27 Feb

Talk to any local football fan and you will only hear regret in his or her voice about the standards of Malaysian football today. They will most probably reminisce about the golden days of local football in the 1970s and 1980s. And it is very likely that they would not be able to name any big football stars from the current batch.Long gone are the days when football stadiums across the country and the Causeway - the likes of Stadium Merdeka, Likas Stadium, Stadium Larkin, City Stadium and the National Stadium - were packed with hardcore fans.It is very common now...

11:38 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
27 Feb

In a decision that is bound to attract criticism, FAM's disciplinary board (DB) meted out the punishment in response to Reduan's assertion that the national body had failed to monitor the fitness tests at the state and club levels.Players have to pass the fitness test in order to get their playing license.The issue blew up after only three players passed a National Sports Institute fitness test prior to Malaysia's Asian Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates last month. "We suspended him one year and fined him RM4,000 for hitting out at FAM openly. He had many channels of communication...

11:30 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
25 Feb

SOME national referees, fed-up with Lt Col (Rtd) Kamaruddin Sakhari - the head of their department - are seeking an audience with FA of Malaysia president Sultan Ahmad Shah to vent their frustration. The referees department, since last year, has come under fire from the media for the unprofessional way it has dealt with some of its members. This year, some referees whose credentials are questionable, have been assigned to local league matches. Appointments of match commissioners and referees inspectors have also been criticised. "We are sick and tired with FAM (for not looking into the matter). We have complained on...

11:28 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
20 Feb

K. RAJAGOPAL has led a somewhat charmed life in the corridors of the FA of Malaysia but one suspects his end is near. As expected, the FAM's technical committee has decided to recommend to the council that Rajagopal, currently  In charge of the national Under-19 squad, be given the Under-23 squad. He is also expected to be the interim national team coach as FAM has, despite having shortlisted three candidates, decided to advertise the post but Rajagopal's fate will be decided by the Under-23 squad's performance in the Laos Sea Games in December. FAM  is targetting gold as it believes...

11:19 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
18 Feb

KHALID Jamlus seems to have found his scoring touch again but this time for Kelantan and he is as deadly as ever. The former Perak striker was on target just 30 seconds into Tuesday's Malaysia Super League match against Pahang at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan which Kelentan won 5-1. Ziarul Fitri Ishak added a second in the ninth minute before Mohd Badri Radzi and Indra Putra Mahayuddin found the net in the 61st and 62nd minutes respectively. Khalid, who is trying to regain his place in the national team, sealed the win with his second goal in the 70th...

11:18 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
17 Feb

THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) technical committee meets tomorrow to decide on vital matters regarding the state of football in Malaysia. Topping the agenda, the technical committee, which is chaired by FAM deputy president Datuk Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad, must identify a coach for the Under-23 squad. The grapevine has it that K. Rajagopal, who will be in charge of Malaysia's campaign in Laos, has been tipped for the post. But rumours have it that Rajagopal, presently the coach of the Under-19 squad better known as the Young Tigers, prefers to remain at his present position. The team presently head the Premier League...

10:54 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
16 Feb

THE grapevine has it that the FA of Malaysia is seeking out prospective candidates as it contemplates privatising the Malaysian Super League (MSL). The MSL, FAM has rather belatedly found, is draining its resources and it feels its attention should be on the national teams. Whether it can get anybody to bid is another thing altogether, considering the quality of the MSL. B. Sathianathan lost his job as national coach when he slammed the MSL as "not football" and just days later, Terengganu's Ken Worden described his players as "schoolboys." Most players, after six match days, are still  struggling with their...

10:49 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
15 Feb

DEFENDING Malaysian Super League (MSL) champions Kedah, who have won two straight matches, take on Kuala Muda Naza tomorrow at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star. Kedah, who edged Perlis 1-0 at the Utama Stadium on Saturday, are looking for another win to improve their standings. "Somehow we have moved up from second last position to ninth, but we have a long way to go yet. The players are coming along well but have taken some time to gel," said Kedah coach Azraai Khor Abdullah. Last week, playing at home, Kedah beat KL Plus 2-0, and Azraai believes his players will...

10:44 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
15 Feb

DESPITE a three-month break, officials appointed by the FAM found the Sultan Mahmud Stadium field in Kota Baru unmarked and grass uncut for the Malaysian Super League (MSL) match between KL Plus FC and Kelantan on Jan3. The FA of Malaysia competitions committee, which met at Wisma FAM yesterday, thus awarded the match to KL Plus 3-0. Yesterday's meeting was chaired by Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, and the competitions committee deliberated long and hard on the report submitted by the referees inspector and match commissioner before reaching their decision. "We went through the report and studied it before making the decision.It...

10:23 / Local / Sports
0 Likes
11 Feb

FORMER national coach B. Sathianathan has been told by FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah to explain himself regarding his "M-League is no football" remark. While Sathianathan's stay with FAM comes to an end this month, Sultan Ahmad Shah wants to know what induced the coach to make such a statement. On Monday Perlis FA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, came to Sathianathan's defence and urged FAM to stop pointing fingers at the coach. Shahidan reiterated that it is a collective responsibility and FAM must find out why Malaysian football has not progressed for the last 10 years or so."Sathianathan has been relieved...

07:02 / Local / Sports
0 Likes