12/12/1998
TERANGGANU coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim prefers the underdog tag when they
take on Perak today.
And his reason is simple.
"We were never the favourites right from the beginning and there is no
need to place any pressure on my men at this juncture.
"They have promised to do their best and I am confident of a good
showing, that is enough for me."
Team manager Datuk Che Mat Jusoh said his men will triumph because they
have faced and overcome many hurdles on the way to the final.
"Our aim is to create Malaysia Cup history at the National Stadium. The
fact that a Premier Two team fought all the way to the top should be
enough to satisfy any manager," said Che Mat Jusuh.
"We want to go one step further and bring home the Cup."
Terengganu have come a long way since Rahman was appointed coach and
after the Malaysia Cup, he will concentrate on rebuilding the national
team.
"We have selected 31 players for centralised training which will
commence a week after the final.
"Four more players will be selected from Terengganau and Perak for a
total of 35 trainees.
"The team will be trimmed to 21 and we will work towards qualifying for
the next Asian Games and winning gold at the 2001 Sea Games in Malaysia."
After turning the tide in favour of Terengganu, it would be interesting
to see what Rahman can do for national soccer.
(END)
Thursday, January 25, 2007
SportExcel running on empty
25/12/1998
SPORTEXCEL, founded in 1991 for promoting grassroots development, is being
slowly bled to death.
In the words of SportExcel executive director Teng Mui Ngee: "We have
started digging into our fixed deposits to run the show, which means we
will not last long."
Bowler Shalin Zulkilfi, squash star Ong Beng Hee and Asian Games
champion Nicol David, the entire Putra Cup golf squad, and cricket
sensation Arul Suppiah are some of the SportExcel graduates.
"SportExcel are low on funds and unless we can raise some money fast,
the development of junior programmes and athletes next year will be
drastically reduced."
The economic downturn has forced major sponsors to pull out, and if this
trend continues, there will only be enough money to pay for overheads.
"The junior circuits will go on but the associations will have to
sacrifice a bit, like supporting payments for travelling allowances, for
food and even reducing prize monies for events."
SportExcel, the brainchild of Olympic Council of Malaysia president
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, was designed to promote youth development and
one of their most successful circuit is golf. But the list is longer and
it goes back to the days of cyclist M. Kumaresan and hurdler Nurherman
Majid who have, at one time or another, contributed medals at
international meets.
SportExcel have existed remarkably well alongside the national sport
associations and even earned praise from the National Sports Council and
OCM.
Cricket and athletics were the latest to join the SportExcel family this
year while the established circuits are bowling, squash, diving, cycling,
shooting and golf.
"Although we will be running on a shoe-string budget, we have plans to
increase the air-gun circuit to three legs with a grand final at the
Subang Shooting Range.
"Also, we have plans to run a swimming and synchronised swimming circuit
next year. But it all depends on how much money is available in our
coffers.
"As for the golf circuits, they are quite independent because we have
individual sponsors for each of the five legs."
SportExcel should not just rely on the sponsors to run the circuits but
tap into those who have graduated into the senior ranks to keep the
foundation moving.
Not that these athletes should be asked to contribute in cash but an
alumni should be formed so that the athletes, some of whom are world
class, could pay back by imparting their knowledge of the sport and coach
the juniors after they have stopped competing.
Kudos to SportExcel for their unwavering pursuit of youth development in
1998.
(END)
SPORTEXCEL, founded in 1991 for promoting grassroots development, is being
slowly bled to death.
In the words of SportExcel executive director Teng Mui Ngee: "We have
started digging into our fixed deposits to run the show, which means we
will not last long."
Bowler Shalin Zulkilfi, squash star Ong Beng Hee and Asian Games
champion Nicol David, the entire Putra Cup golf squad, and cricket
sensation Arul Suppiah are some of the SportExcel graduates.
"SportExcel are low on funds and unless we can raise some money fast,
the development of junior programmes and athletes next year will be
drastically reduced."
The economic downturn has forced major sponsors to pull out, and if this
trend continues, there will only be enough money to pay for overheads.
