SEA GAMES REVIEW

 

For all intent and purpose, Malaysian sports officials, be it from the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the National Sports Council will be giving themselves a pat on the back for surpassing the gold medal target of 4- to return home with 43 gold medals from the Myanmar SEA Games.

 

But in reality if we are to take a hard look at the performances against the millions spent, there is really not much to rejoice but rather it goes on to show our sports scenario is either sliding or stagnated.

 

True there are heroes, some household names amongst the young who will look at the star performers at the SEA Games as their idols, but we must take into perspective several sports or athletes that did nopt deliver.

 

When targets are set, they are an indication that the particular sport or athlete will deliver the goal medal at the regional games.

 

The 40 gold medal haul was set a month ago, a relatively low and safe target as NSC and OCM opted to to give a true reflection on the state of sports in the country, thus the target released was based on sports, not by athlete as was the case when Dato Wira Mazlan Ahmad was the Director general of the NSC.

 

In case many may have forgotten, the 40 gold medals were to come as following  swimming (3), diving (8), cycling (1), bodybulding (1), football (1), hockey (2), karate (6), archery (3), shooting (1), muaythai (1), athletics (1), sailing (2)si;at (3) and wushu (3).

 

So one just has to compare the target to the gold medals won to realise that it was not a proper target and NSC should take the blame as they gave false hopes, only for some outstanding performers to save the day.

 

Another argument put forward by the National Sports Council was that 25 gold medals came from Olympic sports.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the Olympic sports that delivered gold medals. diving accounted for eight with archery recurve two, athletics (4), hockey (2), swimming (4),  shooting (1), sailing (2) and badminton (1).

 

Though endurance and archery are Olympic sports the disciplines we won gold are not in Olympics while karate that delivered six golds is not contested at Olympics.

 

Besides hockey, badminton, archery, diving and shooting, the others can hardly make a mark at the Asiad what more the Olympics.

 

Truth be told there were star performers who did the nation pround and they must be acknowledged.

 

The likes of Phoon Eyin from wushu who secured the nationas 1,000 gold medal but was left to fend for herself. Who can gorget Mohd Irgfan Shamsuddin who took gold in discuss, rewriting the national record five times in his six throws.

 

The two muaythai exponents also deserve special mention, Mohd faizal Ramli and Lokman Akimi Mat Roji who both secired gold against all odds, Lim Chee Wei who registered comprehensive wins on his way to gold in the individiual kata category.

 

While some rejoiced at Malaysia winning the womens hockey match 36-0 against Cambodia thus creating a world record, it was in bad taste.

 

In the kingdom of the blind, those with one eye rule, hence Malaysia which is a world poweer in hockey should really have not rubbed salt into the wounds of teams like Cambodia and such scoreline goes on to show their “Jagauh Kampung: mentality and killed the promotion of the sport in the region.

 

What was more amusing was the statement by mens coach tai Beng Hai who was quoted as saying that Malaysia did well to retain the gold medal despite the absence of some senior players. For gods sake Beng Hai, you had 10 World Cup training squad members.

 

Badminton is another sport that failed despite the gold medal as did cycling which in reality is being run by the NSC directly.

 

So what next, give each other pats on the back, nevermind we only won only 43 golds as opposed to 59 two years ago, but then again that was the only item going down as all other stuff will go up come January.

 

KARIM WINS ROUND ONE

The High Court here Friday allowed an application by former Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim to set aside his six-year suspension by the union last year.

Judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof, in her decision, ruled that based on the MAU constitution, Karim was not a member of the union.

"The disciplinary proceeding meted against him was a serious matter and in view that he is not a union member, MAU cannot take action against him," she added.

Last April 1, Karim, who is also the Melaka Athletics Association vice-president, filed an originating summons against MAU to challenge his six-year suspension by the Union.

In the originating summon, Karim had asked the court to decide if the MAU had the authority to order his suspension although he was not a MAU member during the said period in accordance with the MAU constitution that was amended on July 25, 2011.

Karim was suspended by the MAU for allegedly assisting six national athletes to snub a doping test by the National Sports Institute (ISN) in 2011.

The MAU which set up a panel headed by former Appeals Court judge Tan Sri V.C George to investigate the matter, had allegedly found Karim guilty of the offence.

