Sports

KOTA BHARU, The Red Warriors (TRW) and Kelantan United Football Club (KUFC) can now heave a sigh of relief after both teams were given club licences to vie in the Malaysian League (M-League) this season.

This was confirmed by the Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) secretary-general Husin Deraman and KUFC executive secretary Wan Mohd Zul Ikman today.

Husin said KAFA received the licence after successfully fulfilling five of the six licensing conditions stipulated by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

”Despite being given conditional approval, we are ecstatic after KAFA, prior to this, submitted support documents showing guarantees for all matters outstanding and will be monitored to ensure all the assurances were met.

”KAFA has yet to fulfill only one item involving the financial aspect but we will continue to endeavour as best as possible to meet the criteria and thank all quarters who have helped us in fulfilling the licensing aspect for the 2020 season,” he said in a statement here today.

Meanwhile, Wan Mohd Zul said the approval confirmed that the KUFC team would be in action at the Premier League competition which would commence in February.

”The approval also enables us to sign the contracts of the new players to strengthen the team to face the challenges for the duration of the M-League.

”Thank you to all the quarters involved especially FAM and the Malaysian Football League (MFL) who always helped us to achieve the stipulated standard and enabling us to participate in the M-League competition without any problem,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The tussle for the 2020 Malaysian Hockey League (LHM) Sumbangsih Cup will surely be stiff when once again it will see a collision between the Terengganu Hockey team (THT) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) on Jan 10.

The 2019 TNB Cup and Sumbangsih Cup champions, THT, which is now being helmed by former national coach Muhammad Dharmaraj Abdullah, nevertheless, shouted their confidence at their capability to defend the title at the action at the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

But, at the same time, coach S. Selvaraj’s protege, UmiKL, which lost to THT via a penalty decider in the Sumbangsih Cup this season, were optimist they had a chance to wrest the championship title at the 2020 campaign after they excelled in the LHM competition chart this year.

THT midfielder, Fitri Saari, who is also a national player, did not rule out the possibility of UniKL giving a stiffer fight next season with the presence of a new import player for the team from Australia.

”Our target is to grab the championship although we expect UniKL will be stronger next season. THT is struggling (with the performance of the team) because the number of import players have been reduced from six to only four.

”The local players are still the same people. But, with the presence of coach Dharmaraj, I hope his experience of guiding the players will give an advantage to THT.

”For players like me, Faizal Saari and Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman are comfortable with Dharmaraj but the other players have never been with him. They have to get used with his way and strategies which he would be applying,” he told a media conference for the approaching 2020 LHM-TNB Cup here today.

In the meantime, THT secretary, Mohd Rashidi Hashim placed the Key Performance Index (KPI) on Muhammad Dharmaraj to retain the 2020 Sumbangsih Cup, and he believed, with the capability and expertise of the coach, it could be achieved.

Meanwhile, UniKL assistant coach, Saiful Azhar Mohd Afandi conceded they had to be more careful with the THT team especially after it came under the tutelage of Muhammad Dharmaraj.

”Our preparation for next season is proceeding smoothly. We want to grab the Sumbangsih Cup title for the first time next season after losing in the penalty decider this season,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)

SHAH ALAM, Selangor has set a target of qualifying for the 2021 Asian Champions League (ACL).

Head coach B.Sathianathan this would be the team’s main aim when the Malaysia League kicks off in February next year.

AFC has slots for Malaysian teams, so that will be our target, to qualify for the competition, he said when contacted by Bernama.

Preparations for the 2020 Super League campaign are going well with many of the squad members having already reported for duty.

The majority have begun training except for Syahmi Safari as he was involved in the SEA Games recently, so I’ve let him report for duty in January.

“Our new Singaporean import player, Safuwan (Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin), is training hard and our only other import player left, Rufino Segovia (Spain) will be back in training soon after his injury last season, he said.

Besides Safuwan, the Red Giants will have new five new players in its stable for the new campaign.

They are former Perak players Brendan Gan and Nor Hakim Hassan and former PKNS FC players, Nicholas Ryan Swirad, Rodney Celvin Akwensivie and Tauffiq Ar Rasyid.

Selangor ended last season’s campaign in third place in the Super League standings, and also qualified for the last four in the Malaysia Cup.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)

SHAH ALAM, Selangor has set a target of qualifying for the 2021 Asian Champions League (ACL).

Head coach B.Sathianathan this would be the team’s main aim when the Malaysia League kicks off in February next year.

AFC has slots for Malaysian teams, so that will be our target, to qualify for the competition, he said when contacted by Bernama.

Preparations for the 2020 Super League campaign are going well with many of the squad members having already reported for duty.

The majority have begun training except for Syahmi Safari as he was involved in the SEA Games recently, so I’ve let him report for duty in January.

“Our new Singaporean import player, Safuwan (Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin), is training hard and our only other import player left, Rufino Segovia (Spain) will be back in training soon after his injury last season, he said.

Besides Safuwan, the Red Giants will have new five new players in its stable for the new campaign.

They are former Perak players Brendan Gan and Nor Hakim Hassan and former PKNS FC players, Nicholas Ryan Swirad, Rodney Celvin Akwensivie and Tauffiq Ar Rasyid.

