Taiwan champs (The Malay Mail)

SHARP-MALAY MAIL held Taiwan to a scoreless draw for 120 minutes but bowed
out on a penalty shootout in the inaugural Philippines Cup final at Iloilo
City yesterday.
    The win for Taiwan was sweet revenge after having lost by a solitary
goal to Sharp-MM in the preliminary round.
    Sharp-MM deserved credit for putting up a determined fight despite
the 20,000 crowd rooting for Taiwan,
    They took the field without three key players - R. Subramaniam and
Daniel Sinnapan due to injuries and A.R. Chandrasegar who was serving a
one match suspension.
    Although Taiwan looked more dangerous, Sharp-MM did well to contain
them. In-form goalkeeper M. Pavalamani saved at least three sure goals.
    Despite the defeat, Sharp-MM gained another feather to their cap
after winning the 1991 KL Dunhill League title.
                             (END)

Newsmen book final berth (The Malay Mail)

SHARP-MALAY MAIL kept the Malaysian flag flying high in the Philippines
Cup tournament when they booked a place in the final by edging Chinese
Taipeh 1-0 at Bacalod City yesterday.
    Reserve U. Subramaniam, who stood in for the injured Daniel
Sinnappan, was the toast of Sharp-Malay Mail yesterday when he scored in
the 28th minute.
    It was an evenly contested match and Chinese Taipeh became more
aggressive after conceding the goal but the determined newspaper team
managed to hang on to register this win.
    "It was a hard-earned win because Chinese Taipeh were all over us in
the second half but credit must be given to our players who stood firm,"
said Sharp-MM team convenor Tony Mariadass.
    Sharp-Malay Mail will play either Brunei or Chinese Taipeh in the
final tomorrow. The two teams will play each other today to decide the
final berth.
                               (END)

Malay Mail crash to first defeat (The Malay Mail)

SHARP-MALAY MAIL suffered their first defeat when they went down 2-0 to
Brunei in a Philippines Cup invitation match at Bacolod City yesterday.
    The Malaysian representatives dominated the match but were hampered
by the poor ground condition and a bouncy ball.
    They also claimed the match officials were against them.
    Badrul Hisham Jalil found the net for Malay Mail in the 15th minute
but was disallowed for offside. However, the referee refused to
acknowledge that the attempt was actually a rebound off a shot by
Saifuddin Alias.
    Brunei scored their first goal off Pengiran Momin Ahmad in the 29th
minute. It seemed like he had handled the ball but the goal was allowed.
    In the second half, Malay Mail dominated again but were on the
receiving end when Brunei scored off a rare counter attack with Roslan
Samak beating goalkeeper S. Palavamani.
    With this win, Brunei are back in the running for a place in the
final after losing 2-1 in the opening match.
    Malaysia will now have to beat Chinese Taipeh in their last match in
Iloilo City tomorrow.
    The Philippines play Chinese Taipeh today. Yesterday's results have
thrown the tournament wide open. Indications are that the finalists will
be decided on Saturday.
                             (END)

Malay Mail looking sharp (The Malay Mail)

BACLOD CITY: Sharp Malay Mail striker Saifuddin Alias goal gave his team a
winning start in the Philippines Cup soccer tournament at the Taglaun
Sports Comlex Stadium when they beat the hosts 1-0 yesterday.
    The Phillipines, who needed a win to enhance their chances of
reaching the final, found the going tough against an equally determined
Malay Mail. Malaysia's representatives in the tournament.
    Malay Mail were in total control although the poor ground and a
bouncy ball did not suit them.
    For all their domination, Malay Mail deservingly scored in the 28th
minute through a thunderous shot by Saifuddin.
    Malay Mail take on Brunei tonight. A win will virtually put them in
the final on May 12.
                               (END)

Sharp-MM team off to Iloilo city (The Malay Mail)

ILOILO City, here we come - that's what members of the Kuala Lumpur
Dunhill League champions Sharp-Malay Mail football team (above) seemed to
be saying as they left Subang Airport yesterday morning to compete in the
Philippines Cup, which begins tomorrow.
 Sharp-MM open their campaign against the Philippines. Taiwan and
Brunei are also taking part.
 The top two teams after the round-robin league will play in the
final.
 On hand to see them off at the airport were Sharp-Roxy's corporate
Public Relations and Product Promotions manager Mohamad Salleh Aziz and
his executive, Mohamad Aref Mohamad Ali.
 Sharp-MM will be led by skipper R. Subramaniam with KL Semi-pro
players Nazim Din, Tommy Chong Kok Min, Badrul Isham Jalil, R.
Ramachandran and Badrulsham Ahmad.
 Despite travelling without their three other Semi-Pro players - K.
Kanan, See Kim Seng and S. Tamilarasan - Sharp-MM will play with the
reputation of earning a 1-1 draw with the Philippines Olympic team during
a tour last month.
                          (END)

Sharp-MM to compete in Manila Cup (The Malay Mail)

SHARP-MALAY MAIL, the 1991 Kuala Lumpur FA Dunhill League champions, will play in the inaugural Philippines Cup on May 6-12 in Iloilo City. Sharp-MM were invited by the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) after seeing them in action last month in Manila. They drew 1-1 with the Philippines Olympic team and lost to the Philippines national team 1-0. Sharp Roxy, who sponsor Malay Mail in the Dunhill League, will sponsor their airfare to the Philippines. The other competing teams are from Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines. The teams will play a one-round league with the champions and runners-up meeting in the final. Sharp-MM have included KL Semi-pro squad players Nazim Din, Tommy Chong Kok Min, Badrul Isham Jalil, R. Ramachandran and Badrulsham Ahmad for the tournament. However, they will miss striker K. Kannan and defender See Kim Seng who are involved in the Semi-pro League. They will also miss defender S. Tamilarasan who is playring for Malacca. Yesterday, Sharp-MM beat Klang Town Council 4-0 in a friendly at the Kota Raja Stadium in Klang. The team leaves tomorrow morning for the Philippines. Their opening match is against the Philippines.