May I suggest...

1. that instead of sending K. Rajagobal's team for overseas attachment, find ways to place our 15-16 year olds to neighbouring countries. The cream of the crop be identified and dispatched to Europe, not necessarily England lah. The average age of Rajagobal's team is 21, where the tactical and technical behaviour of a player is already formed.

2. that we send qualified coaches to oversee the academies

3. that we employ qualified coaches for schools as basic training on technique and skills is crucial during the formative years

4. that we make sure the sports-science support system is in place at schools so that we do not lose good talent as a result of negligence

5. that we make sure every team have a training ground to call their own, like Persada Plus owned by KL PLUS (but they are rich, eh)

6. that we develop our coaches, send them to be members of technical study groups and ask them to submit their analytical report

7. coaching curriculum must include - passing, shooting, trapping or control, crossing, finishing, running with the ball, turning, running off the ball, creating space, transitional play, set plays. So where from? Europe, especially France and Holland.

8. that we have year-long leagues for Under-12s, Under-15s and Under-18s

9. that the FA of Malaysia be tasked with the Road Map (where's Robert Alberts' Road Map), provide technical expertise for all levels, organise national level league for various age groups

10. that the Education Ministry introduce sports and football as major activity all year long at primary level and introduce a unversity league that serves as the third tier after the Super League and Premier League

11. that the Sports Ministry help run the junior leagues through community services via Jabatan Belia

12. that the Sports Minister take the trouble to seek the opinion of France Football Federation technical director, Gerard Houllier, who is coming to Kuala Lumpur to conduct a coaching course on Jan 27-29. We don't have to spend so much gallivanting in Europe with a big entourage tagging along and pretend as if they are taking notes while thinking about what to buy at Harrods or Hamleys.

13. that we send our footballers to England only to watch the EPL matches, nothing more. After all, read Trevor Brooking's concerns here.

14. that we ponder this comments from Steve Coppell

"English football is not set up to reproduce 1966; we are set up to produce European champions at club football. The big teams in the Premier League are looking after themselves. If you were starting football again, you wouldn't have an FA and a Premier League - it would be one body.

I am concerned about England. We have not got a great history, so why should we expect to be elite? Perhaps the success of the Premier League has given us false expectations, because our teams, based almost entirely on foreigners, are doing well in Europe."

Then probably the Minister can justify the RM60 million development fund allocated for football!

Anyway, read the Bernama report, English lessons in the Malay Mail, the RM60 million fund and golden team for attachment.

Lagi lagi England...

UPDATED 11.57am.

Sportwriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) president Ahmad Khawari Isa is in the opinion that we should give the Sports Minister the benefit of the doubt. Read his rebuttal on loose cannon's posting here.


ORIGINAL POSTING

Granted the English Premier League is one of the most exciting competitions in the footballing world but do we have to make our former colonial masters a destination to hone the skills of our Tigers?

Loose cannon finds it disturbing that the Government thinks England can provide answers to our woes. The last time loose cannon checked, England's only victory on a global scale was the World Cup in 1966, the year best remembered for the birth of Eric Cantona.

What we can learn from the English is how to market our products - the league. To discover how best to ensure a never-ending supply of QUALITY footballers, go to France and Holland lah!

KUALA LUMPUR - Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) bersetuju untuk menghantar 30 pemain skuad Bawah 23 tahun negara beraksi dengan kelab-kelab terkemuka Eropah. DULU ANAK BUAH HATEM SOUISSI MERATA PERGI KE EROPAH, MENEWASKAN PASUKAN SIMPANAN ARSENAL ANTARANYA YANG ADA PATRICK VIEIRA!


Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, pendedahan di luar negara itu merupakan jalan terbaik untuk mengekalkan kecemerlangan skuad yang memenangi pingat emas pada Sukan SEA XXV di Laos, baru-baru ini. TIDAK SEMESTINYA.

Untuk itu, katanya, beliau akan ke England minggu depan sebagai destinasi pertama dalam mencari kelab yang sesuai dan berminat untuk berlatih dengan skuad negara. BALIK-BALIK ENGLAND.

