Thursday, July 23, 1998

All for the nation (22/07/1998 - The Malay Mail)

Publication : MM
Date : 22/07/1998
Headline : All for the nation


WITH 51 days left for the Commonwealth Games, it is about time everyone
involved pay heed to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's
call to work as one.
Dr Mahathir made the call when opening the National Sports Complex in
Bukit Jalil a fortnight ago, but judging from the developments since, not
many are taking his call seriously.
The Pre-Games held as a test run have revealed that there are many
things that need to be attended to, to ensure the Games go on smoothly.
The main problem are the several associations that are trying to impress
instead of getting on with the job of organisation.
Sukom Ninety Eight Bhd, Minsitry of Sports, National Sports Council,
Olympic Council of Malaysia, national sports associations, athletes,
volunteers and even the public have a role to play, and they have to work
as one to ensure success of the Games.
A lot of time, money, planning and effort has been put in since winning
the bid in 1992 to host the Games.
We have constructed some of the best sporting facilities in the world.
About 6,000 athletes and 70,000 visitors from 68 countries are expected
for the Games and we certainly need to put our best foot forward and not
allow the Games to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
To make matters worse, we have associations still bickering over the
selection of athletes and making a mockery of sports.
We certainly do not need the bad publicity with the Games round the
corner.
If we cannot get our house in order, how are we going to play host to
the several thousands of visitors expected to arrive for the Games?
And the last thing we need is to wash dirty linen in public.
More often than not, we have been critical of flaws in organisation of
major events by other countries, and now we will be judged.
This is a Malaysian affair and everyone involved should work hand in
hand.
And there is nothing wrong in admitting mistakes just to have it
rectified.
Although Sukom chief operating officer Lt Gen (R) Datuk Seri Abdul Manap
Ibrahim said that the pre-Games was a success, he did admit that there
were problems.
Although Manap declined to go into details or reveal the problems, he
did admit that the main problem was that volunteers were not familar with
the new facilities.
The last thing we need is our own personnel being in the dark when we
are supposed to be guiding visitors to ensure that everything runs
smoothly.
Manap said that the problem was rectified while a debriefing will be
held to uncover any other problems encountered.
At this point, time is not on our side.
Whatever needs to be rectified, needs to be done immediately and
effectively.
There needs to be co-ordination from all quarters and unless everyone
brings himself to the ground and work sincerely, we are bound to encounter
more problems as the Games draw even nearer.
It is hoped that everyone realises that the dignity of the country is at
stake here.
On Sept 21 when the Games comes to a close, it is hoped that Malaysia
will be on the lips of every visitor, be it an athlete or a tourist, that
we are ready to host even bigger events because otherwise all the
facilities built would have been just for an one off event - the
Commonwealth Games.
Lets us all join hands in the name of Malaysia and get our act right.

Sunday, July 12, 1998

Dial Kuffour for goals (The Sunday Mail)

