LIGA 1MCC – 32 teams to participate

Expect a mini World Cup come March this year as 32 teams from Perak, Penang and the Klang Valley stake their claim for this season’s LIGA 1MCC under 12 title.

1 MALAYSIA CARDIFF CITY plans for a kick off of the LIGA 1MCC on 3 March 2012. The 32participating teams will be divided into two groups with each team playing 15 matches in the round robin preliminary round. The top eight teams from each group will square off against each other in the last 16 of the knock – out stage. The teams will be in action every weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, from 8.30am to 5.00pm at the Rubber Research Institute fields in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

The LIGA 1MCC is an FAM–sanctioned league and is a platform for all aspiring footballers to make their mark in a fun–filled, safe, organised and well–structured environment. Players, who impress, be it through talent, skills, commitment, determination or discipline will stand a chance of a training stint at the Cardiff City Youth Academy, an academy renowned for its well-structured programmes and philosophy.

Chairman of 1MCC, Dato’ Chan Tien Ghee said, “The LIGA 1MCC provides a platform for youths from different social, economic and racial backgrounds to come together to realize their full personal potential. If we can identify a potential football star, that would be a bonus. However, our programme is structured to reach out to all youths encouraging a healthy lifestyle through the medium of football. Other attributes such as team spirit, discipline, responsibility and commitment will emerge over time. This is also about developing our youths to be good citizens of the country.”

Dato’ Chan was speaking at the Team Managers’ Meeting at Bukit Kiara Club on 19 February where the 32 participating Team Managers gathered for the league draw.

1MCC Vision Statement“1MCC uses football as a catalyst to provide a pathway to develop youths, giving them equal opportunities in an all-inclusive environment. To give youths the basic right to participate and to achieve their personal highest potential, resulting in well-balanced individuals”

The Participating Teams

Shah Alam Academy FC· Akademi Bolasepak Kota Damansara · Akademi BolasepakMBPJ · Akademi Bolasepak Tunas Lagenda· Akademi Persatuan Sukan Bintang Biru· Akadem iSoccerkids-MBSA· Astaka FC· CIMB-YFA Bintang Muda· Glenmarie United· Jasmine Junior FC· Junior Soccer Schools· Kelab Bolasepak Remaja Harimau Klang· KelabBolasepakPuchong United FC· Kelab BolasepakRemaja Bersatu· Kelab Nuri Bank Rakyat· Kuala Lumpur Youth Soccer· Lestari Junior FC· Little League Soccer· Mahkota Football Academy · MBJ United· MY Kids Soccer· PFKA Batu Caves· PKNS FC· PNSB FC· Proficient Football Academy· Qube Football Academy· Red Giant Kid· Royal Selangor Club· S.P.T Indians Football Academy· Sweet Soccer Academy· UKRC Junior Kids· Junior Kids Perak Soccer Academy

WINDSOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AFC

WINDSOR Paul John officially stepped into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) HQ today as its Executive Director. This is a full-time job compared to the previous appointment by AFC as a consultant.

The former FIFA DO Officer will take charge of all competitions,event management and restructuring that will be taking place in AFC. He will report to AFC secretary-general Dato Alex Soosay.

Needless to say Windsor experience in FAM, AFF, FIFA is impeccable. It is safe to say that after Dato Seri Paul Mony Samuel and Dato Peter Vellapan, Windsor Paul is the only one who has achieved such exposure.

From being a General Co-ordinator in the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Club Championship, not many are aware that he was recently in Japan as the Head of GC for the FIFA Club Championship and he is also the Head of FIFA inspection team to the London Olympics. He has also written a book on Football Event Management for FIFA President Datuk Seri Sepp Blatter. The book is expected to be launched soon.

Today, it is hard, if not impossible, to draw a parallel between Windsor Paul and most Malaysians for what the former has achieved in football administration, both regionally and globally.

A God-fearing man, many can't even stand his candidness. The former teacher who started his career as assistant coach in Selangor, under the supervision of the great Dato M.Chandran, moved on to be an administrator in FAM.

I had the honour to work with this man, and the little knowledge I have about football, was very much thought by Windsor. The rest is history they say ... To a brother I wish you all the best. May you be blessed and have a great year in AFC.

1MCC LAUNCHED

1 Malaysia Cardiff City (1MCC) has officially launched its Logo and its Social Media Platform today. This is aimed at continuing its bid to further reach out to youths via their grassroots football programme as well as other programmes in the pipeline. This platform aims to unite all within the Country’s diverse landscape – through the medium of FOOTBALL.

