Our Athletes in Beijing Olympic

What do we lack to earn the first gold medal for Malaysia in Olympic? Technique? Spirit? Strategy? Motivation? I am not sure which one. After Azizulhasni Awang failed to make it to the final Keirin and Lee Chong Wei crashed quite easily to Lin Dan, I wonder what we lack to earn us the first ever gold medal? Yes, we still have Azizulhasni today in Sprint event against Chris Hoy of Great Britain who won gold medal in Keirin event. Let us pray for our final hope for a gold medal (though Azizulhasni had a better chance in Keirin than Sprint event).
.
That day, I watched Michael Phelps competing in 200m butterfly. This guy is simply amazing. 15m to the finishing, he was second. As he reached the wall, he was equal with the Serbian swimmer and it really looks like that the Serbian Swimmer won the race. Even when a replay was shown, it looks like the Serbian swimmer was the winner. But, as the result came out, it was Michael Phelps who touched the wall first. He won the race by 0.01 second. Amazing!!! And as the commentator said “this guy (Phelps) knows how to win”.
.
Yes. I think our athletes need to have that. I mean they should know how to win. That is the keywords. Our athletes are equal with their competitors in terms of training, facilities, so on and so forth. But I think they lack the “know-how-to-win” strategy.
.
It was reported in the newspaper that in the Keirin event when both Azizul and Josiah Ng failed to make it to the final, Azizul misjudged his timing and Josiah was trapped between two cyclists. As for Chong Wei, he went down to Lin Dan quite tamely. Look at our archers. They should not have any problem to qualify to the semi final for team event. But something went wrong somewhere, they lost to Italy by small margin. They failed to live up to the expectation.
.
Overall, I would say that this Olympic, our athletes did quite ok.

Well Done Azizul!!!

He was the guy that the Terengganu Sukma officials could not leave without during the recently concluded Sukma held in Terengganu. I wrote about it in my previous posting. Click here http://rozaimims.blogspot.com/2008/06/from-beijing-to-kuala-terengganuwhat.html

Now, he has done the nation proud for his achievement in winning the keirin title during the test racing with the Australian Cycling Team by defeating Australia's 2004 Athens Olympic double gold medallist Ryan Bayley, two-time Olympic medallist Shane Kelly and former world junior champion Mark French.

He is on the right track to bag for Malaysia the first gold medal in Olympics and that is the reason why I was totally and 100% against Terengganu calling him back from Australia to compete in much less important Sukma.

From Beijing to Kuala Terengganu...What a Journey...

Much has been reported about the Terengganu born national cyclist, Azizulhasni who has qualified to compete in this summer Olympic in Beijing on merit. It is none others than Terengganu's request to have him to compete in Sukma currently held in Terengganu for two (2) reasons, i.e. that Azizulhasni is a gold prospect for Terengganu and that he will be the flag bearer for Terengganu. Read here http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0519&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=sukan&pg=su_03.htm&arc=hive. All I can say is that the Terengganu's sports officials are very shallow minded people.

Initially, the national cycling federation objected to the idea of calling back Azizulhasni to compete in Sukma, as the poor chap was undergoing training in Australia as preparation for Olympic in Beijing, as they feared that Azizulhasni might get injury while competing in Sukma, thus jeorpardising his chances to compete in Olympic. However, after much huha from the Terengganu camp (they even called Azizulhasni's coach personally in Australia to ask for his release), the coach, John Beasley finally agreed to release Azizulhasni. Read here http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0522&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=sukan&pg=su_01.htm&arc=hive. Well, I am not surprise at all. The coach is a foreigner. If I were him, why should I bother to fight for your nation when you don't even bother about your nation's interest? Even the MSN (National Sports Council) gave their green light for Azizulhasni to compete in Sukma. So, why do you think John Beasley should fight for our country?

The Director of Terengganu Sports Council, Rosdi Awang, reportedly said that the safety issue regarding Azizulhasni should not be an issue, as accident can happen anywhere, and not necessarily in Sukma. Oh my GOD!!! What a statement from someone called Director. Of course accident can happen anywhere and anytime. You don't have to tell us that. Everybody knows that. But doesn't he think that they need to take every measure possible to avoid or minimise hte possibility of accident from happening? Read here http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0601&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=sukan&pg=su_03.htm&arc=hive.

By the way, do you know that Azizulhasni is a national sprinter and his favourite events are 200m sprint and keirin, which normally take place in velodrome, a much safer place? However, in Terengganu (during Sukma), Azizulhasni will be competing in 200m sprint but not in velodrome but on the road. Why? Because Terengganu does not have velodrome. Read here http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0601&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=sukan&pg=su_03.htm&arc=hive. I don't have to comment further. The facts surrounding the whole issue speaks for itself.

