Accept home truths and move forward, FAM

TOMORROW'S FA of Malaysia (FAM) exco meeting should, based on president Sultan Ahmad Shah's promise last week, result in some drastic decisions. The unfit national team's 5-0 loss to the United Arab Emirates in an Asian Cup qualifier two weeks was the last straw for Sultan Ahmad Shah and fed-up of being taken advantage of, he promised that he would speak his mind from now on. Such is the anger with local football that many have even called for Sultan Ahmad Shah, at the helm for 25 years now, to step down. While that may satisfy some, Sultan Ahmad Shah's departure - if there is to be one - won't save Malaysian football. The rot is not limited to FAM as it has spread to all levels with most state FAs terminally ill. So if there is to be a change, it should be at all levels and we know that won't happen, not when football is such a precious tool for so many reasons. But the revival has to start somewhere and Sultan Ahmad Shah has to lead the way by making some important decisions tomorrow. Word is the future of B. Sathianathan will be discussed and that many within FAM believe he should be sacked, not so much for the 5-0 defeat but for his criticism of the M-League. The grapevine has it that K. Rajagopal will be the caretaker coach before FAM appoints a permanent replacement, who may well be a foreigner. But if FAM does choose to go down that path, perhaps it should try a different approach before hiring what will surely be an expensive foreigner. What FAM should do is, using its connections, get an array of internationally renowned coaches and ask them to give a honest assessment of the M-League and the national team. FAM has its technical committee and technical study groups but as one official told me, Sultan Ahmad Shah mostly gets diluted reports of the true scenario. I may not hold coaching certificates but allow me to relate an incident during the Asean Championship in Phuket in December. The players were involved in a drill where they were required to cross the ball from defence to midfield. One player, in 10 attempts, only managed to find his target once prompting a frustrated team manager Datuk Soh Chin Aun to show him how it was done. Chin Aun sent all 10 crosses into the target area, leaving the players speechless and prompting the former national skipper to say: "Our players are not intelligent." So before FAM embarks on yet another episode that will probably end in failure, I would like to humbly offer some suggestions which could help save Malaysian football. * Revive the game at the grassroots to what it used to be. District, state and national level tournaments are held over a short period and this is not enough if we hope to produce quality players. * Privatise the M-League with FAM only focusing on the various national teams. A privatised league will ensure that only teams who can meet the financial demands are allowed in. This will also ensure teams follow all rules, including the one where players are supposed to pass a fitness test. * A properly structured coaching and education programme to ensure coaches are always up to date with the latest in the game. * No more bailouts of state affiliates as this has contributed greatly to the decline of Malaysian football. FAM may well choose to do it differently but having tried the soft approach without much success, the only hope football has is to go about it the hard way and it should start with the exco meeting tomorrow.

System to blame

DON'T just blame us is the cry from several national players in the aftermath of the 5-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in an Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday. The system, said the players, is equally to blame as they are all products of a league that is simply not competitive enough to produce a strong national team. "We must first accept that the Malaysian Super League (MSL) is not as competitive as the Japan or Korean leagues," said national skipper Shukor Adan yesterday. "We lost to UAE, who have played in the World Cup before. What have we qualified for? "UAE prepared intensively for the match, including going on a tour of Europe while we only had five days of training." Shukor said the defeat had nothing to do with players not being committed to the national cause. "Despite losing in the Asean Championship, the players still want to play for the national team. This was not the case not too long ago." Shukor said the defeat only highlighted how severe the problems are. "Even the media knows this - that new players are not emerging. Every year, it is the same players who move from one team to another. "The best from the league are chosen to play for the national team but we can't cut it on the international stage." Midfielder Amirulhadi Zainal said the blame lies with all parties. "We are blamed for every defeat but there are things happening that we don't speak out about. At the same time, sacking the coach isn't the answer," said Amirulhadi "I believe Malaysia has the highest turnover rate of national coaches. "Our problem doesn't start in the national team. It is at the grassroots where it starts and as long as we don't improve there, we can't expect results." Striker Indra Putra Mahyuddin said the defeat was the result of inadequate preparation. "We only trained for five days but with the kind of players we have, we need 10-15 days to prepare," said Indra.

Sultan Ahmad Shah promises changes

FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah has had enough with the repeated failures of the national team and has promised that drastic action will be taken to arrest the never-ending slide. Sultan Ahmad Shah intends to speak his mind at the FAM exco meeting and the state FAs can expect an earful. "I have had enough and I am going to make drastic changes when the exco meets. I have been taking criticism for far too long and I have never complained. I love football and that is why, for the last 24 years, I've been here," said Sultan Ahmad Shah at the FAM ground in Kelana Jaya yesterday. "I have spent a lot of money and time in trying to improve football in the country but to no avail. There are too many weaknesses and we have to rectify all." The latest in a long line of embarrassing results came on Wednesday when Malaysia were thrashed 5-0 by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an Asian Cup qualifier. Sultan Ahmad Shah also took the players to task. "I am very sad to hear that only three players were fit for the match. How can this be? It is very embarrassing as we are in the professional era and football is the players' livelihood." When pointed out that players have to pass a fitness test before being given the license to play in the M-League, Sultan Ahmad Shah said: "We can only introduce rules but it is up to the states and clubs to implement them. However, I hope the states and clubs are also ashamed as they too are responsible for what is happening to Malaysian football." Asked if there was a feeling of having been betrayed by those he has always supported, Sultan Ahmad Shah said: "Well, I don't know how to answer that. I have given my best and treated them like family and in a family, we don't betray each other. "I understand the states have their own problems but football is a partnership and the states have to decide whether they are with us or against us. "I am going to have a heart to heart talk with the states and I will also be writing to the presidents of all the state FAs on our plans for Malaysian football. I have had enough of being taken advantage of." There was a little bit of criticism for national coach B. Sathianathan as well. "He should have come to see me and tell me about the Malaysian Super League situation. It is not nice to run down the league like that. "Why say only now that the league is not good, especially as he has been in charge of the national team for a year. He should have approached me." As bad as the situation is, Sultan Ahmad Shah said he remains optimistic that Malaysia will have a strong national team again. That may be true but it also depends on whether the state FAs are willing to play ball

