DARE to VOICE OUT

Officially at full international level, Malaysia have yet to face Russia.

This might well eventualise in September's FIFA International Calendar month where FAM are hoping to arrange a Tier 1 encounter with the Russians.

Next month, the Russian national team will be touring the Far East and their initenary includes stopovers in Vietnam and Thailand.

The FAM are currently in liaison with the Russian FF and hopefully clinch a deal with them.

If things fall through, Russia are expected to fly over to KL where they meet Harimau Malaya at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

But this is all tentative and pending depending on whether the touring Russians are agreeable to a scheduled date.

Moscow have been banned from competing in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to their invasion of Ukraine.

And owing to this lock-out, Russia do not have competitive assignments to look forward to.

Besides, the European soccer Union also bar them from participating in the European Nations League and the Euro Championship.

To keep the Russian national footballers in fibre trim, a Far East tour was planned.

Peluang Harimau Malaya uji Russia | Berita Harian KUALA LUMPUR: Skuad Harimau Malaya berpeluang menguji pasukan di ranking ke-33 dunia, Russia pada jendela antarabangsa Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA), bulan depan.

Definitely not a Tier 1 International friendly by all means.

For JDT are merely an elite Malaysian club side comprising the best players assembled together.

Although the outcome did not favour Singapore, their Japanese mentor Tsutomu Ogura was not apparently unhappy.

" It was a training match and please don't ever read too much in my men's performance", Ogura pleaded, saying that playing a club outfit like JDT gives him a chance to spot the defects and flaws in Singapore's game and identify the best pool that will carry the Lions' challenge in December's Asean Cup AFF Championship.

In the bienially staged regional contest, Singapore are grouped with Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and a qualifier.

Like two years ago, Singapore find themselves having to play away against Asean arch rivals Malaysia.

' It's a match that will most probably decide our fate in the competition", admitted Ogura.

" Whether we qualify or not for the knockout semifinal stage hinges on this decisive clash", added Ogura.

Keputusan penuh perlawanan Persahabatan Antarabangsa antara Singapura menentang JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM

Singapore 0:3 JDT

No big shock actually.

For the Garudas were strongly expected to win this 3rd Round 2026 World Cup qualifier at home last night at their packed B**g Karno Istora Senayan.

The goalless draw, on the contrary, was a big let-down for the Indonesians coming as it unexpectedly did following last week's stirring 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.

Coach Sin Tae Yong admitted afterwards that his men, incidentally naturalised foreigners, were a big disappointment.

" They weren't their usual selves and fair too afraid to venture upfront and when they occasionally did, they came up against an Australian barricade", Tae Yong lamented, saying that the visitors from Down Under played exceedingly well to frustrate Indonesia.

The Indonesian fans meanwhile felt despondent over the outcome.

One of them, an ethnic Tamil Indian Indonesian named Kardeen Aryappan, came for the encounter with his Chinese girlfriend Emily Darsono.

He could not hide his emotions but say that Emily's presence console him.

Indonesia sekali lakar kejutan besar di Kelayakan Piala Dunia
Artikel di Ruangan Komen

Ultimately, it is the result that counts.

Especially when it invariably comes to international football that is the Pestabola Merdeka series.

Mehdi Khalil might well argue that Lebanon were the better side in the Final of this invitational tournament but goals win matches and Moral Morales got the one that mattered.

Really, it doesn't matter if the score is 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 or even 4-3 but in the end, it is about winning.

You don't win if you cannot find the net and on this count alone, Lebanon were found wanting despite the several scoring opportunities presented to them.

The Malaysia-Lebanon Pestabola Merdeka Final vividly reminds me of the 1977 pre-World Cup qualifier between Singapore then coached by master-mind Choo Seng Queen and Malaysia under M. Kuppan.

Despite numerous chances, Malaysia failed to overcome the 1-0 deficit Singapore scored at Kallang through a penalty converted by the late Mohamed Noh.

Like Mehdi, the bitter Malaysians complained of biased refereeing by Japanese Toshio Asami.

