SUCCESSFUL COACHING PROGRAMME IN BACOLOD CITY BY XMAIL FC

Bacolod Veterans in all probability will reciprocate to compete in the  3^rd Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin Challenge Trophy - Xmail FC Veteran 9s Football Tournament likely to be held in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 16, 2023

Mayor Harry Benitez of Victorias 

By Tony Mariadass

The KL XMail FC delegation led by Tony Mariadass depart for Bacolod City, Philippines Sept 30 (1am) via Manila for the Masskara Football Festival and to conduct a coaching clinic for 30 kids with V. Kalimutu and Fareez Prem and Masraff Mustakim on Sept 30.

V. Kalimutu, is former national player and member of the Malaysian National who played in the 1972 Munich Olympics qualifier and qualified for the first time to make history, was the chief coach of the clinic.

The Clinic was held at La Provincia Polo Fields starting at 3pm on Sept 30 (Friday) and due to publicity we had walk-in kids and ended up with 45 kids from ages 6 to 16. 

We paid our own airfare and accommodation for six nights - RM2, 000.00 each. 

Only internal transport provided by the host. 

This is part of CSR service of XMail FC because of our long association with them and close friends among the football circle in football. 

We brought with us 30 sets of football jerseys, shorts and socks, 6 balls,  jersey bags, two sets of bips and two sets of training cones used during the clinic and donated to the players and Academy managed by Juan Carmona, who is also the organising chairman of the Football Festival. 

These stuff were purchased, thanks to Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, the general secretary of Asian Football Confederation’s personal contribution, Lotto Malaysia’s Tham's sponsorship of some equipment and souvenir T shirts and XMail players contribution. Thank you for your generosity and kind support for a worthy cause.

The Mayor Albee Benitez youth football tournament kicked the following morning and also signalled the one month long Masskara Festival, which makes a comeback after two years hibernation because of the Covid pandemic.

 The tournament was officially kicked-off  at the  La Prvincia Open fields formerly Bantug Polo Fields, by Mayor Harry Benitez of Victorias on behalf of his father Benitez.

A total of 80 teams from various age-groups competing in this 9-a-side tournament. 

Indeed a great initiative and effort by organising chairman of the tournament Juan Carmona and organising chairman of the Maaskara Sports Festival, Jose David Daiz, and their team.

Congratulations!

Thank you to my good friend for 35 years, former Bacolod FA president, former Philippines FA President, former Bacolod Councilor and former Philippines Airports Director, Cano Tan and his son Ralphn Tan and their family for the gtrand hospitality they accorded our delegation.

His resort Camphuestohan Highland Resort is an amazing place, constantly added with new and innovative facilities for a family retreat.

XMail FC continue our long standing friendship and comradeship as Veterans now.

There was also a veteran tournament on Sunday at the Panad Stadium.

This year XMail FC did not field a team, but hope to do so next year.

Till we meet again, Selamat Poh!

The delegation of five - including former part-time sports journalist with New Straits Times from Alor Setar - made a two-day pit stop at Iloilo City - one hour by ferry from Bacolod City - to meet up with another longstanding friend from the football circle, Pabilito Araneta and a short break.

We flew back from Iloilo on Oct 5 afternoon via Manila and arrived safely in KLIA 2 past midnight on Oct 6.

 Will be back next year and Bacolod Veterans FC have promised to field a team in the 3^rd Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin Challenge Trophy - Xmail FC Veteran 9s Football Tournament likely to be held in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 16 to coincide with Malaysia Day.

 

 

SAGA OF MALAY MAIL FC

 

By Tony Mariadass

tonym@mmail.com.my

THE paper did more than just reporting sport; it managed a football team in the local league, with help from Kuala Lumpur FA .

Malay Mail FC’s history dates back to 1987, but before that the team played under the parent company’s name – New Straits Times Press (NSTP) – from the 70s.

Then, the football team was more involved in the Inter-Company Games competing against Straits Times Singapore. They also competed in the Inter-Media quadrangular Games with newspaper teams from Straits Times, Bangkok Post and South China Morning Post.

