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‘MILLIONAIRE’ SUMAREH IS JDT PROPERTY NOW

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 – Naturalized Gambian-born Malaysian Mohamadou Sumareh – a hot name in Malaysian football – after taking his former team Pahang to FIFA over non-payment of salaries and winning USD1.2 million (RM4.9 million) will don Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) colors in this year’s M-League.
The 26-year-old international was unveiled by the Southern Tigers as their new signing and arrived in style to sign his contract at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim.
He arrived in a limousine and the caption drove home a simple powerful message – ”Driver please take me to the best club in Malaysia. Welcome to the Home of Champions.”
Indeed it is the Home of Champions. JDT is the hottest football team in the country, are seven-time Malaysian Super League champions after winning their first in 2014, one year after the Johor club was born. Apart from the league titles JDT as also won the FA Cup, te Malaysia Cup and the Charity Shield.
Club owner HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the Johor Crown Prince, has made JDT a household name in this region and is aiming higher and wants his team to win the AFC Champions League before moving on to the bigger stage. JDT won the AFC Cup in 2015.
Pahang will have to pay the Sumareh a whopping USD1.2 million in back wages for a breach of the contract. He abandoned Pahang when the M-League resumed in August last year after a break in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the matter is yet to be resolved it is learned that Pahang and Sumareh are in talks to settle it amicably.
For now, Sumareh is one happy man to move south and don JDT colors and had this to say: “I am glad to be part of the JDT outfit, and I hope I can help the team win more trophies.”
He thanked Tunku Ismail for giving him the opportunity to represent the amazing club. For him, it is a dream come true.

IT IS SIMPLY WRONG TIMING BAM!

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 – In days of uncertainty, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) delivered an unkind cut when the national badminton body announced a shock decision that has left many reeling – dropping five key players from the national team with immediate effect.
What more when some of them – mixed doubles Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and even women’s singles Soniia Cheah – are still in contention for a place in the Tokyo Olympics.
With the Chinese New Year around the corner, this is not the Ang Pow they were expecting. Only the players who are dropped know what they are going through now.
It is a cruel way to sever their badminton links with the national body. Badminton is their livelihood but BAM, you chose to throw sand in their rice bowl.
Didn’t those who decided to drop the bombshell have any feelings?
Put yourself in their (players, plus the coaches, dropped earlier) shoes dear management. They had no inkling as this was coming soon after not playing competitive badminton for nearly a year.
The management has once again shown its high handedness after dropping the coaches at the end of last year. What more is coming from the management is left to be seen.
A stern message should also be issued to the management that you too are deemed to have failed if the players have failed.
In short, the BAM has left the sport in a lurch, and badminton is not expected to produce champions in the near future if the present Malaysian badminton standard is taken into account.
Based on current form, Zii Jia should be dropped from the squad.

It is totally unacceptable that you have Project 24 in mind. Another couple of months’ extension to keep them (those dropped) would not have made much of a difference when the Covid-19 pandemic continues to play havoc throughout the world.

If Project 24 is the main focus then just forget about the Tokyo Olympics and cut costs. There is no guarantee that Lee Zii Jia, who was a big flop in Bangkok, will perform in Europe, or he will return with more excuses.
For now, it is not a mushy love story in the BAM.

MIXED REACTIONS TO BAM’S MOVE TO DROP PLAYERS

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Some said, it's a cruel move by BAM to axe Shevon (left) and Goh Soon Huat.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has gone on a chopping spree after Malaysia’s poor show in the recent tournaments in Bangkok, Thailand – the Yonex Thailand Open and the Toyota Thailand, both Super 1000 tournaments and the season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020.
Malaysia’s top women’s singles Soniia Cheah headed the list which also included mixed doubles players Goh Soon Huat, Shevon Lai Jemie, Lai Pi Jing and women’s doubles player Vivian Hoo.
Vivian won the Commonwealth Games women’s doubles gold with Woon Khe Wei and the mixed team gold in Glasgow (2014) and the women’s doubles gold with Chow Mei Kuan in Gold Coast 2018.
Soniia Cheah

It is another strong signal from the BAM that there is no room for non-performers but the axing of Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai has not gone down well with many of those who have been keeping track of the shuttle sport in the country.

