Astro Media jadi rakan penaja Liga Malaysia

Astro Media telah bersetuju menjadi Penaja Bersama Liga Malaysia dengan penajaan bernilai RM220 juta bagi tempoh empat tahun.

Penajaan itu meliputi hak penyiaran bernilai RM30 juta setiap tahun mulai 2011 dan tambahan RM100 bagi kegiatan promosi oleh setesen satelit berbayar itu.

"Astro merupakan satu daripada bakal penaja yang membida dan kami putuskan untuk memilih mereka sebagai rakan kongsi dan rakan media dengan memberikan hak tertentu perlawanan Liga M termasuk hak penyiaran," kata Timbalan Presiden FAM, Tan Sri Annuar Musa selepas mesyuarat khas Exco FAM, Ahad lalu, di Wisma FAM.

“Bagaimanapun, ini tidak bermakna Astro Media akan menjadi penaja utama Liga dan mana-mana syarikat yang mahu membuat urusan penajaan, boleh berunding dengannya.

Menurut Tan Sri Annuar, kedudukan RTM yang sebelum ini penyiar rasmi liga, tidak terjejas malah semua saluran TV lain termasuk yang percuma malah media baru seperti TV internet boleh bekerjasama dengan Astro dan RTM bebas untuk berunding mengenainya melalui Astro Media.

Mesyuarat itu dipengerusikan oleh KDYTM Tengku Abdullah Sultah Ahmad Shah, Timbalan Presiden FAM.

"Selain itu kami akan tubuhkan sebuah jawatankuasa khas yang memantau kerjasama ini kerana keuntungan lebih RM30 juta bakal dikongsi bersama FAM dan Astro Media," katanya lagi.

Telekom Malaysia (TM) sebelum ini menjadi penaja utama Liga Malaysia sejak 2002 dan kontrak itu akan berakhir pada 26 Januari ini.

Penajaan ini hanya untuk Liga Malaysia iaitu Liga Super, Liga Perdana, Piala FA, Piala Malaysia dan Piala Presiden tetapi Astro Media diberikan hak sebagai rakan media bagi kegiatan pasukan kebangsaan, pembangunan belia dan wanita mahupun kejohanan-kejohanan lain, tambah Tan Sri Annuar .

Katanya, hak penyiaran Astro juga bukan bererti hanya stesen TV satelit itu yang boleh menyiarkan perlawanan Liga M, kerana FAM tetap akan cuba menggunakan pendekatan di Eropah, yang turut membenarkan stesen TV lain menayangkan perlawanan yang berlangsung serentak.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Despite losing 2-1 in the second leg final of the AFF Suzuki Cup at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, the national team created history by defeating Indonesia on a 4-2 aggregate to become the new football champions of ASEAN.

To commemorate the historic win, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has declared Friday, December 31 2010, a public holiday. The public holiday announcement was made via national news agency Bernama

Indonesia won the second leg of the final 2-1 on Wednesday night while Malaysia had won the first leg 3-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The scorers for Indonesia were Mohammad Ridwan (87th minute) and Mohammad Nasuha (71st). Safee Sali scored in the 53rd minute to put Malaysia 1-0 in the lead.

For Malaysia, this success is very significant as the last time the senior national team became champions in a regional competition was at the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. The Under 23 team won the gold medal at the last SEA Games in Laos

It was also the first time Malaysia wins the Asean Football Federation championship since its inception in 1996.

To make it a grand night for Malaysia, Safee won the Golden Boot award with five goals to his name. The striker was on target twice in the first leg.

Malaysia started with the same line-up that was fielded in the first leg, except for midfielder Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal and right-back Mahali Jasuli, who were suspended. They were replaced by Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin and Mohd Sabree Abu respectively.

The Indonesians were without their inspirational flanker Okto Maniani, who was also out on suspension while striker Yongky Ari Bowo was out with an injury. Their replacements were Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim respectively.

As expected, Indonesia came charging from the starting whistle but the Malaysian defence led by Mohd Muslim Ahmad and Mohd Fadhli Shas did well to keep a tight leash on Indonesian dangermen Christian Gonzales and Irfan Bachdim.

But a lapse of concentration inside the box resulted in Indonesia winning a penalty in the 15th minute, when Mohd Sabree handled the ball.

