NEW BEGINNING FOR MSL

The Malaysian Super League Sdn Bhd (MSL) plans to adopt a three-pronged approach to provide assistance and support to enable clubs and state teams to improve the commercial aspects of football.

MSL, the commercial arm of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) unveiled its plans during the first 2011 M-League team briefing held at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, Wednesday.

At the briefing, attended by representatives of teams participating in 2011 tournament, MSL Chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa announced the appointment of Stuart Michael Ramalingan as MSL’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Stuart, 39, has been a Professionalisation Consultant and Regional Instructor with FIFA since 2008. He is also the founder of The Brainchild Group, an Integrated Marketing and Communications Agency.

Tan Sri Annuar, who is the Deputy President of FAM, also unveiled the new logos for the M-League, Super League and Premier League.

MSL plans to take Malaysian football to the next level by improving the commercial aspects of the sport in line with the developing standard of the game.

For this, MSL plans to adopt a three-pronged approach to provide assistance and support for teams to grow the business side of things, mainly in marketing sponsorship, media relations and fan base development.

The first of the three initiatives is aimed at helping teams make more money through enhanced marketing and promotional efforts. MSL will soon equip club and state teams with the necessary expertise to handle commercial negotiations and providing direction, assistance and support.

Tan Sri Annuar also announced that MSL will conduct workshops on brand building and sponsorship procurement for team management and administration staffs.

Among the programs scheduled is a media workshop themed ‘Making Media work for you – WHY, HOW AND WHEN?”

To assist teams in building a larger fan base, MSL will also implement a uniformed fan club system for all club and state teams while also providing teams with fan club development strategies.

During the briefing, MSL introduced teams to the commercial rights and activities of media partner ASTRO, which has pledged RM120 million to FAM over the next four years.

WELL DONE SATHIA ... TIME TO MOVE ON

B Sathianathan yang digantung selama enam bulan oleh Persatuan Bola sepak Malaysia (FAM) berkuatkuasa semalam tetap mendapat perhatian sewajarnya oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa) yang mengumumkan bekas ketua jurulatih itu kini dilantik sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Kejurulatihan Kafa.

Pelantikan yang diumumkan Presiden Kafa Tan Sri Annuar Musa itu membolehkan Sathianathan bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dalam bidang teknikal kejurulatihan bagi membimbing bakat-bakat baru sebagai pelapis pada masa depan.

"Walaupun Kelantan kehilangan ketua jurulatih di saat kita menghadapi perlawanan Piala Sumbangsih dan musim baru Liga Malaysia tidak lama lagi, namun khidmat Sathianathan masih diperlukan.

"Hari ini kita melantik dia (Sathianathan) sebagai CEO dalam pasukan Kelantan dan masih bertanggungjawab dalam bidang kejurulatihan yang tidak membabitkan bidang kuasa FAM," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis penyampaian sumbangan insentif RM200,000 oleh kerajaan negeri Kelantan di sini, Selasa.

Majlis itu disempurnakan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang turut dihadiri Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Insan, Belia, Sukan dan NGO Negeri Abdul Fatah Mahmood dan Sathianathan.

Katanya khidmat Sathianathan masih diperlukan kerana Kafa melalui Kelab Red Warriors sedang mempelopori akademi bola sepak di peringkat remaja bagi melahirkan pemain pelapis negeri yang mampu meneruskan kecemerlangan dalam bidang bola sepak di negeri ini.

"Kita akur dengan keputusan FAM itu dan sedang mengambil langkah pro-aktif untuk menggunakan khidmat bekas ketua jurulatih itu dengan mengambil pendekatan yang boleh membawa kebaikan kepada Kafa," katanya.

Annuar berkata berikutan kekosongan itu, Kafa kini sedang mengintai beberapa jurulatih tempatan dan luar negara bagi mengisi tempat Sathianathan itu.

