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SARAWAK SWOOP MAT YO PLUS OTHER BIG NAMES

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Mat Yo opened account for Sarawak United against Perak II.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 – Sarawak is settling for its own brew to take Sarawak football to new heights – with two of the best football brains in coaching – B. Satianathan as Technical Director and E. Elavarasan, often described as the man with the Midas Touch, as the head coach of Sarawak United for the new season.
ELAVARASAN

The two have already made a headstart – signing up international Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and several other big names, including foreigners, Australian defender Taylor Regan, and Brazilian hitman Sandro Mendonca, both of whom donned Selangor colors in the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed 2020 season.

Both are not new to Satiananthan as the former national coach was unceremoniously dumped by the Red Giants after a 6-1 defeat to Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) in an away league match.
SATIANATHAN

For the record, JDT went on to win their seventh Super League title and days earlier had also whipped Perak 7-1 in the league.

Just like Satiananthan, Selangor also released Regan and Sandro for the new season after signing up a new German coach Karsten Neitzel a close buddy of the Selangor FA’s Technical Director Michael Feichtenbeiner.
Feichtenbeiner was appointed the caretaker coach after Satiananthan.
For the new season, Sarawak has also hired Christie Jayaseelan, R. Gopinathan who donned Petaling Jaya City FC and Pahang colors this year.
However, it is Norshahrul, nicknamed “Mat Yo” in the footballing fraternity, is a big catch for Sarawak. Satiananthan describes him as a “prized asset” in the national team under Tan Cheng Hoe but also to any club. The widely traveled Besut-born Norshahrul’s last club is BG Pathum which plays in the Thai League.
In the Malaysian League, Norshahrul played for Perak, Negeri Sembilan, UPB My Team, Kelantan, JDT, Armed Forces, Terengganu, Felda United, and Pahang where he left his mark with each team before going to Thailand.
He is also a much-respected striker in international tournaments in this region.
”He is inspiring to the young and lived up to that role. After his stint in Thailand, we can count on him to be far better. This is what we want from him in Sarawak as football talent in the state is second to none,” said Satiananthan who is determined to take Sarawak football to greater heights.
“Age is certainly not a factor for Mat Yo. He is still among the best among locals footballers and to me, he is an asset at any level. He is a role model on and off the field. More importantly, he can inspire.
Elavarasan is excited about the latest developments that are taking in Sarawak football and sees plenty of hope in the game after coaching the team this year.
”It is a mixture of youth and experience. Due to the pandemic, I managed to put in only four months of coaching but I see hope for the team. Frankly, I can tell you this…there is plenty of football talent in the state,” said Elavarasan.
”There are already five players who are already seen as future stars in the game. With those recruited with experience means there will be a good blend of Sarawak football in the new season.”
Apart from goalkeeper Saiful Wazizi, the rest are attacking players – Nur Shamie Iszuan, Ashri Chuchu, and Abdul Rahim Abdul Razak are attacking players.
”They are future players of Sarawak who are capable of making the grade with the right coaching and exposure. I know what they can deliver…all they need is playing experience at a higher level.”
In the recent Premier League, Sarawak finished in 10th place in the 12-team league.

‘FLYING SIKH’ STILL HAS THE ENERGY AND FIRE IN RALLY DRIVING

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 – He was promised a monthly pension of RM5,000 by the Sports Ministry sometime in 2005 or 2006 after putting Malaysia on the world map for winning the 2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championships title.
However, it was another typical Malaysian promise by a politician, probably to gain political mileage.
We have seen many such promises and it was probably another such promise that died a natural death.
The Sports Minister then was Dato Sri Azalina Othman Said under Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet (2004-2008). There were two deputy Sports Ministers – first Ong Tee Keat and later Liow Tiong Lai.
However, Karamjit Singh – dubbed the ”Flying Sikh” – could see light at the end of the tunnel and may still get the pension if YAKEB president, Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed’s statement for a pension proposal comes through.
Noorul played a role in Karamjit’s meeting with current Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican who has promised the ”Flying Sikh” to secure sponsors that will enable him to race in next year’s Asia Pacific Rally Championships (APRC).
For the record, Karamjit won the APRC titles in 2001, 2002, and 2004 and hopes to compete in the first round scheduled for March 2021.
Reezal has “verbally” agreed to help Karamjit secure the RM3 million needed and the dream come true for the racer to compete in the APRC.
Karamjit was on the verge of becoming an e-hailing driver to sustain his driving.
Before that, Karamjit sold his apartment, three cars and used his EPF money to keep his first love alive.
This went viral and netizens took social media to garner support for the world-renowned rally driver’s financial plight.
Age is not a factor for Karamjit who believes he has another five years or more of rally driving in him and he is determined to put his beloved Malaysia at the forefront of demanding sport. He still has the energy and fire to keep the Malaysian flag flying.

