WAWASAN 2020 AND DESTINY FDC STOLE THE SHOW

4^TH TAN SRI HAMIDIN MOHD AMIN CHALLENGE TROPHY XMAIL FC VETERAN / 2^ND UNDER 16, 9S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS

WAWASAN 2020 AND DESTINY FDC SHINE

DEBUTANTS Wawasan 2020 and Destiny Football Development Centre  won the 4^th Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin Challenge Trophy Xmail FC Veteran / 2^nd Under 16, 9s Football Tournaments respectively at the Melwood Arena, Sungei Buluh on Saturday.

It was also the first for the new named tournament, as it changed name from the Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin / X Mail FC Veterans 9s football tournament to Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin Challenge Trophy tournament.

The change came about when on Sept 7, Datuk Hamidin, the FA of Malaysia president, was conferred the title of Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota ((P.S.M) which carries the title of Tan Sri, by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in conjunction with his official birthday.

This year, the tournament was held at the Melwood Arena in Sungei Buluh, following the inaugural tournament in Kuala Kubu Bharu in 2021, followed by in Taiping and last year in Ipoh.

The Tan Sri Hamidin Challenge trophies donated by the FA of Malaysia president, also saw the introduction of a Under-16 tournament with another Challenge Trophy last year.

Last year saw the participation of a foreign team for the first time in the Veteran’s category - Bacolod United - from the Philippines,  but unfortunately they could not come this year.

Organised by the Kuala Lumpur XMail Veterans FC, the tournament saw eight invited teams in each category, compete in the one-day tournament, at the beautiful and scenic Melwood Arena surrounded by hills and forest.

The tournament kicked off with a march past of participating teams with each team carrying the 14 state flags and Malaysian flag to commemorate the Malaysia Day tomorrow (Sept 16) and sang the national anthem and Selangor state anthem to honour the tournament was held in Selangor.

ASP Rajendran Kanhiah from Shah Alam Police, who is the Malaysian Indian Football Association deputy president and president of victorious team Wawasan 2020 club president, was the guest of honour for the opening ceremony.

On Friday night, Tan Sri Hamidin was present for the welcome dinner at Royal Selangor Club Sports Annex at Bukit Kiara.

In his address he had said: “I am glad to see small clubs organise tournaments like this, especially age-group tournaments to unearth our young talent and give them competition exposure.

“As for the veterans, it is good to still see them in the game, which helps them keep fit and healthy, while still active in the game,” said Tan Sri Hamidin.

“As this tournament also incorporates the U16 tournament, the veteran players should serve as example for the youngsters with their discipline in the game, fair play play, besides displaying their vintage skills,” said Tan Hamidin with a cheeky laugh.

Tan Sri Hamidin handing over the Veteran's Challenge trophy to Christopher Raj

The teams who competed on Sunday in the veteran category for players 45 years and above category, were host XMail FC Veterans, Melwood Boys FC, Club Aman, UM Legends, Wawasan 2020, Rain FC, MCFA and Sportwriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)

While in the Under-16 teams the teams who competed were My World Hunters FA Academy (Penang), Black Leopard FA (KL), CIMB YFA (KL), DTFT (Selangor), KR7 FC (Malacca), Destiny FDC (Selangor) ,Wira MAS Ipoh (Perak) and PD U Rangers FC (Port Dickson, NS). 

Tan Sri Hamidin officially handing over the u16 Challenge trophy to ex-international V. Kalimutu at the official dinner

The teams were divided into two Groups in each category at the draw on Friday namely for veterans - Group A: UM Legends, XMail FC, Wawasan 2020 an Rain FC and in Group B:Club Aman, Melwood FC, Malaysian Chinese Football Association (MCFA) and Sportwriters Association of Malaysia (SAM).

VETERAN SEMIFINALS - CLUB AMAN AND WAWASAN 2020

SAM

In the Under-16 category in Group A were PD U Rangers, KR&, My World, Destiny FDC and Group B were DTFT CIMB YFA, Wira Emas and Black Leopards.