Sementara itu, Sathianathan yang ditemui berkata beliau akan menggunakan saluran tertentu untuk membuat rayuan semula penggantungannya mengikut peruntukan undang-undang dan peraturan supaya dapat dipertimbangkan FAM.
-- BERNAMA

JUST DO IT BOYS

As the Olympic team moves into the final phase of preparation, they received some timely encouragement from the man who led the national team in its historic participation at the1972 Munich Olympic Games.

“The highest achievement our players can hope for, at least for now, is the Olympics and I would encourage the team to give their best to reach the 2012 Olympics in London,” said Dato’ M. Chandran, captain of the national team which participated in the Munich games.The Olympic team or Harimau Muda ‘A’ will take on Pakistan in the first round of the home-and-away qualifiers with the first match scheduled on 23 Feb in Kuala Lumpur and the return 9 March in Karachi.

As part of their preparations, the Olympic team played two friendly matches, losing 2-1 to Thailand in Bangkok last Thursday and defeated Singapore 2-0 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday. Singapore plays Yemen in the first round.

The two matches gave Chief Coach, Ong Kim Swee and opportunity to access the team’s strengths and rectify the weakness. The team, consisting of Under-23 players, will also participate in the Super League, playing Negeri Sembilan on 29 January.

“Being an Olympian is the highest level our players can hope to achieve. Maybe in the future we can make it into the World Cup finals. We have done it before and I believe we can do it again,” said Dato’ Chandran, 60.

Malaysia qualified for the 1972 games after winning a tough qualifying round. The team, coached by Dave McLaren and Jalil Che Din, defeated South Korea 1-0 in Seoul in 1971. The winning goal was scored by Syed Ahmad.

In Munich, the national team lost 3-0 to the West German team and defeated USA 3-0 with goals from Sharuddin Abdullah, Salleh Ibrahim and Wan Zawawi. The team lost the last match 6-0 to Morocco. Malaysia also qualified to the 1980 games but did not participate because of a boycott.

“My advice to the players would be, grab this opportunity and strive to do the best. I believe our players can do well against Pakistan. Give your best and enjoy your games,” said Dato’ Chandran who continues to be involved in football as a consultant.

Dato’ Chandran, like most Malaysians, feel that the recent victory in the AFF Suzuki Cup and the SEA Games last year, should be an encouragement for the Olympic team to go all out in the qualifiers.

On Monday, the Olympic team took the lead through Irfan Fazali in the 23^rd minute and Syahrul Azwari made in 2-0 at the stroke of half-time.

Thirty-five teams have entered the fray to grab the three-and-a-half slots reserved for Asia in the 2012 Olympics in London. The 11 winners of first round will join 13^TH highest ranked team in the second round where they will again play in a home-and-away format on June 19 and Jun 23, 2011.

The 12 winners will then be divided into three groups of four teams each in the third round. Again, a home-and-away format from September 21, 2011, to March 14, 2012, will determine the winners who will represent the continent in the Olympics.

Three second-placed teams from the third round will play in a playoff at a centralised venue from March 25 to 29, 2012, and the winners of this group will meet the representatives of CAF for a berth in the Olympics.

Malaysia’ squad:

Zamer Selamat (gk), Izham Tarmizi Roslan (gk), Mahali Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, S. Sivanesan, Irfan Fazail, Abdul Shukur Jusoh, A. Thamil Arasu, K. Gurusamy, Gary Steven Robbat, Amer Saidin, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Fandi Othman, Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim, Wan Zaharul Nizam Wan Zakaria, Affizie Faizal Mamat, Faizal Muhammad, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim, Rafiuddin Rodin.

B.SATHIANATHAN SUSPENDED

It is learnt Kelantan and former national coach B.Sathianathan has been suspended for six months and the former Negri player has also decided to resign effective today.

The Appeals committee has decided to upheld the decision by FAM DB. More updates later ..

WHY SO SUSAH WORAWI ?

It would be difficult for Asean to jointly host the World Cup, Football Association of Thailand President, Worawi Makudi in Bangkok, Monday.

Worawi, who is a FIFA Ececutive committee member, was responding to earlier reports that ASEAN foreign ministers have agreed to propose to the grouping’s leadership that the region host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 as a group.

