered JDT to the AFC Cup title after a 1-0 win over FC Istiklol at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan – a first for the Malaysian team.
Without a doubt, JDT wants to take its game to a higher level and is Malaysia’s hope in the  AFC Champions League and Safiq fits the bill as a key pillar in the team coached by Mexican coach Benjamin Mora.
His arrival has set the JDT fans abuzz. Safiq was unveiled a day after naturalized Malaysian international Mohamadou Sumareh was introduced as JDT’s new signing.
The new football season is scheduled to kick off on March 5 with JDT taking on Kedah for the Charity Shield.
The curtain raiser will be played at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri and will also count towards the league.
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