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.

IT'S DATO ALEX SOOSAY

ASIAN Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Alex Soosay will be conferred Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) on Oct 24th at Istana Sultan Abu Bakar, Pekan.

Alex was appointed as General Secretary on July 15, 2009 after the resignation of Datuk Sri Paul Mony Samuel, Alex is an AFC veteran, having headed several key departments during his 14-year-long career. The Malaysian has played and coached at the national level and was Executive Secretary of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association before joining AFC in 1994.

Well-known as a hands-on organiser, Soosay was involved in the AFC Asian Cups of 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007, and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Championship, 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Congratulations Dato and we wish you all the best ...

SAFEE TO RETURN TO CARDIFF FOR TWO MORE WEEKS

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay today put on record his views on Safee Sali as the Malaysian striker completed his visit to South Wales, having trained first hand with the Bluebirds.

“Safee joined us for a ten day trial, during which time he showed a great attitude and work ethic while soaking in the environment and the way we train here at Cardiff City,” said Mackay.

“Obviously it was a big change and a different style and level of football, though he adapted and integrated well with the squad. We also appreciate that it’s difficult to get a full picture during a short ten day period, especially with the number of games and match preparation we had during that time.

“With a mind to the need for Safee to play competitive games with the Malaysian national team and in Indonesia with Pelita Jaya, we have asked Safee to return to Cardiff City for a two week period in the future which will be beneficial to all concerned. For now though we say our goodbyes and would like to put on record that we consider Safee to be a credit to his team and his country.”

Safee also had words on the experience after an insightful time in Cardiff, saying, "After playing with the reserves and even the first team at training, I have found the game here to be very much quicker. You do not get so much time with the ball. It is a whole new and different level.


“The training has gone well and all my team-mates gave me a really warm welcome. Although it has been just two weeks, I have learned since I have been here. God willing, I may return to play here in the near future.”

Safee was a spectator for the match between Cardiff City and Leicester City on Sunday. The match was also attended by Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Zakaria Sulong and his wife, who participated in the Malaysia Day celebrations observed by the club. Safee will now return to Malaysia on Tuesday to prepare for an international match with Australia next month.

RED WARRIORS TO MALAYSIA ARMED FORCES

FORMER National Coach B.Sathianathan will sign a one year contract with Armed Forces Football Association today at 4pm at Mindef. The signing will be witnessed by Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.

"This is a new challenge for me and I want to share my experience with Armed Forces, and I am confident that we will do well. I am the Manager as well so thats gives me the full authority to manage the team." said Sathia

Armed Forces is serious in making changes, after a bad season and a tarnished reputation, who was linked to match fixing in the last season.

It will be interesting to see the revival that ATM is looking at, We wish Sathia all the best.

THE WANTED MAN !

WINDSOR John is probably the most wanted man at this point in time in the world of football. Last week Asian Football Confederation (AFC) appointed Windsor as the 2015 Asian Cup Consultant.

Not many are aware that Windsor is also the consultant for 2014 World Cup for FIFA, Infact he was there two months ago to look at the preparations of the World Cup and submitted an independent study on the preparation.

Yesterday the former FAM Head of R&D and FIFA Development Officer left for London to lead a team of FIFA Delegates to inspect six stadiums which has been identified for the 2012 Olympics.

The Venues are : City of Coventry Stadium, Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford, St James Park, Wembley Stadium, Hayden Park.

He is expected to conducted the FIFA De Brief, Event Test and also the Competition Draw.

All the best Chief !

ARENA 802

Selepas lebih setahun diwujudkan, saluran sukan tempatan , Astro Arena (Saluran 801) terus mengorak langkah dan komited merancakkan lagi sukan negara ini dengan memperkenalkan saluran baru, Arena 802.

Pengenalan saluran sukan baru ini meneruskan tradisi Astro dalam terus menawarkan kandungan terbaik khusus buat peminat sukan tempatan untuk menikmati pelbagai aksi sukan secara langsung melalui saluran Astro Arena.
Pengurus Saluran Astro Arena, Venu Ramadass berkata, saluran baru ini boleh di tonton oleh peminat sukan tanahair hanya di hujung minggu di mana pertembungan masa siaran dan kejohanan yang padat yang di siarkan di Astro Arena.

“Ini adalah bukti komitmen kami untuk memenuhi keperluan kandungan sukan tempatan dengan menampilkan saluran khas ini bertujuan untuk menampung siaran langsung pelbagai kejohanan sukan berlangsung serentak .

“Sebelum ini Arena 802 di pancarkan buat pertama kali pada Julai lalu apabila menyiarkan siaran langsung Kejohanan sepak Takraw Piala Dunia (Istaf) 2011 dan kini Arena 802 ‘di hidupkan’ semula bagi memberi pilihan kepada peminat sukan untuk menikmati lebih tawaran siaran langsung yang di siarkan.

