Kannan quits

STRIKER K. Kannan has quit Singapore soccer. He's looking across the
Causeway again.
Kannan's decision comes a day after skipper T. Pathmanathan announced
his retirement.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I have to come to this decision,"
said the 30-year-old Kannan. "I have given it a lot of thought."
Kannan said that among the main reasons for his decision were because
the Singapore Press and fans caused a lot of damage to his playing career.
"Some journalists said they're out to get me. They wait for me to play
badly and criticise me endlessly. When I do well, not a word is mentioned.
There's just no fair play.
"As for the fans, I am sick of being accused of selling matches. Every
time I play a bad match, I'm faced with these accusations.
"I've never even been offered money to fix games. Not in Singapore or
even when I was with KL."
He said that betting on soccer matches has become a national past-time
in Singapore and that puts tremendous pressure on the national team.
Kannan also wants to concentrate on his job with a sports goods company,
Hawk Sports.
However, Kannan said that soccer is still very much in his blood and
that is why he will still continue playing in the local league in
Singapore. He turns out for Geylang International.
"I'm leaving my options open. I'll play for Malaysian States if I'm
needed. I also want to take up a coaching course to improve my technical
knowledge of the game. I can make a good coach especially among the young
players," he added.
Kannan believes he played his best soccer with KL. He spent six seasons
with them.
"I believe my poor form this season with Singapore was because I had
given my best with KL. While in KL I set a high standard for myself and I
was unable to match that with Singapore."
He has two Malaysia Cup winners' medals. That came in 1987-88. The
following year Kannan returned to Singapore to be with his ailing father.
Kannan also won the Golden Boots award in 1987 with 15 goals.
However, he has only scored three goals this season with Singapore - his
worst performance since first playing in the Malaysia Cup 12 years ago.
"My conditioning this year has not been to expectations. I feel I let
myself and coach P. Sivaji down this year."
However, Kannan also said that he has always down well with foreign
coaches.
"Strangely all have been Czech coaches when I played for Kuala Lumpur
for six seasons. Look at Zainal Abidin Hassan, Dollah Salleh and Fandi
Ahmad. Foreign coaches have helped their careers too.
"They know how to prepare not for a 90-minute match, but for a full
season. And they can get results by adopting a personal and professional
approach.
"From Dr. Josef Venglos, Josef Jankech and Milous Kvacek. They have been
marvellous," he said.

AFC: Quality first (The Malay Mail)

THE increasing number of Asian countries expected to adhere to the call by
the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to go professional or
semi-professional is going to further attract foreign players.
 To this effect, the AFC have expressed concern on the quality of such
players.
 "Most of the countries who have gone professional or semi-professional
have a restriction on foreign players, so the flow is controlled," said
AFC secretary general Peter Velappan.
 "Their presence does not threaten the livelihood of the locals.
 "Asian countries are aware going pro or semi-pro will raise the standard
of soccer. But local players must be involved. Foreigners are mainly to
add strength and glamour."
 Velappan expressed concern on the flow of average foreign players into
the Asian market.
 AFC were also concerned that clubs were dealing with soccer agents not
recognised by Fifa.
 Velappan said that AFC and even national associations can help clubs get
good foreign players.
 "National associations with good contacts in Europe will certainly have
good relationships with clubs to assist in loaning quality players.
 "If there are problems, we can help out.
 "Clubs can establish direct contact with their overseas counterparts and
request for assistance. It is easier than dealing with agents."
 Velappan said many top clubs in Europe are having difficulties managing
big squads, especially with reserves who are good but cannot find a place
in the first team. Their balance sheet at the end of the year normally
runs into deficits.
 "These clubs will be more than happy to loan players for free or even
nomimal fees. This way Asian clubs can be assured of quality players."
 Velappan said clubs can even go a step further by arranging exchange
programmes or training stints.
 He said some of the foreign players who turn up for trials are of a low
standard, perhaps no better than local Div One players.
                              (END)

Give us a break (The Malay Mail)