However, much to the disappointment of the Indonesian fans, skipper Firman Utina’s tame kick was saved by Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.

Indonesians, who were desperate for an early goal, kept on pressing for the opening goal but Khairul Fahmi proved to be a stumbling block, denying at least five attempts at goal before the half-time break.

Malaysia took the lead against the run of play in the 53rd minute, when Ashaari sent a long through ball for Safee to chase, and the Selangor hitman scored a clinical goal.

Despite being a goal down, Indonesia never gave up and their persistence paid off as defender Mohammad Nasuha pounced on a loose ball from goalkeeper Khairul’s save to hit the roof of the net in the 71st minute.

Then with the clock ticking away, Muhammad Ridwan scored from a goal-mouth melee in the 87th minute but this was not enough to deny Malaysia the AFF-Suzuki Cup.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin congratulated the Malaysian football squad 'Harimau Malaya' for creating history by winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 after defeating Indonesia on a 4-2 aggregate.

He said the success was even sweeter for the national football squad after waiting for 14 years to emerge as the fourth Asean nation to win the trophy after Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

"The victory proves that nothing is impossible if we truly want to win. All the efforts, hard work and sacrifices made by the players, coaches, and team officials have clearly paid off with the success.

"Certainly every Malaysian is proud, touched and most of all, thankful because the success reflects the determination of the people concerned especially the players and coach, K. Rajagopal to become the champion," he said in a media statement, in Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday night.

Muhyiddin hoped the win would not make the players, coaches and team officials complacent because the challenges subsequently would be even more intense in future.

He also thanked and congratulated the supporters who had given their undivided support and encouragement to the national football squad.

"My appreciation is also directed at the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah who had succeeded in leading the Malaysian football to become the champion," he said.

Just Do It Malaysia

The Malaysian football team showed remarkable confidence as they prepare to take on Indonesia in the second leg final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Wednesday.

With one hand already on the trophy after a 3-0 win in the first leg Sunday, team captain, Safiq Rahim echoed his teammates confidence by declaring, “We came here to win and I am confident we will return home as champions’.”

The 3-0 victory clearly put Malaysia as the clear favourites to win the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time ever, since the tournament’s inception in 1996.

Safiq, like most Malaysian football fans, feel that Indonesia will need a miracle to overturn the 3-0 deficit. Indonesia had trounced Malaysia 5-1 in the opening match on Dec 1, in Jakarta.
Safiq backed up his bold prediction by saying Indonesia, who trounced Malaysia 5-1 in the opening match in Jakarta on Dec 1, will need a miracle to overturn the 3-0 deficit.
"My teammates and I will have to stay focussed and continue to chase every opportunity with the hope of scoring more goals. The goals we scored were well earned and it will take a miracle for them to deny us,” added Safiq.
While it is admirable for the players to have such confidence, they must also be prepared to play their hearts out when they are on the field.
Chief coach, K.Rajagobal has made it clear that his team will be on the defensive. “No team can defend for 90 minutes. How we play would depend on the condition of the players,” said Rajagobal, who led the Under-23 team, which clinched the Sea Games gold last year.Rajagobal will use the last couple of training sessions to find replacements for suspended duo, Amirulhadi Zainal and Mahalli Jasuli. Indonesia also has to look for a replacement for speedy Oktovianus Maniani, who collected his second booking on Sunday.
Meanwhile chief coach of Alfred Riedl, the chief coach of Indonesia, has rated his team’s chances of winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 at just 5% to 10% - following the team’s 3-0 loss to Malaysia in the first leg final in Kuala Lumpur.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS & GOD BLESS YOU ALL

FOCUS IS ON PRINCE ALI – CHUNG BATTLE

Now with the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts been decided, the football focus switches to Asia.

To be precise all attention will be on the January 6^th, 2011 AFC Congress and election in Doha, Qatar.

It’s going to be a hot affair, not for the president’s seat which Mohamed bin Hammam has already bagged it with no opposition but there’ll be a ‘battle royale’ for the FIFA Vice-President’s (Asia) post.

Korea’s incumbent Dr. Chung Mong Joon, who has held this post for 16 long years, will be up against Prince Ali bin AL Hussein of Jordan.

Is the tide going to shift? Many in Asia want a change and could that be Prince Ali!