YONEX CONFIRMED AS OFFICIAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR HSBC BWF WORLD TOUR FINALS

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 – Badminton World Federation (BWF) can announce YONEX as the official equipment supplier for the season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals in Bangkok, Thailand from 27-31 January 2021.

The agreement will see YONEX supply badminton equipment for players, technical officials and the Field of Play.

BWF General Secretary, Thomas Lund, said: “YONEX has been an innovator in the development of badminton equipment and continues to blaze the trail in revolution and technology.

“We are thrilled to have YONEX on board for badminton’s much anticipated return, in particular the staging of our signature event of the season, the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.”

Meanwhile President of YONEX, Kusaki Hayashida, added: “YONEX looks forward to working with BWF, all athletes and officials so that the wonderfulness and enjoyment of badminton can be experienced again by badminton fans around the world.”

YONEX is also the long-standing official equipment partner of BWF Major Championship.

On the other hand, Bangkok’s badminton extravaganza commences on 12 January 2021 with the YONEX Thailand Open, followed by the TOYOTA Thailand Open on 19 January 2021 – both Super 1000 tournaments – and culminates with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals from 27-31 January 2021.

The list of athletes qualified for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals will be confirmed at the
conclusion of the TOYOTA Thailand Open.

The top eight players and pairs for each category in the HSBC BWF Road to Bangkok Rankings will be invited to compete, where only a maximum of 2 players or pairs per Member Association are eligible to participate in the World Tour Finals.

It is mandatory to enter both the YONEX Thailand Open and TOYOTA Thailand Open in order to be eligible to qualify for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.

The qualifying tournaments are as follows:
• ECOGREEN Syed Modi International Badminton Championships 2019
• PERODUA Malaysia Masters 2020
• DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2020
• Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters 2020
• Barcelona Spain Masters 2020
• YONEX All England Open 2020
• DANISA Denmark Open 2020
• YONEX Thailand Open 2021
• TOYOTA Thailand Open 2021

TERENGGANU FC ON STRONG RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR NEW SEASON

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PETALING JAYA, Dec 10 – Lee Tuck, Dominique Da Sylva (Mauritania), Sanjar Shaakhmedov (Uzbek) and Singapore international Faris Ramli are some of the names who lighted up the Terengganu football scene and played a big role for helping Terengganu in the recently concluded Malaysian League.
The Turtles finished a creditable third in the 12-team Super League by the stroke of luck found themselves a place in next year’s AFC Cup after the Malaysia Cup was called off at the quarter-final stage due to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Seven-time Super League champions, Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) earned a slot in the AFC Champions League while runners-up Kedah took the AFC Cup berth.
The second AFC Cup slot is for the Malaysia Cup champions and with the cancellation of the prestigious tournament in the region, the FA of Malaysia picked Terengganu for the Asian meet.
Lee Tuck, Dominique, Sanjar, and Faris have been released by the Turtles for the new season, and the East Coast side has been on an active drive to recruit and has signed up some of the bright football talents in the country.
Coming across from neighboring Kelantan are Nik Akif Syahiran, 21 (pic), Shahrul Nizam Ros Hasni, 22, Pahang’s Faisal Halim, flanker Muhamad Arif Anwar (from UiTM FC), and ex UKM FC skipper, Asnan Ahmad.
The Turtles has retained Nafuzi Zain as the head coach for the new season and the former international has been quietly plugging the loopholes in the team to carry its challenge not only in the AFC Cup but more importantly in the M-League.
It was a journey of ups and downs for the Turtles who made the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after knocking out Petaling Jaya City FC 1-0 in the first round.
They were down to meet Perak for a place in the semi-finals before the pandemic havoc got the better of things.
Many expect Terengganu to mount a strong challenge in the 2021 season.

PJ CITY LEADS THE WAY WITH ALL LOCAL CAST

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PETALING JAYA, Dec 9 – Count on the locals and show what Malaysian footballers have from skills and football talent that is on par with the foreigners who have been making a beeline to Malaysia to play in the highly competitive M-League.
Super League outfit, Petaling Jaya City FC has taken the lead and hopes to face the challenge – a brave and bold step towards changing the landscape of Malaysian football when this southeast Asian nation was a top name not only in this region but also in Asia.
To kickstart the new season the club management has set a within reach top-six finish in the elite league under former international, P. Maniam (pic) who is the new head coach – taking over the hot-seat vacated by K. Devan after his contract ended last month.
Club owner Datuk Seri Vijay Eswaran said it will be a challenging season without the foreign players but reiterated that the locals will be up there proving their worth which will be a big boost for the national team in time to come.
”When the foreigners are around the local players spend more time on the bench. Now these locals will have more playing time and this is the time for them to showcase their football talent and skills,” said Vijay.
Maniam, who was assistant to Devan last season, added that ”keen battle for a place in the team” is on the cards and this will keep the players on their toes.
”It will do the team good in the long run and it will also benefit the club in the long run,” added Maniam.
Last season PJ City finished in seventh place in the league that was curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced to a single round. The Malaysia Cup and the FA Cup were canceled.