Sathianathan defends his stand

HE is under fire but national coach B. Sathianathan is not backing away from his criticism of the M-League. His "M-League is no football" statement has irked many in the FA of Malaysia but Sathianathan, who could well lose his job, made no apologies in the aftermath of Malaysia's 5-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in an Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Sathianathan did, though, try to explain his real reason for the remark. "When I said that M-League is no football, I meant that teams and coaches must demand more from the players. We (the national team) can't send our physical trainer to test the players when they are with their teams," said Sathianathan. Some, including a former national coach, felt that Sathianathan should have refrained from washing dirty linen in public as players reporting unfit for national training isn't something new. This, said Sathianathan, is what must change. "It is the responsibility of the players to maintain their fitness. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are always fit because it is their job. That is what they are paid for." Sathianathan said as bad as the defeat was, Malaysia must accept reality. "We must accept that football in the country is not up to mark, that we need to do a lot of work to achieve better results. "We must monitor our youth development programmes and ensure the school system is functioning well. Only then can we hope to see some results." Several members of the sub-committee FAM formed following the failure of the team to qualify for the Asean Championships semi-finals last month, were at the stadium and they would have seen just how poor the fitness of the players was. If Malaysia were breathing fire in the first half and unlucky to trail 2-0, most of the players were gasping for breath in the second as UAE enjoyed a leisurely start to their campaign. What is disturbing is that most of the players were in the Asean Championship squad and have been playing "competitive" football since Jan 3 in the Malaysian Super League and Premier League. Fitness aside, Sathianathan said the reality is that UAE were a technically and tactically superior side. What he didn't say was that even if Malaysia had been fit, they would have lost but if he had, it would be impossible for FAM to be angry for it would be the sad truth. OTHER COACHES' VIEW "Of course it is not right that only three players are fit as in this professional era, all players should be fit. It is frustrating as a national coach when you get players who are not fit to play international football. But that is football in this country." AZRAAI KHOR ABDULLAH - KEDAH "Some teams that we played against were not fit, but I don't have that problem with my team. I think the national coach is right that the players don't meet international standards, and when you are not fit, you can't play competitive football." BOJAN HODAK - UPB MY TEAM "The national players were together for five weeks for the Asean Championship and they only started training with their teams a few days later. We couldn't push them hard as the league was about to start and we have to play two matches a week. I don't think it is right to say the players were not fit as it sounds as though we are not doing our job." MAT ZAN MAT ARIS - KL PLUS FC "The local coaches can't be blamed as this is something that any national coach has to live with. I too had the same problem when I was coaching the national team in 1997, but I accepted the blame and resigned. We know the problems that Malaysian football is facing and we need to get the structure right and only then can football improve." WAN JAMAK HASSAN - N. SEMBILAN "The league has just started and the fitness level of players must be high. However, we have to be realistic and accept that the league is not of a high standard and that results in sub-standard players. We also don't have enough quality players with the winning attitude, mental strength and strong character playing for the national team today. That is a big problem. Fitness can't be compromised as that is essential for football. M. KARATHU - PERAK

Tigers mauled by UAE raiders

THE unexpected did not happen as the tie went according to the script and Malaysia were thrashed 5-0 by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their opening 2011 Asian Cup qualifying match at the KLFA Stadium yesterday. UAE started slowly but once they got into their groove, there was no way Malaysia were going to deny them the winning start they desperately wanted after their Gulf Cup exit. Though some 5,000 actually made their way to the stadium, it would have been hard to find more than the hardcore who expected Malaysia to open their qualifying campaign on a winning note. But there was a pleasant surprise, as far as the start was concerned, when Malaysia took the game to their more fancied opponents and they could have taken a shock lead in the ninth minute but Safee Sali was a little slow and failed to connect to a Hardi Jaafar cross. UAE were struggling to settle and Malaysia continued pressing forward and in the 17th minute, Khyril Muhymeen had the fans off their seats but his shot hit the left upright. The Arabs were slowly but surely finding their way and in the 25th minute, Malaysia were saved by skipper Norhafiz Zamani Misbah who cleared Ismail Matar's effort. UAE began to assert their superiority after that and four minutes later, skipper Mohammed Omar slotted home after receiving a pass from Ismail. The goal could have been avoided but for Malaysian keeper Syamsuri Mustafa's hesitance in coming off his line. And just before the break, UAE went further ahead when Australian referee William Jon awarded a penalty for a challenge by Hardi Jaafar on Ismail Salem. The Malaysians were incensed but Mohammed scored from the spot and the fans registered their objection by raining objects onto the pitch. Trailing by two goals despite a relativily good performance, Malaysia came out for the second half intent on giving it a go and their early pressure saw Khyril having a decent chance which UAE keeper Majed Naser blocked. Jon also continued to be in the spotlight as the Malaysians, still angry for the Australian's first half penalty decision, questioned almost everything and this played into UAE's hands as they opted to sit back and hit the national team on counter attacks. One such move resulted in the third goal as Mohammaed Saeed played the ball on the right to Ismail who scored with a half volley in the 62nd minute. Malaysian coach B.Sathianathan responded by substituting Syamsuri with Syed Adney Syed Syed Hussein in the 68th minute but that did little to limit the damage as UAE hit Malaysia for another two. Ismail Matar made it 4-0 in the 75th minute and five minutes from time, Ahmed Khalil made it 5-0 and Malaysia's 2011 Asian Cup campaign is virtually over

Committee settles for Rajagopal

BARRING objections, K. Rajagopal is set to be given the responsibility of guiding the national Under-23 football team for the Laos Sea Games in December. The recommendation for Rajagopal to be given the job will be made by the technical sub-committee the FA of Malaysia formed following the senior team's failure to make the Asean Championship semi-finals last month. There were 10 applicants for the post, including former Thailand and Indonesia national Peter Withe and UPB-MyTeam's Boyan Hodak, but Rajagopal's familiarity with the the players saw him getting the support of the sub-committee and the national team management committee has to endorse the recommendation. "After looking at the applications, we agreed that the job should be given to a local who knows the players well. Rajagopal is not new to the national football scene and he also knows the players well. He has been managing the Young Tigers for two years and the players have great respect for him," said a committee member who declined to be identified. Rajagopal, a former Selangor and Kelantan coach, holds the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Professional licence. If endorsed, Rajagopal will have to give up his position as chief coach of the Under-19 Young Tigers. He will also get a new team of assistant coaches and he will need a good bunch, especially as the squad are expected to win gold in Laos. The last time Malaysia won Sea Games gold was in 1989.

