Foul!

HARESH SAYS as published in Mailsport today IT was a weekend filled with plenty of expectations.  Footie fans had been pushing for changes in FA of Malaysia (FAM) through its #RombakFAM (revamp FAM) campaign.  The much awaited 50th congress was held on Sunday morning and it was the first time in three decades former president Sultan Ahmad Shah was challenged by two others — his son Tengku Abdullah and the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim. As many had expected, and I had said on air during Astro Arena’s Kafe Sukan last month, Tengku Abdullah was voted the new president.  But I had also on the same programme, through my previous writings and during Nadi Arena on Saturday, stressed Malaysia football is beyond FAM. It is only right to thank Sultan Ahmad for his three decades of services and to congratulate Tengku Abdullah for taking up the role — which he was destined to assume. Tengku Abdullah is also the Malaysia Hockey Confeder...

As published in Sunday Mail today Malaysian badminton fans have been left disappointed for far too long and only by winning the Thomas Cup would renew their faith into the sport, says Tan Sri Elyas Omar. Elyas, who was the Badminton Association of Malaysia president when the nation last won the prestigious tournament in 1992, hoped the national shuttlers would remain composed as they take on Japan in the final at the Siri Fort Stadium in New Delhi, India, at 3pm local time (5.30pm in Malaysia). “Yes, of course (fans have been left disappointed) ... for the past 22 years,” said Elyas, who was also former mayor of Kuala Lumpur. “This is the best chance and I believe they did not even expect to play in the final given the line-up but let’s not put pressure on them, let’s motivate them instead.” Elyas said the players must overcome the pressure and maintain their fighting spirit instead of being jittery on the court. He recalled the motivational words he uttered to former ...

Typically after any shortcomings or failure, the easy way out is by demanding the head of the chief running the show. Some self-proclaimed leaders are better off being mere sidekicks. But what about the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)? Let's not kid ourselves as we all knew from the beginning that the national team will struggle in this year's Thomas Cup. And now even the chances of winning the elusive gold medal at the Olympics is slowly fading away. The question that everyone seems to ask right now is if BAM president Nadzmi Salleh ( pic ) should quit. After all, Nadzmi who first joined BAM believed in the Japanese way of life when it comes to accountability and transparency. In short, he believes if one cannot deliever, one should go. BAM deputy president Al-Amin Majid seems to be the likely candidate to take over. Even former Bernama editor-in-chief Azman Ujang took a swipe at Nadzmi in his column 'What now after Wuhan' published in The Sun several...