Jun 30, 2017

FC Bayern Revive Old Fan Favourite with New adidas Football 2017/18 Away Kit


New shirt based on a much-loved kit that inspired a classic celebration
Released to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the club switching their main jersey from red to navy
Retro style combines with modern technology thanks to new breathable mesh

adidas Football and German champions, FC Bayern, have today revealed the club’s new away kit for the 2017/18 season. The new navy kit with red stripes has been released to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the club switching its home jersey from red to navy.

 The design will be recognisable to fans of the German champions, as it is based on one of the club’s most loved kits. Notable among them was a famous celebration by former player Giovane Élber in a 1999 game vs Wolfsburg where he wrapped himself in a carpet at the side of the pitch. The adidas design team sought to channel the creative spirit behind this moment in a shirt that will be worn as FC Bayern look to win a sixth straight German title next season.

The new away jersey combines this striking design with the latest adidas Football technology. An example of this design-meets-performance approach comes with the red stripe across the shirt. It is made of a highly breathable mesh material, allowing for better air circulation keeping players cool and on top of their game in any conditions.

The kit will be available to purchase in the FC Bayern online store, in adidas global retail stores, the adidas online shop (www.adidas.com/football​) as well as in all FC Bayern-Fan-Shops from July 7.





Jun 19, 2017

Shahril hit London for Global Tango League

adidas Tango League’s Most Valuable Player, Mohd Shahril Anuar had an experience of a lifetime when he joined the other winners from around the world at the first Global Tango League Event held in London, recently.

Shahril, fondly known as “Bulat” returned from London on June 5 after an eventful 5 days, was part of the TOT United A team that emerged victorious in the adidas Tango League which took place in KL on March 19.

After topping the Tango League Kuala Lumpur Leaderboard with a total of 43 match points and walking away with an adidas boot deal, Shahril also represented Malaysia at the Global Tango League Event with the aim of developing the next generation of football influencers.

The Global Tango League not only offers the Tango League city winners an opportunity to develop and cultivate their social influence, it also serves as a platform to help them build a career in football.

In London, the players were divided into four teams and guided through a number of special activations that brought out the maximum stadium to street experience. Every team had to complete several challenges with the help of an influence mentor, who acted as the team captain, in order to prove their abilities.  
The mentors included World Freestyle Champion Sean Garnier, skill twins, Josef and Jakob El Zein, Los Desimpedidos’s Bolivia and Fred as well as Moscow’s most prominent street football crew, Street Madness.

Shahril expressed his excitement of having met these renowned football influencers who were inspirational mentors that imparted worthwhile input to their teams.

“Although it’s been a week since I’ve returned from London, I still feel excited whenever I recall meeting them. They were good mentors who really cared about the teams and shared loads of valuable advice with us.”

Some of the activities prepared involved street and cage challenges with the influencers, a YouTube Creators Studio challenge and the O2 Experience. All of them were aimed to help the players grow and improve their skills in various aspects of football.

The main highlight of the trip was when each Tango League winner took a trip down to Cardiff to catch the UEFA Champions League Final 2016/17 between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Principality Stadium. Other notable events included were the Nemeziz Event and Stamford Bridge Pitch Event in which the Tango winners enjoyed lunch while overlooking the pitch just before making their way into the stadium dressing rooms to prepare for a knockout competition played on the prestigious Chelsea FC home ground.

24 year-old Shahril commented on how this was certainly one of the best ordeals that happened to him as he learned and gained a lot of new experiences.

“I am thankful to adidas for this opportunity in competing in the Global Tango League. It’s by far the best and most memorable trip in my life because I came back feeling contented. I’ve learned so much from everyone and the invaluable experiences I’ve acquired will no doubt push me forward in the future.

The next Tango League competition expected to take place in the second half of the year, will be a great window of opportunity for footballers by providing them a platform to showcase their outstanding skills through recreating a stadium match-day ambience and professional playing circumstances.

