Despite losing 2-1 in the second leg final of the AFF Suzuki Cup at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, the national team created history by defeating Indonesia on a 4-2 aggregate to become the new football champions of ASEAN. To commemorate the historic win, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has declared Friday, December 31 2010, a public holiday. The public holiday announcement was made via national news agency Bernama Indonesia won the second leg of the final 2-1 on Wednesday night while Malaysia had won the first leg 3-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The scorers for Indonesia were Mohammad...

The Malaysian football team showed remarkable confidence as they prepare to take on Indonesia in the second leg final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Wednesday. With one hand already on the trophy after a 3-0 win in the first leg Sunday, team captain, Safiq Rahim echoed his teammates confidence by declaring, “We came here to win and I am confident we will return home as champions’.” The 3-0 victory clearly put Malaysia as the clear favourites to win the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time ever, since the tournament’s inception in 1996. Safiq,...

His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein launched his four key football pillars in his quest for the FIFA Vice President’s seat in Asia. At a press conference here today, Prince Ali, President of the Jordan Football Association and of the West Asia Football Federation, announced his vision for football in his run-up bid: Ø REVITALIZING THE REPRESENTATION OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS TO FIFA. Ø FOCUSING ON GRASSROOT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA. Ø EMPOWERING WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IN ASIA. Ø PROTECTING THE GAME. HRH PRINCE ALI BIN AL HUSSEIN “I present myself to you as a dedicated listener, devoted football fan and a bridge within Asia and beyond’,”...

Now with the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts been decided, the football focus switches to Asia. To be precise all attention will be on the January 6th, 2011 AFC Congress and election in Doha, Qatar. It’s going to be a hot affair, not for the president’s seat which Mohamed bin Hammam has already bagged it with no opposition but there’ll be a ‘battle royale’ for the FIFA Vice-President’s (Asia) post. Korea’s incumbent Dr. Chung Mong Joon, who has held this post for 16 long years, will be up against Prince Ali bin AL Hussein of Jordan. Is the tide going to shift?...

Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president (left) and Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Jordan FA president, discussed Asian football when they met in Zurich recently. Prince Ali, who is also the West Asia Football Federation president, discussed and exchanged football matters with Blatter specifically related to Jordan and Asia. He expressed his gratitude for FIFA’s support to develop and strengthen football in Jordan and the Asian region. “I’m looking forward to working together with President Blatter, football officials in Asia and the rest of the world for the benefit of the sport,” said Prince Ali. He added: “There’s a lot of room for mutual cooperation...

His side may have ended their long gold medal drought at the South-east Asia Games last year but Malaysia team manager Datuk Subahan Kamal has insisted that his players will be under no pressure to emulate that feat in this year's AFF Suzuki Cup. Malaysia has not reached the final of the Asean region's premier international football tournament since finishing runners-up to Thailand in the inaugural tournament in Singapore in 1996. But while Subahan is keen to see the Tigers capture the elusive title, he admits that it may be too soon for his young side to end their long run of...

After reaching their historic first-ever men's hockey final in the Asian Games, Malaysia is now one match away from earning a direct ticket to the 2012 London Olympics if they beat Pakistan for the gold medal in Guangzhou. Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, wants the team to put aside the euphoria and celebrations on the 4-3 win over India in the semi-final at the Aoti Hockey Stadium on Tuesday and switch their focus on tomorrow's final against the new-look Pakistan. "We have to forget the fantastic win over India. Let us switch our focus to final. It...

MALAYSIA crashed 0-2 to mighty Japan in a men’s Group A football match at the Huadu Stadium in Guangzhou yesterday. However, the injury-hit Malaysian team managed to keep the score down against the Asian powerhouse. Asian No. 2 Japan are the favourites, having convincingly dispatched of hosts China 3-0 in their opening game on Monday. Japan, fielding their Olympic squad (Under-21) in the Under-23 tournament, got their goals through Kensuke Nagai (26th) and Hotaru Yamaguchi (64th). Malaysia, who edged Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in their opening match, still have a chance to qualify for the round of 16. All they need to is a draw when they...

The deadline for AFC’s Member Associations to return the nomination forms of candidates for the AFC Executive Committee elections for the 24th AFC Congress Agenda passed on November 6, 2010.The elections will be held at the Congress, which takes place on January 6, 2011 in Doha, Qatar. The following is a list of positions on the AFC Executive Committee that are up for elections and the candidates who have applied to contest the positions. AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam S. Al-Abdulla (Qatar) FIFA Vice-President West Zone His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan) East Zone Dr Chung Mong-Joon (Korea Republic) FIFA Executive Committee Member South Central Zone Vernon Manilal...

Datuk Thanapalan Paul Murugasu passed away Monday morning at the Universiti Hospital di Petaling Jaya. He was 85. Datuk Murugasu who served as the Honorary Secretary of FA of Malaysia secretary from 1980 to 1985, has been bedridden since three years ago. Datuk Murugasu took over as the honorary secretary from another respected administrator, Datuk Kwok Kin Heng. Datuk Paul Mony Samuel replaced Datuk Murugasu in 1985 May his soul rest in peace. God Bless...