Many called on the BAM to stop blaming the players for the current standard of Malaysian badminton and called for a shakeup of the management as well.

Following the post-mortem conducted after Malaysia’s performance in Bangkok, a detailed Key Performance Index (KPI) has been tabulated and subsequently provided the key to the review of the performance of the players.
Vivian Hoo.

Tan Kian Meng (mixed doubles) and Yap Cheng Wen (womens doubles)  have been given a new opportunity to prove themselves with ”stern instructions to show rapid progess” if they harbour hopes of staying in the national squad.

The national squad’s training will be stepped up significantly with focus on mental training.
For the record Soon Huat-Shevon Lai did well to reach the semi-finals in the World Tour Finals before losing to Koreans Seo Seung Jae-Chae YuJung.
When considering that Soon Huat-Shevon Lai is still in contention to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled to be held in July-August this year, axing the pair is best described as “CRUEL”.
With the country hit badly by the Covid-19 pandemic, many others added that the timing is not right as the BAM failed to give a thought to the welfare of the players, especially when the pandemic is a ready made excuse from the sponsors.
Back-up players Ter Chun Long, Low Eu Cong (men’s singles) and Ching Kai Feng, Ooi Jhy Dar (men’s doubles) have also been released.
At the same time eight probation players have been moved up to the backup squad – Wyman Goh, Lee Shun Yang, Shaqeem Eiman (men’s singles), K. Letshanaa (women’s singles), Yap Roy King, Nurfirdaus Azman, Loo Bing Kun and Lwi Sheng Hao (men’s doubles).
“The entirety of BAM gives sincere thanks to these players for their commitment, dedication, and immense contribution to the country over the years,” BAM said in a statement.
It also added that another review of the players will be done after the coming European Tour next month which includes the Yonex Swiss Open (March 2-7, Basel) and the Yonex German Open (9-14 in Mulheim), both Super 300 tournaments and offer Olympics qualifying points.
There are also the prestigious Yonex All-England Championships in Birmingham but the Super 1000 tournament does not offer Olympic points.

KELANTAN UNITED FC’s ‘YAKULT MAN’ MOTOYAMA ARRIVES

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 – Former Japanese international, Masashi Motoyama has arrived to don Kelantan United FC in the Premier League 2021.
He is currently in quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is eagerly waiting to meet his new fans – knowing that Kelantan football fans are a crazy lot and faithful to their team.
Age is not a factor for the midfielder although he is 41 years old and Kelantan United FC believes he is their ace in the pack and is banking on the Japanese to be the main drawcard in the team that has been rebuild for the new season.
Motoyama was a member of the Japanese national team that won the AFC Asian Cup in 2004.
He was also Japan’s key player when he helped his country finish runners-up in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships.
In the J-League, Motoyama was the star for Kashima Antlers – making 365 appearances from 1998-2015, according to statistics available.
His sponsors, Yakult (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in a statement released on behalf of the player said: “I can’t wait to join my new team. I also can’t wait to meet Kelantan United FC fans. Thank You for all the support.”
Kelantan United FC will have a strong Japanese flavor this year. Coach Akira Higashiyama, coached Kuching City FC last season and took the team to a creditable fourth place in the Premier League.
Also in the Kelantan United FC is midfielder Yuki Tanigawa who played for Kuching City FC last year.
Yuki Tanigawa (right) also joined Kelantan United FC this season.
Kelantan United FC had a reasonably good season last year and qualified for the Malaysia Cup where the team lost to Perak 4-0 in Ipoh in a first-round match. In the Premier League, the team finished in eighth place.
Yakult is a Japanese sweetened probiotic milk beverage in Malaysia.