The Cardiff City Football Club stands by the tradition of “FOOTBALL FOR ALL”, and 1MCC’s objectives are in tandem with the mother Club, making an impact through their 1MCC-Junior Football League 2011 which just ended its season last month. 1MCC has also partnered FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority) in their community programmes via sports and education.

2012 will be an exciting year for 1MCC as it launches the LIGA 1MCC – to promote grassroots football and to further open doors to provide a structured and organised youth football programme for enthusiasts from ages 8 through to 18 years. The FAM (Football Association of Malaysia)- sanctioned LIGA 1MCC will kick- start in mid February 2012.

“The launch of our Social Media Platform will see us reaching out to youths via Facebook, Twitter and our own YouTube channel, enabling the football fraternity to have better accessibility and connection with all our activities and programmes. This will see interaction and participation in our well-formulated programmes which have been designed to further develop the youths interest in football,” said Chairman of 1MCC and Cardiff City Football Club, Dato’ Chan Tien Ghee in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Malaysia possesses a vast pool of talented and skilled footballers as well as many aspiring ones. This social media platform will bring them together via cyberspace, to exchange news and interests and to also access the activities of 1MCC and that of our mother Club, the Cardiff City Football Club in Wales, UK. With this connection they are able to further their interests in football, and ultimately strive to achieve to their highest individual potential” Dato’ Chan added.

FAM Deputy President, His Royal Highness, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah lauded 1MCC for creating the catalyst and also setting the benchmark in the pursuit of identifying world class Malaysian footballers via a structured grassroots development programme.

“Malaysian football is now on the road to reclaiming its glorious years. It may be a long way off, but with 1MCC’s initiatives and commitment with young footballers, this goal is certainly achievable and will become a reality. 1MCC’s programmes will give us all a chance to bring Malaysia back to the forefront of Asian football.” His Royal Highness added.

Cardiff City Football Club Manager, Malcolm Mackay (fondly known as Malky Mackay), has sung praises of 1MCC’s efforts, calling it a ‘structured set up that will revolutionise the face of Malaysian football’. “Football is constantly changing and evolving in terms of mechanics and technology. Hence a structured and well-planned development programme is essential to progress in tandem with the times. It is not an easy task to put together a well-structured development drill that fits all levels of play as we are dealing with children with different abilities. However, 1MCC has come up with a system that can springboard and enable these young individuals to raise their game to new and higher standards,” said Mackay. “And that, he said, is something that is commendable.”

CHRISTIE bintang ATM baru dalam pembikinan, pasang impian wakil negara suatu ketika nanti

TAMPIL sebagai pemain gantian pada babak kedua, kemasukan Christie Jayaseelan mencetuskan impak serta-merta apabila menjaringkan gol kedua buat Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dalam laluan ke kejayaan 2-0 ke atas Harimau Muda B di Stadium Petaling Jaya semalam.

Masuk menggantikan Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak pada minit ke-56, pemain kelahiran Kajang berusia 25 tahun itu mengesahkan kemenangan ketiga berturut-turut buat barisan bimbingan B Sathianathan apabila meledakkan gol sepuluh minit sebelum tamat selepas bertukar hantaran 1-2 dengan ketua pasukan, Hairuddin Omar.

Jaringannya itu, yang pertamanya musim ini, kian menyemarakkan semangatnya untuk beraksi dengan lebih kerap dalam kesebelasan utama dengan menaruh harapan bahawa persembahannya mampu memikat pengendali, B Sathianathan untuk menurunkannya daripada awal pada perlawanan menentang pencabar terkuat Liga Perdana, Sime Darby, Jumaat ini.

“Saya berharap jaringann itu dapat memikat Sathia untuk menurunkan saya dalam kesebelasan utama bagi perlawanan menentang Sime Darby.

“Saya menyedari bahawa saingan untuk menempatkan diri dalam pasukan begitu sukar dengan kehadiran penyerang ternama seperti Marlon (Alex James), Zaquan Adha dan Hairuddin Omar.

“Tetapi ia sedikit pun tidak menggusarkan saya dengan kehadiran saya di ATM adalah untuk menimba ilmu daripada pemain kebangsaan yang berpengalaman di kelab ini,” kata Christie yang berhijrah daripada PKNS musim ini.

Pemain tengah serangan itu melalui perjalanan berliku sebelum bergelar pemain profesional apabila kelab yang diwakili pada awal kerjayanya, Public Bank menarik diri daripada Liga Malaysia pada 2006 berikutan masalah kewangan.

Keadaan itu memaksa Christie berhijrah ke PKNS yang menyaksikannya membina nama di bawah jurulatih, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim dengan menjaringkan 6 gol sebelum mengambil keputusan untuk menyertai revolusi Sathia musim ini.