Committee settles for Rajagopal

BARRING objections, K. Rajagopal is set to be given the responsibility of guiding the national Under-23 football team for the Laos Sea Games in December. The recommendation for Rajagopal to be given the job will be made by the technical sub-committee the FA of Malaysia formed following the senior team's failure to make the Asean Championship semi-finals last month. There were 10 applicants for the post, including former Thailand and Indonesia national Peter Withe and UPB-MyTeam's Boyan Hodak, but Rajagopal's familiarity with the the players saw him getting the support of the sub-committee and the national team management committee has to endorse the recommendation. "After looking at the applications, we agreed that the job should be given to a local who knows the players well. Rajagopal is not new to the national football scene and he also knows the players well. He has been managing the Young Tigers for two years and the players have great respect for him," said a committee member who declined to be identified. Rajagopal, a former Selangor and Kelantan coach, holds the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Professional licence. If endorsed, Rajagopal will have to give up his position as chief coach of the Under-19 Young Tigers. He will also get a new team of assistant coaches and he will need a good bunch, especially as the squad are expected to win gold in Laos. The last time Malaysia won Sea Games gold was in 1989.

Sathia: Only three fit!

ISMAIL Matter has earned the nickname `Asian Maradona' for his ball control, pace, resourcefulness and thunder bolt shots and the United Arab Emirates player will be out terrorise the unfit Malaysian team in the first leg of the 2011 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the KLFA Stadium tonight. Ismail, who wears the No 10 jersey, will be out for blood against Malaysia as he will want to prove his worth as one of the best players in Asia. And Malaysia's hopes of getting a good result dimmed after national coach B. Sathianathan revealed that only three out of his 18 charges are 100 per cent fit for the match. This also does not augur well for Sathianathan, whose job is also on the line after several disastrous results last year. UAE coach Dominique Bathenay, who took over from Bruno Metsu last September, said Ismail is an excellent striker. "I hope Ismail will get the job done tomorrow (today). It will be a tough match against Malaysia, but we hope for the best," said the UAE coach. Ismail made his name in the 2003 Under-20 World Youth Championships, where he was awarded the Adidas Golden Ball award. The striker, who has received offers from top clubs in Spain and Italy, is also best remembered for helping the UAE win the 2007 Gulf Cup. Sathianathan admitted that he is disappointed with the fitness levels of his charges. "Only three out of the 18 selected players kept their fitness in check after the Asean Championships last December. The rest only posted average scores in a recent fitness test conducted by the National Sports Council (NSC)," said Sathianathan yesterday. "I don't have any choice. They are the best in the country. My only hope is a good result tomorrow (today)." National skipper Shukor Adan will miss the match as he is yet to recover from a hamstring injury. "Of course, we will miss Shukor. He is the best in the country and I don't think there is any player with his level of ability and commitment." "In his absence, we have Hardi Jaafar and Indra Putra Mahayuddin as replacements," added Sathianathan.

2012 Olympics Action Plan launch next month

SPORTS Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will launch the London 2012 Olympics Action Plan next month with the hope that the programme, prepared by the National Sports Council (NSC), will see Malaysia win its first gold medal. "We are focusing only on archery, badminton and cycling for the London Olympics and preparations did not start just today but five years ago. The plan and programme prepared by the NSC comprises the support system and also financial support." said Ismail Sabri at the Sports Ministry in Putrajaya. While the NSC failed to meet its target of one gold medal in last year's Beijing Olympics, it cannot afford to fail in London as, by 2012, millions would have been spent on preparing the athletes. "The athletes should progress from time to time and will also go through phases in the development programme. We do not want to focus on too many sports as we know our strength and weaknesses. So I think it's best we stick to our strength and try to achieve positive results," added Ismail Sabri after launching the Palestine Humanitarian Fund. "We spend a lot of money in preparing the athletes and, of course, the public will hope for the best results and possibly a gold medal." The 2012 London Olympics Programme was endorsed by the Cabinet Committee for Sports which met in December. Chaired by the deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Cabinet Committee for Sports went further into the development programme whereby a total of 346 elite athletes and a 5,344-member back-up squad have been identified by the NSC, of which the cream will be prepared for the 2009 and 2011 Sea Games, the 2010 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, and the 2012 London Olympics. "If we look at what was endorsed by the committee we can see a long development programme is in place. This is good as the athletes who are involved in the 2012 programme have been a part of this plan for the last five years." he added. Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri also confirmed that the rating system which was formulated by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) headed by Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, will be implemented as soon as the ministry officials find it viable. The rating system, which will be used as a guide to decide on the financial grant the government will give to national sports associations, was supposed to be implemented last year

Safee wants Malaysia to give good fight

NATIONAL striker Safee Sali isn't setting a high target for the Asian Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow - all he wants is a fighting performance from Malaysia. UAE, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, are licking their wounds after being eliminated from the Gulf Cup and Safee expects a backlash, especially as they were the defending champions. "It is not going to be an easy match as we will be up against one of the best teams in the Middle East," said the Selangor striker. Safee said the short training stint would also make it difficult for Malaysia. "We did not have enough time to prepare for the match but the players have been giving their best in training and we promise our best." Perhaps the players already know what is in store in this campaign for the mood in training has been sombre but still, Malaysia have a duty to perform. UAE have promised they won't make it easy as they want to redeem themselves after their Gulf Cup exit. Team manager Esmail Rashid said they are only interested in winning, "The match is of great importance to us after we lost in the Gulf Cup recently. "A win against Malaysia will be a big boost and help the players regain their morale ahead of the other Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers," Rashid said.