Sambil merahsiakan nama-nama kelab terbabit, Shabery berkata, beliau juga akan ke beberapa negara Eropah, selain dari England. APA NAK RAHSIA

''Apabila pulang nanti dari sana nanti, barulah saya akan umumkan bentuk kerjasama yang kita boleh jalinkan dengan kelab-kelab berkenaan.''

''Mungkin kita akan bahagikan para pemain ini kepada beberapa kelab, tidak semestinya mereka akan tertumpu dengan satu kelab sahaja.

''Saya akan membawa perancangan ini ke Kabinet. Usaha ini amat penting demi pembangunan jangka panjang bola sepak negara,'' katanya.

Sebelum ini, cadangan Ahmad Shabery supaya pemain skuad bola sepak Bawah 23 tidak mewakli pasukan negeri atau kelab sukar, didakwa sukar untuk dilaksanakan. ITULAH, LAIN KALI KENA CHECK DULU DENGAN FAM!

Ia disebabkan faktor kewangan yang dihadapi oleh FAM serta masalah teknikal yang bakal berlaku jika cadangan tersebut dilaksanakan.

Ahmad Shabery berkata, beliau menyedari kekangan yang akan dihadapi oleh FAM dalam memenuhi komitmen itu, kerana kebanyakan pemain terikat dengan kontrak bersama pasukan negeri masing-masing, di samping masalah kewangan untuk menghantar pemain ke luar negara.

''Saya akan berbincang dengan FAM serta pasukan negeri yang terlibat untuk melepaskan pemain mereka sepanjang tempoh pemain yang terpilih untuk ke luar negara, juga membantu daripada segi kewangan,'' katanya. INI BUKAN JAWAPANNYA!

Beliau berkata demikian semasa sidang media mengenai skuad Bawah 23 negara selepas mengadakan perbincangan dengan FAM mengenai hala tuju bola sepak negara di Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), semalam.

Turut hadir Timbalan Presiden FAM, Datuk Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad, Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN), Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Setiuasaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad. KENAPA PAKAR-PAKAR INI TIDAK MENASIHAT PAK MENTERI?


Ditanya jika ada pasukan negeri enggan melepaskan pemain mereka kepada skuad kebangsaan, Shabery menegaskan, mereka tiada pilihan lain, selain mengutamakan kepentingan negara. BETUL TAPI PEMAIN PERLUKAN PERLAWANAN KOMPETITIF, BUKAN PERSAHABATAN!

''Namun, ruang untuk perbincangan tentang masalah itu tetap ada, kita bersedia berunding dalam memenuhi tuntutan mereka terutamanya pembabitan kontrak,'' jelasnya.

Beliau optimis sambutan orang ramai terhadap Liga Super 2010 tidak terjejas teruk hanya kerana tiada penyertaan beberapa pemain kebangsaan dalam skuad negeri.

''Kita hanya mengambil dalam satu atau dua sahaja pemain, paling maksimum mungkin empat pemain dari satu pasukan, saya tidak fikir ia akan memberi kesan teruk kepada semua pasukan negeri,'' katanya. JUARA PIALA MALAYSIA NEGERI SEMBILAN MUNGKIN KEHILANGAN ZAQUAN ADHA DAN AIDIL ZAFUAN ABDUL RADZAK SERTA S. KUNANLAN. TIGA TONGGAK TU!

Selain itu, Shabery juga berkata merancang mewujudkan program pendedahan kepada jurulatih untuk ke luar negara pada masa akan datang. YA INI PENTING! BETUL!

''Kita tidak mahu sekadar jurulatih kita hanya tahu sekadar melatih, namun turut dibimbing dengan ilmu membaca serta menganalisis permainan bola sepak,'' katanya. BETUL! DAH BERIBU KALI AKU TULIS DULU! SIAP AKU SUGGEST HANTAR JURULATIH KE PIALA DUNIA, BUKAN AHLI MAJLIS FAM!

Condolences for Kuhan

Fellow blogger and hockey specialist Satwant Singh has posted the sad news on the passing of S. Kuhan's brother here. To Kuhan and family, please accept our deepest condolences.

Where's the new Lee Chong Wei?

The ongoing National Junior Inter-State Badminton championship is the best place to uncover the new Lee Chong Wei. Is there any?