After the Group preliminary league round in their respective Groups, the top two teams qualified for the Championship semifinals, while the third placed and fourth team played in the Plate semifinals.

In the Veteran final, both the teams - Wawasan 2020 and Rain FC - were from Group A.

In the Group match both teams played to 0-0 draw and in final after the game was tied again at 1-1, it had to be decided by penalty kicks and Wawasan 2020 won 3-2

In the semifinals, it was close encounters as Wawasan 2020 beat Club Aman 1-0 and Rain FC also won by a similar score (1-0) beating Melwood Boys.

In the Plate Final, hosts Xmail beat UM Legends 3-1 and in their earlier meeting in the Group match had defeated UM Legends 4-1.

Individual prizes for the veterans were as follows:

Best Goalkeeper: Mohamed Redzuan (Rain FC)

Top Scorer of the Tournament: K. Nanthakumar - 5 goals (XMail FC KL)

Man-of-the match in the Final: Murugarajoo Muniandy

 (Wawasan 2020)

Fair Play Trophy: UM Legends

The top scorer for both the veteran and Under-16 category received a return air-ticket each courtesy of  Trans Nusa, besides a trophy.

The man-of-the match (final) received Puma goods besides the trophy.

In the Under-16 category, the final although keenly contested by Destiny FDC and CIMB YFA, it was marred with some  rough play which certainly did not angur well for youth level development

The final witnessed by Christopher Raj, representing Tan Sri Hamidin, who is the FAM Exco member and also was the national Under-16 team manager,  was certainly not pleased with what he saw, although he was impressed with the talent.

CIMB YFA’s coach Gobi was red carded for entering the field when their goalkeeper was injured and floor without referee’s call and uttered some unpleasanteries to the referee, while Destiny’s Micha Foo was red carded for rough play- it was the tournament’s only red to a player.

Destiny wrested the title with a 2-0 win ( Adam Danish and Zafran Rasfan) and went on to win several individual awards - Top Scorer - Ahmad Zaref Kamabarin (4 goals); Best Goalkeeper (Ashraf Rashid) and Man-of-the match in final (Adam Danish).

Destiny, based in Shah Alam, is a well established club under leadership of founder and managing director Aylwin Henry Skelchy, whose clubs have close ties with German clubs.

Four of their players in the team, had just returned from a playing tour of Germany.

The Fairplay Trophy was awarded to Black Leopard.

The champions for the Veterans category took home RM2,500.00, runners-up RM1,500.00, the third placed RM750.00 and fourth placed RM400.00 and medals.

The champions of both veteran and U16 categories were also given a take-away champion trophy.

For the Losers Pool final, the winner received RM400.00 and the loser RM300.00 and medals.

For the Under 16 category, prize money was offered this year.

The the champion received RM800.00, runners-up RM500.00, the third placed RM300.00 and fourth placed RM200.00 and medals.

For the Losers Pool final, the winner received RM200.00 and the loser RM100.00 and medals.

The inaugural champions of the veteran tournament was Huaren FC, followed by XMail FC and last year Navashini Ipoh.

The inaugural Under-16 champion was Ipoh City Council.

The tournament was made possible with personal contribution of supporters and well wishers of the XMail team and several regular sponsors who are friends of XMail FC.

Among the sponsors include ShekhinahPR who was largely instrumental in the tournament being organised this year , Ampersand Advisory, 100 Plus/ Borneo Springs, Milo, TransNusa, Flash Sukan, HA Megah Technology Sdn Bhd, BNT Recycle Sdn Bhd and KR Travels.

FAM deputy president Datuk Siva Sundaram presenting at souvenir to Kerwin Lim (Nestles)

It was indeed and exciting edition with interesting battles are on card in both categories, as teams have submitted formidable teams.

The veteran category see several ex-state, ex-national juniors and ex-international competing.