Pestabola Merdeka 2024: Mehdi Khalil tidak anggap Malaysia pasukan lebih baik berbanding Lubnan Penjaga gol Lubnan, Mehdi Khalil, tampak menolak untuk menerima hakikat bahawa skuad Harimau Malaya lebih hebat berbanding pasukannya.

Not easily one of the country's best ever forwards but Safawi Rasid's contribution is suffice if Pau Marti Vicente opts to use him in feather-weight regional competitions like December's Asean Cup AFF Championship.

For I cannot see Safawi deliver at a higher international stage where he is all at sea.

Facing the Thais, Indonesians, Filipinos, Laotians, Cambodians and Singaporeans will be no problem at all for Safawi.

For he has practically seen and beaten all of them during the span of his otherwise chequered soccer career.

He strikes me one capable of greater things if only he had been properly trained from the onset

Like many of his bumiputera peers, Safawi suffers the ignominy of being poorly trained and allowed to flourish on his own when he was a kid.

I thought for once Safawi was sheer par excellence when he played against the Philippines on Wednesday night of September 4 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

He was in the thick of action alright but do we take into account the relatively weak opposition in the Azkals?

He scored what proved what proved to be the ultimate winner through a penalty but interestingly, would he repeat the feat against a much more stronger and formidable Jordan tonight in the Pestabola Merdeka Final.

A finale that Safawi and the rest of his countrymen won't win for sure.

Because Lebanon are entirely a different kettle of fish put together.

It's just a matter of time...Pawi akan memintas Safee Sali dan James Wong dan menjadi salah seorang legenda bola sepak Malaysia terutamanya di aspek jaringan gol.

Sejarah mungkin dicipta pada Ahad ini?

10 penjaring terbanyak sepanjang zaman bola sepak Malaysia:

1. Mokhtar Dahari (89 gol)
2. Zainal Abidin Hassan (50 gol)
3. Isa Bakar (45 gol)
4. Shaharuddin Abdullah (39 gol)
5. Dollah Salleh (33 gol)
6. James Wong (23 gol)
7. Safee Sali (23 gol)
8. SAFAWI RASID (22 gol)
9. N Thanabalan (20)
10. Wong Choon Wah (20 gol)

Sumber: MY_Futbol

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has sometime ago repudiated his intention to represent Harimau Malaya stating instead his goal is to don the England jersey.

Now, another Englishman with blood connection to Malaysia is eyeing the same thing Dewsbury-Hall never did and before we knew it, an authority voice with the FAM barely mentioned the name linked to it Marcus Tavenier.

The Bournemouth stalwart is itching to get into Pau Marti Vicente's squad.

Thus far, Vicente himself never gets wind of information about Tavenier or his intention to play for a Malay Moslem country tucked far out in the Far East.

" Just like in the case of Dewsbury-Hall, Tavernier has still to state his official stand about donning Malaysian colours", a prominent journalist of Daily Mirror wrote, claiming that Tavernier might have been mispresented.

" Or that the FAM have taken Tavernier readily for granted without actually hearing him out", the journalist added, saying that miscommunication was the cause.

Laporan terkini menyebut bahawa Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) sedang mempertimbangkan untuk mendapatkan seorang lagi pemain warisan yang kini beraksi di England.

Nama besar dalam EPL yang dikaitkan dengan pertalian darah bersama Malaysia termasuklah pemain utama AFC Bournemouth, Marcus Tavernier.

Selain itu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, yang merupakan pemain Chelsea, juga disebut sebagai antara prospek terbaik untuk menyarung jersi Harimau Malaya pada masa akan datang.

One thing that's certained.

Dutchman Mats Deijl won't be among the 26 players that will be tasked of taking Harimau Malaya's challenge in tomorrow's Pestabola Merdeka.

Just recently, he expressed his desire to represent Malaysia and Deijl mentioned it to the FAM.

The association took his intention to do so in good grace but did not state the technicalities Deijl would have to undergo.

" He( Deijl) must qualify for Malaysian citizenship before FAM can include him and the process takes time", an FAM spokesman explained, adding that marriage with a local Malay girl and bedding her is one approach Deijl could do to speed up the process.

