Sarawak Football: Rome Not Built In A Day

BY JEREMY VENO, easterntimes.

KUCHING: The five-year football development plan which is being spearheaded by the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), has the long term objective of producing top-notched local players to revive the glory days of Sarawak football.

The initiative is going to start full swing this year, up till 2015 where a meticulous development plan being drawn to cover the whole of Sarawak.

According to a spokesperson from MSNS, the development initiative is still in its infancy stage, where the proposal for the programme made on June 12, 2009 had just been given the green light from the State government.

The good news of the approval also came with a financial boost of RM1.5 million per year allocation by the State government to MSNS for executing the five-year programme, which will see the council will working very closely with the State Education Department.

“These schools are important assets to us. They are the ones supplying us the huge pool of players and coaches and we can also save money on the facilities as the schools can make use of their own football fields for training and competitions,” he said.

Self-Belief The Key To S’wak Success: Zaki

By Martin Yee, easterntimes

KUCHING: Self belief. That’s the key word that coach Zaki Sheikh Ahmad will be drumming into the Sarawak players when they meet ATM in a home match where they desperately need a morale boosting win to salvage their morale.

Zaki used the last match against Harimau Muda where Sarawak lost 0-1 as the benchmark for their behaviour and performance.

In the match, Sarawak started well attacking in the opening minutes and even hit the post and dominated the game but when Harimau scored the only goal through a counter attack, the team just crumbled.

“They must have self-belief and they need to get the goals early which will relief the pressure on them.
“When the team conceded a goal, they just lost their composure and their game go to pieces.

“They should also change their attitude and one thing I want them to do is to start talking and stop shouting to one another.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) in the training, I told the strikers to buck up and don’t blame the others if they failed to score.

“They must score to release the pressure on them,” said Zaki.

The Sarawak players in fact can win matches as they got the chances to score against a top side like Harimau Muda in the last match.

Against ATM tonight, Zaki is confident they can pull off their first win to get the pressure off the backs of the players as he said they had to win it for the fans.

He said ATM are big spenders - having started training early in October - the same as other teams like FELDA FC and had won once, drew twice and lost once and lying in sixth position with four points.

“We have to win this one. There is no two ways about it and we have to win it for the fans,” said Zaki on tonight’s match against the Army boys whom Sarawak had beaten once, drew once with and lost one to last season.

Sarawak beat them 6-1 at home in the FA Cup but drew with them away while in a league match towards the end of the season, a dispirited Sarawak side suffered a shock defeat to.

The Sarawak side opened the season with a goaless draw at home against PDRM, lost 4-1 to FELDA FC away, then drew 1-1 against PKNS in a match they were supposed to win.

In their last match against Harimau Muda, they came away with a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Zaki said he will emphasise on the mental aspect of the players which had been in a main letdown.

He added that against FELDA, the players were strangely off-coloured as they played a jittery first-half, perhaps overawed by the number of national and former national players in their opponents.

Even in the last match against Harimau Muda, Zaki noted that most of the players did not have the right match temperament and need to be instilled the discipline of the game.

With Fadley Kassim the only casualty as he will miss the match due to red card suspension he received in the last three minutes of the match against Harimau Muda, Zaki will have other options in Hairol Moktar, Aris Ismail or Morris Jagan as the replacement to team up with Wong Sai Kong.

Upfront he will go for Zamri Morshidi-Effendi Malek combination which is more effective with striker Azralan Azmi on the bench while Shahrol Saperi and brother Azizan who have recovered from injury will be on both flanks while in central midfield, Abang Zafari Othman will likely partner Rafiz Ismail.

In defence, Firdaus Morshidi may have to give way to Dzulazlan Ibrahim on the left back role while Mazwandi Zekeria will man the right flank.

Commentary On The Sorry State Of Sarawak’s SUKMA Football

KUCHING: The recent announcement of the launching of the Football Development project after a year’s delay and thousands of ringgit in grant must be music to the ears of success-starved Sarawak football fans.

If the report by a local newspaper that former Sarawak legendary coach Alan Vest will be the director of coaching is correct, Sarawak football shall have a strong SUKMA squad this time. 

It may be able to enter at least the semifinals or capture the SUKMA trophy after the millions of ringgits spent.

But why Vest who is semi-retired and who has already stated that he will never hold a full-time job unless he is invited to do short courses or give a few day’s coaching clinics.

He might be a legend and well versed in development, but he will not be able to give his all. 

FAS, ISN Has To Work On Players’ Attributes Together

BY JEREMY VENO,Easterntimes

KUCHING: A bond has to be made between the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and the National Sports Institute (ISN) to ensure that the young state players’ physical and mental attributes are at the top of their game.

Zaki Sheikh Ahmad after putting pen to paper as the head coach to the young team got a surprise when he found out that the association is not working hand in hand with ISN. 

He noted that several of the players are clueless when it comes to their diet before matches and during half time breaks.

“What I had seen is, these players are eating four to five bananas before matches, and they even drank the isotonic drinks like plain water. All these do more bad than good on their performance on the field,” said Zaki who had observed the players attitude in the past four matches. 