Kini, Christie, yang menyimpan impian untuk mewakili negara, berharap persembahan konsistennya mampu diterjemahkan kepada panggilan oleh jurulatih kebangsaan, K Rajagobal untuk menyarung jersi Harimau Malaya suatu ketika nanti.

ATM berada pada laluan menjulang gelaran Liga Perdana

MESKIPUN masih terlalu awal untuk memperkatakan mengenai gelaran Liga Perdana, kejayaan meraih tiga kemenangan berturut-turut tanpa bolos adalah petanda baik buat Angkatan Tentera Malaysia yang mengejar kenaikan ke Liga Super buat julung kalinya musim depan. Namun, barisan bimbingan B Sathianathan seharusnya tidak leka sebaliknya mengekalkan rentak konsisten ini dengan lawan seterusnya menjanjikan cabaran sebenar pertama buat ATM setakat ini, Sime Darby FC yang bakal mereka ditemui di Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Selayang, Jumaat ini (4.45 ptg). Sime Darby jelas bukan pasukan yang seharusnya dipandang enteng berikutan langkah mereka mendapatkan khidmat pemain seperti Razali Umar Kandasamy dari Perak, Irme Mat, Zamri Hassan, Hairul Nizam Haniff dan dua import Liberia, Patrick Wleh dan Sengbah dan Sengbah Kennedy. “Ia adalah ujian sebenar pertama buat kami. Sime Darby memiliki ramai pemain hebat dan menyimpan cita-cita untuk ke Liga Super, sama seperti kami. “Kami berharap untuk meneruskan persembahan yang ditunjukkan sehingga kini,” kata Sathia. Selepas 3 perlawanan, ATM kini gah di puncak liga dengan rekod 100 peratus, menjaringkan 9 gol tanpa bolos diketuai Marlon Alex James, calon awal Kasut Emas dengan 6 gol diikuti Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak, Hairuddin Omar dan Christie Jayaseelan, masing-masing dengan satu jaringan. Perkhabaran baik disaksikan pada perlawanan menentang Harimau Muda B tempoh hari apabila kapten, Hairuddin dan Christie menjaringkan gol-gol pertama mereka musim ini, membuktikan bahawa ATM tidak bergantung sepenuhnya kepada Marlon untuk menembusi gawang lawan musim ini. “Jaringan dua pemain ini membuktikan bahawa ATM adalah pasukan yang mengharapkan kepada seorang pemain, Marlon semata-mata. “Kesemua pemain saya tidak mengalami kecederaan dan berada pada tahap kecergasan terbaik bagi menghadapi perlawanan ini,” tambah Sathia.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS.

WISHING YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMAS & MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS.

IT IS A SEASON OF GIVING & FORGIVING.

HAVE A WONDERFUL & BLESSED 2012.

HM Sultan Ahmad Shah receives top AFC award

Asian football's highest individual accolade - the Diamond of Asia - has been awarded to former AFC President and current Sultan of Pahang, His Majesty Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Ibni Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al Muadzam Shah.

HM Sultan Ahmad Shah led the Asian Football Confederation from 1994 to 2002, during which time he played an influential role in Asia's first-ever hosting of the FIFA World Cup, and becomes the second Malaysian to join the exclusive club of Diamond of Asia recipients after the honour was bestowed upon Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak at least year's AFC Annual Awards ceremony.

"I served as the AFC President for eight years and it was an unforgettable experience. I am very touched, delighted and greatly honoured to receive this distinction today in front of all my friends in football," HM Sultan Ahmad Shah said in his acceptance speech.

"I dedicated my life to football and the Diamond of Asia has special significance for me. It is with great respect and pride I accept this award.

"Let me take this opportunity to also thank the AFC Executive Committee and commend them for the good work they are doing.

"The Future is Asia and we should not rest until we have realised this dream."

HM Sultan Ahmad Shah is the seventh recipient of the elite accolade after Saburo Kawabuchi (2005), Joseph S Blatter (2006), Lennart Johannson (2007), Ken Naganuma (posthumously; 2008), General Farouk Bouzo (2009) and Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Diamond of Asia may be conferred for a single contribution of great importance or for ongoing contributions throughout a number of years and is a way for the AFC to acknowledge the recipient's sterling services. The award is given annually and always to one person - selected by the AFC Executive Committee - each year.

The recipient of this accolade enjoys a distinguished position within AFC, and is entitled to special privileges, including invitations to all AFC competitions and to all AFC official functions and events. Furthermore, the recipient ranks only after the AFC Executive Committee in terms of importance within the AFC's protocol and hierarchy.