The foreign ministers, who are meeting in Lombok, Indonesia, would submit a formal and detailed plan for approval by the ASEAN leaders when they meet in Jakarta on 7-8 May 2010.
The idea of the region jointly hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was first proposed by Malaysia at the annual foreign ministers’ meeting in Hanoi in July last year.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman volunteered to discuss the idea with his country’s sports authorities. Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has endorsed the proposal.

"It is not easy for ASEAN to host the World Cup. If they really want to host the World Cup, then there should be only four host nations. It is impossible for a World Cup to be held in more than four countries," said Worawi

ASEAN has 10 member nations including Thailand. It seems that FIFA does not like the idea of more than one nation organising a World Cup after Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the 2002 World Cup.

Furthermore, each ASEAN nation in the proposed joint bid will have to build several new stadiums and infrastructure, Worawi said.

Security would also be a big concern if a World Cup is co-hosted by several countries, the FAT boss said.

Another problem is FIFA would certainly not allow all ASEAN members to get automatic berths for the finals if the grouping's bid is successful, Worawi said.

NEW BEGINNING

Malaysia and Jordan have established a new rapport in football following the establishment of a rapport between the two nations as a result of a visit by His Royal Highness Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to the kingdom earlier this month.

Jordan has a strong national team which is currently participating in the Asia Cup in Doha. Jordan drew 1-1 with Japan in its first Group B match and will face Saudi Arabia on Jan 13.

During the visit, HRH Tengku Adullah was granted an audience by His Majesty King Abdullah ll Ibn Al Hussein in Amman, Jordan on Jan 9.

His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein thanked HRH Tengku Abdullah, the Deputy President of FA Malaysia, for his support towards his brother HRH Prince Ali Ibn Al Hussein, who won the FIFA Vice President’s post in the recent AFC Congress in Doha.

HRH Prince Ali, the President of Jordan FA, defeated incumbent Dr. Chung Mong-Joon of South Korea, who held the post for 16 years.

Malaysian football can benefit much from this new collaboration. This new rapport may signal a new era for football in Malaysia as the nation looks for more opportunities to improve and learn from countries with a good football structure, like Jordan.

The audience also marked the establishment of a rapport between the Royalties of Jordan and Pahang.

PRINCE ALI WINS FIFA VP

JORDAN FA President Prince Ali defeated Dr Chung Mong-Joon of South Korea in a intense fight for the FIFA Vice President Position at the AFC Congress in Doha, Qatar.

Prince Ali gained 25 votes while Chung received 20 votes.

Dr Chung held the position for 16 years ... more updates shortly

FRESH PRINCE OF SPORT

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan lists mountain climbing among his sporting interests. This is entirely appropriate. The president of Jordan’s Football Association is intent on scaling a mountain of very different proportions. He wants to take over as the Asian Football Confederation’s vice-president of FIFA.

The position has been held, for the past 16 years, by Chung Mong-joon of South Korea. But Prince Ali’s candidacy reflects what he believes to be a mood for change, for a breath of fresh air, at the highest level of both the regional and the world game.

The average age of the FIFA executive committee is up in the higher 60s while Prince Ali is 35. But comparative youth does not mean a lack of experience or knowledge of sport from either participatory or administrative aspects.

Prince Ali, son of the late King Hussein and late Queen Alia, recalls: “I remember playing football as a young child, then at school I played rugby as well. I tried my hand at wrestling when I was studying in the United States and then, when I attended Sandhurst [Royal Military Academy] in England I was a boxer. After that, in the military I did a lot of sky-diving. Also mountain climbing. So I can say I know about many sports from the grass roots level.

“Knowing the value of sport is one of the reasons I want to make the most of this opportunity and take football forward in Asia.”

Becoming a commander officer in the world of football was a step Prince Ali made in 1999 when he succeeded his brother as president of the Jordan FA. One year later his sense of mission and vision found practical effect when he created the West Asian Football Association which now has 13 members.

His personal stature is secured by not only his hands-on education in world affairs but by awards and titles which include a British Knighthood, the French Légion d'honneur, and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun.