"The junior circuits will go on but the associations will have to
sacrifice a bit, like supporting payments for travelling allowances, for
food and even reducing prize monies for events."
SportExcel, the brainchild of Olympic Council of Malaysia president
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, was designed to promote youth development and
one of their most successful circuit is golf. But the list is longer and
it goes back to the days of cyclist M. Kumaresan and hurdler Nurherman
Majid who have, at one time or another, contributed medals at
international meets.
SportExcel have existed remarkably well alongside the national sport
associations and even earned praise from the National Sports Council and
OCM.
Cricket and athletics were the latest to join the SportExcel family this
year while the established circuits are bowling, squash, diving, cycling,
shooting and golf.
"Although we will be running on a shoe-string budget, we have plans to
increase the air-gun circuit to three legs with a grand final at the
Subang Shooting Range.
"Also, we have plans to run a swimming and synchronised swimming circuit
next year. But it all depends on how much money is available in our
coffers.
"As for the golf circuits, they are quite independent because we have
individual sponsors for each of the five legs."
SportExcel should not just rely on the sponsors to run the circuits but
tap into those who have graduated into the senior ranks to keep the
foundation moving.
Not that these athletes should be asked to contribute in cash but an
alumni should be formed so that the athletes, some of whom are world
class, could pay back by imparting their knowledge of the sport and coach
the juniors after they have stopped competing.
Kudos to SportExcel for their unwavering pursuit of youth development in
1998.
(END)
Maba still out hunting for young talent
25/12/1998
THE Malaysia Amateur Basketball Association (Maba) are eyeing two golds at
the 2001 Sea Games, and with it will ride the future of basketball in
Malaysia.
"That will be the starting point for basketball in Malaysia, after that
we will target for medals at the 2006 Asian Games which Malaysia are
bidding," said a confident Maba president, Datuk Loke Yuen Yow.
As for 1998, basketball was among the "almost there" sport and is best
forgotten.
Although faced with a dearth of new talent, the women cagers were one
step ahead of their male counterparts.
At the Jakarta Sea Games, the women ended a 10-year drought by beating
defending champions Thailand in a close encounter. So close that for the
watching VIPs, Sports Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin and chef-de-mission
Datuk Seri Megat Junid Megat Ayob, the match was a nail-biting affair.
On the other hand, the Malaysian men, who clawed their way to the final,
found it hard to contain the superior Filipinos and settled for silver.
That was as good as the year went for the national cagers.
Malaysia are currently not among the Asian basketball powers and did not
even qualify for the Bangkok Asian Games, but Maba feel there is still
hope.
The introduction of the Malaysian Basketball League for women was one of
the steps towards the realisation of the association's objectives.
Three women's teams joined the five men's in this year's edition of the
MBL but at the end of the day, it was noted that there is much work to be
done if the women want to win medals at a higher level.
For a start, Maba did not even have enough women cagers to form three
teams. They had to source players from the junior ranks to field decent
sides.
Loke has single-mindedly pursued the objective of finding tall cagers in
Malaysia for the past five years; never mind the lukewarm response his
earlier programmes have received.
"We will go to the States and villages again and again until we have a
big pool of tall players. Lodging and scholarships will be provided for
those selected and they will be taught the basics of basketball," said
Loke.
To achieve their target and get a wider coverage, Maba organised a
State-wide three-on-three on a multiracial basis and teams could only
compete if they had two non-Chinese cagers in their side.
But all these lofty plans came to naught.
Malaysia were ranked fourth in Asia back in 1977 but it has been
downhill since. Back then the mistake was placing too much emphasis on the
national team with no plans for a back-up pool - and that is still the
problem today.
(END)
THE Malaysia Amateur Basketball Association (Maba) are eyeing two golds at
the 2001 Sea Games, and with it will ride the future of basketball in
Malaysia.
"That will be the starting point for basketball in Malaysia, after that
we will target for medals at the 2006 Asian Games which Malaysia are
bidding," said a confident Maba president, Datuk Loke Yuen Yow.
As for 1998, basketball was among the "almost there" sport and is best
forgotten.
Although faced with a dearth of new talent, the women cagers were one
step ahead of their male counterparts.
