Home Blog Page 78

TERENGGANU FC ON STRONG RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR NEW SEASON

By
HubMedia
-
0
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

By
HubMedia
-
0
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

By
HubMedia
-
0

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

By
HubMedia
-
0
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

By
HubMedia
-
0
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

By
HubMedia
-
0
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

By
HubMedia
-
0
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.

IRFAN BAKTI SPEAKS ON HIS MAMMOTH TASK WITH KUCHING CITY FC

By
HubMedia
-
0
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 – Kuching City FC created waves in their debut season in the Premier League and finished a creditable fourth in the league which came with a place in the prestigious Malaysia Cup competition.
While the journey in the Malaysia Cup ended with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of defending champions and favorites Johor Darul Takzim in the first round the team earned praise for giving the Southern Tigers a run for their money at the famed Larkin Stadium.
Well-known and well-traveled Irfan Bakti, 69, will be the new head coach for Kuching City when the Bukit Mertajam-born accepted a one-year contract to replace Japanese Akira Higashiyama who turned down an offer for another season.
Irfan, who even had a stint with Indonesian club Persipura Jayapura in 2007, was strongly linked to join Negri Sembilan in the new season but ”lack of professionalism from the Negri management saw him move to Kuching City.
And Irfan made it clear that he has accepted a one-year contract with Kuching City but has accepted a lofty target to take the team to a top-two finish in the Premier League which will get them a promotion to the elite Super League.
”I believe it is within reach. The management has retained most of the players from this year’s squad. I have been also been tasked to sign up some players from the peninsula to beef up the squad,” said Ifan when contacted.
“Kuching City has a mission and more importantly the vision to succeed. This is a plus factor for the team. I am impressed with their plans and the management is strong in this respect.”
Irfan was already on the radar of Kuching FC as early as September and even took a trip to the city that month to have a look at the set-up.
He did not hesitate to accept the Kuching City job when Negri’s lack of professionalism left things in bad taste not only for him but also for several others who had also put in their applications for the coaching job.
Irfan revealed the reasons for accepting the Kuching City head coach job for only one-season as he wants to retire from coaching at the end of next season.
”I am already 69 and I will be 70 next year. That is enough for me. It will give me great satisfaction in my coaching career if I can take Kuching City to a top-two finish in the Premier League,” added Irfan, a household name in the game.
As a coach, Irfan had stints with Negri Sembilan, Penang, Melaka TMFC, Perlis, Terengganu (twice) Selangor and Felda United.
Kuching City FC is another journey for the affable Irfan.

LUCAS IS SABAH’S CHOICE AS HEAD COACH

By
HubMedia
-
0
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 – Sarawakian Lucas Kalang is Sabah’s pick as the head coach for the 2021 Malaysian Football League season – replacing Indonesian Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto whose contract has not been renewed after one season.
Sabah, known by its nickname as Tambadau, finished 10th in the Super League last season which was curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic and played over only one round.
Lucas, who hails from Baram, was in Kota Kinabalu over the weekend and was confirmed by Sabah FC’s newly appointed chief executive officer, Dato Verdon Bahanda as the pick against several other candidates with his sports science degree giving him the edge plus his Pro ‘A’ license.
The former Sarawak assistant coach holds a Degree of Bachelor of Sports from the University of Malaya and was the head coach of the football team.
He was also the FA of Malaysia (FAM) coaching instructor from 1991 to 1993.
From 1991 to 1998 Lucas was the Sarawak FA’s assistant coach and was a key figure when the team won the Malaysian League in 1997.
Lucas donned Sarawak colors from 1983 to 1988 and was head coach of the Sarawak FA Youth Coaching Development in 2017.
He received the Best Player Award from Sarawak FA in 1985.
Another feather in his cap in coaching was leading the Malaysian Under-18 Asian Schools Football competition in Hong Kong in 2003.
Lucas, a teacher by profession, was loaned by the Education Ministry to the Sarawak Sports Council where he rose to become the acting director from 2014-2016.

KEJUARAAN MOTOSIKAL ASIA 2021 BAKAL KEMBALI KE LITAR JUN DEPAN

By
HubMedia
-
0

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Nov – Selepas melalui saat sukar gara-gara penularan wabak Covid-19, Kejuraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC) FIM bagi edisi 2021 akan kembali dan bakal dilangsungkan sebanyak enam pusingan yang dijadualkan bermula pada Jun depan.

Menurut kenyataan yang dikeluarkan pihak penganjur kejuaraan tersebut hari ini, empat negara disenaraikan dalam kalendar provisional bagi musim 2021 itu membabitkan Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (Malaysia), Litar Antarabangsa Zhuhai (China), The Bend Motorsports Park (Australia) dan Litar Antarabangsa Chang Buriram (Thailand).

