04 Jun

Former West Ham player and current Malaysian-based coach Peter Butler says the no-foreigners rule in Malaysia’s top league is hampering, not helping, the country’s progress. This season, after years of under-achieving at international level, the Football Association of Malaysia implemented a no-foreigner rule for their domestic league. Local players, the FA argued, were being frozen out by the foreigners and were not getting adequate exposure in their league. "While I can see the reasoning behind it, I honestly believe that quality foreign coaches and players would raise the bar and set the standards that the local players should be aspiring to," Butler, who...

04:03 / Local / Sports
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03 Jun

The Football Association Malaysia's main future vision is to reinstate the lost pride in football, which Malaysia used to command in the past, says FAM President, Sultan Ahmad Shah. "As we all know, a weak youth development programme would eventually lead to a weak national team. Hence, going back to the grassroots would be the only solution, which should also be our main priority," said Ahmad Shah. He said Malaysia needed to create a strong base of players who are technically, tactically, physiologically and psychologically sound and strong in order to develop the sport further. He added that in football, players learn to...

04:01 / Local / Sports
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01 Jun

FORMER National Coach B.Sathianathan takes on his former employer - FA of Malaysia for unlawful dismissal. The case will heard at the Shah Alam Labour court at 11.30 am today. Sathianathan who guided Malaysia to win the Merdeka Tournament in 2007 and the finals in 2008, is claiming that FAM's one month notice is not valid and unacceptable especially when the Key Performance Indicator (KPI's) was not given to him during the extension of the contract. JAIHO checked with the legal department in FIFA, and it was revealed that the sacking was not valid and the FAM might have to compensate...

03:27 / Local / Sports
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30 May

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) fully utilised its finances for the promotion of the game, inviting a battalion of 11 Pakistani officials, five of them as ‘guests,’ for Congress meeting in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. According to a top Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) official, apart from three delegates – PFF secretary Col Ahmad Yar Lodhi (retd), executive committee members Saeed Khan (NWFP) and Salahuddin Dogar (Punjab) – AFC especially invited five more officials as guests. Those who went as AFC guests were either PFF or provincial association officials. Among the so-called guests were Col Rana Shujaat Ali, Khadim Ali Shah, Ayaz...

11:16 / International / Sports
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29 May

FORMER Sportswriter and Malay Mail Sports Editor, Tony Mariadass has started a blog at www.level-field.blogspot.com - He has covered 12 consecutive SEA Games since 1983, two Asian games and the 2004 Sydney Olympics. When I was stringing in Malay Mail way back in 1996, Tony M guided me and shared his knowledge about Malaysian sports. He is passionate about sports and continues to talk about it. He actually managed a football team called the "KL Malay Mail", which played in the Premier League. In short he has walked the talk. Welcome Tony!...

11:08 / Local / Sports
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29 May

Jawatankuasa Tatatertib FAM ke-13 yang bersidang pada 28 Mei 2009, telah membuat keputusan menarik balik pengantungan Stadium Sultan Mohamad Ke-IV Kota Bahru berkuatkuasa dengan serta-merta. Keputusan ini dicapai berikutan semakan semula hukuman yang dikenakan pada 10 April 2009 kepada Persatuan Bolasepak Kelantan. Walaubagaimana pun Jawatankuasa Pertandingan Tempatan FAM akan menetapkan syarat-syarat yang harus dipatuhi oleh Persatuan Bolasepak Kelantan dalam masa yang terdekat ini sebelum bermulanya semula pertandingan Liga Super pada 16 Jun nanti dimana pasukan Kelantan akan menentang pasukan Perak UPB Myteam di Kota Bahru. Pada insiden yang berlaku pada 7 April lalu semasa perlawanan separuh akhir pertama Piala FA diantara Kelantan...

11:05 / Uncategorized
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29 May

DID FAM SCREW UP IN BANNING KELANTAN FROM PLAYING IN KOTA BARU? IF IT’S WAS A MISTAKE THEN FAM OWES KELANTAN FA AND THE FANS AN APOLOGY! JAWATANKUASA Disiplin Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) memutuskan untuk membatalkan penggantungan Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV selepas mesyuaratnya, semalam. Ia bermakna Kelantan yang digantung daripada menggunakan gelanggang mereka sehingga ke penghujung musim bakal beraksi di depan penyokong mereka menentang UPB MyTeam pada 16 Jun ini. Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, mengesahkan keputusan itu, tetapi memaklumkan butiran lanjut mengenainya akan hanya diumumkan, hari ini. Jawatankuasa Disiplin sudah membuat keputusan tetapi ianya akan dibincangkan dengan Jawatankuasa Pertandingan...

11:01 / Local / Sports
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28 May

There is a certain irony that Thierry Henry exorcised the biggest disappointment of his career by joining the ranks of those who inflicted it. Only three years ago, he left the Stade de France in a huff complaining that Barcelona had offered nothing after beating his Arsenal side 2-1, but the 31-year-old France striker was in a far better mood last night as he contributed to the Spanish champions regaining the European crown. “Arsenal are in my heart and blood and the Champions League defeat with them was the biggest disappointment of my career, but tonight I am happy,” Henry said....

09:49 / International / Sports
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26 May

Burnley returned to the top flight of English football with a 1-0 defeat of Sheffield United in the promotion playoff final at Wembley yesterday. Wade Elliott curled in the winning goal after 13 minutes and the Lancashire club, who were relegated from the old first division in 1976, were the better side throughout. “I think we were worthy winners but my heart goes out to Sheffield United,” Burnley manager Owen Coyle told Sky Sports after their 61st match of a season, which included a run to the League Cup semi-final and the last 16 of the FA Cup. “I’m delighted with what we...

02:28 / International / Sports
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25 May

The Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) decision to bar Kelantan from playing their home matches at the Sultan Mohammad IV stadium until the end of the season, has left Kelantan Football Association (KAFA), president   Tan Sri Annuar Musa in a dilemma."I am now in a dilemma as to the next course of action. I will, however, meet the player's team management and fan club members to discuss the situation. "But the final decision will only be decided at the KAFA council meeting on Wednesday," Annuar Musa told reporters when met at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras last night. He was earlier reported as saying...

01:59 / Local / Sports
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