It was in 1987 that saw the birth of Malay Mail football – changed its name to Malay Mail for branding purposes – when it crossed over from Selangor to pl

The players comprised of employees of NSTP group – NST, Malay Mail and Berita Harian and Harian Metro. The NST was also competing in the Petaling Jaya District FA before moving to FA of Selangor Business House League in the early 80s.

Over the years, the team has evolved from a company team to club team and finally a semi-professional team playing in M-League.

Malay Mail players besides employees of the NSTP group, also gave opportunity to young players to join the team who were offered employment.

It did not take long for the team to win honours - after finishing runners-up in the KL Dunhill league in 1989 - in 1991, against all odds Malay Mail, who were known as Sharp Malay Mail, defeated hot-favourites City Hall FC by a solitary goal scored by a unknown teenager, Daniel Sinnappa against national goalkeeper Rashid Hassan.

City Hall SC were virtually the KL Malaysia Cup team with the likes of Tang Siew Seng, Razip Ismail, Chow Siew Yai, Mat Zan Mat Aris, Saidin Osman and Subadron Aziz to name a few.

However, Malay Mail through the vision of KLFA president and City Mayor, Tan Sri Elyas, had three players loaned to them from the KL team – goalkeeper M. Pavalamani, defender See Kim Seng and striker K. Kannan – to turn out for the newspaper team to give a more even competition in the League.

That victory, saw the Malay Mail team go international!

Through the assistance of the late Datuk Paul Mony Samuel, the then FA of Malaysia secretary-general, Malay Mail got an invite from the Philippines FA to compete in their inaugural Philippines Cup in 1991 in Iloilo City and Bacolod City.

Playing against national teams of the Philippines, Cambodian, Brunei and Taiwan and Singapore’s youth team, Malay Mail finished runner-up to the Taiwan. It participated in two more tournaments and played numerous friendly matches with the Philippine national team, both in Manila and Kuala Lumpur to forge a permanent relation.

The team that went for the inaugural tournament in Philippines in 1991, had guest services of KL Semi-pro squad players Nazim Din, late Tommy Chong Kok Min, Badrul Isham Jalil, late R. Ramachandran and Badrulsham Ahmad for the tournament.

In the final, Malay Mail held Taiwan to a scoreless draw for 120 minutes but bowed out on a penalty shootout in front of a 20,000 crowd at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

MM went to win more honours locally emerging Dunhill League runners-up on two more occasions – 1993 and 1996 – and emerging KLFA FA Cup champions once in 1992.

KL Malay Mail also qualified for the FAM Cup (national competition for clubs) in 1997 and after three attempts to qualify for the M-League, finally did it to play in 2000 M-League Division Two together with their FAM Cup finalists Kelantan JKR, as FAM Cup runners-up losing finalist (4-2).

For the record The Malay Mail FC was the first club team from the Klang Valley to play in the M-League Second Division.

Malay Mail FC played in the Second Division for three seasons before going back to FAM Cup competition and closing the team at the end of the 2004 – after 15 years of existence.

The team was forced to disband at the end of 2004 because it could not find a sponsor to continue its campaign. It has survived for almost 15 years on a shoestring budget, putting many top teams in Malaysia to shame. What kept it going was the passion of the officials and players for the “beautiful game”.

Indeed, Malay Mail showed many clubs and even State FAs that with passion and sound management, despite low funds it can compete among the best.

It also showed that satisfaction is not only winning trophies, but being a platform for player to move up to higher level of football an a nursery for budding talents.

More than 200 players have passed through MMFC in the 15 years during its existence and many had gone through the ranks in MMFC to secure contracts with better teams, while it has also produced national and national youth material.

One name which comes to mind is midfielder Imran Ahmad who was picked up by Malay Mail from Cheras, gave him employment and after his exposure with the Malay Mail team went to play for the KL team and the national team.