A 17-YEAR-OLD from Ghana is blasting a trail of goals in the FAM Cup
competition.
Issac Kuffour, the hired gun of Malacca Telekom, hit 17 goals in 16
matches in his first season last year.
Kuffor, who only turns 18 on Dec 30, is again in scorching form this
year, plundering 12 goals in seven matches so far.
And last Monday, Kuffor scored his first hattrick in his team's 9-2 win
over Selangor Wilayah Maju.
Surprisingly, none of the M-League teams have spotted this precocious
African talent though Kuffor has a desire to see M-League action.
Kuffor ended up signing with Malacca Telekom when a groin injury stopped
him from making the final squad of the Ghana Junior World Cup squad.
He had come here with the Ghanaian team to train for the Junior World
Cup which was hosted by Ma-laysia last year. The team's training stint
were sponsored by Telekom Ma-laysia.
Kuffour was among the Ghanaian squad of 25 players, of whom seven were
professionals based in Europe. The average-built striker, who stands at
1.78m and weighs 68kg, succumbed to injuries after the team's earlier
stints in Germany and Korea.
By the time Kuffor recovered, the final Ghanaian team for the Junior
World Cup had already been named. Team doctors then advised him to rest
for a month before playing competitively again.
The team officials from Malacca Telekom were impressed with Kuffour's
skills after watching him in training and invited him to play for their
team against the Ghanaian youth team in a friendly at KLFA Stadium.
After the game, Malacca Telekom wasted no time in signing Kuffor, the
youngest in a family of seven.
"It is my ambition to play in the M-League," said Kuffour, who played
for Okwau United in Ghana before he was spotted for the Junior World Cup
squad.
"Do not get me wrong. I love playing for Malacca Telekom and they are a
great team. But I just want to play at a higher level.
"I hope to be noticed this year and fulfil my dream of playing in the M-
League. If I do not find a team, I am definitely heading for Europe," said
Kuffour, whose cousin Samuel Kuffour is a defender with Bayern Munich.
Indeed, Kuffour is M-League material and it goes to show that State
coaches would do well to spot talents, local and foreign, in the FAM Cup
League.
Apart from Malacca Telekom's other foreign signing in Oleg Burov, the
other imports playing in the FAM Cup are Sabah Gunosukod Pangait's
Scottish defender Derek Wemyss, Brazilian midfielder Edilson Cesar De
Araujo, French striker Joel Lahon, Kuala Lumpur Malay Mail's Australian
defender Taso Notaras, Wilayah Maju's Nigerian striker Mohamed Mohamed and
Terengganu Perkasa Alam's Ghanaian striker George Al Hassan Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the top four teams in each group of the FAM Cup qualify for
the final round, where they will be divided into two sections and play a
two-round league of six matches each.
In Group A, Gunosukod and Negri Sembilan BSN have confirmed their berths
having gone unbeaten after seven matches. They have 19 points and another
three matches to complete their first round fixtures.
This leaves Kelantan JKR, Johor City Hall and Kedah PKNK in a tussle
for the other two berths.
In Group B, Malacca Telekom have secured a final round berth while the
fight for the other spots is keenly contested between Perkasa Alam, Kuala
Lumpur Malay Mail, Kelantan TNB and Kedah JKR.

Dial Kuffour for goals (The Sunday Mail)

A 17-YEAR-OLD from Ghana is blasting a trail of goals in the FAM Cup
competition.
Issac Kuffour, the hired gun of Malacca Telekom, hit 17 goals in 16
matches in his first season last year.
Kuffor, who only turns 18 on Dec 30, is again in scorching form this
year, plundering 12 goals in seven matches so far.
And last Monday, Kuffor scored his first hattrick in his team's 9-2 win
over Selangor Wilayah Maju.
Surprisingly, none of the M-League teams have spotted this precocious
African talent though Kuffor has a desire to see M-League action.
Kuffor ended up signing with Malacca Telekom when a groin injury stopped
him from making the final squad of the Ghana Junior World Cup squad.
He had come here with the Ghanaian team to train for the Junior World
Cup which was hosted by Ma-laysia last year. The team's training stint
were sponsored by Telekom Ma-laysia.
Kuffour was among the Ghanaian squad of 25 players, of whom seven were
professionals based in Europe. The average-built striker, who stands at
1.78m and weighs 68kg, succumbed to injuries after the team's earlier
stints in Germany and Korea.
By the time Kuffor recovered, the final Ghanaian team for the Junior
World Cup had already been named. Team doctors then advised him to rest
for a month before playing competitively again.
The team officials from Malacca Telekom were impressed with Kuffour's
skills after watching him in training and invited him to play for their
team against the Ghanaian youth team in a friendly at KLFA Stadium.
After the game, Malacca Telekom wasted no time in signing Kuffor, the
youngest in a family of seven.
"It is my ambition to play in the M-League," said Kuffour, who played
for Okwau United in Ghana before he was spotted for the Junior World Cup
squad.
"Do not get me wrong. I love playing for Malacca Telekom and they are a
great team. But I just want to play at a higher level.
"I hope to be noticed this year and fulfil my dream of playing in the M-
League. If I do not find a team, I am definitely heading for Europe," said
Kuffour, whose cousin Samuel Kuffour is a defender with Bayern Munich.
Indeed, Kuffour is M-League material and it goes to show that State
coaches would do well to spot talents, local and foreign, in the FAM Cup
League.
Apart from Malacca Telekom's other foreign signing in Oleg Burov, the
other imports playing in the FAM Cup are Sabah Gunosukod Pangait's
Scottish defender Derek Wemyss, Brazilian midfielder Edilson Cesar De
Araujo, French striker Joel Lahon, Kuala Lumpur Malay Mail's Australian
defender Taso Notaras, Wilayah Maju's Nigerian striker Mohamed Mohamed and
Terengganu Perkasa Alam's Ghanaian striker George Al Hassan Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the top four teams in each group of the FAM Cup qualify for
the final round, where they will be divided into two sections and play a
two-round league of six matches each.
In Group A, Gunosukod and Negri Sembilan BSN have confirmed their berths
having gone unbeaten after seven matches. They have 19 points and another
three matches to complete their first round fixtures.
This leaves Kelantan JKR, Johor City Hall and Kedah PKNK in a tussle
for the other two berths.
In Group B, Malacca Telekom have secured a final round berth while the
fight for the other spots is keenly contested between Perkasa Alam, Kuala
Lumpur Malay Mail, Kelantan TNB and Kedah JKR.