Being a former assistant coach to the national team, Zaki is left with no choice but to take the leash and educate several of the players on the proper food intake, nurturing them like a father to a child.

Big boost for state football devt - RM1.5 mln annually for five years programme

by Ting Tieng Hee, Theborneopost

KUCHING: The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) got a big shot in the arm on Thursday when its application for funds to run a five-year football development programme was given the nod by the State Cabinet.MSNS director Francis Nyurang Ding said with the funds, the Council could proceed with implementation immediately.

“I have just been notified by the state government today that the application we submitted last year has been approved, and we will be given RM1.5 million annually for five years to run the programme,” he disclosed on Thursday.

Francis said the groundwork was, in fact, laid last year when the Council organised a course in June for 33 coaches in Miri.

Former Sarawak coach Alan Vest conducted the course with the assistance of state football development coordinator Lucas Kalang.

According to Francis, the programme was on hold for a while as the council was awaiting the government’s approval for the application.

Five-Year Plan To Produce Calibre Players

BY JEREMY VENO, Easterntimes

KUCHING: The five-year football development plan run by the Sarawak State Sports Council is seen to be the “saviour” to get Sarawak football to produce top quality players in five years.

Right from the start of the project which is first mooted by an individual ( a former FAS official) the project had seen glitches and delays.

The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) which is under the Ministry and tasked with implementing the project is the operating arm and the agency to implement the five-year development programme.

According to an observer of Sarawak football of several decades, the project has many loopholes and non-cost effective which will drain dry the annual RM 1.5 million allocation in a jiffy.

“It is a known fact that the Education Department have their own football programmes, which is based on formality rather than for development. 

Zaki Laments Players ‘Bad Habits’

By Martin Yee, Easterntimes

KUCHING: Coach Zaki Sheikh Ahmad is not happy with the Sarawak players repeating their “bad habits” which cost them to pay heavily as they had yet to win after four matches including the last away match to Harimau Muda where they lost 0-1.

The main problem with the team is that they lost patience and discipline by making mistakes which cost them and the team dearly.

The red card awarded to centreback Fadley Kassim with only five minutes remaining in the game was a case in point as the team will lose the key defender for the next two matches due to automatic suspension.

“The players are not patient. They easily lose their concentration and focus even if there are a few minutes left in the game and they should be more patient to hold on to the game.

“Though their weaknesses is failure to convert the chances, they have to keep on trying and play hard. The goals will come if they keep on doing their best,” said Zaki.

Sarawak diperkuat enam muka baru berpengalaman

Oleh MUHAMAD ZAID ADNAN
zaid.adnan@utusan.com.my

KUCHING - Enam pemain baru Sarawak yang menggalas cabaran pasukan baru mereka, berikrar akan menunjukkan kemampuan sebenar masing-masing pada saingan Liga Malaysia 2010, Isnin ini.

Selepas mengikat kontrak secara rasmi bulan lalu, mereka bersama lima lagi pemain Piala Presiden sudah menunjukkan keserasian untuk bersama 13 lagi pemain lama bagi mengibarkan cabaran skuad 'ngap sayot' untuk kembali ke saingan Liga Super pada musim 2011.

Ternyata, kehadiran enam pemain baru itu bukan sahaja memperkuatkan setiap posisi pasukan Sarawak, yang sebelum ini mungkin dianggap masih muda, malah pengalaman mereka dalam mengharungi saingan liga sebelum ini nyata memberi manfaat kepada pemain sedia ada.

Enam pemain baru Sarawak ialah pemain penyerang, Efendi Abd Malek (Negeri Sembilan) dan Azralan Azmi; pemain pertahanan, Wong Sai Kong (Sabah) dan Abdul Aziz Ismail (ATM); pemain tengah, Rafiz Abu Bakar (Kedah) dan penjaga gol, Mohd. Suffian Ab. Rahman (KM Naza).

Pemain yang ditemui nyata bersemangat untuk mengembalikan era kegemilangan pasukan 'bujang senang'.

Belief S’wak’s 12th man

by Ting Tieng Hee
January 8, 2010, Friday

Young side aim for top four finish in new season of Premier League

KUCHING: Sarawak will qualify for the Malaysia Cup with a top four finish in the 12-team Premier League this season.

They will climb back to the Super League in 2011 if they are good enough to finish among the top three in the second-tier M-League tournament.“Based on the results of the team’s friendly matches in Semenanjung Malaysia last month, I believe the target is achievable,” FAS FMG Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Sudarsono Osman said.

He made the comments after receiving competition, training and travelling attires for the state team, sponsored by Lea Sports Centre and Adidas at Sarawak Stadium here yesterday.

The items were handed over by Lea Holding managing director Raymond Sim and Lea Sports Centre senior operation manager Poh Siok Hoon.

Lea Sports Centre said it was proud to sponsor Sarawak again this year in support of football development in the state.

FAS, FMG Receive Sponsorship From LEA Sports Centre.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Football Association (FAS) and Football Management Group (FMG) Sdn Bhd received their sponsorship from LEA Sports Centre yesterday for the upcoming 2010 season.