Former Perak imports seeking Fifa's assistance

FORMER Perak players Carlos Caceres, Jorge Nunoz and Mario Bario (left), who featured for Perak in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, have written to Fifa seeking the world body's assistance to help claim a combined total of US$54,000 (RM186,000) owing to them in salaries by the Perak FA. The Chilean trio have waited for about four months since writing to the FA of Malaysia and have not received a reply. The FA of Malaysia said that it's is not its fault since it is the Perak Football Association (PFA) who owe the money. But where Fifa is concerned it only deals with the national association and not state FAs. "We have officially written to Fifa with our complaint regarding the late payment of our salaries. We cannot wait any longer as there has been no response from the Perak FA at all," said one of the players who wished not to be named. The players decided to write to Fifa after learning that Perak FA president Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had said that its (Perak FA) immediate concern is taking care of the current squad. "At the moment, we can only take care of the present squad. "The former players who have not been paid for five to six months will have to wait. "We will only be able to pay them when our financial standing improves," Nizar said at a recent PFA press conference. The PFA, in wages alone, owes RM600,000 with its former coach Steve Darby claiming RM 120,000. "The PFA can take up to two years to pay, are we suppose to wait that long? How can a professional association treat players like this," added the player.

Former Perak imports seeking Fifa's assistance

FORMER Perak players Carlos Caceres, Jorge Nunoz and Mario Bario (left), who featured for Perak in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, have written to Fifa seeking the world body's assistance to help claim a combined total of US$54,000 (RM186,000) owing to them in salaries by the Perak FA. The Chilean trio have waited for about four months since writing to the FA of Malaysia and have not received a reply. The FA of Malaysia said that it's is not its fault since it is the Perak Football Association (PFA) who owe the money. But where Fifa is concerned it only deals with the national association and not state FAs. "We have officially written to Fifa with our complaint regarding the late payment of our salaries. We cannot wait any longer as there has been no response from the Perak FA at all," said one of the players who wished not to be named. The players decided to write to Fifa after learning that Perak FA president Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had said that its (Perak FA) immediate concern is taking care of the current squad. "At the moment, we can only take care of the present squad. "The former players who have not been paid for five to six months will have to wait. "We will only be able to pay them when our financial standing improves," Nizar said at a recent PFA press conference. The PFA, in wages alone, owes RM600,000 with its former coach Steve Darby claiming RM 120,000. "The PFA can take up to two years to pay, are we suppose to wait that long? How can a professional association treat players like this," added the player.

Kedah will bounce back

KEDAH coach Azraai Khor is refusing to panic despite the situation his team are in. The treble champions only have one point to show after four matches, are second from bottom in the standings and staring at potential relegation. The forced departure of their foreign legion has hit them badly but Azraai is confident Kedah will rediscover the sting that saw them win back-to-back trebles. The first team to do a double treble are struggling simply because the strikers are raw and Azraai can only hope that his strikers Khyril Muhymeen and Badrol Bakhtiar will find the net soon. "One thing for sure is that we are facing problems with the strikers. The players lack experience and I can only hope that as matches go by, they will be more aggressive," said Azraai. "I am not concerned at all about our position in the standings as the season is still young. What we need to do is find consistency." Another problem, and Azraai agreed this could be a possibility, is the lack of hunger after dominating Malaysian football for two seasons. "There are some who are showing signs of this but this shouldn't be as they are professionals and they must perform." Azraai gets a chance to arrest the slide as the MSL is on a two-week break and Kedah play their next match on Feb 10. Meanwhile, Kedah FA president Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak wants Datuk Othman Aziz to continue managing the team. Attributing the current dismal performance partly to Othman's absence, Azizan said he would write to FAM to include Othman as the team manager. "There were some technical glitches over Othman's role in our football campaign this year which led to his name being dropped from the managers list. "Technically, Othman is still the manager since his contract will only expire in June," said Azizan, who is also the Menteri Besar.

KL Plus hit the summit

KL Plus FC moved to the top of the Malaysian Super League (MSL) with a 3-1 win over Penang at the KLFA Stadium last night. Mat Zan Mat Aris' boys pressured the visitors from the start, with Bobby Gonzales' long range effort testing Penang goalkeeper Mohd Faizal Mohd Yusof in the 17th minute. KL Plus drew first blood through Nuradli Pauzee in the 38th minute but their joy was short-lived as Penang equalised in stoppage time through Mohd Idzuan Halim's header from a S.Jeganathan freekick. Two minutes into the second half Gonzales, who was a thorn in the side of the Penang defenders, put KL Plus ahead through a penalty after he was brought down by Mohd Faizal. The lethal Gonzales then put the match beyond doubt in the 58th minute with his second goal after rounding keeper Mohd Faizal. The win is KL Plus' third-in-a-row adding to wins at Pahang (1-0) and Terengganu (2-1). "We played well and we took our chances, and I am proud of the players. They deserved the win. Penang played well, but like I've said before we have a long way to go in the season, and we must remain focused and dedicated," said Mat Zan after the match. Johor FC ended Selangor's three match unbeaten run at the Jcorp Stadium in Johor with a well deserved 2-1 win despite playing with 10 man after keeper Mohd Anis Faron was sent-off in the eighth minute for bringing down Amirulhadi Zainal in the box. Selangor hitman Safee Sali took his tally for the season to four after he put away the resulting penalty. But Johor FC made the most of their home advantage and levelled the score in the 24th minute through former international Eddy Helmi. From then on Johor FC pushed for the winner and were rewarded for their persistence in the 76th minute through Hamzani Omar. * AT the Paroi Stadium, Negri Sembilan bounced back from their defeat last week to Selangor with a 3-0 win over Perak. Negri Sembilan opened accounts through Shahurain Samah in the 17th minute with Rahman Zabol adding the second in the 36th minute while Mohd Aidil Zafuan scored their third in the 50th minute. * AT the Utama Stadium, defending champions Kedah suffered their third defeat of the season with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Perlis. * AT the Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium, hosts Kelantan hammered Police 4-2 while Pahang notched their first win after beating UPB MyTeam 1-0 at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.