PAHANG TOLD TO PAY SUMAREH USD1.2 MILLION

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 – Naturalized Gambian-born Malaysian, Mohamadou Sumareh has won his case filed with FIFA and his former team Pahang will have to pay the international a whopping USD1.2 million (RM4.9 million) in back wages for a breach of the contract.
The world football governing body has ruled in favour of the national midfielder who took the matter to FIFA on late payment of salaries, including an annual increment of USD5,000 after his second year with the Elephants.
He joined Pahang in 2017 and says that his salary remained stagnant although there is a clause in his contract that includes an annual increment of USD5,000 after his second year with the East Coast giants.
Sumareh disappeared from Pahang in August last year, claiming he has not been paid his salaries and failed to show up for training under coach Dollah Salleh for the opening league match against Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) at home when the league resumed on Aug 28, 2020. JDT won the match 3-2.
Without Sumareh, Pahang struggled in the one-round league and finished eighth place with 14 points.
FIFA said the total sum of US1.2 million includes the breach of contract for 2020 and 2021. No details of the case were made available but Pahang can request it from FIFA within 10 days.
Pahang can also bring the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) or will have to pay Sumareh the amount within 45 days.
Sumareh has become a key link in the national team after he was granted Malaysian citizenship in April 2018.
He was called up to the Harimau Malaya squad in October 2018 and has never looked back donning national colors.
The Fajara-born (in Gambia) has stayed in Malaysia since the age of 12.
After he disappeared from Pahang, Sumareh joined the Thai league club Police Tero FC for a brief stint before returning to Malaysia.
His name has been linked to several teams in the M-League but there is no news on the matter.

SATIANATHAN BEGINS A NEW JOURNEY IN SARAWAK

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 – Former national coach B. Satianathan has embarked on a new journey which he terms as “challenging” but ready to deliver what Sarawak expects of him – to make the East Malaysian state a footballing powerhouse in Malaysian football.
Satianathan is the Technical Director of Sarawak United FC which will ply its football trade in the second-tier Premier League in the Malaysian Football League after finishing 10th in last season’s pandemic-curtailed season and was decided over one round instead of the normal home and away matches.
The straight-talking Satianathan’s journey to Sarawak began with a 14-day quarantine after arriving in Kuching with his family- wife Krishna Priya and son Dorshen Prisat Nair, 7, on Tuesday (Feb 2).
His family includes his dog Leya, a German Shepherd, also serving quarantine at the Veterinary Department.
Last year was one of ups and downs as the head coach of Super League outfit Selangor. From day one Satianathan fought a losing battle, both on and off the field before he was unceremoniously given the boot by the Red Giants management.
The sack came on Sept 21- two days after Selangor was beaten 6-1 by seven-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on September 19, 2020. (Two weeks before the Selangor match, the Southern Tigers had whipped Perak 7-0 at the same venue also in a league match).
The big defeat was just an excuse to remove Satianathan and the “hidden hands” won the battle. It was a known fact that the management was ungracious to Satianathan.
During his short stay with the Red Giants, Satianathan was often the target of racial abuse in the stands and also the social media. Satianathan even made a ‘journey’ to a police station to file a report when his family became a target of hate with race and religion becoming an issue. One of the instigators was a player.
Even before last year’s season got underway Satianathan ran into a stonewall when his request for another player to beef up the squad was shot down with a blunt ”Selangor has no funds” as an excuse – something hard to swallow.
For the record, Selangor has gone on a spending spree this season – hiring a German coach who has brought in his own team of assistants plus new foreign players to beef up the squad.
Sarawak United head coach, Elavarasan.

The Sarawak journey is a new beginning and Satianathan has vowed to fulfill the trust placed in him as the Technical Director. It is a known fact that Satianathan prefers to be in the thick of things on the field coaching but has taken it upon himself to deliver. in his new post.