Monday, July 6, 1998

You must be kidding (05/07/1998 - Sunday Mail)

Publication : SUM
Date : 05/07/1998
Headline : You must be kidding


BRAZIL have it. So do England and Germany. Virtually the whole world have
it.
But the way Malaysian soccer critics see it, we can live without it.
So, they slammed the FAM for trying to have a national team. As far, as
they are concerned, the national squad became ashes at the Jakarta SEA
Games last year. No resuscitation. No hope.
When FAM recently called up several l players from that failed `97 squad
to join forces with the Olympic 2000 in forming a new-look national team,
certain quarters were quick to take the national association to task.
But where in the world is there a country with no national team?
Sure, the FAM did announce the national team had been disbanded following
their dismal performances in the SEA Games where Malaysia even lost to
lowly Laos.
Yes, you can disband, disperse or dismantle the national side. But did
the FAM say they cannot reorganise, restructure or replant the national
team?
As the critics take it as dead and buried, do Malaysia have to live
forever without a national team?
Why do we have a M-League in the first place?
And if the top players from the M-League cannot play for the country,
then what is the purpose of the League?
The critics can argue that FAM have already decided to use Olympic 2000
as the new national team.
Come on, be realistic. A national team comprising 19-year-olds who are
now at the bottom of Premier One?
Maybe the critics are against some of the national players who have let
the country down. But what about those who played their hearts out but
happened to be in the same team in Jakarta?
And what about other young players who dazzle in the Premier League but
for state teams and not Olympic 2000?
Do the critics really believe that the present Olympic 2000 team can
stand in as the national team and move on to become the best in South-
east-Asia, let alone Asia?
Can they make the quantum leap from M-League strugglers to kingpins in
the region?
Look at Malaysia's 1-1 draw against China, a team who just missed out in
qualifying for the ongoing France World Cup, on Tuesday in a friendly
match.
Reinforced and stabilised by several experienced seniors, the Malaysian
side, comprising mostly Olympic 2000 players, held their own against the
formidable Chinese.
That surely would have boosted the confidence of the Olympic lads and
inspire them to play with renewed faith in themselves for the honours of
Malaysia.
Don't say China never tried hard. The Chinese team are known for their
national pride and patriotism and the last thing they wanted was to be
held by a Malaysian team playing with mostly youths.