“Kehangatan Piala Malaysia yang membuka tirainya pada September dan beberapa kejohanan lain termasuk Liga Hoki Kebangsaan pada hujung minggu ini pasti menyemarakkan lagi minat orang ramai untuk mengikuti pekembangan sukan terbabit,”katanya.

Sabtu(17.9.2011) ini, siaran langsung saingan Piala Malaysia di antara Perak dan Sabah di saluran 801, disusuli Terengganu dengan Sime Darby FC secara tertunda juga di 801.

Serentak di 802 pula, perlawanan sumbangsih Liga Hoki Kebangsaan di antara KLHC dan TNB di 802 bermula 8.00 malam.

Keesokannya, Ahad(18.9.2011), kejohanan sepak takraw Utusan Malaysia zon tengah, separuh akhir 10.00 pagi hingga 12.30 tengah hari dan akhir 4.30 petang hingga 6.00 petang secara langsung menerusi Grandstand Ahad di saluran 801, diikuti Kelantan lawan Sarawak dalam peringkat kumpulan Piala Malaysia bermula 8.00 malam.

Di saluran 802 pula, Kejohanan Bolasepak Freestyle Dunia dari jam 1.00 tengah hari hingga 4.00 petang disusuli Liga Hoki Kebangsaan di antara UiTM dan UniKL pada jam 6 petang dan Nur Insafi lawan YNS jam 8.00 malam.

SAFEE SALI & CARDIFF

Prolific striker Safee Sali has will be the first Malaysian to get a bite of the cherry at Cardiff City Football Club after being offered a two-week trial.

The Pelita Jaya striker, who has been in scintillating for both club and country lately, has done enough to impress Cardiff City owner Datuk Chan Tien Ghee and merit a trial stint with the Welsh outfit from Sept 12 to 27.

Safee is the second Malaysian to be offered the trial. National team skipper Safiq Rahim was the first to land the deal, but due to his Malaysia Cup commitments with Selangor, the 24-year-old will only be flying off once the competition comes to a close.

Safee has often been compared to Malaysian great Mokhtar Dahari and touted as the best striker of his generation. The latest revelation was music to his years as he braces himself for what he said would be “the pinnacle of his career”.

“Every Malaysian football fan follows the English game and I’m no different. Even as a kid, I’ve always dreamt of one day plying my trade in the English league ... and now I have a chance to do that with this trial.

“The door has been opened for me. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am going to give it my all to prove my credentials,” said the 27-year-old Safee.

Meanwhile, Datuk Chan hopes more Malaysians would show worldly promise and potential to hit it big time in football.

“When Safiq managed to get a trial with Cardiff, there was a real good buzz around the club as well as in Malaysia. Now with Safee joining in the fray, hopefully the hype will be heightened and inspire our young and budding footballers to aim only for the sky.

“This effort will bode well for both the club and Malaysia. There’s a lot of talent back home and it’s time we start unearthing the gifted by giving them proper exposure. I think this could be the beginning of a revolution,” said Malaysian businessman Datuk Chan who took over the Cardiff City last year.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI, MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN

Malaysia v Australia

The Socceroos will reportedly play a friendly against world No.146 Malaysia in Sydney on October 7 ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Oman four days later.

The vice-president of the Football Association of Malaysia, Datuk Subahan Kamal, has been quoted as saying Malaysia will travel to Australia to play the Socceroos on the day before the scheduled start of the A-League season.

"We received an invitation to hold the national team friendly against Australia last week," he said on the team's official Twitter stream.

"The FAM agreed as it is difficult for us to be given the chance to play a team which played in the World Cup like Australia."

"We've never played Australia before and they have quality players like Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill. That's a big challenge."

"Australia have chosen us as the right team for their preparations for World Cup qualification."

Malaysia are already out of the running for World Cup qualification having lost to Singapore in qualification in late July.

Their highest-ever ranking was as world No.77 in 1993 and missed qualification for this year's Asian Cup.

They played in the 2007 Asian Cup as one of the four hosts but lost all three games, scoring just one goal and conceding 12.

FFA have been contacted for comment on the announcement from the FAM.

The reported timing of the match all but rules out FFA changing the A-League schedule to accommodate the much-anticipated debuts of Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton in the season opener between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium. www.portal.com

Safiq set for Cardiff City trials

Malaysian skipper to fly off after Malaysia Cup campaign

Malaysia’s talismanic captain Safiq Rahim will fly off for a trial stint with Cardiff City Football Club once the curtains come down on the Malaysia Cup, which kicks off next month.

Following fruitful talks between Cardiff City chairman, Malaysian-born Datuk Chan Tien Ghee, and Safiq today, it has been confirmed that the Selangor player will spend three weeks on trial with the Welsh outfit as soon as the Red Giants’ Malaysia Cup campaign was over.

The 24-year-old Safiq has been a pivotal figure in the Malaysian top flight league for several seasons now. His reputation has blossomed remarkably since earning his first senior cap in 2007. Last year, he skippered the national team to its maiden AFF Suzuki Cup triumph.