Jun 16, 2017

FOUR INTERNATIONAL LEGENDS HEADLINE FIRST-EVER T2 ASIA-PACIFIC TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE AS TEAM CAPTAINS

Launch of new reality series that takes viewers inside the exclusive drama between team captains and players throughout the season

The first-ever T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League (T2APAC) announced today an international line-up of legends as Team Captains, whose combined resume includes major titles across World Championships, Olympic Games, World Cups and continental major games and tournaments:

  • ·       Jiang Jialiang, a former two-time world champion from China, dominated the sport in the 1980s, winning multiple medals at the World Championships, World Cup and Asian Championships.
  • ·       Jörgen Persson was a former world champion and seven-time Olympian who represented Sweden in every Olympic Games when table tennis was introduced into the Olympic program in 1988 until 2012.
  • ·       Jörg Rosskopf, currently the German men’s national coach, won the silver medal in the men’s doubles at the 1992 Olympic Games and the bronze medal in the men’s singles at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
  • ·       Michael Maze from Denmark was a bronze medal winner at the 2004 Olympic Games in the men’s doubles, and widely considered to be one of the best defensive lobbers in the world.


For the Team Championship, T2APAC players will be selected by the Team Captains in accordance with a draft selection process, which has been introduced to create a level-playing field and unpredictability of outcome. The four Team Captains will compete to select the best paddlers to build a winning mixed team, comprising six players - three men and three women.

A component of its season-long umbrella marketing campaign, T2APAC also announced the launch of a new reality series, Fusion, comprising multiple episodes, each of up to 3 minutes’ duration, and rolled-out as the league unfolds across the next six months.  The series showcases the fully unscripted interpersonal dynamics between players and Team Captains both on and off the table.  It takes viewers behind the scenes as Team Captains juggle player personalities while devising gameplay strategies, revealing the intense drama that follows world-class competition, shedding insights into coaching styles, strategies and interpersonal chemistry within each team.

Audiences around the world can tune-in to watch the Team Captains select players for their respective teams, which will be produced as the first episode of Fusion, titled “The Pick”, and will be televised on 20 June on T2APAC’s Youtube, Facebook and Weibo accounts.

Said T2APAC CEO, Jeff Chue: “‘We are excited to have these four legends of the game play an integral part in the league. They will certainly add an all-new dimension to gameplay that will certainly bolster appeal of the league to new and existing fans.”

 Said Jörgen Persson: “I’m honoured to be invited to be a team captain in this groundbreaking competition. The concept of T2APAC is so unique, and I genuinely believe that getting us to play a crucial role with, and to guide and lead, current international table tennis stars will do wonders to promote the sport worldwide.”  

T2APAC has attracted table tennis’ top names, including the world’s top female paddler in Ding Ning from China, as well as Singapore’s Feng Tian Wei (World No. 4), Cheng I-Ching from Chinese Taipei (World No. 7) and South Korean Yang Haeun (World No. 23).  The event will also feature major top-10 men’s players including Dima Ovtcharov from Germany (World No. 5), Jun Mizutani (World No. 6), former World No. 1 Timo Boll from Germany (World No. 8), Chuang Chih-Yuan (World No. 10) of Chinese Taipei, and legendary defensive player Joo Saehyuk of South Korea who was ranked 5th in the world at his peak (World No. 17). The league will also feature some of the best young talents from Japan such as 13-year-old child prodigy Tomokazu Harimoto (World No. 69),17-year old Hina Hayata (World No. 16 ) who recently clinched the bronze in the women’s doubles at the Liebherr 2017 World Championships, and rising-star 13-year old Miyuu Kihara (world no. 158).

The contingent from China comprises members of the China men’s national team - World No. 51 Shang Kun, Liu Dingshuo, Xue Fei, and Wang Chuqin; and from the China women’s national team – World No. 12 Wu Yang, World No. 41 Wang Manyu, Liu Fei, and Sun Yingsha, as well as 15-year old Shi Xunyao, the Girl’s champion of the 2016 World Junior Championships.

Other top names competing in T2APAC’s inaugural season for a prize purse of over USD 1.75 million include Chen Chien-an (Chinese Taipei), Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus), Paul Drinkhall (England), Georgina Pota (Hungary), Elizabeta Samara and Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Jeon Jihee (South Korea), Aleksandr Shibaev (Russia), Matilda Ekholm and Mattias Karlsson (Sweden), as well as Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand).

The league will feature 24 world-class players (12 men’s and 12 women’s players) per match round, with players competing in separate but concurrent men’s, women’s, and mixed-team league competitions. Some players will be playing on a rotational basis during the inaugural season. Each match in the inaugural T2APAC Table Tennis League is limited to 24 minutes, where players try to win as many games as possible within the duration.  Showcasing a unique competition model and presentation format, the league will feature a unique scoring system to ensure a level playing field and unpredictability of outcome, where audiences and fans around the world can expect edge-of-your-seat competitive excitement throughout the season.