At the Jakarta Sea Games, the women ended a 10-year drought by beating
defending champions Thailand in a close encounter. So close that for the
watching VIPs, Sports Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin and chef-de-mission
Datuk Seri Megat Junid Megat Ayob, the match was a nail-biting affair.
On the other hand, the Malaysian men, who clawed their way to the final,
found it hard to contain the superior Filipinos and settled for silver.
That was as good as the year went for the national cagers.
Malaysia are currently not among the Asian basketball powers and did not
even qualify for the Bangkok Asian Games, but Maba feel there is still
hope.
The introduction of the Malaysian Basketball League for women was one of
the steps towards the realisation of the association's objectives.
Three women's teams joined the five men's in this year's edition of the
MBL but at the end of the day, it was noted that there is much work to be
done if the women want to win medals at a higher level.
For a start, Maba did not even have enough women cagers to form three
teams. They had to source players from the junior ranks to field decent
sides.
Loke has single-mindedly pursued the objective of finding tall cagers in
Malaysia for the past five years; never mind the lukewarm response his
earlier programmes have received.
"We will go to the States and villages again and again until we have a
big pool of tall players. Lodging and scholarships will be provided for
those selected and they will be taught the basics of basketball," said
Loke.
To achieve their target and get a wider coverage, Maba organised a
State-wide three-on-three on a multiracial basis and teams could only
compete if they had two non-Chinese cagers in their side.
But all these lofty plans came to naught.
Malaysia were ranked fourth in Asia back in 1977 but it has been
downhill since. Back then the mistake was placing too much emphasis on the
national team with no plans for a back-up pool - and that is still the
problem today.
(END)
Van Huizen in limbo
26/12/1998
THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) must make a decision soon on the
status of Stephen van Huizen as national coach.
And if they want to land his services, it must come with the assurance
of a two to three-year contract and job security.
MHF have chosen to remain silent on the issue but time is running out on
them because next year, Malaysia are down to play a string of important
internationals starting with the Six-Nation tournament in Egypt in early
February.
Then, there is the Dubai Invitation at the end of February and the
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in April.
Centralised training begins next month and it is imperative the issue of
Van Huizen's position is solved by then.
If it's not, word is that MHF would appoint caretaker coach Yahya Atan -
who helped with the preparation of the Asian Games challenge - to take
charge of the team.
After Van Huizen's return from Bangkok, there has been speculation that
he wants to return to his employers, Bank of Commerce (BOC), and continue
training at club level.
BOC is believed to have given him an ultimatum on whether he wants to
continue his banking career or opt out to be national coach.
The news was relayed to van Huizen a few days before the squad headed
for Bangkok on Dec 4.
MHF are keen to have a discussion with BOC to iron out matters before
taking their case to the National Sports Council (NSC).
"Right now, we have not made any decision because we have yet to meet
his employers. MHF have not heard anything from Van Huizen himself, we
have only read about his intentions in the newspapers.
"After the year-end holidays, we will meet BOC to get a clearer
picture," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam.
Since MHF have proven themselves to be fickle-minded when it comes to
local coaches, the danger of finding himself jobless after the Azlan Shah
Cup looms large in Van Huizen's mind.
"The MHF understand Van Huizen's dilemma. He has a tough choice to make
and we will try to help him make a decision soon."
Certain quarters have blamed the poor outing in Bangkok to the stand
taken by BOC but Van Huizen denied the allegations.
"I did not inform anybody on the issue except the team manager (R.
Yogeswaran), so the players did not know," Van Huizen was reported as
saying.
Malaysia bungled with a draw against Japan in the opening match while in
the fifth-placing playoff, Malaysia beat China 1-0.
* TERENGGANU will host next year's national Under-15 boys' hockey
tournament in Kuala Terengganu.
The non-availability of a proper pitch had also hampered the preparation
of the State squad, he said.
Hamzah said the new dessoturf pitch at the Batu Buruk Stadium is
expected to be ready in February.
(END)
THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) must make a decision soon on the
status of Stephen van Huizen as national coach.
And if they want to land his services, it must come with the assurance
of a two to three-year contract and job security.