Manchester United set for Kuala Lumpur date

ENGLISH Premier League and European champions Manchester United will be in Kuala Lumpur for their pre-season tour in July. The dates have yet to be finalised. Fans of the Red Devils, who were deprived of seeing their team in action two years ago because their visit clashed with the Asian Cup, will be able to catch their stars in action this time around. In 2007 the United tour was called off because the Asian Football Confederation was adamant that no foreign team should be playing when the Asian Cup was being held in Asia. Despite United's visit being supported by the Tourism Ministry as part of the 50th Year of Independence Celebrations and Visit Malaysia Year, pressure applied by the AFC forced the event to be called off. United have also included Hong Kong and South Korea in their Far East tour itinerary. Manchester United's regional office based in Hong Kong is expected to make an announcement regarding the exact dates of matches in each country soon. It is also understood that Tourism Malaysia and another major sponsor will be promoting the event in the country. Despite the economic downturn, the 80,000 capacity National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is expected to be filled. "It is going to be a great event. All efforts will be taken to ensure that the fans and the team will have a great time in Malaysia," said a football official who declined to be named. United's Far East tour will see the club bring 28 registered players and an entourage of approximately 100 guests an VIPs.

Remind is all FAM can do

REMINDERS have been sent to state FA and clubs who have not insured their
players for the ongoing season to do so and that is about all the FA of
Malaysia can do.
  There is nothing in the FAM statutes making it compulsory for teams to
insure their players as it is only mentioned in the national body's
competition regulations.
  Only five of the 28 teams competing in the Malaysian Super League and
Premier League have undertaken insurance coverage, leaving almost 400
players wondering what their fate would be if they are injured during a
match.
  FAM general secretary Lt Jen (R) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, when contacted,
confirmed that only some teams have fulfilled the insurance requirement.
  "On our part, we have written to the teams reminding them of their
responsibility towards the players," said Azzuddin yesterday.
  "That is all that we can do. We also warned the teams that if something
untoward happens, it will be their responsibility."
  Though not a rule, this was not a problem in previous seasons as FAM
would pay the RM75,000 premium and deduct the amount from the annual
grant.
  However, as the annual grant for state FAs is now RM350,000 from a high
of RM1 million and RM200,000 for clubs, FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah
felt it would be better if teams were allowed to source for their own
insurers.
  Unfortunately, most chose not to and some have even said the total
grant is being used to finance their MSL and Premier League campaigns.
  In the meantime, players are wondering just what it will take for them
to be accorded security.
  "I only came to know that no insurance was taken through newspaper
reports and I am shocked," said a player who declined to be identified.
  "I wonder what will happen if a player has to undergo surgery or
require medical treatment. Who will pay?
  "I don't think this is the right way for employers to treat us as these
are minor benefits we enjoy as players. I really hope that FAM sorts this
out."
  That is highly unlikely.

Confidence high in KL Plus camp

MALAYSIAN Super League newcomers KL Plus FC are gradually gaining
momentum and that they are second in the standings is truly remarkable.
  After being gifted full points for the cancelled match against Kelantan
in Kota Baru on Jan 3, KL Plus beat Pahang (1-0) at the Darulmakmur
Stadium in Kuantan on Jan 6 and Terengganu (2-1) at the KLFA Stadium four
days later.
  If they were lucky in the first match, the next two proved their
quality and coach Mat Zan Mat Aris is looking forward to another three
points against Penang today.
  "We have a dedicated team that work hard, and the management support is
also strong," said Mat Zan, who has proven credentials after stints as
Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu coach.
  "The players have been working hard and their commitment is good, so I
don't see any problems regarding their attitude or discipline."
  Mat Zan believes the league remains competitive despite the absence of
foreign players.
  "If we look at the standings, 54 goals have been scored to date which
means the local players are finding their way around and working hard to
help their respective teams deliver. If our players are not good enough I
don't think that many goals would have been scored." said Mat Zan. "It is
now a level playing field."
  "It is still very early in the season to say which team will continue
doing well, but as far as we are concerned, we need to stay focused."
  Mat Zan also hopes the injured Irwan Fadhli and Amir Shaari will be
back soon to strengthen the squad.
  Bobby Gonzales, also known as `Speedy Gonzales', is in form and the
striker will be Mat Zan's trump card against Penang.
  "Bobby is playing well and I hope he will continue scoring. Penang are
a tough team but we will stick to our game plan."

Gambling with players' injuries?

IF their apathy was limited to non-payment of wages, EPF and income tax payments before, some teams are now flouting their moral obligations as well. Only five teams have insured their players for the 2009 season and what makes it sad is this is being done without any regard to what the consequences could be. Previously, this was never an issue as the FA of Malaysia deducted the RM75,000 premium from each team's annual grant of RM350,000. However, this policy was changed at the start of this season as teams were given the full amount and, obviously, some have decided the money is best used for other purposes. "I have just come to know that I am not insured. I thought the players would have been insured at the beginning of the season," said one player who declined to be identified. "This is not professional. If something happens to us while playing, we will end up getting nothing and neither will we have money for medical treatment." "I don't understand why they don't want to pay the premium, especially as this is a moral obligation. This can have a drastic impact on our lives." Timesport contacted several teams and the response from one was: "It is not that we don't want to provide insurance coverage but we have allocated the money that was given by FAM for the payment of salaries. "We are trying to raise money to pay the insurance premium and we should be able to do so by next week," said the official. While the world is grappling with economic woes, this is an excuse that cannot be accepted as FAM, when deciding to not deduct the premium from the grant, did it in good faith. But, then again, it should have known that this will happen for its generosity has been taken advantage of so many times before