Tomorrow, Malaysia face the Philippines in the opening match of the Pestabola and Deijl's presence would have considerably strengthened an otherwise ailing Malaysian front line.

" The forwards just can't score and I find this appalling", sighed coach Pau Marti Vicente, claiming that he is somewhat aghast with the recall of Syafiq Ahmad at the soccer fans' urging.

" In the first place, I didn't bring Syafiq back but a wise guy in the FAM specifically ask for the player to be included", Vicente added.

Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) mengesahkan bahawa telah dihubungi oleh pemain terkemuka Belanda, Mats Deijl yang berminat mewakili Harimau Malaya

No wonder Holland don't want such a player of low quality to represent the Orangje.

Mats Deijl has realised this ages ago and probably out of frustration being repeatedly ignored, he is now switching allegiance.

Not that this Dutchman loves Malaysia or has anything to do with the country.

Until Deijl learns that he is actually Malaysian by heritage through his grandfather.

This FIFA loophole therefore qualifies him to don the Harimau Malaya jersey and hey presto, before we even know it, Deijl has made himself eligible for a nation that he himself earlier on would not even figure out geographically.

But disadvantage would outweigh any advantage FAM are going to reap out of Deijl's imminent inclusion.

For the Go Ahead Eagles stalwart is already 27, an age which signals the start of decline, something that is irreversible.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Bolasepak Asia 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Ketua pasukan Go Ahead Eagles, Mats Deijl telah hubungi pemangku ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya, Pau Marti Vicente.

Deijl yang merupakan pertahanan terbaik Liga Eredivisie tertarik untuk menjadi pemain warisan terbaru skuad kebangsaan.

Bakal menjadi backup kepada Corbin-Ong dan Matt Davies. Welcome Home 👏🏻🇲🇾

Kredit: Oh! Media

Berita Bola Semasa II

The FAM have yet to officially confirm that Park Hang-seo is their man for the Harimau Malaya job.

This being the case, it is fair or reasonable to assume that others are also contenders for the vacancy left by the abrupt departure of Kim Pan-gon.

One promising candidate every FAM figure prefers is local Zainal Abidin Hassan.

The former international himself has applied for the spot and interestingly, a Malay guy who is close to FAM sources, is wiling to bet that Zainal is on the verge of clinching the deal with the association.

Since Ong Kim Swee and Tan Cheng Hoe, the FAM have fought shy of hiring an Anak Tempatan.

This time though, the parent body might be persuaded to change their minds because the country's majority Malays desire nothing more than their own Islamic race helming the Malaysian national team.

" The Bangsa Asing have better lay their hands off! '' screamed a muscularly proportioned Malay, claiming that like many bumis, he wholeheartedly disagreed with the FAM's move to draft naturalised foreigners and heritage players into the Malaysian squad.

" Such an unprecedented approach is depriving Malay youngsters of an opportunity of representing Tanah Melayu", Farid Deraman added, his face filled with disgust albeit anger.

Park Hang-seo antara calon jurulatih skuad Harimau Malaya. Sedap jugak kalau dapat dia ni. Telatah dia tu kadang2 boleh buat gelak🤣

Rugi korang tak tekan ni👇
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Viewed in logical perspective, it does not matter if Tsutomu Ogura's men lose this arranged friendly with JDT behind closed doors.

For Ogura, it is merely a training encounter with the newly crowned FA Cup champions from across the Causeway.

Moreover, everyone knows it will not be classified as Tier 1 International since Singapore are facing a Malaysian club outfit.

Winning therefore is immaterial to Ogura.

All the Japanese wants is to try out many players as possible with the aim of finalising his ideal line-up for a far more important task in November - the biennial Asean Cup AFF Championship.

Realistically, the AFF contest is only the competition where the Lions stand a chance of winning matches.

Ogura most probably acknowledges this reality and that's basically why he has opted for preparatory matches with clubs.

On the fringe of inclusion these two foreign-based footballers but Harimau Malaya coach Pau Marti Vicente is keeping his fingers crossed.