Among them include K. Nathankumar, Paidiya Rao, S. Saravanan, Lee Ban Tat, A. Muralitharan, S. Jayaprakash, M. Chandran, Ismail Ibrahim and Asmawi  Bakiri to name a few.  

The tournament moves every year to a new venue to bring the game to all States including Sabah and Sarawak in the near future.

SAGGA BROTHERS IN ARMS

SAGGA BROTHERS UNITED 

It was a nostalgic event when an estate football team of the 60s in Negri Sembilan - Sagga Brothers - organised a get together at the Sagga Estate field, which was the home ground - to honour seven founders of the club on Sunday morning.

It was indeed a heart warming and emotional gathering for many who had not seen each other for a long time and to be honoured by the new third generation players and official of the Sagga Brothers team.

Founded in 1966 by two brothers who were from the Sagga estate - the late  K. Jayabalan and Gunasekaran - the team catered for players from three nearby estates - Bradwell, Sagga and Siliau near Rantau.

What started as a recreational team for the estates boys to kick around in the evenings, Sagga Brothers, craved out a name for themselves in Negri Sembilan as a notable team, who won or finished among the top three teams in almost every tournament they competed.

Jayabalan opened the eyes of many about estate teams, when he donned Negri Sembilan colours and skippered the team.

In 1975, Jayabalan captained the  Negri team, who were known as “'Anak Negri Sembilan” to qualify for the Malaysia Cup semi-finals – 27 years after Negri last emerged as the champions in the then Malaya Cup in 1948.

Jayabalan, fullback, died after he collapsed on the field while turning out for his employers, TNB Seremban, in a friendly football game among veterans at the Kilat Club in Bangsar in October 2004, at a young age of 54-years-old. 

The fullback collapsed after 20 minutes of play and was rushed to the nearby Pantai Medical Centre but the TNB meter reader was pronounced dead upon arrival. 

Another player from Sagga Brothers who played for the state is K. Manohar.

From an estate team, Sagga became the nursery for many players to develop their skills and to play for top teams in the Negri Sembilan League and job opportunities arose too.

Among the teams Sagga Brothers played for include Postal NS, Negeri Sembilan Indian Association  (NSIA), Negeri Sembilan Police and NS Kilat.

S. Seenivasagam (above), one of seven founder players of Sagga Brothers, was the first to play for Postal and then got his teammate - S. Marimuthu - to join him.

Other who went on to play for NSIA were goalkeeper P.Krishnan Pillai and Michael Joseph, for NSFC - M. Govindarajoo, Bala, Murugan and K. Selvam - for Negri Sembilan Kilat - M. Siva, K. Muruges, Razak Anibah and K. Ravindran and for Police R. Arumugam.

Govindarajoo

The seven founder living members of Sagga Brothers who were honoured on Sunday were - Govindarajoo, Krishnan Pillai, Vellu, Marimuthu, Seenivasagam, Bala and Michel.

The meaningful event on Sunday was planned in a month, led by led by Razak and his committee members Govindarajoo, A. Batumalai, M. Rajasekar, M. Sivalingam, John S. Muthu, P. Rajendran, K. Rajendran and P. Ragunathan.

Razak fourth from left

“The idea to have this gathering to honour the founder and living members of the Sagga Brothers team was mooted just a month ago when a few members of the third generation of the Sagga Brothers met over coffee,” said Razak.

“We had a gathering in 2016 for a 50 year celebration at a restaurant, but this time around, we wanted to bring back the nostalgic feeling of having a gathering at the very Sagga field where we played and was part of our growing up life.

“We also wanted to get the players of the three generations to meet the players of yesteryear, as the team is slowed down these days.

“We are indeed grateful to the present management of the Sagga estate for allowing us to use the field and they even cut the overgrown long grass on the field which was not used these days.

“This field brings back great memories for all us. I am from the third generation of the team and I remember when we used to come to this field every evening before 5pm and start kicking around before the seniors arrived. When the seniors arrived we had to vacant the field and turned ball boys, as they played.