MHF have chosen to remain silent on the issue but time is running out on
them because next year, Malaysia are down to play a string of important
internationals starting with the Six-Nation tournament in Egypt in early
February.
Then, there is the Dubai Invitation at the end of February and the
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in April.
Centralised training begins next month and it is imperative the issue of
Van Huizen's position is solved by then.
If it's not, word is that MHF would appoint caretaker coach Yahya Atan -
who helped with the preparation of the Asian Games challenge - to take
charge of the team.
After Van Huizen's return from Bangkok, there has been speculation that
he wants to return to his employers, Bank of Commerce (BOC), and continue
training at club level.
BOC is believed to have given him an ultimatum on whether he wants to
continue his banking career or opt out to be national coach.
The news was relayed to van Huizen a few days before the squad headed
for Bangkok on Dec 4.
MHF are keen to have a discussion with BOC to iron out matters before
taking their case to the National Sports Council (NSC).
"Right now, we have not made any decision because we have yet to meet
his employers. MHF have not heard anything from Van Huizen himself, we
have only read about his intentions in the newspapers.
"After the year-end holidays, we will meet BOC to get a clearer
picture," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam.
Since MHF have proven themselves to be fickle-minded when it comes to
local coaches, the danger of finding himself jobless after the Azlan Shah
Cup looms large in Van Huizen's mind.
"The MHF understand Van Huizen's dilemma. He has a tough choice to make
and we will try to help him make a decision soon."
Certain quarters have blamed the poor outing in Bangkok to the stand
taken by BOC but Van Huizen denied the allegations.
"I did not inform anybody on the issue except the team manager (R.
Yogeswaran), so the players did not know," Van Huizen was reported as
saying.
Malaysia bungled with a draw against Japan in the opening match while in
the fifth-placing playoff, Malaysia beat China 1-0.
* TERENGGANU will host next year's national Under-15 boys' hockey
tournament in Kuala Terengganu.
The non-availability of a proper pitch had also hampered the preparation
of the State squad, he said.
Hamzah said the new dessoturf pitch at the Batu Buruk Stadium is
expected to be ready in February.
(END)
The mind is willing but the body is weak
27/12/1998
HIDAYAT Hamidon and Matin Guntali returned emptyhanded from the Asian
Games in Bangkok, but nobody was annoyed with their performance.
Hidayat in the 69kg, and Matin, in 54kg, were not medal prospects at the
Asiad. But the duo went with the hope of finishing among the top six,
which they failed. That was no surprise really.
The unexpected and the unexplained is the way the National Sports
Council (NSC), who played a pivotal role in grooming these weightlifters;
and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), in whose hands rest the
selection for international assignments.
Undeniably, both tend to rely on `time-tested' athletes. But all is not
lost in the sport, at least as far as Hidayat and younger lifters like
Abdul Rahman are concerned. The 22-year-old Hidayat has age on his side
while Matin, 34, should have retired after winning three bronze medals at
the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
It might seem cruel to many, especially since Matin was responsible for
the revival of the sport in Malaysia when he lifted a silver medal at the
1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and proved his mettle again in Kuala
Lumpur.
But the crux of the matter is the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation and
the NSC should stop relying on `old hands' and instead start exposing new
blood.
"The National Sports Council (NSC) must start preparing young athletes
for the 2002 Olympics and the 2006 Asian Games, which Malaysia hope to
host.
"They should not rely on aging stars because by doing so, they are
neglecting the youth who will lead Malaysia's challenge into the next
century," said Malaysia's first Commonwealth gold medallist Koh Eng Tong.
It is a known fact, among the lifters, that at 34, weightlifters tend to
lose their touch and even though the mind is willing, the body is weak.
As the body ages, it becomes increasingly harder to add the kilos on the
barbell.
Defying all odds, Matin has announced his plans to actively compete for
another 10 years, with the Manchester 2002 Commonwelath Games his main
target.
Weightlifting was a struggling sport when it was incorporated into the
Jaya '98 programme in 1993, which was mooted to prepare for the KL Games
and it produced champions like Hidayat and Matin.