Fans back for rejuvenated Selangor

WHILE many thought that Kedah would be the team to look out for in this season's Malaysian Super League (MSL), it has instead been Selangor who have been stealing the spotlight. Selangor, MSL newcomers KL Plus FC and Negri Sembilan, occupy the top three slots in the table while defending champions Kedah are still looking for their first win. Last Saturday Selangor beat Negri Sembilan 3-0 at the Shah Alam Stadium for their third straight win. And if that's not a boost, the Selangor fans are also beginning to find their way back to the stadiums whenever their team play. On Saturday close to 25,000 die-hard Selangor fans were present. "It is great to see the fans coming back. I am very taken up with their presence and I am sure that is also a motivating factor for the players. "We hope they continue to support the team," said Selangor team manager Zakaria Rahim. Zakaria, who was instrumental in getting K. Devan to come over from Kuala Muda Naza to coach Selangor, also believes that winning the Charity Shield has turned the team around. "In the pre-season, we told the players we want to win at least one Cup and do our best in the MSL. We won the Charity Shield and that has really boosted the players' confidence," added Zakaria. "Devan and the coaching staff have been working very hard for the last three months. They do their homework and the team preparation is very good." For KL Plus, Premier League runners-up last year, it is a new experience but coach Mat Zan Mat Aris has warned his players not to get complacent as the league has just begun, and that they must stay focused. To their credit, KL Plus showed no fear when they edged Terengganu 2-1 at home before beating Pahang 1-0 at the Darulmakmur Stadium on Saturday. They were also awarded three points by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) competitions committee when their match against Kelantan on Jan 3 was called off due to an unprepared pitch at the Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium in Kota Baru. "The ban of foreign players this season has forced the teams to rely on locals which I feel provides an equal chance to all the teams in the league," said Mat Zan. KL Plus next host Penang, who edged Perlis 1-0 on Saturday at the City Stadium, at the KLFA Stadium tomorrow.

Selangor continue winning streak

IT was billed as a top-of-the-table clash but the outcome was never in doubt as Selangor reinforced their credentials as the team to watch out for this season with a 3-0 win over Negri Sembilan in a Malaysian Super League clash at the Shah Alam Stadium last night. Victory was their third in succession and given how treble champs Kedah are wobbling, it is hard to see who can stop Selangor from romping away with the title, which they are desperate to win after having to live with the stigma that they are no longer the giants of Malaysian football for the last couple of seasons. Negri, who went into the tie as leaders on goal difference, thought they had a chance but it was obvious there is still much to do before they can hope to challenge Selangor. Their back-to-back wins over Kedah and Perak saw Selangor walking out to a sight that has long been absent from the Shah Alam Stadium, a crowd of some 25,000. While the empty seats still outnumbered the turnout in the 70,000 capacity stadium, Selangor would have been glad after having been reduced to playing before just a couple of thousands last season. They nearly had a roaring start too but Amirulhadi Zainal was a little slow in connecting to a cross from Safee Sali in the 15th minute. It was a warning about Selangor's seriousness and five minutes later, Amirulhadi made up for his earlier miss by shooting past Negri Sembilan goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Hassan. For new Selangor coach K. Devan, the honeymoon was continuing and as his charges continued pressing, it was apparent that the second goal would soon be coming. Negri were helpless and their plight was made worse by the absence of Shukor Adan in midfield, no thanks to a hamstring injury. And their agony worsened in the 22nd minute when R. Surendran capitalised on Farizal's hesitance to score a soft goal but Selangor weren't complaining and neither were their fans. The best from Negri centred around striker Zaquan Adha and he did come close in the 35th minute but Selangor goalkeeper Hamsani Omar was equal to the effort. Selangor took their foot off the pedal a little in the second half but there was no reason to press hard as Negri just couldn't muster a strong challenge. What made their plight worse was Selangor scored again, through Amri Yahya in the 74th minute, as they share top spot with KL Plus

`Ignorance' proves costly for Kelantan

DESPITE a three-month break, officials appointed by the FAM found theSultan Mahmud Stadium field in Kota Baru unmarked and grass uncut for theMalaysian Super League (MSL) match between KL Plus FC and Kelantan on Jan3. The FA of Malaysia competitions committee, which met at Wisma FAMyesterday, thus awarded the match to KL Plus 3-0. Yesterday's meeting waschaired by Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, and the competitions committeedeliberated long and hard on the report submitted by the refereesinspector and match commissioner before reaching their decision. "We went through the report and studied it before making the decision.It is important that states and clubs follow all the technical rules andregulations," said Che Mat. While FA of Malaysia only mentioned that the win was awarded based on atechnical default, it was learnt from reliable sources that the stadium'sfield was unmarked and the grass overgrown. "I am not here to reveal thefinding," added Che Mat. The Kelantan Amateur Football Association (KAFA) is expected to appealthe decision but it is unlikely that FAM will budge from its decision. With this `gifted' win KL Plus, newcomers to the MSL, are in thirdplace with six points. They edged Terengganu 2-1 on Tuesday at the KLFAStadium.

Selangor continue winning run

SELANGOR maintained their winning streak in the Malaysian Super League(MSL) when they defeated Perak 3-1 at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday. Inspired by the 4-1 win over Kedah in the Charity Shield match onSaturday, Selangor pressured their visitors early. But Perak, coached by M. Karathu, drew first blood through Razali UmarKandasamy whose powerful shot sailed past Selangor goalkeeper HamsaniAhmad. But K. Devan's boys remained calm and in the 33rd minute, nationalstriker Safee Sali chipped the ball over Perak goalkeeper Megat Amir. In the 63rd minute Selangor's Amirulhadi Zainal collected a loose ballinside the box and beat Megat Amir once again to make it 2-1. In the 76th minute D. Surendran's cross was headed in by Nasriq Baharomto complete the victory. Meanwhile, things are not looking good for defending champions Kedahwho lost 3-0 to Negri Sembilan at the Paroi Stadium. National skipper Shukor Adan opened accounts in the 15th minute whileZaquan Adha scored in the 37th minute and K. Dhanaraj sealed the win forWan Jamak Hassan's team in the 70th minute. At the Utama Stadium, Northern Lions Perlis mauled Pahang 3-2. Johor FC came from behind twice to grab a 2-2 draw at the JcorpStadium. At the Petaling Jaya Stadium, UPB MyTeam were hammered 4-2 by Kelantan. KL Plus managed to pull off a 2-1 win over Terengganu while 2007Premier League champions Kuala Muda Naza gunned down Police 1-0 at theDarulaman Stadium.