Some of the other notable players who played with Malay Mail to make it a balanced team, include R. Subramaniam, Chow Siew Yai, S. Silvarajoo, Lim Teong Kim, Ramlan Askolani, S.Balachandran, Raj Kumar, P. Saravanan, N. Suresh, Fareez Prem Raj, T. Gopinath, K. Hemadass, V. Suresh, Mohamad Sham, Faridzul Kassim, A.N Chandrasegar, S. Mathen and S. Tamilarasan to name a few.

The team also had calibre and renowned coaches helping which include police officer Jeswant Singh, S. Sugumaran, Chow Kwai Lam, S. Gunasegaran, Lucas Kallang and Azlan Johar.

The legacy of the Malay Mail still lives on as in 2009, past players of Malay Mail decided to form the X-Mail FC veteran team and returned to Philippines where they organised a veteran’s tournament in Bacolod City for two consecutive years.

The veteran team continues to play in veteran tournaments from time to time which include competing in the IFC annual football 9s, Club Aman veteran tournament, IRC veteran tournament and several others. The veteran team is coached by former Malay Mail captain, Hasnul Khairuddin, a very dedicated and passionate supporter of the team.

The players may be older, but the fond memories brought through the Malay Mail FC is still cherished and they continue to relive it through the veteran team.

The legacy of the Malay Mail still lives on.

Loyola FC from Manila, Champion!

This has been long overdue, but here it is.
Loyola FC from Manila emerged as the champions of the 2nd  Philippines-Malaysia Veterans 9s Soccer Championship held at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, Philipines on May 29 and 30.
They defeated defending champion and host, Bacolod United FC, 2-1 in the final.

X-Mail Veterans FC last year's runners, failed to make the semifinals from Group A, where both the finalist emerged from. The other teams in Group A were Talisay Minuluan FC and Erco-Cebu FC.

In Group B were CMOFA, Real Negrese FC, Iloilo FC  and Blue Guards FC, Manila.
A total of nine teams competed as compared to in the inaugural year, when only four teams participated.
The competition was much competitive and many ex-national Philippines players played. Champion Loyola FC had five ex-Philippines national players in their team.
X-Mail, were handicapped from the start as injuries and several players pulling out of the trip, forced the team to recruit players from Philippines to make the team. Two key players who were injured but made the trip and were reduced to supporters were team captain Hasnul Ramlan Khairuddin and V. Kalimutu. The absence of these two key players were drastically felt by the team.
Five players from Philippines joined the X-Mail team goalkeeper Robert Choa, defender Alberto Salvacion, midfielder Eduardo Perez and Antonio Belmonte Bayona and striker Jesse Risalie S, Ricabo.
In the Group matches, X-Mail won one, lost two and one game had to be called off at halftime due to injuries to X-Mail players and could not raise the minimum seven players to restart the second-half.
X-Mail donated the challenge trophy and the replica trophy for the champion, courtesy of Datuk Seri Abdullah Hishan.
The 3rd Philippines-Malaysia Veteran Soccer tournament will be hosted by X-Mail next year in Kuala Lumpur in May.

 The X-Mail team with soccer players and teachers from Handumanan Elementary School after the presentation of Milo drinks and T-Shirts, Bata shoes, jerseys, balls and bags at the school hall.


X-Mail VFC also played a friendly match in Manila on June 1 at the Clark Base against the Clark International FC where it played to a 2-2 draw.
X-Mail VFC would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and supporters, Nestle Malaysia, Bata Malaysia, Best Western Premier Sewri Pacific Hotel, Olympic Sports Hotel, Malaysian Nanban, Edures Resources, UKRC, National Sports Institute, WRL Advertising, Tourism Malaysia and all who had assisted us in one way or other, in making our trip possible.

Blooming into a beautiful game

What started off an experimental tournament between Philippines and Malaysia has now become a permanent feature.

Last year, only four teams, including X-Mail Veteran, competed in the inaugural tournament in October.

The tournament saw X-Mail team bring the winning trophy, medals, souvenir T-Shirts and even the official programme for the competition.

This year, we have a brand new beautiful pewter Challenge Trophy donated by a strong supporter of X-Mail and a prominent figure in Malaysia, Dato’ Abdullah Hishan. He has also donated the replica trophy which the champion will keep.