”The Sarawak Government has been very helpful and providing all the help to ensure that the game is taken to new heights at all levels. The government is also building new infrastructure in the state,” said Satianathan from Kuching.
”It is not just producing new coaches or upgrading those who are already coaching at various levels in all corners of the state. As for players, there is plenty of football talent in Sarawak in the interiors.
”They will come under scrutiny so that Sarawak football will be in the forefront of national competitions. We tap such talent at the grassroots. I am confident that in time to come Sarawak will have a fair share of national players.”
Satianathan brings with him a wealth of experience, having coached the National Under-23 and National teams. His football journeys saw the widely traveled Satianathan, 62, taking  Kelantan to win the prestigious Malaysia Cup in 2010 -a first for the East Coast giants. His other stints took him to the Armed Forces, Felda United, Negri Sembilan, MPPJ FC with a fair share of success.
Sarawak United FC will be coached by E. Elavarasan who was also the coach last season.

LG ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES RM150,000 SPONSORSHIP FOR MALAYSIA PURPLE LEAGUE

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 – Award-winning home appliance manufacturer LG Electronics has announced a RM150,000 sponsorship in collaboration with Malaysia Purple League (MPL) – an organisation supported and sanctioned by the Youth  and Sports Ministry and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

The sponsorship is set to take effect in MPL’s 2020/2021 season.

The Malaysia Purple League was established to collaborate with BAM to help fulfil Malaysia’s aspiration of finding the next Malaysian Olympic badminton champion, while creating more value in the industry by generating job opportunities and a stable career path for badminton professionals.

Managing Director of LG Electronics Malaysia, Kim Kyutae said: “The Purple League platform allows for a unique and invaluable experience to both the players and audiences alike, as well as towards the success of the sport for Malaysia. In line with our Chapter of Social Contribution, we work towards forming strategic partnerships to support those who strive to realise their dreams.

“Sports has always been a platform of unity for Malaysians from all walks of life. It is also a platform for many to ensure a well-balanced work and personal life. We are honoured to play a role in making a difference in Malaysia’s sports landscape through our support in tournaments like the Purple League.”

Menawhile, Chief Operating Executive of the MPL, Ho Khek Mong expressed his profound gratitude to LG Electronics.

“The Malaysia Purple League ecosystem enables opportunities for growth in the badminton industry. We are excited to have a global and prevalent brand like LG Electronics join our ecosystem to continue providing the platform for top ranked players and young upcoming talents alike to compete on the same court, especially given current circumstances.

“We hope this partnership will be a siren’s calling for other organisations to join the Malaysia Purple League ecosystem to collaborate and leave a long-lasting, positive impact in the sports industry,” said Khek Mong.

The MPL has successfully hosted the Top Glove Purple League Pro-Am 2020(PLPA) in the 2020/21 season, while the Aeon Credit Purple League Junior 2020 completed its first region in Port Dickson, with the remainder to be held after the end of MCO 2.0.

This will be followed by the Biz Link Property Purple League Corporate 2020/2021 and the redONE SENHENG Purple League 2020/2021, culminating with a total of four major tournaments in the 2020/2021 Season.

 

CHENG HOE LIKELY TO RELY IN HIS ‘TRIED AND TESTED’

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 – With the latest extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) national football coach, Tan Cheng Hoe is racing against time to gather his national squad to prepare for the Group G matches in the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers.
Cheng Hoe is hoping there will be no changes to the proposed quarantine-based training in Bukit Jalil as proposed by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The former international is keeping his fingers crossed that there will be a “positive outcome” on the matter from the FA of Malaysia (FAM) on Wednesday (Feb 3).
Due to time constraints, Cheng Hoe is not likely to bring in new faces into the national squad although he wanted to give newcomers a call-up.
“It is most unlikely I will bring in newcomers. Time is against us. I would rather depend on the ‘tried and tested’ as they know what is expected from them,” said Cheng Hoe when contacted.
For Cheng Hoe, the MCO has given him sleepless nights because the Harimau Malaya have yet to start training while the rest of the rivals have been training and even played friendly matches. Except for Malaysia, rest of the countries have their leagues in progress.
Malaysia is currently in second place behind leaders Vietnam with nine points after five matches.
Vietnam leads the group with 11 points, 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 15 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.
On Tuesday, Senior Minister of Defense, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the National Security Council (NSC) agreed to extend the MCO 2.0 throughout the country (except Sarawak) after a high-level meeting on the same day.
The current MCO was scheduled to end on Thursday (Feb 4). It will now be extended from Feb 5 to Feb 18.