Red-hot Selangor wary of notorious Perak

SELANGOR host Perak in a Malaysian Super League match at the Shah AlamStadium tonight and it is expected to be a cracker. Following their impressive 4-1 win against MSL defending championsKedah in the Charity Shield last Saturday which surprised most fans,Selangor must be treated as title contenders even at this early stage ofthe competition. "Definitely I did not expect to win with a big margin, but we did andnow we have to focus on Perak who are a terrific side. They won theirfirst match (against Kuala Muda Naza) as well, so it will be close," saidSelangor coach K. Devan. The terrific performances of Selangor skipper Amri Yahyah, strikerSafee Sali and Hardi Jaafar on Saturday must have Devan rubbing his handswith glee. "The three played well but the others did their part and played as ateam. We are more focused on teamwork rather than individualperformances," added Devan. "I have warned all the players not to be complacent after the winagainst Kedah as we have a long way to go. We must collect three pointstomorrow (today) at home." Perak, now coached by M. Karathu who needs no introduction to localfootball fans, will be looking to pull off an upset. Their home win on Saturday against Kuala Muda Naza may have beenagainst a weaker team but nonetheless, Perak are always a dangerous sidewhen underestimated. The Negri Sembilan-Kedah encounter at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadiumin Paroi is also expected to be an exciting affair. After Saturday's humiliation, Kedah fans will be hoping that their teamreturn with three points, while Negri Sembilan, who beat Penang 3-0 lastSaturday, will want to continue their winning ways. Negri coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan wants his charges to keep their focus. "The players did well against Penang, but up against Kedah tomorrow(today), the boys will have to work harder," said Wan Jamak

Helmi facing double whammy after another horror showing

GOALKEEPER Mohd Helmi Eliza will not be called up for national team dutyif he loses his place in the Kedah team for the Malaysian Super League(MSL). Helmi had a bad match against Selangor on Saturday letting in threesoft goals before he was replaced in the first half. Helmi's poorperformances started at the Asean Championship where he let in threegoals against Vietnam which ended Malaysia's run in the tournament. National coach B. Sathianathan hopes that the twice MSL Goalkeeper ofthe Year will find his way back to the top. "It's easy for everyone to criticise him because he has not beenplaying well, but I think he needs a lot of support to boost hisconfidence level. "Helmi is still the best goalkeeper in the country. I am sure Kedah aredoing all they can to help him," said Sathianathan at Wisma FAM yesterday. But the coach also made it clear that Helmi will only play for thenational team if he regains his form and remains consistent with hisperformances. "The players who are selected to the national team are those whoperform well at the MSL level, and if Helmi can fight his way back thedoor is always open to him. I will be speaking to him to see how best Ican help him," said Sathianathan. In the absence of Helmi UPB MyTeam goalkeeper Syed Adney Syed Husseinand Selangor's Hamsani Ahmad may get their chance to prove themselves. "We have very few goalkeepers who can play at international level. Ihave to see from these two which one will be a better option for theAsian Qualifiers. "Whatever happens we are up against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) andthe goalkeeper must have enough confidence to play." added Sathianathan. The national team report for training on Jan 14 and will take on UAE atthe Petaling Jaya Stadium five days later.

Kedah coach remains confident

DESPITE their 4-1 defeat to Selangor in the Charity Shield match at theDarulaman Stadium in Alor Star, Kedah coach Azraai Khor remains confidentfor tomorrow's Malaysia Super League match against Negri Sembilan at theParoi Stadium. Even though Azraai, who was surprised with the scoreline of Saturday'smatch, believes his boys will pull themselves together and rise to theoccasion. "I never expected such a score as the match was evenly contested," saidAzraai. "All three goals were flukes, but Safee Sali's strike was aclassic. But the competition has just started and there is still a longway to go." Azraai is expected to rest national goalkeeper Mohd Helmi Eliza fortomorrow's match as his form has been shaken after he was beaten threetimes on Saturday. Helmi, who also had a poor run in the recent Asean Championship inPhuket, seems to be suffering from a confidence crisis. "I will give hima rest as at the moment his confidence level is at an all time low.Thereare certain issues he needs to address before being fielded again," saidAzraai. Reserve keeper Muhammad Al-Hafiz Hamzah, who played in the second halfagainst Selangor, will be in the Kedah line-up. While Kedah will be sorting out their problems, Selangor are walkingtall after Saturday's impressive win. "It was a good start for us, and wehope this will continue. But as usual, we will take one match at a time,"said Selangor coach K. Devan. Perak, now coached by M. Karathu, collected three points when they beatMSL newcomers Kuala Muda Naza 3-0 at the Perak Stadium. Penang, as expected, lost 3-0 to Negri Sembilan at the City Stadium.UPB MyTeam,unimpressive last season, got off to a flying start with a 3-0win against Police at the Paroi Stadium. Terengganu lost 3-2 to Perlis at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in KualaTerengganu, while Johor FC edged Pahang 3-2 at the Darulmakmur Stadium inKuantan.

Coaches seek AFC help in licensing row

THE Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is investigating a complaint bythree local coaches who have accused the FA of Malaysia of irregularitiesin an A Licence coaching course. The three, who are prominent figures in the football fraternity,accused FAM's coaching department of lack of professionalism inconducting the course. The course saw 10 out of 21 getting through the theory and practicalexams. The three were among those who didn't get through and they aredemanding a review of their test papers. "We feel we have been victimised and that the coaching department wasnot fair in evaluating the results. We have have complained to the AFCand asked for a review," said one of the coaches who declined to beidentified. Under FAM rules, only A Licence holders can coach in the MalaysianSuper League and Premier League. Previously, the AFC refused to endorse FAM's A Licence as it said thesyllabus was outdated.