Malaysia dan Thailand masing-masingnya bakal menjadi hos sebanyak dua kali iaitu bagi aksi pembuka tirai dan juga penutup.

Gambar hiasan

Penyusunan kalendar bagi saingan musim 2021 itu mengambil kira pelbagai faktor terutamanya aspek keselamatan yang berkaitan dengan kemungkinan masih adanya penguatkuasaan larangan perjalanan ke negara-negara tertentu ketika dunia masih belum pulih sepenuhnya daripada pandemik Covid-19.

Justeru, pihak penganjur dan FIM Asia memilih untuk merancang penganjurannya pada pertengahan tahun depan dengan harapan situasi ketika itu bebas sepenuhnya daripada pandemik Covid-19.

Berdasarkan kalendar provisional yang dikeluarkan pihak penganjur hari ini, Litar Antarabangsa Sepang akan menjadi venue untuk aksi Pusingan 1 dan 2 yang masing-masingnya ditetapkan pada 4-6 Jun dan 11-13 Jun 2021.

Pusingan 3 dijadualkan berlangsung pada 30 Julai hingga 1 Ogos di Litar Antarabangsa Zhuhai diikuti Pusingan 4 pada 23-26 September di The Bend Motorsports Park, Australia.

Dua pusingan terakhir akan berlangsung di Litar Antarabangsa Chang Buriram, Thailand masing-masingnya pada 19-21 November dan penutup musim pada 26-28 November.

Menurut Pengarah Two Wheels Motor Racing, Ron Hogg, musim 2020 merupakan saat paling mencabar untuk semua acara sukan gara-gara penularan wabak Covid-19.

Begitupun katanya, pihaknya amat berterima kasih dan menghargai kerjasama semua pihak terutama rakan-rakan korporat serta semua pasukan yang sangat memahami segala permasalahan yang dihadapi ketika berdepan saat-saat sukar.

“Tahun 2020 memang sangat sukar dan mencabar untuk semua acara sukan dan kami selaku promoter untuk kejuaraan Motosikal Asia sangat menghargai kerjasama serta sokongan daripada semua pihak yang terlibat, terutamanya pasukan serta rakan korporat yang turut memahami segala masalah yang dihadapi ketika melalui saat-saat sukar sepanjang berdepan dengan penularan wabak Covis-19,” jelas Ron.

Menurutnya lagi, meskipun kalendar provisional untuk musim 2021 ini sudah diumumkan, mungkin akan berlaku beberapa perubahan lagi, namun pihaknya sudah tidak sabar untuk menyaksikan kejuaraan terhebat di Asia itu kembali seperti biasa pada tahun depan.

Sementara itu, presiden FIM Asia, Stephen Carapiet sudah tidak dapat menyembunyikan perasaan gembiranya untuk melihat kejuaraan tersebut kembali lagi musim depan.

“Kami percaya enam pusingan yang dirancang untuk musim 2021 dianggap sebagai permulaan yang baik bagi memastikan kejuaraan ARRC kembali seperti sebelumnya. Kami di FIM Asia sentiasa komited untuk meneruskan kejuaraan terbesar di Asia ini dan berharap kerjasama baik dengan para pemegang taruh terus terjalin erat bagi memastikan segala yang dirancang dapat direalisasikan dengan sempurna,” jelas Stephen.

Berikut kalendar provisional ARRC bagi musim 2021
Pusingan 1 (Litar Antarabangsa Sepang, Malaysia) – 4-6 Jun

Pusingan 2 (Litar Antarabangsa Sepang, Malaysia) – 11-13 Jun

Pusingan 3 (Litar Antarabangsa Zhuhai, China) – 30 Julai-1 Ogos

Pusingan 4 (The Bend Motorsport Park, Australia) – 23-26 September

Pusingan 5 (Litar Antarabangsa Chang Buriram, Thailand) – 19-21 November

Pusingan 6 (Litar Antarabangsa Chang Buriram, Thailand) – 26-28 November

Nota: Tertakluk dengan perubahan

1...777879...114Page 78 of 114

Latest Article

TVS RACING INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: RAMDAN AT A CLASS OF HIS OWN...

HubMedia - 0
SEPANG, April 12 – “I have always dreamed of winning while racing in my home country, and today that wish came true,” said national...

HAFIZH SYAHRIN DOMINATES ASB1000 RACE 1 IN SEPANG

SUKMA SELANGOR 2026 DITERUSKAN, PENGANJURAN LEBIH BERHEMAH SUSULAN CABARAN EKONOMI

LTdL KEKAL DI BAWAH KBS

AZIZULHASNI: ‘BEASLEY ARKITEK KEJAYAAN BERBASIKAL TREK NEGARA’

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©