 LOCAL soccer coaches drew flak at the Semi-Pro seminar at Genting
Highlands recently forcing several moves to he taken to upgrade their
standard.
    One of the moves is in introduce graded coaches among FAM advance
certificate holders.
    The technical and youth development committee, chaired by the Tengku
Mahkota of Pahang, then ruled that all current holders of the FAM advanced
certificate will not be good enough to coach Semi-Pro teams. This rule is
effective from next season.
    All current holders of the advanced certificate will be classified as
Grade B licensed coaches who will be elligible to coach youth teams. Those
who want to coach Semi-Pro teams will have to sit for another course to
get the Grade A licence.
    The Tengku Mahkota did not mince his words when he said Malaysia have
to produce coaches just as good as their foreign counterparts. He said the
standard of local coaches has stagnated.
    To make matters worse, there is an imbalance between local and
foreign Semi-Pro coaches.
    Of the 16 teams competing this season in both divisions, ten have
foreign coaches.
    In Div One are Michael Urukalo (Johor), Len Ashurst (Pahang), Oldrich
Sedlack (Sabah) Milan Hanko (Negri)) and Allan Vest (Sarawak).
    The local coaches are Chan Sze Onn (Perak), Chow Kwai Lam (KL),
Mazlan Harun (Selangor) and Abdullah Mohammed (Terengganu).
    Singapore have Milous Kvacek.
    The remaining five foreign coaches are in Div Two. They are : Robert
Albert (Kedah), Heese Horst (Kelantan), Bragego Bratic (Penang), Ken
Morten (Police) and Marko Bilic (Malacca)
    The two local coaches are: Khidir Buyong (Forces) and Mohamad Che Su
(Perlis).
    Second Division's Brunei is coached by Hussein Al-Juned of Singapore.
    MAZLAN HARUN: Malaysian soccer has survived and did well with local
coaches in the past. We even did well internationally.
    Take Selangor for instance. We have always been the soccer power in
Malaysian soccer and with the local coaches.
    Suddenly there is an influx of foreign coaches while locals have
taken a back-seat.
    I still believe that unless local coaches are given the confidence,
we cannot develop calibre coaches.
    Besides, some foreign coaches, who are here, are not all that good
themselves.
    But to a certain extent I have to admit that some of our local
coaches lack ability in spotting talent and developing it.
    Maybe we should work in this area so that local coaches have a better
eye for talent.
    Otherwise, I feel local coaches should be given recognition.
    CHOW KWAI LAM: More local coaches should be given responsibility to
handle teams if the standard of Malaysian coaches is to rise. How can
local coaches learn if they are not given the opportunity to handle teams.
    More and more teams are placing their faith in foreign coaches and
some them are no better than our local coaches.
    There is definitely no uniformity with coaches from different
countries.
    Maybe, a better way would be to have one highly qualified foreign
coach at the helm of Malaysian soccer to conduct courses for local state
coaches.
    This was the case when Dave McLaren was here in the late 60s and Karl
Weigang in the late 70s. And both occasions the national team went to do
well to qualify for the 1972 Munich Olympics and 1980 Moscow Olympics.
    I am not against the presence of foreign coaches here, but probably
we should be selective and only get the best.
    And most foreign coaches, handling State teams, are not really
interested in the development of the game in the country but short term
results.
    But there are already several coaches in Malaysia who have a licensed
certificate from Germany.
    Besides myself, there is Mohamad Bakar (Penang), Abdullah Mohammad
and Abdul Rahman lbrahim (both Terengganu) and Mahadi Yusof (Kelantan).
Our gradings should be recognised and maybe we can just attend a refresher
course.
    KHAIDIR BUYONG: Local coaches are said to be not good enough, but
they are not given the freedom to handle teams as foreign coaches are.
    I am sure if local coaches are given the same privileges and rights,
they too can produce results.
    For example, a foreign coach is given permission to hire any foreign
player he wants and form the team the way he wants with no interference at
all.
    But local coaches cannot do the same.
    Besides, team officials have a bigger say. Local coaches are not paid
as well, and do not recieve the same perks as foreign coaches.
    ABDULLAH MOHAMAD: Foreign coaches do not necessarily spell success
and this his been proven in the three seasons of Semi-Pro league. There
have been foreign coaches whose teams have finished worse off than teams
coached by foreigners.
    In this respect, I feel local coaches should have been given the