Touted as the richest competition in today’s professional table-tennis calendar, the players will be battling for an unprecedented prize purse of more than USD 1.75 million in the inaugural season, which will be played across seven match rounds from end of this 28 June to December 2017. All 228 matches in Season 1 will be played and televised live before an invite-only studio audience from the T2CAVERN, a purpose-built arena in the Asian location of Hollywood’s iconic Pinewood Studios, situated in Johor, Malaysia.


Jun 13, 2017

T2APAC FINALISES PLAYER CAST FOR INAUGURAL SEASON

Top players from China and Japan round up final competition line-up

The inaugural T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League (T2APAC) has confirmed its player lineup that includes several world-class paddlers from China and Japan.

17-year old World No. 16 Hina Hayata from Japan, who recently clinched the bronze in the women’s doubles at the Liebherr 2017 World Championships, and rising-star 13-year old Miyuu Kihara (world no. 158) will lead.

The contingent from China comprises members of the China men’s national team - World No. 51 Shang Kun, Liu Ding Shuo, Xue Fei, and Wang Chu Qin; and from the China women’s national team – World No. 12 Wu Yang, World No. 41 Wang Manyu, Liu Fei, and Sun Yingsha, as well as 15-year old Shi Xunyao, the Girl’s champion of the 2016 World Junior Championships.

Several players will be playing on a rotational basis during the inaugural season.

Said T2APAC CEO, Jeff Chue: “We are delighted to have these top players from China and Japan completing our list of paddlers for the first ever T2APAC season. We believe we have strong international representation that will resonate with audiences from around the world, and we look forward to kicking-off a great event.”

The league currently boasts several world-renowned women’s players including the world’s top female paddler in Ding Ning from China, as well as Singapore’s Feng Tianwei (World No. 4), Cheng I-Ching from Chinese Taipei (World No. 7), and South Korean Yang Haeun (World No. 23). The event will also feature major top-10 men’s players including Dima Ovtcharov from Germany (World No. 5), Jun Mizutani (World No. 6), former World No. 1 Timo Boll from Germany (World No. 8), Chuang Chih-Yuan (World No. 10) of Chinese Taipei, and legendary defensive player Joo Sae Hyuk of South Korea who was ranked 5th in the world at his peak (World No. 17). The league will also feature some of the best young talents in the world such as 13-year-old child prodigy Tomokazu Harimoto (World No. 69) from Japan.

Other top names competing in T2APAC’s inaugural season for a prize purse of over USD 1.5 million include Chen Chien-an (Chinese Taipei), Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus), Paul Drinkhall (England), Georgina Pota (Hungary), Elizabeta Samara and Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Jeon Jihee (South Korea), Aleksandr Shibaev (Russia), Matilda Ekholm and Mattias Karlsson (Sweden), as well as Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand).

All players will be grouped into four mixed-teams for the Team Championship by way of a selection process, and picked by four table tennis legends each of whom will lead a team - Jiang Jialiang (former two-time world champion from China, multiple medalist at the World Championships, World Cup and Asian Championships), Jörgen Persson (former world champion and seven-time Olympian from Sweden), Jörg Rosskopf, (bronze medalist in the 1996 Summer Olympics men’s singles from Germany) and Michael Maze (bronze medal winner at the 2004 Olympic Games in the men’s doubles from Denmark).

The four Team Captains will compete to select the best paddlers to build a winning team - each mixed-team will comprise three men’s and three women’s players. The Team Championship will add a new dimension of competitive excitement for audiences throughout the season.

Premiering this 28 June, this first-ever sports league will be held live entirely in the Asian location of Hollywood’s iconic Pinewood Studios, situated in Johor, Malaysia.  Unique to T2APAC, all 228 matches in Season 1 will be played and televised live before an invite-only studio audience from the T2CAVERN, a purpose-built arena integrating competition field-of-play, sponsor lounges, hospitality suites, player training area, and production sets that will be specially constructed within a dedicated film stage at the world-class film and television production complex.  Since 1936, the world-renowned Pinewood Studios has been the home of blockbuster Hollywood franchises such as Star Wars and James Bond.

In partnership with Pinewood Studios and Astro Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s leading consumer entertainment group, T2APAC aims to deliver the next generation of multi-media ‘sportainment’ for fans and consumers, and an immersive in-venue experience that will enable studio audiences to get up close and personal to the world-class stars and table tennis action.