But the programme must not stop with these achievements, and NSC
director-general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad promised as much.
NSC have embarked on an ambitious programme which included the hiring of
foreign coaches from Europe and China and the distribution of
weightlifting equipment to centres of excellence in the States.
NSC bought equipment and stationed coaches at centres in Terengganu,
Johor, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. They also extended help to centres in
other States with a Chinese coach looking after Rompin and a Bulgarian in
Malacca while local coaches look after the other States.
Now that Malaysia have committed themselves to bid for the 2008
Olympics, a new development plan will be formulated and a band of foreign
coaches will be hired, according to Mazlan.
Weightlifting is a specialised sport which needs sport scientists with
credentials, like present national coach Slava Lelikov, to groom the
lifters.
Also, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) are keen to
promote Malaysia as a centre of excellence in South-East Asia.
All Malaysia have to do is provide a training venue and the rest will be
taken care of. The proposal is still being discussed and looks promising.
With the undivided attention of the NSC on the sport, coupled with the
assistance from the IWF, the future of weightlifting looks bright - if we
don't repeat the mistake of banking on old muscles again.
(END)
HIDAYAT Hamidon and Matin Guntali returned emptyhanded from the Asian
Games in Bangkok, but nobody was annoyed with their performance.
Hidayat in the 69kg, and Matin, in 54kg, were not medal prospects at the
Asiad. But the duo went with the hope of finishing among the top six,
which they failed. That was no surprise really.
The unexpected and the unexplained is the way the National Sports
Council (NSC), who played a pivotal role in grooming these weightlifters;
and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), in whose hands rest the
selection for international assignments.
Undeniably, both tend to rely on `time-tested' athletes. But all is not
lost in the sport, at least as far as Hidayat and younger lifters like
Abdul Rahman are concerned. The 22-year-old Hidayat has age on his side
while Matin, 34, should have retired after winning three bronze medals at
the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
It might seem cruel to many, especially since Matin was responsible for
the revival of the sport in Malaysia when he lifted a silver medal at the
1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and proved his mettle again in Kuala
Lumpur.
But the crux of the matter is the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation and
the NSC should stop relying on `old hands' and instead start exposing new
blood.
"The National Sports Council (NSC) must start preparing young athletes
for the 2002 Olympics and the 2006 Asian Games, which Malaysia hope to
host.
"They should not rely on aging stars because by doing so, they are
neglecting the youth who will lead Malaysia's challenge into the next
century," said Malaysia's first Commonwealth gold medallist Koh Eng Tong.
It is a known fact, among the lifters, that at 34, weightlifters tend to
lose their touch and even though the mind is willing, the body is weak.
As the body ages, it becomes increasingly harder to add the kilos on the
barbell.
Defying all odds, Matin has announced his plans to actively compete for
another 10 years, with the Manchester 2002 Commonwelath Games his main
target.
Weightlifting was a struggling sport when it was incorporated into the
Jaya '98 programme in 1993, which was mooted to prepare for the KL Games
and it produced champions like Hidayat and Matin.
But the programme must not stop with these achievements, and NSC
director-general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad promised as much.
NSC have embarked on an ambitious programme which included the hiring of
foreign coaches from Europe and China and the distribution of
weightlifting equipment to centres of excellence in the States.
NSC bought equipment and stationed coaches at centres in Terengganu,
Johor, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. They also extended help to centres in
other States with a Chinese coach looking after Rompin and a Bulgarian in
Malacca while local coaches look after the other States.
Now that Malaysia have committed themselves to bid for the 2008
Olympics, a new development plan will be formulated and a band of foreign
coaches will be hired, according to Mazlan.
Weightlifting is a specialised sport which needs sport scientists with
credentials, like present national coach Slava Lelikov, to groom the
lifters.
Also, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) are keen to
promote Malaysia as a centre of excellence in South-East Asia.
All Malaysia have to do is provide a training venue and the rest will be
taken care of. The proposal is still being discussed and looks promising.
With the undivided attention of the NSC on the sport, coupled with the
assistance from the IWF, the future of weightlifting looks bright - if we
don't repeat the mistake of banking on old muscles again.
(END)
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