Of course, we cannot bypass the might and control Dr. Chung has. He afterall controls the second largest Korean company – HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES GROUP.

But Prince Ali is gaining momentum and support for they believe that Prince Ali will be the voice of Asia in FIFA.

Prince Ali kicks-off the final lap of his campaign with a press conference today in Amman, Jordan, when he’ll unveil his football program.

As for Dr. Chung, he is still recovering from a bad dream after the recent FIFA World Cup bid selection.

Dr. Chung has been heavily criticised together with other FIFA Executive members and this will weigh down heavily in his battle with Prince Ali.

Prince Ali, the president of Jordan FA, succeeded in bringing his National youth team to the 2007 FIFA World Cup in Canada as well as three Jordanian national teams to the Asian finals in 2010, one of the few Asian countries to achieve this. Under his leadership, the National Women’s team has also dramatically risen in the latest FIFA Women’s world ranking

Prince Ali has also focused on invigorating Jordan’s youth team and strengthening football community centers across the country. He has promoted the game through education and culture.

In 2000, he established the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), expanding the number of members, uniting the region’s football confederations and organizing and expanding international championships for men and women. He serves as President of the WAFF.

When I met Prince Ali two weeks ago in a private dinner, I was impressed by his humility. He didn’t portray his princely self but was very unassuming and down to earth. Prince Ali has a vision and mission for developing Asian football so it can rise to a higher competitive level.

JaiHo Malaysia will be following the AFC Congress closely ... more updates later.

PRINCE ALI UNVEILS 4 KEY PILLARS FOR FOOTBALL

His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein launched his four key football pillars in his quest for the FIFA Vice President’s seat in Asia.

At a press conference here today, Prince Ali, President of the Jordan Football Association and of the West Asia Football Federation, announced his vision for football in his run-up bid:

Ø Revitalizing the representation of member associations to FIFA.

Ø Focusing on Grassroot Youth Development in Asia.

Ø EMPOWERING Women’s Football in Asia.

Ø PROTECTING THE GAME.

HRH Prince ali bin al hussein

“I present myself to you as a dedicated listener, devoted football fan and a bridge within Asia and beyond’,” he declared in his message to all National Football Associations in Asia.

Prince Ali, 35, who has sent a letter to this effect, to all forty six (46) football associations in Asia, outlined his aims and vision. He added: “I will connect with you openly and advocate your causes and protect your rights in FIFA.”

He added that he will put the position of FIFA Vice-President (Asia) at the service of all Member Associations by establishing a ‘FIFA VP Development Fund’.

Prince Ali will personally invest in setting up the ‘FIFA VP Development Fund’ which will provide assistance to all Member Associations in Asia, in capacity building, technical support and grassroot initiatives

“This Fund will be available to all National Associations,” he said.

Building on his experience in developing youth football in Jordan and the region, Prince Ali stressed the importance of focussing on grassroot development as the second key pillar in his vision.

“As the largest and one of the youngest continent in the world, I strongly feel that youth participation in football today is a vital socioeconomic empowerment tool that will allow us to realise our potential,” he said. Prince Ali proposed the following for youth development:

Ø Launching grassroots initiatives in schools.

Ø Investing in elite youth players.

Ø Establishing talent identification programs.

To achieve the above, he will create a ‘dedicated grassroots bureau’ to intensify the focus of grassroot programs in all Member Associations.

As a strong advocate of women’s football, Prince Ali has proposed to introduce a professional football program for women and has offered it to all Member Associations to help raise the profile of women’s football in Asia.

“Asian women’s football has proven to be a remarkable success. We have to give the women more opportunities to play a greater proactive role on both local and national stages,” he pointed out.

Prince Ali strongly believes that more can be and must be done to strengthen women’s football.

And this, he said can be done by:

Ø Promoting women’s community football.

Ø Increasing the number of Asian teams participating at FIFA World Cups.

Ø Increasing the percentage of resources allocated to women’s football in the FIFA Financial Assistance Program.

Prince Ali underlined the need to work together with the Asian Member Associations and football leaders worldwide: “We need to engage in an open forum to exchange ideas, share experience in order to protect the elements of the game and ensure fairplay as a key FIFA principle.”

The election for the FIFA Vice-President (Asia) will be decided in Doha, Qatar on January 6^th, 2011 at the Asian Football Confederation’s Congress.