“We watched in awe the skills and talent of our seniors and only got to play alongside them when someone was injured or wanted out, and when they would call one of us to come on as substitute,” said Razak with a laugh.

“But eventually, we managed to find a place in the team and carried on the long standing tradition and standard of the team.

“Today is indeed a nostalgic day and brings back fond memories besides honouring our seniors.”

Seenivasam said: “Jayabalan and Gunasekeran who started the team for boys from the three nearby estates, so that we had something to do in the evening and keep us out of trouble.

“Both of them were strict disciplinarians and there was no nonsense with them. If anyone arrived a second after 5pm, he does not get to play. Anyone who uses foul language or fights in the field, would immediately asked to leave the field.

“I remember motorcycles and cars passing the road, would stop to see us training and play matches.

“Sometimes we will have more than 22 players and all played.”

 Datuk Rajendran said he was not a very good player but was given an opportunity to play.

“The field will be so crowded and if you get to touch the ball once, it would make my day,” said Rajendran.

Rajendran also suggested Sunday’s event should be made an annual event.

Govindarajoo said that many of the players have been asking to meet each other for sometime in their old age, and this event made many realise their dream.

“This is indeed a great gathering. Many whom we have not seen for a long time, have made time to be here. Some are not well and have problems walking, but they made it a point to be here. That speaks volumes of the comradeship of this team.”

P. Krishnan Pillai affectionately called PK (in purple jersey), said Sagga Brothers was a feared team those days.

“When we first started to play in tournaments in Negeri Sembilan, we used to be mocked as an ‘estate team’. But as time went on and we started to win tournaments, we were still called the ‘estate team’ but they respected us and would say ‘ the estate team is here to win again!

“We were called Sagga Brothers, because of us in the team came from different background, race and believes, but we all brothers.

“Sometimes matches turned ugly in the face of competition, but we solidly stood for each other and no team dared to mess around with us,” said PK who was known as the bodyguard of the team.

PK also recalled how the team used to travel for their matches or tournament in the estate lorry, which the management graciously loaned them.

“Those we great moments travelling in the lorry. We had great fun.

“We also had our own supporters from the estate for our matches.”

Datuk Ragunathan said he was from the estate and his first taste of football was on the Sagga field.

Today Ragunathan is a successful businessman and was instrumental in the formation of the  Interact Recreation Club (IRC) and the excellent facilities built with the collaboration of Bandar Sri Sendayan Tamil Primary School and the recent completion of the IRC arena adjacent to the school.

Ragunathan together with others like Batumalai and Gunalan are staunch supporters of Sagga Brother.

There were other names associated with Siliau estate and this include the former and later Asian Football Confederation general secretary, Datuk Peter Velappan and another former general secretary of AFC, Datuk Alex Soosay.

 Former international and coach, G. Toraioraju, was also from this area and played at the Sagga estate field before moving to Malacca.

The Sunday morning started with a small sided game among the founder members who still possessed some excellent ball skills, followed by presentation of souvenir plague, T shirt with the original logo of Sagga Brothers, garland and shawl and a cake cutting ceremony, recollection speeches by member by senior members of the team, followed by lunch. The event ended at 3pm with a promise to make it an annual event.

The guests at the event

Veteran teams have blossomed over the teams and there is even an association for the teams which was formed by N. Thashnamoorthy, from Rawang and has 80 teams as members.

But many probably do not have a history or nostalgic story to tell like the Sagga Brothers team.

Not a week goes by without a friendly veterans’ football match played over the weekend or public holidays, and there are at least two to three veteran’s tournaments organised around the country every month.

That’s how big Veterans football is these days and it only goes to show that football is deeply en-rooted in our Malaysian culture.

 

Kudos Sagga Brothers for your contribution to Malaysian football and for keeping the sporting and Malaysian spirit of togetherness alive.