SQUASH QUEEN NICOL DAVID IS THE ‘GREATEST ATHLETE OF ALL TIME’

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 – Datuk Nicol David – Malaysia’s eight-time world champion has done the country proud again when she was named as the ”Greatest Athlete of All Time” (GOAT) by the World Games, an international sporting association.
The 37-year-old Penangite, who quit the sport in 2019, needs no introduction in the world of sports having won eight world titles between 2005-2014 and was the world No 1 for nine long years.
Apart from that Nicol also won two Commonwealth golds and seven Asian Games titles during her illustrious career.
Nicol, described as a true ambassador of the sport, was a runaway winner with massive 318, 943 votes conducted by the International World Games Association (WA) from Jan 8-Feb 1.
Irish tug of war legend James Kehoe was a distant second with 113, 120 votes. Ukraine’s powerlifter Larysa Soloviova finished third on 80,790.
The squash queen kept the Malaysian flag flying high in the sport during her playing days. Her winning the award is a fitting reward as was the only Asian nominated for the award which is something she can be proud of.
The poll featured 24 athletes from around the world.
World Squash Federation (WSF) president Zena Woolridge described the Malaysian, who is currently based in Colombia, as the true ambassador of squash.

MALAYSIAN SHUTTLERS LACK MENTAL STRENGTH

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will have to seriously look at Malaysia’s disappointing results at the recent three tournaments in Bangkok – the Yonex Thailand Open, the Toyota Thailand Open and the season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020.
Both the Thailand Open tournaments offered USD1 million in prize money while the purse for the World Tour Finals was USD1.5 million.
Malaysia’s best was reaching the finals in the men’s doubles. Professionals Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong made the final in the Yonex Thailand Open while Malaysia’s number one pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the Toyota Thailand Open.
V Shem (left) and Wee Kiong lost in the finals at Yonex Thailand Open.
In each final, the Malaysians were at the receiving end at the hands of Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Chinese Taipei who also went on to clinch the title in the world tour finals and complete a grand hattrick in Bangkok.
As usual, it is the normal excuse we get from the Malaysians  – that they are still learning from their mistakes and gave their best in the tournament.
”I will be better prepared in the next tournament,” is another norm as a reply to questions posed by the media.
With time against them before Olympic qualifying tournaments get underway, the BAM coaching staff will have to get cracking as the writing is on the wall that Malaysian shuttlers need a psychologist’s help to build up their confidence.
Much hope was placed on national number one singles Lee Zii Jia but was a complete flop and although he did show glimpses of his capability in his matches, overall he was listless. His fitness also leaves a big question mark.
Zii Jia

Zii Jia, you need solid mental strength and attitude plus character with a commitment to survive in the tough badminton world. Sadly, Zii Jia, you lack these ingredients if you harbor to be in the same mould of Malaysia’s legendary Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

Chong Wei may have not won the Olympic gold but his silver medals in Beijing (2008) London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016) speaks of the former World No 1 who was much-feared on the court for his tremendous fighting spirit. He also had the DESIRE to win matches.
Zii Jia, at the age of 22, it cannot be said ”age is on your side” when others are winning titles in the competitive world of badminton.
The Kedah-born Zii Jia is touted as a medal hope in the Tokyo Olympics but before that, he has his work cut out and has to start winning tournaments in the qualifiers.
Last but not least badminton coaches cannot be blamed for the shortcomings of the players on the court if they (players) are a flop in matches.
The BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann has a mammoth task on his hands after the below-par performance in Bangkok.
For the record, Choong Hann was not in Bangkok as he was tested positive for Covid-19 and had to be quarantined at home on the eve of the team’s departure.
In the World Tour Finals, Malaysia had two pairs in the semi-finals – the women’s doubles Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie. However, both fell to their opponents from Korea in the last four.
Mei Kuan (left) and Meng Yean reached the semifinals at HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.
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