The sponsorship which came in the form of the team’s game, training and travelling attire has been the successful collaboration between LEA Sports Centre and Adidas.

The historical sponsorship which took place at the Sarawak stadium saw Lea Holding’s Managing Director, Raymond Sim, and Chairman of FAS FMG Sdn Bhd, Datu Sudarsono Othman, witnessed by the players and officials from both parties.

Lea Sports Centre who has been the team’s official sponsors since 1990 believes that their contribution will be able to reduce the financial burden of the state football club which augers well for the progress and development of football in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, the 2010 Premier League which kicks off this Monday, will see Sarawak’s first home match at the Sarawak stadium against Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) at 8.15pm.

Skuad Sarawak lakukan kunjungan hormat kepada TYT

KUCHING: Skuad bola sepak Sarawak melakukan kunjungan hormat kepada Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin di Astana Negeri, Petra Jaya di sini.

Kunjungan hormat itu diketuai oleh Pengerusi FAS-FMG Sdn Bhd, Datu Sudarsono Osman dan Pengarah FAS-FMG, Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki. Pasukan Sarawak untuk Liga Malaysia musim ini akan diuruskan sepenuhnya oleh FAS-FMG.

Dalam kunjungan itu, Tun Salahuddin diberikan taklimat tentang rancangan penstrukturan semula dalam pengurusan dan perancangan pasukan demi membantu pasukan negeri mencapai kejayaan dalam kancah Liga Malaysia tahun ini.

Sudarsono turut mempelawa Tun Salahuddin untuk menyaksikan perlawanan-perlawanan membabitkan Sarawak pada musim ini.

Dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan semalam, pihak FAS-FMG memberitahu kunjungan hormat pasukan kepada Tun Salahuddin itu adalah langkah pertama pasukan untuk lebih mendekati para peminat mereka.

“Tun Salahuddin merupa kan peminat nombor satu kita dan inspirasi utama pasukan ini. Beliau sentiasa memberikan sokongan moral dan nasihat yang berguna kepada kami,” kata kenyataan itu. 

 

SKUAD SARAWAK 2010

PENJAGA GOL
1.Abdul Ghani Anuar-23thn
21.Habib Mohd Arshad-18thn
22.Mohd Suffian Abdul Rahman-32thn (Dari KM Naza)
(PP)Antonio Beckness- 18thn

PERTAHANAN
2.Abdul Aziz Ismail-29thn (Dari ATM)
3.Mazwandi Zekeria-21thn
5.Sahran Abdul Samad-27thn
9.Mohd Hairol Moktar-26thn
12.Mohd Fadly Kassim-33thn
15.Firdaus Morshidi-24thn
19.Wong Sai Kong-32thn (Dari Sabah)
(PP)Morris Jagan-18thn

PEMAIN TENGAH
6.Mohd Fareez Tukijo-22thn
8.Azizan Saperi-22thn
11.Abg Mohamad Za'afari Abang Othman-31thn
13.Mohammad Dzulazlan Ibrahim-22thn
16.Mohammad Shahrol Saperi-26thn
17.Rafiz Abu Bakar-30thn (Dari Kedah)
(PP)Ashri bin Chuchu-19 thn

PENYERANG
7.Zamri Morshidi-27thn
10.Sufizal Ismail-21thn
18.Azralan Azmi-29thn (Dari Selangor Proton)
20.Efendi Abdul Malik-32thn (Dari Negeri Sembilan)
(PP)Mohd Hadera Bakeri-19thn

*PP=Pemain Piala Presiden.

Sarawak Face PDRM In Season Opener

JEREMY VENO

KUCHING: The State team venture into the 2010 Premier League season with pride as the new line-up promise an exciting combination to face PDRM in their first home match - and will be played at night once again - at the Sarawak Stadium, here, on January 11. 

Fielding an array of experienced players and green horns, the team are now boosted by the new entity - the Football Management Group (FMG) Sdn Bhd - which will reignite the flame that dimmed over the past seasons, having been plagued by seemingly endless financial woes and constraints. 

Six local imports, Suffian Abdul Rahman (goalkeeper), Efendi Malik (striker), Azralan Azmi (striker), Abdul Aziz Ismail (defender), Rafiz Abu Bakar (midfield) and Wong Sai Kong (midfield) will be the beacons to guide the young players, majority of which has just played through one season. 

Former 2009 players include Abdul Gani Annuar (GK), Mazwandie Zekeria, Sahran Abdul Samad, Fareez Tukijo, Zamri Morshidi, Azizan Saperi, Hairol Moktar, Sufizal Ismail, Abang Zaafari Abang Othman, Fadly Kassim, Dzulazlan Ibrahim, Firdaus Morshidi, Shahrol Saperi, Habib Arshad and Hadera Bakri. 

“We can’t expect anything yet, but we are preparing to the best of our ability,” said newly signed head coach, Zaki Sheikh Ahmad responding to the results of their exposure trip to Peninsular Malaysia.