I must say that I really feel sorry for the mentality of our sports administrators for their shallow minded in handling this issue. Azizulhasni is a gold medal prospect for the country in Olympic games in Beijing. At the same time, he is also the gold medal prospect for Terengganu in Sukma. Wow! What a comparison!!! Sukma against Olympics.

If I remember correctly, when Sukma was introduced many years ago, the purpose was to search for new talent, to polish their skills and make them a world class athlete. Azizulhasni is already a world class athlete. So, why the hell does he needs to compete in Sukma? Should not Terengganu unearth new potential so that we can have more world class athletes in the future? In this scenario, the Sports Ministry should play more proactive role in creating awareness among the sports officials in Malaysia especially those at the states level, that competing in Sukma is not all about getting gold medals. It is about unearth and searching for new talents.

Well, to the Terengganu contingent, congratulation in advance for the gold medal in 200m sprint. They should be really happy to have that pice of medal at the end of the day. For all Malaysians and sports lover (with the exception of those shallow minded sports officals), let us pray that Azizulhasni will be fit to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Our sports are going nowhere if we keep on having sports officials who put their interest over the nation's interest.

Of Sports and Politic

The Sports Minister, Ismail Sabri has requested Mokhzani Mahathir to vacate his seat as the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Chairman. According to Sabri, the position of SIC Chairman is the right of the government. As such, when Mokhzani quit UMNO recently, he (Mokhzani) should relinquish his position in the government. Sabri further said that SIC is the subsidiary of Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB), which is controlled by the government through Khazanah Holdings.

Click here to read more
http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2008&dt=0531&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_01.htm

The request by Sabri is too childish, not mature and uncalled for. To me, if at all Mokhzani needs to step down or be replaced it should be done because of his performance i.e. on merit and not on political reasons. If Mokhzani has done a good job so far and can still do a good job, I do not see why he should be asked to step down. This is the problem in Malaysia. Everything is being politicized. If this Sabri type of mentality is being nurtured to our people, I bet, there is no way we can move further. Such mentality brings us to nowhere because we put someone in certain position because of his/her political connection and not because of his/her ability to do the job.

In any event, if Mokhzani really being asked to step down because of the abovementioned stupid reason, I believe that the government should also do a thorough checking on all government servants to check which political party they are in and to ask those from the opposition to resign because they are holding position in the government which the government has the right to decide on it. But if the government is not willing to do that, stop from asking Mokhzani to step down just because he quit UMNO.

Last but not least, please GOD, help us, we need politicians with brains, who can think rationally.

Of Malaysian Football (Part 2)

This is a continuation of my earlier posting on the same topic on 29th April 2008. Tonight when I was watching TV3 news, it was reported that the organisation of Champions Youth Cup (CYC) will be determined tomorrow when the Minister of Sports goes to meet (menyembah) the President of FAM. My goodness!!! I suppose, when it comes to sports, the Minister should be higher than the sports associations and that the Minister should be able to overule any decision made the sports associations.

But the news report that said that the Minister is going to menyembah (meet up with) Tuanku (the President of FAM) shows that the Minister is a subject of the FAM President when it is supposed to be the other way around. With that, I am very sure that the Minister will concur with whatever the President is going to say because to go against the wish of the Sultan is biadap (rude). This is the problem when you have the royalties to head the association because they do not know or pretend not to know how to diffrentiate between their position as the royalties and their post in the association. In the end, there is no way our sports are going to excel.

On another note, it is highly advisable for the Sultans in Malaysia not to hold any post in any sports association in Malaysia, as it may subject them to criticism and indirectly lower their status and image among the Malaysians.

Champions League Final - Man United Are the Champion

1

1




(Man United won 6-5 after penalty shootout)




HERO

VILLAIN

It is over. Man United prevails over Chelsea. It was a very interesting game. Both teams played very well. United had few golden opportunity to score but it was wasted. Chelsea had two tries that hit the goal post. It was also full of drama with few yellow cards were given to players from both teams and one red card given to Didier Drogba. But Man United could not take the advantage, as it was 4 minutes before final whistle that Drogba was given the marching order. It was full of tense and excitement. In the end, it was the luck factor that decided the winner and the luck was on Man United side. Both teams deserved to be in the final.

Well, it is worth to wake up at 2am and stay awake till 6am.

Glory Glory Man United

Glory Glory Man United

Glory Glory Man United

And the reds are marching on on on

Who is the Champion?

Glory Glory

Man United are Champion

The season is over, the Champion has been annouced officially. After going through 38 games, with 27 wins, 6 draws and 5 lossses, scoring 80 goals against 22, Man United finally was crowned the EPL Champion last night. A night of glory.

Click here for EPL table http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={EA8B631F-F522-4CF7-924F-A6B215534EA5}

Of Malaysian Football

This is the excerpts of today’s Utusan Malaysia report on statement by the President of FAM: -

Pemain-pemain bola sepak profesional negara ini harus mencontohi sikap pemain-pemain bola sepak Afrika yang amat mementingkan disiplin dan prestasi daripada meletakkan kepentingan diri semata-mata.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Sultan Ahmad Shah bertitah, sikap sanggup menerima rasuah atau terlibat dengan gejala tersebut bukan hanya akan memusnahkan masa depan mereka tetapi juga nama baik negara.