Karim, who was represented by lawyer Didiana Zakaria, was at the court.

MAU was represented by lawyers Alex De Silva and Adlan Hadi Mohamad Yusof.

WHAT IF ASTRO PULLS THE PLUG

MANY Malaysians suffer from withdrawal symptoms when football takes a break from June till mid-August yearly.

Some go through pain some as if the spice of their life has gone missing. They struggle to look for something else to do, especially over the weekends. Most mamak eateries report a drop in customers as well.

Imagine this scenario being repeated each month and there is no football over television, week in and week out - no staying awake or getting up in the wee hours of the morning to watch football on weekdays.

Read all about it in www.mail.com.my on Monday

DOLLAH HEADS TO PDRM AND A HOST OF COACHING CHANGES IN M-LEAGUE

The two coaches of the Malaysia Cup finalists – Dollah Salleh and Bojan Hodak  are headed in different directions.

But one thing is certain, they will not be coaching Pahang and Kelantan respectively.

While Dollah is headed to the Royal Malaysian Police, Bojan is headed to Penang, not as their coach but moving his stuff to live there.

While the move by Dollah to a lower division is indeed surprising, given that he is also in the shortlist of coaches identified to take over the reins of the national team from K. Rajagobal,

“Currently I can safely say I will not be coaching in the M-League unless something changes in the next few days. My ongoing negotiation is with a club from Thailand,” said Bojan.

“At the same time I am trying to complete my pro-license with the Croation FA and have three more papers to complete. I want to use this break to do those papers.

“Really there is no rush to find a new coaching job as there are many things I need to consider before signing on the dotted line.”

Dollah’s move to PDRM has been speculated for quite sometime but it is his replacement, Alan Davidson that raised eyebrows.

Allan was a member of Pahang’s squad that won the double in 1992 and was speculated to sign as the Technical Director with Zainal Abidin Hassan coaching the side.

What makes things more interesting is T-Team’s reluctance to make a decision on just who will lead them as they have within their radar the likes of Azrai Khor, E.Elavarasan and Persib Bandung’s Dermawan.

While the Super League has been the centre of focus for many years, it is the Premier League that will boast of the who’s who of the coaching fraternity.

Felda United have signed up Irfan Bakti, Negri Sembilan has roped in V. Sundramoorthy, Kedah are looking at David Mitchell,  Penang are on the verge of signing K. Devan while Perlis are still hunting for a coach.

And the signing of new coaches is not limited to just the Premier League as there is plenty of movements in the Super League teams as well.

Newly crowned Malaysia Cup champions are said to be in talks with Alan Davidson with Selangor already having signed Mehmet Durokovic, Johor DT having confirmed Ceaser Fernando Jimnez.

Super League

Pahang – Alan Davidson

Kelantan – Steve Darby

ATM – B. Sathianathan

Johor Darul Takzim – Ceaser Fernando Jimnez

Selangor – Mehmet Durakovic

Terengganu – Abdul Rahman Ibrahim

PKNS FC – Wan Jamak Wan Hassan

Perak FA – Abu Bakar Fadzim

Sarawak – Robert Alberts

T-Team Azraai Khor/Dermawan/Elavarasen

Sime Darby – Ismail Zakaria

Premier League (Selected Teams)

Felda United – Irfan Bakti

Negri Sembilan – V. Sundramoorthy

Kedah – David Mitchels

Johor FA – Azmi Muhamad

PDRM – Dollah Salleh

PAHANG AND KELANTAN TO BE HIT FOR DAMAGES

Pahang and Kelantan may have to fork out a heavy price for the damages to the Shah Alam Stadium.

For the two teams will see a cut in their share of the gate collection once the Football association of Malaysia and the Shah Alam Stadium Board have completed assessing the damage done after Sunday’s cup final.

FAM Secretary General Dato Hamidin Mohd Amin said that once the damage is ascertained, the two teams would have to pay for it.

“We segregated the fans and hence we will assess the damages based on where their fans were seated,” said Hamidin.

“One thing we know for certain is that a gate was damaged and all other aspects are being jointly assessed by FAM and the Stadium authorities.”

