Foul!

As published in Mailsport today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — It has been a long agonising wait for Datuk Ong Kim Swee but his dream finally came true after he was named national football coach by FA of Malaysia (FAM) yesterday.   The first person he called to share the good news was his 66-year-old mother, Lee Wee Neo. “She was happy, really happy for me but she quickly reminded me it is not going to be easy and people will have plenty of expectations,” said Kim Swee.   “My family has been my pillar of strength. When things are good, everyone will want to be associated with you but when things don’t go well, the only people you can count on are family.”   The former international, who turned 45 on Dec 11, said it has been a worthwhile wait.  He was kept in limbo for months after FAM remained mum as his contract as the Harimau Muda coach expired last year.   “Yes, I deserve this job. I know some peopl...

Going Nuts by Graig Nunis as published in Mailsport JOHN ROBERT COCKER or better known as Joe Cocker passed away on Monday after a long battle with lung cancer. Probably the only singer who could make a Beatles song better – as blasphemous as that sounds – his rendition of With a little help from my friends did receive the thumbs-up from the Fab Four. For those growing up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the song was synonymous with the wonderful television series The Wonder Years. Who could forget the bittersweet moments from the series as Kevin Arnold chased after Winnie Cooper but sadly, after coming so close, never got her in the end – a bit like Malaysia’s quest to win the AFF Cup on Saturday. Three goals up with nine minutes left, Harimau Malaya’s world collapsed when two Thai goals handed the War Elephants the trophy 4-3 on aggregate. You could just imagine Cocker’s other megahit You are so beautiful playing in the background as the Malaysian players collaps...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol BLOODIED faces, tears of fear. That is not the picture one would expect after Áo Đỏ (the nickname of Vietnam’s national football team which means Red Jersey) edged Harimau Malaya 2-1 in the AFF Cup first leg semi final at Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday. Kicks and punches flew soon as the final whistle was blown. It was an ugly sight that marred the beautiful game. Hooligans tainted the sport, as their stupidity went against fair play, respect and sportsmanship. Apologies, and plenty of it, emerged as sympathisers pacified Vietnamese supporters hoping our foreign guests do not paint a dark image on Malaysian football supporters. As the Malay saying goes, kerana nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga (One bad apple spoils the whole barrel). We can take issue in so many ways. For starters, the FA of Malaysia’s anti-hooliganism campaign launched in February had failed big time. To put it ...

National coach K.Rajagobal bares it all as he speaks about the national team and efforts to get rid of him - as published in Mailsport today.

Piala Malaysia 2013 Kumpulan A Selangor, ATM, Sime Darby FC, Johor FA Kumpulan B Darul Takzim FC, PKNS, T-Team, Felda United Kumpulan C Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan Kumpulan D LionsXII, Perak, Sarawak, Kedah ------- Rangkuman: Harimau Malaya kalah lagi. Pasukan Harimau Malaya kalah 5-0 kepada pasukan bawahan Liga-J Shonan Bellmare; pengurus pasukan Subahan Kamal dipetik berkata antara punca kekalahan termasuk bulan puasa dan persembahan hambar penjaga gol Norazlan Razali dan pemain penyerang Safee Sali. Baca laporan selanjutnya di sini . Rosman ganti Hamidin Rosman Ibrahim kini bergelar setiuasaha agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Selangor, mengisi kekosongan yang ditinggalkan oleh Hamidin Amin yang telah dilantik sebagai setiausaha agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia. Bayar hutang sebelum 31 Ogos Persatuan bola sepak kelab mahupun negeri yang ingin beraksi dalam Liga Malaysia musim depan harus menyelesaikan segala hutang sebelum 31 Ogos, seperti t...

Skuad bola sepak kebangsaan melengkapkan Jelajah Australia dengan episod duka selepas kalah 2-0 kepada juara National Premier Leagues-New South Wales (NSW), Marconi Stallions FC, 2-0 di Stadium Marconi, Bossley Park, Sydney, semalam.     Skuad Harimau Malaya bimbingan Datuk K. Rajagobal sebelum ini kalah 3-2 kepada Canberra FC pada aksi sulung, Khamis lepas sebelum bangkit mencatat kemenangan dengan membelasah Sydney Olympic FC, 4-0, lima hari kemudian. Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) Azzuddin Ahmad ( gambar ) berkata beliau tidak akan berundur daripada jawatan yang disandangnya ketika ini walaupun ada segelintir pihak yang mahu beliau mengosongkan kerusi berkenaan secepat mungkin.    Azzuddin yang memegang jawatan berkenaan sejak Sept 2007 berkata hanya Presiden FAM Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah sahaja yang mempunyai kuasa untuk mengeluarkan arahan supaya beliau berundur dan bukannya pihak luar.    "Say...

Ia tidak ada kena mengena dengan lagu Hindustan Piya Piya Oh Piya Piya . Ia lebih tertumpu kepada pemain Kelantan Badri Radzi ( gambar ) atau lebih dikenali sebagai Piya. Terdapat pelbagai spekulasi mengenai Badri dan hubungannya dengan jurulatih kebangsaan K.Rajagobal. Ini kerana Badri tidak pernah diberi peluang menyarung jersi negara walaupun beliau teringin sangat untuk beraksi dengan skuad Harimau Malaya. Memandangkan seramai 11 pemain tonggak mengalami kecederaan, ramai peminat merasakan bahawa Badri sepatutnya diberi peluang bermain bersama anak buah Rajagobal untuk perlawanan kelayakan Piala Asia 2015 menentang Qatar di Doha pada 6 Februari. Namun Badri giat berlatih dengan pasukan The Red Warriors manakala pemain kebangsaan kini di Dubai bersiap sedia untuk perlawanan persahabatan mereka dengan Iraq esok (1 Februari). Rakan di Kota Bharu menyatakan bahawa Rajagobal dikatakan berminat dengan Nor Farhan Muhammad dan Badri, tetapi hanya Nor Farhan yang kemudiannya di...

Berdasarkan ranking FIFA terkini, Malaysia berada di tempat ke 162 - berkongsi tempat dengan negara jiran Singapura. Ini merupakan ranking yang terburuk buat skuad Harimau Malaya bagi tahun ini. Akan tetapi, ada yang masih menyatakan bahawa ranking bukan segala-galanya. Mungkin kata-kata sedemikian benar berdasarkan pelbagai faktor yang perlu diambil kira. Namun buat setengah pihak, kedudukan yang tercorot di dalam ranking dunia agak memalukan. Bak kata Mat Salleh; "some see it half full, others see it as half empty." But in this case it never seems to get full - ever. Oh well. Secara peribadi, biarlah pasukan negara beraksi di Piala AFF Suzuki akhir tahun nanti. Walaupun pertandingan tersebut tidak di iktiraf Fifa, namun ianya boleh dijadikan bahan pengukur buat kemampuan pasukan Malaysia berbanding pasukan-pasukan lain di rantau ini. Let's give our Tigers the benefit of the doubt. Tetapi jangan kita lupa kebolehan pasukan Filipina. Saya masih menyatakan bah...