Funny though this has not been reported by the main stream media and I was tipped off about it on Thursday but opted to wait and see.
Apparently the team, the background story of their achievements is as published below, lifted from The Star, has been suspended. This is what the email to me said.....
First time a Malaysian team won and international invitational.
A few hours ago, the team was suspended for 2 years, all the players were suspended for 2 years and the team was fined RM9,000. Why? Because FAM felt they should have been about this.
This was the team’s self-initiative as their season break practice. Best part most of the players are important national players.
And this is the story as carried by The Star
TWO-TIME national futsal champions Figos-Real Sports Arena FC emerged champions in the International City Cup futsal tournament in Taiwan recently.
The Malaysian club side did well to top the five-team round-robin competition organised by the Taipei Futsal Association (TPFA).
Figos-RSA FC clinched the title after holding the host team from Taiwan to a 2-2 draw in the final game at the Municipal Stadium in Taipei.
Champions: The victorious Figos-RSA FC players and officials after they won the International City Cup futsal tournament in Taiwan recently. Team manager Andrew Hean (with the Cup) is flanked by assistant manager Tang Kok Wai (left) and coach Chiew Chun Yong.
The Malaysian team making their international debut pipped the host team from Taiwan on goal difference with 10 points from three wins and a draw.
The team trained by Chiew Chun Yong, a former national women’s team coach, said it was a competitive tournament and the exposure would do them a world of good when they resume action in the FA of Malaysia (FAM)-Felda national futsal league next month.
“It is a good experience to play against the foreign teams. Although we won, it was not an easy ride for the players,” said Chiew, when they came from behind to hold the host team (2-2) at the inaugural championship, which included a club side from China and Thailand.
Figos RSA FC thrashed Yong Aun City of China 16-1 and a club team from Thailand 10-0 in the opening day of the competition before they made short work of Taiwan Foreginers Club 9-1 and holding host Taiwan 2-2.
Team manager Tang Kok Wai said after having won back-to-back national titles in 2008 and last year, the club now hoped to make waves at international-level competitions.
‘’It is time for futsal to move forward and be on par with the giants of Asia,” said Tang.
He said they were keen to represent Malaysia in the AFC Cup (futsal) competition and the playing exposure in international competitions would certainly put them in the right frame of mind ahead of the regional championships next year.
The Figos RSA FC squad comprise past and present internationals — Jamhuri Zainuddin, Muhd Fadhil Yusof, S. Devandran, Jasman Patmee Mohd Meera, Mohd Khairul Effendy Mohd Bahrin and Muizzudin Mohd Harris.
The rest of the players include Ahmad Hanif Sarmin, Mohd Izuwan Hayat, Qaiser Heshaam Abdul Kadir, Muhd Shafiq Hamzah, Muhd Awaluddin Hasan, Zulfadli Mohd Ali, Mohd Fadzil Karnim and Ahmad Rizal Rahim.