Hamidin also clarified on the absence of the 5,000 seats buffer zone as raised by Mailsports.

“There was barbed wire separating the fans from both teams and there was also strong police presence,” clarified Hamidin.

“Thus we did away with the plan of the buffer zone so as to ensure more seats were made available.

“It is not a question of selling more seats but to be fair to fans as well. There are two sides to this argument and one has to understand our predicament as well.”

Hamidin admitted there were several shortcomings to several aspects, including the security on the pitch where scores of unauthorized people made their way to the track after the trophy presentation.

“These are matters we have already identified and will rectify in the future. Infact I already had one post mortem and the second one will be done once we view the recording of the final,” added Hamidin.

IS THIS FOR REAL FAM?

Is this what the Football Association of Malaysia can offer to the finalists and their sponsors? After collecting a cool RM40 million from sponsorship, just look at the backdrop and the table cloth. And the Vice President and Secretary General put up a poker face as if everything is fine. They could not even get a decent table, what more the arrangement is surely a blow to the thoughts of moving towards a professional league. 

A GOLD AT THE OLYMPICS

Malaysia won "gold" at the London Olympics. Read about the expose in The Malay Mail on Tuesday to know what transpired at the games, a year late but it's a shame.

NORASEELA - I NEVER LOBBY

Having been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons for the past week, hurdler Noraseela Khalid stepped forward to shed light on the purported lobbying for her to be included into the Myanmar SEA Games contingent.

There have been reports attributed to National Sports Council Director General Dato Seri Zolkples Embong lambasting the Malaysian Athletics Federation for not including Noraseela and Lee Hup Wei, stating that the duo had contributed to Malaysian athletics and should be in the squad for the SEA Games.

“To be honest I never did lobby to be included into the team for the SEA Games,” clarified Nooraseela.

“I know my physical condition and I thought I could record a good time at the Malaysian Open but failed to do so.

“Hence I did not qualify to be sent on merit and I respect the decision taken by the MAF.

“Therefore I do not know why a big fuss is being created about the SEA Games as really I should be looking beyond that.”

Noraseela said that she has met up with the NSC Director General Dato Seri Zolkples Embong and MAF President Dato Zainal Abidin to inform them of her plans.

“When I said that I wanted to go to South Africa, I meant that I want to use that stint not only to improve myself physically but also to pursue my further studies,” clarified Nooraseela when met at the CGF Baton Run at the Lake Gardens.

“The plan is to get into shape and try to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games next year.

“I have time to recover from my injuries and get back into shape as well to launch one last hurrah for my athletics career.

“I need the support of all parties, be it the NSC, NSI, OCM and MAF and I am hoping that they will make a good decision for my career, as running is in my blood and I want to be in top physical shape before running at international meets.”

SARA HAS HEART OF GOLD

Despite being left to fend for his own, 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medalist G. Saravanan proved that not only is he an athlete that wins gold medals but also showed that he has a heart of gold.

For the walker donated his 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medal to the Olympic Council of Malaysia museum with hope that another athlete will deliver gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Saravanan bagged the gold medal through the 50km men's big walk event at the Commonwealth Games 1998 to create a record as no Malaysian had never been able to win any medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games.

It remains a moment etched in the minds of millions of Malaysian glued to the television sets as 50km walk gold went to Saravanan, as he overhauled longtime leaders Craig Barrett and Tim Berrett from New Zealand and Canada respectively to cross the finish line.

“Until today I still get goose bumps thinking of that moment as it was truly an historic moment for the country,” said Saravanan.

“I remember the then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad challenging the athletes to win Malaysia’s 10^th gold medal and that kept me going.

“This medal has been lying in my cupboard for the last 15 years and I think its time that it helps others inspire them to bring glory to the nation.

“I want it to be placed in the museum so that others can also relate to the win, especially those from athletics as we have not won a gold medal since 1998 in athletics. Hopefully this will inspire the athletes to deliver the goods as we could do with a revival of sorts in athletics.”

Saravanan was employed as a coach with the National Sports Council until 2012 when his contract was not renewed. Though he did not want to elaborate much, one could sense that Saravanan is bitter at the way he was treated.

“I am happy at what I have achieved and I do some coaching on my own so that’s enough for me,” added Saravanan.