Wan Kuzain has been repeatedly knocking on the doors for representation but Vicente appears hesitate to give this Yankee a call-up.

For me, it does not matter if Kuzain is out of the reckoning.

When named previously, Kuzain always gave ridiculous excuses citing his withdrawal and for once, the FAM were hoping mad with him.

As for Mats Deijl, we have minimal information about this 27 year old Dutchman.

Except that he plays for Dutch Division 1 Go Ahead Eagles and that his grandmother was a Malaysian.

At 27, Deijl is rendered no long term prospect and like Kuzain, he might be in two minds on whether to don the Malaysian jersey.

Wan Kuzain, Mats Deijl Bakal Sarung Jersi Harimau Malaya

Artikel di ruangan komen.

Tsutumo Ogura could well be right but success-starved Singapore soccer fans are likely to dissent on the Japanese not agreeing on the move to arrange A Tier International friendlies.

Ogura has his reasons though in putting the Singapore national footballers under his unique football diet of intensive training and only pitting them against club sides.

We now realise why Ogura has resorted to such an unrevolutionary approach given that non-competitive internationals are the best way to gauge the selected players for a far more important assignment in November, the bienially contested Asean Cup AFF Championship.

After the 7-0 fiasco against South Korea at Kallang in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, morale among the Singapore players has been relatively low.

Ogura certainly understands this and he does not want the Lions to be humiliated again.

Nevertheless, Ogura must face the reality every non-achieving soccer nation do, including Malaysia.

That flaws and defects particularly evident among most of the Singapore players cannot be corrected overnight.

As for the seniors, no amount of training would alleviate them to the point of redemption.

"You're only good if your opponents allow it", someone says it and the truth cannot be invalidated.

The months Ogura spent with the Singapore squad might have opened up his eyes in the reality of it all.

The present Singapore footballers
one must admit are not up to the mark required for the higher stage.

The onus of responsibility therefore lies with the grassroots and development.

No international friendly matches for the Lions at upcoming FIFA window, but training matches against club sides instead. While our regional rivals Vietnam will face-off against Russia and Thailand in a friendly tournament in Hanoi, and Philippines, Malaysia, Tajikistan and Lebanon compete in the Merdeka Tournament ac…

Hong Wan here. Hong Wan there. Hong Wan everywhere.

This name is repeatedly raised so as to merit a call up to the Harimau Malaya squad.

Except that newly appointed national team coach Pau Martin Vicente has ignored cries urging him to give Hong Wan the opportunity.

Why then is Hong Wan being omitted from the senior Malaysian team scheduled to embark on yet another international assignment?

Is the midfielder not good enough in the eyes of Vicente or are there other players capable than he is?

Either way, he won't be missed because Matthew Davies, Daniel Teng or Dion Cools can fill the midfield role admirably.

And there is Shameer Kutty, another misnomer in the middle of the field.

In my book, he is only effective at regional level.

At a higher stage, this Mamak is definitely a wash-out if Vicente intends to further use him.

Ramai yang pertikai kenapa Hong Wan tak dipanggil untuk Pestabola Merdeka nanti dan kenapa Nooa Laine lebih menjadi pilihan Pau Marti. Min pun tak pasti, sedangkan kita semua tahu yang Hong Wan merupakan holding midfielder terbaik yang kita ada sekarang.

Min no comment🤐

Rugi korang tak tekan ni👇
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Both are of the same pod.

I expect Pau Marti Vicente to act accordingly as his Sifu did previously.

Except that Vicente might be tempted to experiment with most of the native Malay players he has called up for next month's Pestabola Merdeka.

No more Brendan Gan and maybe Corbin-Ong Levre if Vicente prefers to take risks.

For a Spaniard is always a gambler and Vicente is no exception.

Spain's eye-catching Tik-Tok style comes into attention and Vicente could well implant it in the minds of every Harimau Malaya player.

The English style is still emphasised what with those ineffectively executed long balls any formidable or experienced opposition is wised up to.