benefit of being involve in our top league so that they too can learn and
improve.
    Unless confidence is placed on local coaches, they are definitely not
going to improve because they do not have the opportunities.
    Thus it is unfair to compare local coaches with foreign coaches.
    CHAN SZE ONN: Local coaches should be assessed against foreign
coaches with the same terms and conditions. But this is not the case.
Local coaches work under restrictions, while foreign coaches have
free-rein.
    I am glad I have been given an opportunity to handle the Perak team,
after a foreigner (Marko Bilic) last year. I will definitely do my best to
prove that local coaches can do as well, if not better than foreigners.
    As for the grading of coaches, I feel it is always good to learn
something new. I am sure if there is going to be a grading among advanced
certificite holders, there will be something new to be imparted.
    But maybe an exception could be given to coaches who have advanced
certificates for sometime now and have been actively involved. Probably a
refresher's course will suffice.
    MOHAMAD CHE SU: There is a growing tendency to believe that if
something is foreign it is good. This is not necessarily the case
especially in soccer. If it is the best of the foreign coaches who come
here, it will be good for the game, players and local coaches.
    But in most cases, foreign coaches are average ones and some of our
local coaches are better.
    As for grading of advanced certificate holders, I will definitely not
attend because at 52, I cannot possibly be as active as the younger
coaches.
    Besides, with wider experience, senior coaches should be exempted.
Probably refresher course will just serve the purpose of informing coaches
on the latest development in coaching. But asking them to go through
physical drills and examinations would be asking too much of senior
coaches.
    MICHAEL URUKALO and ALLAN VEST: We foreign coaches are here because
we want to help Malaysian soccer. Our services have been sought and we
have no qualms about coming here to impart whatever knowledge we have
gained over the years from wherever we come from.
    The foreign coaches Malaysian states have got are equivalent to what
they are prepared to pay for.
    Of course, one cannot expect to get a World Cup coach.
    But those who have taken up an appointment, I must say they are
qualified and have their own merits and credentials.
    Afterall, State FAs had the last say in employing them. So I see no
reason why there should be any complaints.
    To say that foreign coaches are not interested in the development of
the game here is wrong.
     Again it falls back to the State FAs. It all depends on what the
State FAs want from foreign coaches. Most Stae FAs offer shorts and want
immediate results. Under the circumstances, foreign coaches do at they
have to do - assemble experienced players and recruit talented and
experienced foreign players.
    One cannot have development and success at the same time.
    If it is development the State FAs want, then they must be prepared
to hire coaches for a longer period.
    In any case, even if coaches are here for short periods, most of them
still conduct clinics for local coaches and help out in the youth
development programmes. But sometimes, the heavy Semi-Pro league
commitment simply makes it impossible for foreign coaches to concentrate
on other areas.
    On the subject of there being no uniformity because there are foreign
coaches from many countries, I suppose it has two sides.
    The variety of coaching means producing a variety of players. This
should certainly be welcomed because then the national selectors will have
a variety of players to choose from.
    Local coaches too can benefit as they get a variety too. There is
always a local coach attached to us and he can pick up useful tips.
    But it is a fact that foreign coaches have produced results here and
that alone should underline the fact that foreign coaches have done their
jobs well.
    Of course not all foreign coaches can win a title because there are
only three titles - League Cup, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup - and there are
definitely more than three foreign coaches.
    Some have to win and some have to lose and that is the name of the
game.
    But we are sure that each one of us has done or will be doing our
jobs to the best of our abilities with the aim to see the teams we coach
do well.
     I do not think anyone of us is here for a holiday.
    Soccer is in our blood and that is why we are here.
    Any success here will add to our credentials and local coaches should
not treat us as aliens, but to work closely for the benefit of Malaysian
soccer.
    Just like local coaches, we have a job to do, and do it well.
                              (END)

