Foul!

As published in Mailsport today By Vijhay Vick vijhay@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA - Malaysia head into the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup as underdogs but forward Amri Yahyah is not a single bit perturbed by it. In fact, he insists he likes it that way. “I prefer being the underdogs,” Amri said. “Remember, in 2010 we were not the favourites but we went on to win the competition for the first time in our history. “We are in the same situation now, who knows if we end up winning the tournament again. The key is getting everything right during the competition.” Amri would likely feature in the starting eleven alongside clubmate Norshahrul Idlan Talaha when Malaysia play Myanmar in the Group B opener on Sunday. Harimau Malaya face a difficult prospect of reaching the knockout stages as the odds favour Thailand and hosts Singapore to progress based on recent form. Malaysia only have one win to parade since Dollah Salleh took charge in July. The team suffered defe...

As published in Mailsport today PETALING JAYA — Malaysia head to the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup without a win since beating Cambodia in September after losing their final preparation match 3-1 to Vietnam in Hanoi last night. Malaysia once again only have themselves to blame as they squandered a host of chances in the first half and Muslim Ahmad’s needless red card in the 48th minute made life more difficult. A 4-1 win over Cambodia two months ago remains Dollah Salleh’s only win as national coach since he took charge in July. He made four changes to the starting line-up who lost 3-0 to Syria last week. In came goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, defenders Zubir Azmi, Afif Amiruddin and central midfielder Gary Steven Robbat for Farizal Marlias, Azmi Muslim, Fadhli Shas and Baddrol Bakhtiar respectively. There were improvements in attack but the misses were shocking. Malaysia may not get that many chances when the AFF Cup kicks off on Sunday. Amri ...

PERSATUAN BOLASEPAK MALAYSIA SIARAN AKHBAR FAM 24 JUN 2013 SEKALUNG PENGHARGAAN Saya, Lt Jen Dato’ Azzuddin Ahmad (Bersara), Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), ingin memaklumkan bahawa saya telah menerima surat perlantikkan s ebagai Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bolasepak ASEAN (AFF) dari KDYMM Sultan Ahmad Shah, Presiden AFF, pada hari Ahad 23 Jun 2013, untuk mengisi jawatan Setiausaha Agung AFF mulai 1 Julai 2013. Di kesempatan ini, saya ingin merakamkan setinggi-tinggi pengharg aan dan ucapan ribuan terima kasih kepada semua Editor, Penerbit dan wartawan sukan media cetak dan elektronik, yang telah memberi kerjasama dan bantuan dari segi terutamanya liputan sukan bolasepak Negara sejak saya menjawat jawatan Setiausaha Agung FAM pada 17 September 2007 sehingga sekarang. Saya mengambil iktibar dari semua kitikan yang membina dan menerima semua kritikan negatif dengan hakikat di dalam apa jua isu wujudnya pendapat dan fahaman yang berlainan. ...

I was invited on Nadi Arena yesterday to speak about the three 'minor' sports - woodball , muay thai and beach football - being included in the upcoming Malaysia Games in KL. Among what I had said: 1. While such games may turn many off, it must be reminded that the likes of BMX and curling actually made it to the Olympics. BMX was criticised as being a rebellious teenagers' sport while the sexiest and prejudice few called curling (and still do) as a housewives' game. Remember when futsal was first introduced and the purist said it brought shame to the beautiful game? Now there are more people playing futsal then 11-aside football. Go figure. 2. Can the organisers of the Malaysia Games be called confused when the confusion is also seen at the Sea Games Federation level? Traditional and sometimes 'ridiculous' sports are included by host nations and yet it is approved by the regional federation. 3. Sports today is about commercialisation and since the Spo...

UPDATE 4.16pm: Received a phone call saying two names were 'missing' from the original list sent out in the AFF Best XI Left back: Theerathon Bunmathan (THA) Centre Midfield - Safiq Rahim (MAS) Looks like we do have ONE Malaysian on the Best XI list. -------------- Two Malaysians - FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah and Ahmad Rithauddeen are the recepients of the Asean Goodwill Award and the Life Service Award respectively which will be given out during the inaugural AFF Awards on April 3. Meanwhile, Sabri Mat Daud and Widiya Habibah Shamsuri were nominated for the best asisstant referees of the year (men and women's categories respectively). National coach K.Rajagobal is in the running for the Best Coach of the Year award while the Harimau Malaya squad were nominated for the Best Team of the Year Award. No Malaysian footballer were listed as AFF Best XI. Here is the list of recipients and nominees 1) AFF Life Service Award...