Explaining the history of the West Asian FA, he says: “There was already an East Asian federation as well as the ASEAN federation. Of course we also had the Arab Football Federation but that included nations from the African confederation. The west of Asia did not have a voice of its own and this was highly important considering the pace of development in football.”

Asia is one of the six confederations of world federation FIFA but it is unique in being, geographically, horizontal and boasting a land mass which covers 44million km. This makes Asia by far the planet’s largest continent and the confederation has reached ever further since Australia joined in 2006.

This factor presents a major challenge for those directors and officials who want to see Asia more fully integrated into the world game. This means not only improved communication with the other confederations in general – and Europe in particular - and who want a far more comprehensive and enduring development structure.

As Prince Ali says: “There are a lot of divisions within Asia and Asian football and I believe my programme is one to achieve the unity we have lacked until now. For me, this is the only way we can go forward – all together.”

January 6^th in Doha are the date and place for a vote which has massive implications for the future of the Asian confederation - Qatar’s 2022 World Cup success having placed it in the world game’s spotlight as never before.

PRINCE ALI’S VISION FOR ASIA

FIFA’s choice, last month, of Qatar as host for the 2022 World Cup provided a clear example of a tilt in the balance of power within not only the global but the Asian regional game. Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein plans to enhance that shift at the Asian Confederation’s congress.

Prince Ali is challenging South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon for the role of Asia’s vice-president on the world federation’s executive committee. He does so with an intriguingly progressive vision for the way ahead and a confidence born of a secure foundation in the game.

The 35-year-old son of the late King Hussein and late Queen Alia has been president of his domestic football federation for a decade and holds the same role at the head of the increasingly-influential West Asian Football Federation which he founded.

Now Prince Ali wants to extend his reach and influence right across the wide swathe of the earth which is not only Asia but, in international football confederation terms, stretches another world away on down to Australia.

Too much time, effort and emphasis in the higher reaches of the Asian game, he complains, has been devoted to politics when what the region’s millions of football adherents need is serious down-to-earth investment in the grass roots of the game.

Asia’s underrated potential was reflected most recently at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa when two of the AFC’s four participants (South Korea and Japan) reached the knockout rounds compared with just one (Ghana) of Africa’s six entrants. It goes almost without saying that this imbalance of power on the most visual stage is one which Prince Ali wants to redress.

He believes respect for the Asian game can be developed by following the WAFA model. Prince Ali says: “The work we have down in West Asia has worked out very well in terms of development support and grassroots football, including women’s football – especially with Iran where the women’s team has been able to play in an open stadium.

“Iran is not part of West Asia, formally, for FIFA but they are a very strong football power and out work together has been going very well which speaks, I think, for this message.”

He adds: “There has been a lot of division within Asian football and I want to bring a unity. It’s a very continent and too much of the time too many people in the game have been left to themselves. I want to change this – and I think people understand my vision.

“We need to communicate more effectively both between ourselves and with the other confederations. I, personally, have good connections to UEFA, to Africa and to the Americas and we can only all gain the more we work together. I see my job, should I win the election, as being one of bridging gaps.”

Prince Ali is careful not to be drawn into too-deep discussions about the controversies which surrounded FIFA’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards. But he was delighted by Qatar’s 2022 success and the message that sent to the football world, “that every single member has the right to host the World Cup finals if it can demonstrate it has the capacity.”

His proposals include creating a FIFA Vice-President’s Development Fund to support – “in a totally transparent and very clear way” - the Asian associations in support of his programme’s ‘pillars.’ These he defines as better representation, wider and deeper youth development support, empowering women’s football with a professionalism programme and ‘protecting the game.’

Intriguingly, ‘protecting the game’ includes a pledge to “assess the role of technology in the future of football to ensure a levelling of the playing field.”

Prince Ali’s travels, seeking support, have taken him the length and breadth of the Asian confederation without, he insists, tiring him. Quite the opposite. Instead, he says: “What I’ve seen and heard has only given me the more energy to achieve my goal.”