Pau Marti lebih beruntung berbanding Pan Gon
Artikel di Ruangan Komen

He is hired as Harimau Malaya chief coach with immediate effect because of FAM's intention to cut costs.

Paul Marti Vicente is suddenly thrown in the lime light as the association don't have sufficient time to find an ideal replacement for Kim Pan-gon.

Pan-gon, as we recall, quit in a huff to join Hunydai Ulsan and his departure still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the FAM hierarchy.

" He(Pan-gon) simply ditched us to seek elsewhere. He's indeed a self-serving mercenary", a prominent figure in the FAM grumbled, his voice filled with detestation.

For once, there was panic along the corridors of a soccer body located at Kelana Jaya but sanity ultimately prevailed when someone suggested Marti Vicente.

" Vicente?"

Another authority voice questioned and his reservation was not unfounded given that Vicente is an understudy of Pan-gon.

Yes, there is still doubt and reservation surrounding the appointment of Vicente but we might view it as a temporary one.

Results matter most to those Fat Cats of FAM and if Vicente ever falters in next month's Pestabola Merdeka, we doubt whether the association find it deemed fit to continue with the Spaniard.

Then, hey presto, there would be loud voices urging FAM to recruit Park Hang-seo.

Pau Marti Vicente Dilantik Pengendali Baharu Harimau Malaya

Artikel di ruangan komen.

This is incidentally the Land of Meritocracy.

Unlike Malaysia where skin and colour gets you in, you cannot expect such preferential treatment in Japan.

The always scrutinising eyes of the Japanese demand high standards from any foreigner hoping to land a contract with a Japanese club.

Luqman Hakim tried that once with Yokohama FC and we know he failed to establish himself there.

He got only to play four matches with his Japanese club and that's bad for a bumiputera lad aspiring to make his mark overseas.

The same goes for this kampong youngster named named Muhammad Abu Khalid dreaming of stardom in Japan.

In Malaysia, excellence in football can be disregarded if you possess the talent.

With the right connections, you can assure yourself of a place in any Malaysian club.

Not so in Japan who equates qualification with meritocracy in the field of competitive soccer.

Sepanjang 8 bulan Luqman Hakim Shamsudin bersama YCC Yokohama dia hanya membuat 5 penampilan sahaja.

Seorang penyerang muda berbakat tetapi serba tidak menjadi kerana sukar mendapat minit permainan.

Harapnya Muhammad Abu Khalil yang kini bersama FC Osaka tidak menerima nasib yang sama seperti Luqman.

Kredit: Bola,Bola&Bola

The Thais seem impress with this Scotsman donning the Harimau Malaya jersey.

Yet, Fergus Tierney strikes me as one footballer still to stamp his mark at a higher stage.

That is precisely why ex-national coach Kim Pan-gon did not call Tierney for trials with the senior side although the latter did well to impress him.

Maybe, it was wise on Pan-gon's part not to give Tierney his breakthrough at senior ranks but his successor might be tempted to think otherwise.

By the look of it, Tierney is on the verge of Harimau Malaya call-up but he may well be denied this opportunity if he ever messes things up.

Like not keeping his temper in check and brashfully assuming he has nothing furthermore to learn.

The Thais are unknowingly attracted by the quality Tierney possesses but other than this, they know virtually nothing about him.

There is wisdom in keeping a low profile once you are in Thailand where situations could get out of hand.

This is something of significance to Tierney as he seeks to establish himself in the Land of Smiles.

Media Thailand Kagum Dengan Kualiti Fergus Tierney.

Klik bio/komen untuk baca artikel penuh.

I guess that India have never learnt from their regular participation in field hockey of the Olympics and I was right.

India's last major triumph was their success in securing Gold in the 1980 Moscow edition when they edged Spain 4-3 in a pulsating final.

But the Moscow event was missing the top elite hockey playing nations and the Indians' feat was classified as a hollow one.

Until their Bronze success in Tokyo four years ago, no one would argue that Paris was the right stage for India to recapture the elusive title long denied to them.

The Indian national team had trained extensively for Paris and they even opted to participate in the annually staged FIH League.