MM soccer team gets boost from sponsors (The Malay Mail)

THE Sharp-Malay Mail soccer team receive an extra boost yesterday from
Sharp Roxy and Antioni, with their sponsorship of cash and wear.
    Sharp Roxy is sponsoring the team for the second season - $20,000
plus bonuses of up to $12,000 - if it wins the various tournaments played
while Antioni is giving away $20,000 worth of sports wear and bags.
    New Straits Times Press managing director Khalid Ahmad received a
mock cheque from Sharp Roxy's senior manager in the corporate public
relations and product productions promotions section, Encik Mohamad Salleh
Aziz, at Balai Berita yesterday.
    Antioni sales manager Elson Moey later gave a jersey to Malay Mail
editor Salehuddin Othaman as token.
    The Sharp-Malay Mail team emerged champions in the Kuala Lumpur
Dunhill League and runner-up in the Philippines Cup tournament in Manila
this year.
                              (END)

Hard road to glory

FILIPINA Lydia De Vega-Mercado would have been an also-ran today instead
of being sprint queen of South-East Asia if not for one month of solid
training.
To others, a month's training may seem insignificant. But to Lydia,
it made a world of difference.
On Saturday, Lydia, once the fastest woman in Asia found himself in
the unfamiliar position of having to upset favourite G. Shanti of
Malaysia.
The training was so crucial for Lydia that she could not even afford
to cut short by an hour. It was for this reason that she skipped the torch
handing ceremory in Kuala Lumpur last month because of a squabble with the
Philippines officials as reported.
Her 100m win has silanced critics who felt she was over the hill.
Above all she won the gold for Philippines in front of the packed Rizal
Memorial Stadium.
Lydia's father Francisco, who is also her coach, said: "It would have
been personal glory for Lydia to go for the torch handing ceremony.
"But winning the Sea Games gold is national pride. We have no regrets
in skipping the trip to Malaysia for the torch handing ceremony despite
some adverse comments."
Lydia said: "My condition was just satisfactory during the Singapore
Open and ATP in Kuala Lumpur.
"I was all along training to peak for the Sea Games. I am glad that I
achieved what I had set out to do."
Lydia said Shanti, who beat her at the ATF meet, was also distracted
by the presence of Elma.
"She (Shanti) paid more attention to Elma and this helped me.
"My lane position also helped. I was in lane seven while Ratjai
Sripet (Thailand) and Shanti were in two and three. With Elma in lane
four, they were watching her.
"This allowed me to run my own race and come from behind."
Shanti, who took the silver, said: "I was really concentrating on
Elma, who had a strong start, and the next thing I knew, Lydia came from
behind.
"Lydia ran well. She has really improved since the ATF."
Francisco, who was confident Lydia would beat Shanti, said: "With the
training Lydia had gone throught and looking at Shanti's style of running,
we were confident of taking her out.
"Shanti is powerful runner but she does not finish well because of
her awkward arm action."
Lydia will clash again with Shanti in the 200m tomorrow but she is
modest about her chances.
"I think Shanti will win this one because I am not a strong 200m
runner. My main aim was the 100m. If I win the 200m, it would be a bonus,"
said Lydia.
Shanti, determined to turn the tables on Lydia in the 200m said:
"After my defeat in the 100m, I am going flat".

Dinner for Filipino soccer players (The Malay Mail)

MEMBERS of the Philippines Sea Games soccer squad tuck into dinner hosted
by New Straits Times Sports Club president, Encik Khalid Hj Ahmad, at
Balai Berita last night.
    Also present was Kuala Lumpur coach Milous Kvacek (second from left)
and his wife, Elizabeth.
    The Philippines soccer team, led by Philppines Soccer Federation
secretary-general Edward Magalonna had earlier played a friendly match
against the Sharp-Malay Mail team at the Petronas Sports Complex in Bangi.
    Sharp-Malay Mail won 4-2.
    The Philipines team are on a 10-day training-cum-friendly matches
stint hosted by the FA of Malaysia.
    They return to Manila on Friday.
                                 (END)

Birthday boy Platt glad to be back (The Malay Mail)

ENGLAND midffelder David Platt will be celebrating his 25th birthday today
in Kuala Lumpur, but it is not the first time he will be celebrating his
birthday away from home, reports TONY MARIADASS.
   Platt arrived with the England team last night from New Zealand to
play their last match - against the Malaysian team - of their four-match
tour.
   They had earlier beaten Australia 1-0 and New Zealand 1-0 and 2-0.
   For Platt, who plays for Aston Villa, this is his second visit to
Kuala Lumpur in a month.
   Last month, Platt was here with the Aston Villa team, who played
Kuala Lumpur, and scored a goal in their 2-1 victory. Earlier, he had
played in Kuching against Sarawak.
   However, Platt did not stay back for the match against the national
team which Villa won 4-0 as he had to return to England to don national
colours against Russia.
   Platt said that he was happy to be back in Malaysia.
   "I had very good impressions of Malaysia when I was here last month
and I am glad that I am back again," said the friendly Platt.
   On his birthday today, Platt said that nothing special was being
organised.
   "I am so used to celebrating my birthday away from home and I really
do not make anything out of it.
   "The last time I celebrated my birthday away from home was in Italy
last year during the World Cup."
   On the match against Malaysia, Platt said that all the players,
including himself, are looking forward to it.
   "We really do not know who will be playing on Wednesday as the
manager (Graham Taylor) has still not decided on the lineup.
   "But it I am on the list, I definitely want to do well in fact, all
of us want to do well and keep our 11-match unbeaten record under Taylor
intact.
   "This match against Malaysia is of significance to us because this
will be the last match of this season. Thus, we want to end it on a
winning note after which we will be looking forward to the European
championships."
   * Meanwhile, David Platt was looking forward to working under the new
manager of Aston Villa, Ron Atkinson.
   "I had worked under Ron as a youth with Manchester United during the
1984/85 season," said Platt.
   "But I was just a youth player then and saw no first team action with
Manchester United.
   "However, I enjoved every minute under Ron and am looking forward to
working under him again as a first team member."
   On Josef Venglos resignation, Platt said that it was a difficult year
for the Czechoslovakian World Cup coach.
                                 (END)