PRESS RELEASE
100PLUS
NATIONAL JUNIOR
INTER STATE BADMINTON
CHAMPIONSHIPS

PENANG POWER PAST PERAK TO SET FINAL DATE AGAINST SELANGOR

KUALA LUMPUR (30 Dec 2009):
Pulau Pinang powered past Perak 6-2 to set up a final date against defending champions Selangor who survived Melaka 6-5 in the semi-finals of the 100PLUS National Junior Inter-State Badminton Championships here at the Juara Stadium today.

Penang’s Chinese head coach Deng Lei could not be more than pleased with the performance of his chargers although he was a little taken aback by the results.

“It was a surprise really as I though that the score would be a lot closer than what it is today,” said Deng Lei.

“For tomorrow, I’m not putting any pressure on the players. They just have to play to expectation. It will be 50-50 (against the defending champions).”

The afternoon could not have started on a more positive note for Penang when both their boys’ and girls’ singles took the first point off Goh Siap Chin and Eng Suk Cheng in straight sets.

And while their second boys’ single player Teh Sheen Yale was stretched the full distance before succumbing to Perak’s Chan Ren Chong 17-21-21-19, 13-21, the islanders soon recovered their ground to take a 4-1 lead by winning the second girls’ singles and also the third boys singles.

Perak then attempted to get back into contention by taking the third girls’ singles through Lee Ying Ying but that was all they could muster as Penang then turned the tide to win the game through the boys’ and girls’ doubles for the final scoreline.

“There were some things which we could improve on obviously but at such a late stage, all that we could hope is that the players recover in time for the final tomorrow morning,” added Deng Lei.

In the meantime, Selangor had to survive a scare by Melaka before they were able to book their second final in two years with the slimmest of 6-5 scoreline.

Misbun Ramadan set the pace by winning the first boys’ singles in three sets and which was followed up by Yang Li Lian taking the girls’ singles.

But Melaka fought back to tie the score 2-2 by taking the second boys’ and girls’ singles through Tai An Khang and Lee Meng Yean.

R. Sathiestharan and A. K. Bhirentha then restored Selangor’s advantage to 4-2 by winning the third boys’ and girls’ singles.

The first boys’ and girls’ doubles were all square between the two sides before Melaka then surged ahead to take the next two games through their second pair.

With the score tied 5-5, it was all down to the mixed doubles pair of Muhd Syawal Ismail-Yap Harn Xin and they were fully tested to the rubber sets before they could win 17-21, 21-18 and 21-15.

“There were some concerns as Yap had just played earlier (winning the girls’ doubles with partner Yap Sin Fea). And we were under pressure due to the nature of the game which we must win,” added Syawal.
“We were a little rattled in the first set. But we found the rhythm to get going in the second set and from then on, there was no looking back.”

The final between Pulau Pinang and Selangor will be played tomorrow at 9am at the same venue.



SEMI-FINALS RESULTS

Melaka bt Selangor 6-5; Pulau Pinang bt Perak 6-2

Houllier for KL

The loose cannon looks forward to another rendezvous with Gerard Houllier as he conducts the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) elite coaching course on January 27-29. Read here

Kena ukur baju di badan sendiri

Tidak salah kita memasang impian. Bacalah laporan Utusan Malaysia di sini. Petikannya,

KUALA LUMPUR - Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek bersedia menimbang untuk menyenaraikan bola sepak di bawah program Road To London 2012 berikutan kejayaan skuad bawah 23 tahun negara meraih pingat emas dalam Sukan SEA Laos, baru-baru ini.

Katanya, selain cuba membantu menerusi pembiayaan Tabung Pembangunan Bola Sepak Negara, kementerian melihat terdapat ruang untuk memajukan prestasi sukan itu di peringkat lebih tinggi dengan menyenaraikannya bersama memanah, terjun, berbasikal dan badminton dalam program
berkenaan.

"Kita akan cuba menjadikan bola sepak sebagai salah satu
agenda dengan membantu mereka sekiranya menyertai apa-apa kejohanan yang
bersifat kelayakan (ke Olimpik)," katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat
penyelarasan Program Pembangunan Belia dan Sukan di Hotel Palace of Golden
Horses, Seri Kembangan, semalam.