The second edition of the tournament this year has also seen the number of teams competing grow from four to ten. Although the format has been changed from 11-a-side to 9-a-side, the tournament without doubt is gaining momentum and popularity.

While last year it was rekindling the fire in Philippines for X-Mail who have been having a long standing relationship with the Philippines FA dating back to 1991 when we competed in the inaugural Philippines Cup in Iloilo City, it is now going to be revisiting to forge a permanent relationship.

X-Mail, then known as The Malay Mail FC has besides the Philippines Cup played several friendly matches in Manila too. We have also had hosted the Philippines national in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

The X-Mail Veterans have a long history which dates back to 1987 when The Malay Mail soccer team was formed to compete in the Kuala Lumpur FA Dunhill League.

Infact, the team itself had been in existence since the 70s, when it was known as the New Straits Times team, which competed in the annual NST/Straits Times Singapore annual games.

The Malay Mail team itself started with employees of the New Straits Times, The Malay Mail and Berita Harian, as club team competing in the KL Dunhill League. Starting off in 1987, playing in the domestic league, the team’s achievement saw it  become the first club team from the city of Kuala Lumpur to qualify for the BIG League – The Malaysian League to play in the Division Two - as KL Malay Mail FC.

Over the years, the team has evolved from a company team to club team and finally a Semi-Pro team playing in the M-League Division Two from 2000 – 2002.

However, the end of 2003, saw the end of The Malay Mail team after almost 15 years in existence owing to financial problems – the team had to source for it’s own funds and did not receive any monetary aid from the newspapers. Infact, it was wonder that the team survived for 15 years on a shoe-string budget which shamed many top teams in Malaysia.

Last year in May, saw the rebirth of the Malay Mail team, but as veterans.

Not wanting to let such a rich tradition and history suffer a natural death, players who have at one time or other played for The Malay Mail team with in the Dunhill League, FAM Cup, FA Cup or M-League Division 11, were invited to play in a friendly match against a local community club UKRC, who also have a longstanding relationship with X-Mail.

Some 200 players have played for The Malay Mail team over the years, which included several top names like Dahlan Zainuddin, R. Subramaniam, Zainal Abidin Hassan, K. Kannan, M. Pavalamani, Chow Siew Yai, See Kim Seng, Subadron Aziz, S. Silvarajoo, Lim Teong Kim, S. Balachandran, Mohd Faridzul Kassim, S. Tamilarasan, K. Viajantheran, Ramlan Askolani, V. Suresh and N. Suresh to name a few. Many young players too have graduated from our team to become national players and two of them include Mohamad Imran and S. Surenthiran.

For the historical veteran’s friendly match against UKRC last May some 30 odd players, who are true blue Malay Mail players who decided to keep the flame of the team burning and turned up.

The rest is history. The team decided to return to Philippines as veterans last October and the inaugural Philippines-Malaysia Veteran Soccer Tournament was born.

Last year, despite a depleted side, X-Mail managed to finish runners-up to host Bacolod United FC.

Last year's team before the final

 This year, we have come as a truly Malaysia-Philippines team because we have four Filipino guest players to underline our true comradeship with Philippines.

Hopefully, we will do better than last year, but with the competition expected to be much tougher, we will be happy just to be a good participant to ensure to the success of the tournament.

T

The team thanking the supporters after the final

But we are looking forward to next year, when we will be hosting the 3^rd Philippines-Malaysia International Veterans Soccer Festival, where we hope to invite teams from other Asean countries too. We hope Philippines will be represented by a few teams as we try to return the great hospitality shown to us in Bacolod City.

Here’s wishing all the participating teams all the very best and may the team that plays in the best spirit of the game with Fair Play being held to the highest order, and survive the tournament with their fitness and true classy display, win the tournament.

Selamat!

