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.

Kana does his bit (The Malay Mail)

ANYONE passing Jalan Cheras opposite the JKR fields will not miss
Kanagarajah holding court every Saturday and Sunday between 4pm and 7pm.
   And both the KL and Selangor FAs have K.Kanagaraja to thank if they
get a steady stream of junior players from Cheras with polished skill and
technique.
   The 33-year-old former Selangor winger is doing what many former
State and internationals are not - coaching schoolchildren and for free.
   Four months ago, Kanagaraja, who hails from Cheras, decided to hold
coaching clinics for children staying around the 3rd mile at the JKR field
on weekends.
   From between 15 to 30 children, the groups has swelled to about 150
kids in just four months.
   "I didn't have the heart to turn anyone away, especially when they
came prepared with their gear and jerseys," said Kanagaraja.
   It is difficult coaching 150 kids at a time, but he copes, with
assistance from friends in the Pemuda Cheras team."
   Kanagaraja also coaches Pemuda Cheras who are in the Selangor Div 2.
   Last month he attended an eight-day preliminary coaching course
conducted by FAS/FAM and headed by N. Raju.
   "Coming from the same neighbourhood. I knew what a tough place it is
to grow up here. Without proper guidance, many children have gone the
wrong path and ruined their lives.
   "I wanted to do my bit to help them indulge in something healthy and
beneficial," said Kanagaraja. "The children of Cheras were keen on
playing soccer but had little or no guidance.
   "This was my chance to impart whatever I had learnt while playing for
Selangor for eight years," added Kanagaraja who lost played for the State
in 1985.
   News of the weekend clinics spread. Soon he had children from
Cochrane, Kampong Pandan, Jalan Shaw, San Peng, Bandar Tun Razak, Sungei
Besi and Jalan Peel.
   The kids' ages range from seven to 18. Many are eager to learn the
game and play better, but there are a good number who are talented and
will make good footballers.
   Kanagaraja divides the kids into several groups according to their
ages and skills. The older boys are made group leaders and carry on the
sessions while he attends to other groups.
   Kanagarajah is doing this for the love of the game and as his
contribution to the youth in the area.
   Kanagaraja may not have played for the nation, but he has earned the
respect of his charges. They affectionally call him `Abang' and give 100
percent attention.
   Kanagaraja could do with some assistance, in the form of more balls,
some cones and T-shirts. Presently, he only has 10 balls to work with.
   Eight are from his club Pemuda Cheras and two donated by well-wishers
Perumal and Periasamy of Cheras.
   FAS vice-president R. Ramalingam, who has heard of Kanagaraja's
efforts, has already asked him to collect five training balls from their
office.
   But more can be done to help Kanagaraja, so that the children who
turn up faithfully every weekend will realise their dreams of being a top
footballer one day.
                            (END)