Expect more politics than action

SO what can we expect from the Malaysian Super League which kicks offtoday? Critics say nothing much as whatever quality there was has gone out thewindow following the FA of Malaysia's (FAM) decision to bar foreignplayers. It was, as is the case with most FAM decisions, forced on thenational body by certain affiliates who said they couldn't afford to hireforeigners. That should have the locals rejoicing as each team will now have anadditional three homegrown players strutting their stuff although criticsare not all that expectant. Malaysia's lack of quality was seen in the recent Asean Championshipwhere the national team failed to qualify for the semi-finals for thefirst time since 1998 and this has a lot to do with what is not beingdone in the states. FAM decisions have been ignored and one that has been convenientlyforgotten by some states is the need for players to pass a fitness testbefore a playing licence is issued. What it means is additional headache for the national team coach whenthe players report for the Asian Cup Qualifier training on Jan 14. It is a shocking development, although it is common knowledge that moststates can't be bothered about the national team. What is surprising though is these teams are not insisting on fitplayers despite knowing that Malaysian fans, regularly fed on a diet oftop quality football from Europe, expect a higher standard in the MSL. If the presence of foreign players helped hide just how unfit mostMalaysian players were, their absence is going to expose the truth and itwill not be a surprise if most teams play before near-empty stadiums. But the show, as they say, must go on and we can also expect theperennial problems to rear their ugly head sooner rather than later. FAM has yet to settle several disputes from last year over non-paymentof wages but it won't be long before new problems and allegations emerge. The grapevine is already abuzz that certain senior players areattempting to take advantage of this by recruiting members to fixmatches. It may sound incredulous, considering the MSL's poor following,but there still seems to be a betting market. Malaysian football has never recovered from the bribery crackdown in1994-95 and if the match-fixing disease is allowed to make a comeback, itcould well signal the end for football. We can also expect, given the credit crunch, more teams reneging ontheir EPF and income tax payments and there will be one or twoassociations taken to court as FAM has failed to deal with its errantaffiliates. Other than public rebukes, FAM hasn't shown any muscle in getting itsaffiliates to be more responsible in their management and as long as thisprevails, nobody is going to be worried about punitive action. Only FAM will be affected as certain foreign players have taken theirproblems to Fifa, which will only tarnish FAM's name. On the playing field, it will be interesting to see just how good Kedahare this year minus their three foreign players. While the back-to-back trebles in 2007 and 2008 were very much a teameffort, it is an undeniable fact that the three foreigners were hugelyinfluential. The MSL will also see the debut of two clubs - Kuala Muda Naza and KLPlus FC - and it will be interesting to see whether they will be able tocope with the challenge on the pitch as well as financially. The situation is drastic in some states with Perak losing 27 playersfrom last season's challenge with only national defender S.Subramaniamstaying put while Kelantan will be playing in the MSL via a backdoorentry. So prepare for yet another season of Malaysian football which promisesmore politics than quality action.

Amended rating system awaits approval

THE rating system for national associations has been amended with newscores and is now awaiting approval from Sports Minister Datuk SeriIsmail Sabri Yaakob. The amended rating system was submitted to Ismail, who had earliercalled for improvements, last week. Ismail had expressed dissatisfaction with the earlier rating system ashe felt it was flawed as certain associations which had not beendelivering obtained high marks while those who have, received low scores. The rating system has many associations worried as how they performwill determine the amount of government funding they will receive infuture. "We have submitted the report with some changes. Instead of groupingthe scores, we have now given individual scores akin to a report card forthe associations," said Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy presidentDatuk Dr M. Jegathesan. The National Sports Council, the National Sports Institute and OCM weretasked with preparing the rating system. Earlier, the committee looked at three areas - governance, programmesand achievements - and the associations were asked to answer 124questions. The first 57 were on governance, 34 on programmes and 33 onachievements and 47 national associations were tasked with answering thequestions. Marks were given based on a total score and this irked someassociations who, despite having better track records, scored lower asthey did not "modify" their answers. Of the 47 associations, only three received five star ratings while 11received four stars. Of the three associations which got five stars, the SRA of Malaysia wasthe highest with 93.92 per cent for governance, 89.47 per cent forprogrammes and 100 per cent for achievements for a 93.52 total. The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia, which withdrew from the 2007Korat Sea Games over a dispute pertaining to the type of balls used,received 92.50 for governance, 93.24 for programmes and 87.90 forachievements for a 92.14 total while lawn bowls was awarded 90.10 forgovernance, 92.11 for programmes and 100 per cent for achievements for a91.81 total. What surprised many was bowling's failure to obtain a five-star rating,especially as the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) not only hasgood governance and development programmes, it has a large pool ofbowlers who consistently win honours on the international stage. Jegathesan said the rating system is now fairer as individual scoreswere awarded. "We will leave it to the Sports Minister to decide which aspect will beused since funding is involved." Hopefully, there are no problems this time as the rating system wassupposed to have been in place in 2008.

Still clueless about CYC saga

THERE has been a deafening silence on the Champions Youth Cup (CYC) sinceit was called off last year but it is not because the Sports Ministry isnot pursuing the matter. The ministry had already disbursed RM14 million to promoter GiftedGroup before the Aug 2-16 tournament was called off after the FA ofMalaysia (FAM) refused to sanction it. The ministry only managed to stop the final scheduled payment and asboth parties couldn't come to a compromise, the matter was referred toarbitration. Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the matter had yetto be settled. "As both parties couldn't agree, the issue was refered to arbitration.However, we are still waiting for the Attorney General's Office toappoint the arbitration panel. "Both parties also have to agree to the composition of the panel," saidIsmail Sabri on Wednesday. Gifted Group, in a statement released in June, said it held the SportsMinistry liable for all damages and losses incurred but Ismail Sabridisputed this. "As far I am concerned, we did not frustrate the contract as it wasGifted Group which failed to get FAM's sanction." Ismail Sabri was also resigned to the fact that the RM14 million maynot be recouped. "Of course we want the money back as it belongs to the people. "However, it is not going to be an easy task as there are plenty oflegal matters involved and it is going to be a long process, but Ibelieve we have a chance because we did not violate the contract." Held for the first time in 2006, the CYC was a tournament featuring theUnder-19 teams of some of Europe's biggest clubs - Christopher Raj