The team for this year's tournament:

Team X-Mail: Tengku Noriza Tengku Ramli (Team President); Tony Mariadass (Manager/Coach); Alwin Rajasurya (Asst.Manager); Athoneysamy Lourdusamy; Chandrawathie Farmadsa (Team Officials)

Goalkeepers: Fareez Prem Raj; Robert Choa; Defenders: Hasnul Ramlan Khairuddin (Team Captain); Masaaud Zain; Md Mashraf Mustakim; R. Subramaniam; Midfielders: V. Kalimutu; P. Vijian; Eduardo Perez; Strikers: Anto Richard Gomez; U. Supramaniam; Alberto Salvacion, Jesse Risalieu S. Ricabo.

 Footnote:

The team departs on Thursday midnight for the tournament and will make a stop-over in Manila on June 1st and 2nd. On June 1, they will play a friendly match at Clark Air Base Parade ground against Clark International FA

 

X-Mail do their bit for charity at the Philippines-Malaysia Veteran Soccer Tournament

Your source of Philippine community news

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:55:26 p.m.

THE X-Mail Veteran football club (FC), will be making some contributions to the soccer team of Handumanan Elementary School on Monday after the end of the 2nd Philippines-Malaysia International Veteran Soccer Festival in Bacolod City on May 29-30.
The X-Mail FC is no newcomers to Bacolod City, having come here regularly in the 90s to compete in the Philippines Cup soccer tournament.
Now, this team from the Malay Mail newspaper return to continue their longstanding friendship with Bacolod City, as veteran soccer players.

 Led by team leader and coach Tony Mariadass, who was instrumental in reviving the relationship between Bacolod City and X-Mail team last year, when the inaugural Philippines-Malaysian veteran soccer tournament was started, has always had a soft spot for assisting the development of soccer in Bacolod City.
Last year, the team had also made a similar presentation to Handumanan Elementary School at the Panaad Stadium during the tournament, through the assistance of former Philippines Football Association secretary-general, Edward Magalona, a good friend of Mariadass, when they competed in last year's tournament.

 Last year's presentation to Handumanan Elementary School at the Panaad Stadium

 Among the contributions they made included jerseys, soccer balls and donations from Milo which included T-Shirts and Milo drink sachets.
 This year, X-Mail will go to the school to make the presentation which will include contributions from Milo and Bata, who have graciously sponsored shoes for the poor children.
"This is our small contribution to the development of soccer in Bacolod City especially in assisting poor children who love the game of soccer but are hampered to progress because of lack of equipment because they cannot afford it," said Mariadass
 "It may be a small contribution, but we will return happy that we have made some contribution to help the poor children enjoy the game of soccer better.
"We thank sponsors Milo and Bata, who are leading sponsors and contributors to sports in Malaysia, especially at the grassroots level, to have come forward to assist us in realizing our hopes to help the children in Bacolod City."
The entire X-Mail team will be present at a simple presentation ceremony at 9am on May 31 at the Handumanan Elementary School campus. (HCV)

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on May 17, 2010.

X-Mail Veteran Soccer Team

THE X-MAIL TEAM WHO MADE THEIR DEBUT IN THE IFC INTERNATIONAL SOCCER 9S

(from left - squatting) - K. Viajatheran, K. Ramachandran, Hasnul Ramlan Khairuddin, Lee Ban Tat.

(from left standing) - V.Kalimuthu, P. Vijian, Masaaud Zain, Md Mashraff Mustakim, P. Alagenthiran, R. Subramaniam, U. Supramaniam, Anto Gomez. (Not in Pix) Fareez Prem, S. Tamilarasan.

MG SEEN IN ACTION WITH LEE BAN TAT AND VIAJATHERAN IN THE BACKGROUND AGAINST GRASSHOPERS FC

ANXIOUS MOMENTS........ (from left) Tamilarasan and Vijantheran look on as Kalimuthu and Lee Ban Tat go different ways to clear the ball

X-Mail who made their debut in the IFC International 9s at Club Aman early this month, will be competing in the 2nd Philippines-Malaysia Soccer Festival at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City from May 29-30.
The tournament in Bacolod City was initiated last year in October by the former Malay Mail FC team where four teams competed.
This year there will be 16 teams competing with two teams so far from Malaysia - X-Mail Veterans and Sabah Journalists Association (SJA).