"Untuk menjadi pemain profesional, pemikiran juga mesti profesional. Tengok pemain-pemain Afrika, mereka berdisiplin dan bermain bersungguh-sungguh kerana bagi mereka ini mata pencarian."

"Mereka bukan sahaja berusaha mengharumkan nama negara tetapi dapat mewakili kelab-kelab ternama di England," titah Sultan Pahang.

What a joke from the President of FAM…oops! I don’t understand why he was referred to as Sultan of Pahang when he was talking in his capacity as the President of FAM. I sincerely believe that our newspapers need to really differentiate the status of the person who talks. To refer him as the Sultan of Pahang when he talks about our football in his capacity as the President of FAM is not only misleading but also wrong. In fact, it can create fear among the public to criticize the President because they are not sure if they may be charged for insulting the Sultan when in actual fact, they are just condemning the President of FAM. Well, here, I am going to criticize the President of FAM and not the Sultan of Pahang.

First of all, I wonder why in Malaysian sports, it is a must to have either Sultans/royalties or politicians as the President or office bearers? I wonder why? To have these people around does not help us in improving our sports. Not at all. I do not see any good reason or just a simple reason to have these people around. The FAM President said that to become a professional player, you must think like one. Let me tell this FAM President who has been holding the post for such a long time and do no good to our national football team. If you want them to become professional player, having them to think like one is not a priority. It is the utmost important to have the professional management and get the management team think like professional. Professional in this context means you do nothing than football. We need someone who thinks nothing but football. But what we have are all these politicians and the royalties who have to think of so many other important and not so important things than football and perhaps, football is the least thing that comes to their mind. As for the FAM President, what credentials that he has to enable him to sit in that post for such a long time? I wonder.

He (I mean the FAM President) also asked the players to look at those African players in term of their professionalism and discipline and set them as an example. Oh my goodness! Don’t tell me this President of FAM does not have the ability to think like a President. Before asking the players to look at the African players, I think the President and the gang have to look at the African Football Associations first and learn from them on how they build such a strong football teams. Learn from them whether they have any royalties or politicians heading the FAs. If Africa is too far for him (the President), just look at England (well, I believe the President always travel to England). Does Queen Elizabeth hold any post in their FA? Or Prince Charles or any of his two sons? The answer is NO. They leave football to the professionals to manage them and then only they can produce the results…Oooops! In Malaysia, FAM does produce results but in a humiliating way.

Clash of the Titans, part 2 - Who has the last laugh???

Finally…the wait is over…Man U outclassed archrival Arsenal in a very impressive and entertaining way. My prediction? Though the end result was correct but the score wasn’t. Reason? Because, when I made my prediction, I still have little respect for Arsenal…I was wrong when I make the prediction... So, immdediately after the match, 3 smses were sent to my Arsenal and Liverpool friends. Liverpool? Ooops, Liverpool was thrashed out by Barnsley at their home ground…So, it should be a double-joy for me…hahaha!!!! But the saddest part, come to the last eight, only 2 top teams in the league i.e. Chelsea and Man U are still in the run…the Final match could be a repeat of last season final or between one of the top two against other teams still in the run (which, on paper, we can predict who is going to be the winner). Just hoping for repeat of last season Final. So, who had the last laugh?????

Clash of the Titans

A match that is not to be missed. It is a do-or-die match for Man U when they play Arsenal early tomorrow morning in FA cup match. A match that Man U definitely can't afford to lose, as they are now trailing Arsenal by 5 points in the second place.

This afternoon I travelled back to my hometown, Melaka. About 1km after I left my house, suddenly I realised that I have forgotten to bring back my astro smart card. Without any second thougt, I made a u-turn to my house to take the astro smart card. My wife was not happy, as we were already late to attend my friend's wedding in Melaka. Well! What to do sayang? You are married to a football fan and to be exact, Man U fan. Bear with me.

When I left Maybank, I missed 1 thing, that is "perang mulut" with those fans of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and last but not least Spurs. It was always nicer when Man U won any match against those teams or any of those teams losses their match, as it means I would have the upper hand in our "war". But that was history and one my nice memories in Maybank, as in my new office, there is only one football fan and that friend of mine is a fan of none others than the great team, Man U. So, while it is good to have a "teammate", I must admit that it is pretty boring, as I do not have a "quarrel partner".

Going back to the match, it is a match that I can't miss to watch. Come on Man U! Lets win this crucial match, otherwise I'll receive sms from my Arsenal friend and I do not want that to happen.

My prediction? Man U (2) Arsenal (1)

Glory Glory Man Utd
Glory Glory Man Utd