Selangor ended last season’s campaign in third place in the Super League standings, and also qualified for the last four in the Malaysia Cup.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)

IPOH, Despite losing national midfielder, Brendan Gan who will be playing for Selangor next season, Perak skipper Shahrul Mohd Saad was optimistic that Perak would still be able to shine in the Malaysian League.

There was a number of young and potential players to fill the vacant place left by Brendan in the team, especially the midfielders, he said.

“I think there are players that can replace Brendan, especially the young players. They will take on this challenge and I’m confident that with their determination maybe they could be better than Brendan.

“As for me, the player’s migration was a common thing for any team. We are always positive, we are still with Perak and will continue to fight,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after attending the Bank Islam Awfar Tour Campaign which was attended by over 300 of The Bos Gaurus fans at Mydin Hypermarket Meru Raya, here, today.

Shahrul noted that the team’s new signing striker, Guilherme de Paula would give an additional tonic to the Bos Gaurus’ squad forward line due to his vast experience and his skills in front of the opponents’ goal.

“He’s familiar with the Malaysian League. We knew that he had scored many goals for Kuala Lumpur this season. I hope that he could continue the momentum with Perak,” he said.

Commenting on the team’s target for next season, Shahrul said Perak would try to showcase its best performance and would challenge other top teams such as Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Pahang, Kedah and Selangor in the league.

“I think it is not impossible to compete with teams like JDT, Pahang, Kedah and Selangor. The most important thing is the fighting spirit. If we are serious, we can do it,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)

IPOH, Despite losing national midfielder, Brendan Gan who will be playing for Selangor next season, Perak skipper Shahrul Mohd Saad was optimistic that Perak would still be able to shine in the Malaysian League.

There was a number of young and potential players to fill the vacant place left by Brendan in the team, especially the midfielders, he said.

“I think there are players that can replace Brendan, especially the young players. They will take on this challenge and I’m confident that with their determination maybe they could be better than Brendan.

“As for me, the player’s migration was a common thing for any team. We are always positive, we are still with Perak and will continue to fight,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after attending the Bank Islam Awfar Tour Campaign which was attended by over 300 of The Bos Gaurus fans at Mydin Hypermarket Meru Raya, here, today.

Shahrul noted that the team’s new signing striker, Guilherme de Paula would give an additional tonic to the Bos Gaurus’ squad forward line due to his vast experience and his skills in front of the opponents’ goal.

“He’s familiar with the Malaysian League. We knew that he had scored many goals for Kuala Lumpur this season. I hope that he could continue the momentum with Perak,” he said.

Commenting on the team’s target for next season, Shahrul said Perak would try to showcase its best performance and would challenge other top teams such as Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Pahang, Kedah and Selangor in the league.

“I think it is not impossible to compete with teams like JDT, Pahang, Kedah and Selangor. The most important thing is the fighting spirit. If we are serious, we can do it,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was tonight awarded the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Special Award 2019 to recognise His Majesty’s involvement and contributions to sports.

The trophy, featuring a globe with all Olympic Games host cities, to symbolise the Olympic Movement and the action of sportsmen of core sports in Malaysia at the bottom, including three of Al-Sultan Abdullah’s favourites – football, hockey and polo, was presented at the 26th Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Annual Dinner and Awards Night at a hotel, here.

The trophy was carried to the stage by the country’s four prominent Olympic Games medalists, Rashid Sidek, Cheah Soon Kit (Atlanta 1996), Datuk Lee Chong Wei (Beijing 2008, London 2012 & Rio 2016) and Pandelela Rinong (London 2012 & Rio 2016).

Former world number one shuttler, Chong Wei then handed the trophy to OCM president, Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria who presented it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Meanwhile, national gymnastics queen, Farah Ann Abd Hadi and wushu exponent, Loh Choon How were declared as the Olympians of Year 2019.

Farah, 25, who showcased spectacular and hypnotizing performances to clinch three gold medals at the recent 30th SEA Games in the Philippines and with a haul of seven gold, two silver and three bronze medals since her debut at the biennial Games in 2011 in Indonesia, was named as the female Olympian of the year.

She won gold in women’s all-around, floor exercise and uneven bars.

Prior to that, Farah became the first Malaysian woman artistic gymnast to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics during the qualifying sessions of the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, last October.

The last time Malaysia had an artistic gymnast in the world’s biggest multisports event was when Au Li Yen was featured at the 2000 Sydney edition.

Choon How on other hand, had to overcome pain to bag two gold medals at the SEA Games by edging favourites and world class exponents in the men’s taijijian and taijiquan.

They each received RM10,000 cash and special gold medals, sponsored by Coca-Cola Company, from Al-Sultan Abdullah.

The event also witnessed five inductees for the OCM Hall of Fame, a recognition for outstanding retired athletes, sports officials, sports journalists and media personnel.

It was led by the late Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah for his contributions in football, among others as the president of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 1994-2002 and AFF president since 2011.

Other inductees are former OCM secretary-general, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi (water polo and OCM), Datuk Roland Wong Choon Tat (badminton), Lieutenant-General (R), Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Manap Ibrahim (hockey) and former tennis player, S. A. Azman.

Source: BERNAMA (News Agency)