Touted as the richest competition in today’s professional table-tennis calendar, the players will be battling for an unprecedented prize purse of more than USD 1.75 million in the inaugural season, which will be played across seven match rounds from end of this June to December 2017. 

Jun 5, 2017

TMJ Berkenan Biayai Kos Perubatan Adik Adra, Menjunjung Kasih Tunku!

Beberapa hari lalu kita mendengar khabar anak kedua kepada pemain bola sepak Perlis, Alafi Mahmud iaitu adik Adra Medina memerlukan sumbangan orang ramai bagi menampung kos pembedahannya.

Adik Adra yang menghidap penyakit jantung berlubang perlu menjalani pembedahan dengan segera supaya dapat kembali pulih.

Semalam, Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim menyampaikan khabar yang pastinya menggembirakan keluarga adik Adra apabila baginda berkenan untuk menggunakan wang baginda sendiri sebanyak RM100,000 bagi menampung sepenuhnya kos pembedahan adik Adra.

Tunku Ismail bertitah baginda akan menyalurkan sendiri wang sebanyak RM100,000 terus kepada Yayasan Institut Jantung Negara (IJNF) bagi memastikan pembedahan adik Adra dapat berjalan dengan lancar.

Selain itu, Tunku Ismail juga turut menitahkan doktor peribadi baginda untuk membantu memantau keadaan adik Adra bagi memastikan kesihatan bayi yang baru berusia 49 hari itu sentiasa dijaga rapi.

Pembedahan pertama adik Adra dijadualkan pada Sabtu ini dan kita semua pastinya mendoakan supaya semuanya berjalan dengan baik. Menjunjung kasih Tunku Ismail atas keprihatinan baginda serta orang ramai yang menghulurkan sumbangan bagi membiayai pembedahan ini. Tuhan memberkati.

Jun 2, 2017

NFDP Players Hit It Off with Football Ace



KUALA LUMPUR (2 June 2017): Fifty National Football Development Program (NFDP) players were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to mingle and break fast with Malaysian professional footballer, Faiz Subri of Penang FA at the One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya, earlier today.  

The privilege of being able to socialize with the professional footballer enabled further motivation and inspiration, especially for the 25 NFDP players who have been selected to take part in a series of friendly matches in Clairefontaine, France.

The team departs for France on June 5 before going up against the Clairefontaine U-15 selection and the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) U-15 selection. Thereafter, the NFDP U-15 Elite team will then continue their journey to Amsterdam on June 11 to undertake a series of friendly matches (June 13 – Feyenoord; June 20 - SBV Vitesse) and to compete in an U-15 tournament featuring teams from the Dutch Eredivisie League (17 June – AZ Alkmaar, FC Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven and SBV Vitesse). 

adidas, NFDP’s official sportswear partner were present to grace the event as they presented 25 boys of the Under-15 Elite team with the new Dust Storm Pack (Ace, Nemeziz and X) boots. It was adidas’ way of showing its support by ensuring our next generation of players are equipped with the best footwear.

The Dust Storm Pack features Nemeziz, the latest boot from adidas Football as one of the key silos alongside the Ace and X. Nemeziz’s stadium, street and cage versions introduced several new designs such as the AGILITYKNIT 2.0 and TORSIONTAPES technology to deliver the ultimate fit and lightweight feel to cater for the most agile players of the game. The boot - launched with a bold black and white colourway - is already in adidas retail outlets nationwide.

“I think this event is highly beneficial for our team of young players and we are thankful to adidas as this opportunity came at the right time just before the boys leave for France. This is a great boost in morale as the players are excited to receive the latest adidas football boots, the Dust Storm Pack,” said Safirul Azli Abu Bakar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NFDP.. 

He added, that the event provided good exposure for the boys as they were given the 
opportunity to meet 2016 Puskas Award winner, Faiz Subri. A meet-and-greet session was held between the NFDP players and the professional footballer as Faiz shared valuable experience and challenges in his career.

Faiz, Penang FA’s key player, agreed that it was a good form of communication with the NFDP players as they were able to interact with ease.

“The meet-and-greet session was a good idea as we were able to socialize and motivate the boys. From this, I believe they will be spurred on to perform and to do their best in France,” said Faiz.

29-year old Faiz commented on how committed the NFDP players were as they embark on competitions worldwide in order to improve and gain experience.


“It’s very encouraging to see all these youngsters with a passion for football and wanting to constantly improve themselves. Looking at them now, I can say that they will definitely have a bright future in football and one day represent our beloved nation,” added Faiz.