Tahun depan yang dianggap paling sibuk dalam kalendar sukan bakal menyaksikan sebahagian besar pemain skuad juara Sukan SEA XXV itu, dipertaruhkan semula ke gelanggang lebih besar, Sukan Asia Ke-16 dari 12 hingga 27 November manakala Kelayakan Olimpik bagi bola sepak dijangka
berlangsung, dua tahun lagi.

Road To London 2010 merupakan program
persediaan jangka panjang dengan peruntukan awal RM16 juta disediakan bagi atlet
yang telah disenarai pendek daripada keempat-empat sukan berkenaan untuk
menghadapi Sukan Olimpik 2012 itu dengan sasaran meraih pingat emas pertama
negara.

Skuad bola sepak negara hanya pernah layak ke Sukan Olimpik
Munich 1972 dan Moscow 1980 manakala pusingan kelayakan dua tahun lalu,
menyaksikan anak buah B. Sathianathan terkandas pada peringkat kumpulan lagi
yang dianggotai Jepun, Syria dan Hong Kong.

Terdahulu dalam ucapan
sempena mesyuarat yang dipengerusikan itu, Ahmad Shabery berkata, kementerian
turut menaruh harapan tinggi menjelang Olimpik 2012 untuk menyaksikan skuad
badminton negara menjulang kedua-dua Piala Thomas dan Uber pada tahun tersebut.

Maaflah YB, loose cannon tidak setuju. Benar, kalaupun bola sepak tersenarai dalam sukan teras disebabkan faktor impaknya kepada masyarakat, program Road to London 2012 adalah khas buat atlit elit. Maknanya yang terbaik di kalangan yang terbaik. Maksudnya khas buat atlit yang berpeluang memenangi pingat di temasya Olimpik.

Menang di Sukan SEA bukan bermakna kita sudah bersedia menakluki dunia. Loose cannon pernah menulis sebelum ini agar kita bermula di Sukan SEA, disusuli Piala AFF dan seterusnya Sukan Asia serta pra-Piala Asia. Juga kita harus menilai semula prestasi pasukan remaja kita di peringkat AFF dan Asia, sama ada potensi yang ada digilap dan kekal berkerdipan di peringkat senior.

Merlimau oh Merlimau

Aku dilahirkan di Kluang, Johor namun dibesarkan di Kuala Lumpur. Seronoknya waktu kecilku, kami selalu pulang ke Kampung Melayu, Kluang, terutama waktu cuti sekolah dan kenduri-kendara. Dalam perjalanan, kami biasa singgah di Merlimau, Melaka, halaman asal Tok Aziz dan Tok Rasinah dan tempat lahir Mak. Maklumlah, mana ada lebuh raya waktu itu.

Stesen keretapi Kluang terkenal dengan roti kawinnya

Apa yang tinggal daripada rumah Tok Teh Ali, abang Tok Uda

Kg Merlimau Pasir meninggalkan banyak kenangan

Isnin lalu, kami menerima berita sedih. Adik kepada Tok Aziz, Tok Uda Hussin, pulang ke Rahmatullah. Dua hari sebelum itu aku menempuh kesesakan di Ayer Keroh dan bandar Melaka untuk menziarahnya di Putra Specialist Centre. Apabila ku sentuh tangannya, memori ketika kecil bersama keluarga belah Mak bermain di fikiran. Setiap kenduri kendara dan majlis berkumpul anak beranak dihiasi gelak tawa, gurau senda stail Melaka.

Apabila doktor menasihatkan agar Tok Uda dibawa pulang selepas dua minggu diberi bantuan pernafasan dalam unit rawatan rapi, aku sedar satu lagi anggota generasi Atokku akan berhijrah ke alam barzakh.

Aku, Bang Long, Kak Lin, Aishah dan Afiq bertolak ke Merlimau pada jam 12 tengah malam, dan pulang ke Kuala Lumpur hampir Subuh tanpa menemani jenazah ke perkuburan.

Takziah kepada Mak Ana, Mak Ani, Pak Loli dan Pak Lan adik-beradik dan seluruh keluarga. Al-Fatihah buat Tok Uda. Moga rohnya dicucuri rahmat dan ditempatkan di kalangan para solehin.