AFF SUZUKI CUP 2020 RESCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2021

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has today announced that its flagship tournament, the AFF Suzuki Cup – which was originally scheduled for November 2020, will now take place in December 2021.

This decision reflects the continued priority of AFF which is the health and safety of everyone, and has also been made to provide greater certainty to all of the event’s stakeholders, including the AFF Member Associations, teams, players and officials, commercial partners and fans.

AFF President, Major General Khiev Sameth, said: “As always, our first priority is the health and safety of everyone connected with the event. As such, we have been monitoring Covid-19 developments, both within ASEAN and in the wider world, on a continuous basis.

“While there have been encouraging results in vaccine development, we are cognisant that the process of vaccine approval, as well as the practicalities of the distribution and implementation of vaccine programmes across the world including ASEAN will take some time.”

“Given the complexities around the organisation of the event, and the many people and organisations that are impacted by it, the AFF believes in taking a pragmatic approach and making a considered decision early that will allow the stakeholders in the event to have enough notice to reorganise their activities – and so that planning for the end of the year can be focused around the AFF Suzuki Cup as a great occasion for football in the region as it has always been,” added Sameth.

He added: “Looking at the crowded football schedule for 2021, including both international as well as domestic events which have been held over from 2020, also makes hosting our tournament in December an ideal time. The new dates, starting on 5th December and running into 1st January 2022, will provide the best opportunity for the event to be staged in its full format with home and away fixtures in both the group and knockout stages, and with stadiums filled with fans to encourage and celebrate their teams.”

Originally rescheduled to take place during April-May next year, the AFF Suzuki Cup is the largest and most prestigious football tournament in South East Asia and is set to see the national ‘A’ teams of the region competing for the Championship title.

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

 

KELANTAN UNITED BANKING ON THEIR ‘YAKULT’ MEN

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 – After making a name for themselves with Kuching City FC in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, coach Akira Higashiyama and midfield player Yuki Tanigawa will now ply their football trade in the East Coast state of Kelantan.
Thanks to their sponsors “Yakult” the duo were unknown but they did enough for Kuching City FC to take the debutants to fourth place in the Premier League and a place in the prestigious Malaysia Cup, will don Kelantan United FC (KUFC) colors next season.
KUFC and Yakult (M) Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Kota Bharu on Dec 6 with Akira, 31, appointed as the head coach while Yuki will be an asset in the team’s match plans and strategies.
Akira, although young in age, has a wealth of experience having coached clubs in Mongolia and New Zealand before heading to Malaysia.
He achieved considerable success with Kuching City – described as a rookie team in the second-tier Malaysian League.
Kuching City FC did well against the big names in the Premier League – finishing in fourth place with 16 points – behind champions Penang (26 points), second-placed Terengganu 2 (22 points) and third-placed Kuala Lumpur with 21 points.
KUFC supremo, Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi is thrilled with the arrival of the Japanese duo and hopes to add more strength to the team before the 2021 season gets underway in February.
Yakult is a Japanese sweetened probiotic milk beverage which is a hit Malaysia. Yakult Malaysia is deeply involved in Malaysian sports.
After the creditable fourth place finish in the Premier League, Kuching did well in the first round Malaysia Cup match against defending champions and seven-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim before bowing out with a 1-0 defeat.
KUFC finished in sixth place in the Premier League and lost 4-0 to Perak in Ipoh in a first round Malaysia Cup match.