But few know that the FIH League is actually a training ground for the Big Guns of the game like Holland, Germany, Belgium Spain, France and Australia.

These nations tend to take the FIH League less seriously with the intention to test new blood.

No wonder on several occasions, India always end up beating them.

Not so in actual competitions like the Olympics and World Cup.

This is where you actually see the true colours of the Europeans and the Australians.

In the case of Australia, they are still in the process of rebuilding and they did not perform up to expectations.

What then about India?

The latest 2-3 loss to Germany in the Olympics semifinal was excruciating.

Many back home had expected the Gold from the national team.

But India did not deliver.

Paris 2024 Olympics: India’s semifinal loss to Germany in pictures, bronze medal match coming up Shorts News:Paris 2024 Olympics: India’s semifinal loss to Germany in pictures, bronze medal match coming up

Go and hang up your racquet even before you contemplate planning for a Gold Medal in Los Angeles, Lee Zii Jia.

By 2028, you will be 30 and such an age would undoubtedly wear you down.

You would then realise you are not as fast, energetic and agile as before.

Your win over Lakhysa Sen was a lucky one.

For a sustained arm injury put paid to the Indian's hopes of winning the Bronze.

Never for a moment did I doubt Sen's overall superiority over you.

Until the unfortunate incident though when Sen grasped in pain and had to seek medical attention.

From that moment onwards, Sen was never the same man as before.

Yet, he admitted that you played reasonably well, something you don't deserve.

Zii Jia akan terus berjuang untuk menang emas di LA28 PEMAIN badminton perseorangan profesional lelaki negara Lee Zii Jia, tidak akan berhenti dengan pingat gangsa di Olimpik Paris 2024, tetapi akan meneruskan perjuangan untuk menang...

The ex-Malaysian certainly did not make a mistake when he announce his allegiance to Singapore.

Career-wise, it was a wise decision for Loh Kean Yew but badminton-wise, he might live to regret it.

Kean Yew, it seems, isn't his usual self since capturing the World Championship in Spain a few years ago.

His form has been consistently plagued by fluctuations in performances and nothing can be done to arrest his decline.

Age could well be it and it is something Kean Yew cannot beat.

'I was hoping to put on a better show': Disappointment but not despair for Loh Kean Yew after Olympics exit Loh's Paris Olympics campaign ended on Friday, after he was beaten by reigning men’s singles champion Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals.

This fixation on Kim Pan-gon is enough.

The blunt truth before our very own eyes is that he is no longer the Harimau Malaya coach.

As such, we should not be totally or comprehensively engrossed with a man who has left Malaysian soccer at a lurch.

The real fact remains is Pan-gon had stated during a press conference on the day he exited that he was not interested in coaching the Harimau Malaya squad anymore.

Despite the FAM's valiant efforts in persuading the Korean to stay, Pan-gon remained adamant in his decision.

Now, we all know why Pan-gon asked to be freed from a contract which was bound to expire next year.

It looks that his mind is apparently elsewhere and need we argue anymore that Alsan Hyundai is the object of his interests.

For the Korean club are willing to pay Pan-gon more than the petious remuneration he received from FAM.

The lesson learnt here is that the FAM have to exercise more than caution when engaging the service of a foreign coach.

Pan-gon himself is not a nice guy although most would tend to disagree with me.

He is, in reality, a mercenary bent on abandoning anything or everything to achieve his personal goal.

The fact that he ditched us to seek a higher pay in his home land reflects the diabolical man he truly is.

So, just stop giving this ingrate the attention he does not deserve.

Our focus right now is on the double mission the national team face on September and November.

We can accomplish this task without being continually reminded that Pan-gon is irreplaceable.

Menerusi posting terbaharu kelab Ulsan Hyundai🇰🇷 di media sosial mereka, Kim Pan Gon sah bakal menjadi ketua jurulatih kelab tersebut.

Ulsan akan bertemu JDT dalam saingan AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) pada tahun ini.

Semoga berjaya di tempat baru coach 👏🏻

Rugi korang tak tekan ni👇
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