Safiq further rose to prominence following outstanding performances against English Premier League giants Arsenal Football Club and Liverpool Football Club last month. The second match saw the Manchester United fan curl in a sublime freekick in a spirited match which Malaysia eventually lost 6-3.

With him reaching the peak of his career, the invitation for trials with Cardiff City could not have come at a better time for the midfielder who is hell-bent on grabbing the rare opportunity with both hands.

“I am very excited. With an open heart, I will take this offer and give it my best and do Malaysia proud. It’s not every day an opportunity like this comes knocking on your door, especially for a Malaysian. So, I’m fully intent on seizing this chance and making the most of what will be offered to me,” said Safiq.

Meanwhile, Datuk Chan, who took over the championship side in May last year, said he was optimistic that the trials would be a stepping stone for Malaysia as the country continued seeking to relive its glory days.

“We are glad Safiq has accepted our offer for a trial with the first team at Cardiff and we hope that everything turns out well for the boy. He’s young and ambitious … most importantly, he has whatever it takes to make the cut.

“My office has issued the letter of invitation to him and we will make all the arrangements for him at Cardiff. This is a chance for Safiq to pioneer Malaysian football to levels never reached before “ added Dato Chan

WHAT'S HAPPENING TAN SRI KHALID ?

Kompleks Sukan PKNS in Kelana Jaya, Selangor will be redeveloped jointly by Melati Ehsan Holdings Bhd and PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd into a RM1.623 billion mixed commercial development.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia on Friday, Jan 28, Melati Ehsan said its unit Bayu Melati Sdn Bhd had on the same day entered into a joint venture agreement for the proposed proposed development of three pieces of freehold commercial lands, collectively having a land area of 75,473 sq m, with the sports complex on it.

"The proposed development entails the construction, completion and sale of two blocks of serviced apartments, a block of SoHo offices, a sports complex, two blocks of office tower, a shopping mall, a hotel, a performing arts centre and car park lots on the land, together with infrastructure and landscaping to be carried out by Bayu Melati in accordance with the terms and conditions of the joint venture agreement," it added.

The gross costs value of the development is estimated at RM1.07 billion subject to changes as bayu Melati may propose improvements to the building and layout plans, design, building works and other features of the development.

The project will be funded by Melati Ehsan's internally generated funds and/or borrowings.

"As consideration to PKNS Holdings for the land, Bayu Melati shall pay to PKNS Holdings out of its own financial resources and/or financing, 70% of the total projected gross profits from the actual sales value of the development as determined by the terms of the joint venture agreement or RM387 million, whichever is higher and the surrender of the sports complex and performing arts centre upon completion.

"The proposed joint venture is an excellent opportunity for Melati Ehsan to embark on a new mixed commercial development to capitalise on the existing demand for such properties within the popular Kelana Jaya area where it does not possess any land bank. The track record and corporate image of the joint venture partner and its holding company is expected to enhance the saleability of the properties in the development project. It is expected to contribute to the medium and long term profitability of the group," it noted.- EDGE.COM

Maybank Offers 20,000 schoolchildren a Rare Les Bleus Experience

Maybank brings joy to twenty thousand children from schools in the Klang Valley and Selangor for a lifetime experience of watching one of the top English football club, Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea FC) team play with the Malaysian Harimau Muda football team on 21 July 2011 at Stadium Bukit Jalil.

“Maybank is pleased to sponsor 20,000 tickets to enable the schoolchildren from over 100 schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur adopted by Maybank under Bank Negara Malaysia’s school adoption programme to watch top world class Chelsea footballers play live in Malaysia. Our sponsorship is part of the Bank’s mission of promoting excellence among school children where sports is a powerful medium to inspire the children to achieve this,” said Lim Hong Tat, Deputy President and Head of Community Financial Services at a special ceremony to hand tickets to the schools held in Menara Maybank today.

Twenty schoolchildren from SMK Bandar Baru Sentul and SMK Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2, Setapak received the tickets from Lim. Also present were San Boon Wah, Managing Director of ProEvents International, the Exclusive Chelsea Asia Tour Organiser and teachers from the two schools.

“This sponsorship also fits with the Bank’s corporate responsibility in a holistic approach to our engagement with our adopted schools combining the development of education and sports. Apart from our commitment to educational and facilities support to our schools, we are also happy to encourage development of sports in giving exposure to schoolchildren to meet sports superstars. The experience of watching a live performance of top football stars from Chelsea FC and the Malaysian team may motivate our young to take the sport as a career too,” added Lim.

Lim also said that the football is one of the popular sports in Malaysia and Malaysians have a long tradition of interest and a huge following of the English Premier League (EPL). “We believe that giving our school children a rare opportunity to watch top class EPL players will help this sports in the long term as it will provide motivation to our young who have dreams to one day represent the Malaysian football team or even an opportunity to play in the EPL to pursue that ambition,” he said.

Maybank’s sponsorship will also enable the Bank to send participants to the Chelsea Kuala Lumpur Blue Pitch Programme launched last month to promote the development of grass roots football in the region and in Malaysia.