STRIKER SYAFIQ AHMAD LOSES NEWBORN SON IN EARLY MORNING CRASH

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NIBONG TEBAL, 6 Dis -- Pemain pasukan Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Muhammad Syafid Ahmad, 25, yang terlibat dalam kemalangan di Km163 Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan di Sungai Bakap, awal pagi ini. Bayi lelaki Muhammad Syafid, yang baru berusia 22 hari antara tiga yang maut dalam kemalangan terbabit, yang turut menyaksikan penyerang JDT itu berserta dua lagi ahli keluarganya cedera. Dua lagi yang maut dalam nahas kira-kira 5.30 pagi itu ialah ibu mentuanya Zainab Wahab, 45, serta pembantu rumah warga Indonesia, Titik Sukamti, 30-an. Muhammad Syafiq serta seorang lagi anak perempuannya, dikenal pasti sebagai Aaira Nur Saffiya, 2, cedera ringan, namun isterinya Nur Amalina Nur Ain, 25, cedera parah. --fotoBERNAMA (2020) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA
JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 6 – National striker, Syafiq Ahmad was involved in a nasty road accident that left three people dead, including his new-born son and his mother-in-law at KM163 North-South Expressway (PLUS) early Sunday morning.
The tragedy claimed the lives of son Muhammad Aisy Saqeef who was born on Nov 14.
The other two who perished in the crash were his mother-in-law Zainab Wahab, 45, and his Indonesian maid identified as Titik Sukamti, aged 30.
Syafiq and his two-year-old daughter Aaira Nur Saffiya were slightly injured while his wife Nur Amalina Nur Ain, 25 was seriously injured and admitted to Seberang Jaya Hospital. The striker is devasted and in trauma following the accident.
It is learned that Syafiq and his family were returning to Pendang, Kedah and the accident happened when the 25-year-old striker lost control of his multi-purpose vehicle – a Toyota Vellfire – and rammed into the road divider.
Syafiq plays for Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) in the Malaysian Football League who have won the Malaysian Super League title seven years in a row.
Condolences poured from JDT club owner, HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
Social media is flooded with condolences from football fans throughout the country.
Salam Takziah to Syafiq and his family from HubMedia.

DEVAN READY FOR THE STEEP CLIMB WITH NEGERI SEMBILAN

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KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Dec – Working with a small budget is a challenge for Negeri Sembilan’s newly appointed coach K. Devan but it is more challenging for the 59-year-old to take the Deer back to the Super League in the 2022 season.
Returning to his home state is described by him as the “right time” to revive Negeri Sembilan’s football fortunes which have nosedived of late after another mediocre run in the recently concluded Malaysian Football League.
Negeri failed to qualify for the Malaysia Cup after finishing a lowly 11th in the second-tier Premier League.
Devan, who coached Petaling Jaya City FC in the Super League last season, did not hesitate to return to his home state after his contract with PJ City ended at the end of November and was strongly linked to several others including Melaka United.
“I have worked with other teams like MIFA-MISC with a small budget. Negeri is no different and I have put forth my ‘small budget’ plans that have been accepted by the team’s management,” said Devan from Seremban.
“It is a challenge but I am confident. The new season will see many teams reducing their budget by about 30 percent due to the (Covid-19) pandemic. Players are willing to take a salary cut and many of the Negeri-born plying their (football) trade elsewhere are returning.”
Devan, while not willing to reveal names, said some of the well-known locals have accepted to play for Negeri.
”The management will announce their names soon. I am not in a position to name them yet. We are also talking to some good imports to finalize the squad,”’ added Devan who is hoping to start training in the third week of December.
The Malaysian Football League is scheduled to start on Feb 28.
Devan is not new to Negeri in coaching. He began his coaching stint in 2004 and hit success the following (2005-2006) with the Deer winning the Super League title.
He also took Negeri to the Malaysia Cup final in 2006 and in the FA Cup reached the semi-finals.
”’We need a top-two finish in the Premier League in the new season to gain promotion to the Super League. We can achieve this target,” said a confident Devan.

BRUNEI SETTLES FOR MALAYSIA’S ‘KING GOBAL’ AS NATIONAL COACH

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 – Well-known Malaysian football coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal had strong credentials and plus his vast experience to go with to be picked by Brunei Darussalam as the oil-rich Sultanate’s national football team coach on a two-year contract.
In the process, the 64-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born former international brushed aside candidates from Germany, Serbia, and a host of others from this region to be named to the ot-seat.
He is making a comeback after a one-year hiatus and his last team was PKNS FC – the place where his football career took off as a youth player before donning Selangor colors.
”Ít is a big challenge whenever you coach a team…Brunei is no exception. I love challenges and I am not only excited with the opportunity given to me but relish to be involved in the game I love most,” said Rajagobal.
The Malaysian football ‘king’ is tasked to rebuild Brunei football although the national team has played in the Malaysia Cup and also in the Singapore S-League with a fair amount of success.
Rajagobal hit the headlines in his coaching career when he guided Malaysia to the elusive SEA Games football gold in Laos in 2009 – defeating favorites Vietnam 1-0 in the final – ending a 20-year wait. In the semi-finals Malaysia ousted Thailand.
A year later Rajaobal was in the news again when Malaysia won the AFF Suzuki Cup with a 4-2 win on aggregate over Indonesia in the two-leg final. Malaysia won 3-0 in Bukit Jalil which was good enough for the silverware although Malaysia lost 1-2 in the return-leg in Jakarta.
On the local front, Rajagobal had coaching stints with Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak, Sabah and PKNS.
Brunei is a new battle for Rajagobal but he is ready to take the challenge and take the team to the group stages in the Asean championships. It will be a boost to the game in Brunei and also Rajagobal’s career.
Rajagobal is expected to take up his new job by early next month after sorting out some personal matters.
Pengiran Matusin Pengiran Matasan, President of the Brunei FA announced Rajagobal as the new national coach on Monday.
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