SHANGHAI – Kesalahan konyol Jenson Button pada balapan di Shanghai akhir pekan kemarin masih terus jadi perbincangan. Bahkan bos Red Bull Christian Horner secara berseloroh menilai itu sebagai isyarat kuat pembalap McLaren ingin bergabung ke timnya.

Kesalahan yang dimaksud adalah ketika Button pertama kali masuk pit. Dia secara tidak sadar malah menghampiri area Red Bull yang tengah menanti kedatangan Sebastian Vettel.

Button yang langsung tersadar setelah beberapa detik kemudian langsung bergumam "Ya Tuhan, mengapa saya bisa melakukan hal itu."

Tapi 'nasi sudah menjadi bubur.' Atas tindakan menggelikan tersebut, kini Button terus menerus diledek bahkan sampai dituding hendak mencurangi kubu Red Bull.

"Button sebenarnya ingin bergabung segera dengan Red Bull. Karena itu dia sengaja hendak berhenti di tempat kami," ujar Horner seperti dikutip Yalla F1, Selasa (19/4/2011).

Sementara salah satu tim mekanik Red Bull Mark Lenton punya pendapat yang cenderung menohok McLaren. "Saya justru berpikir mereka ingin berbuat curang, Mereka memperlambat kami."

Meskipun tidak mengamini pernyataan Lentin, namun Vettel mengakui kalau kejadian tersebut telah menyita waktunya.

"Saya kehilangan sedikit waktu karena harus menunggu. Saya tidak bisa jika harus berhenti sejenak. Tidak mudah bagi awak pit, mereka sangat mudah kehilangan ritme," cetus Vettel.
(msy)

SHANGHAI – Keputusan McLaren masuk ke pit tiga kali pada balapan di Shanghai akhir pekan kemarin membawa berkah tersendiri, padahal menurut rencana awal mereka sudah berniat akan melakukannya sebanyak dua kali, sama seperti Red Bull.

McLaren berhasil menempatkan Lewis Hamilton di podium puncak. The Briton sukses mengungguli juara bertahan Sebastian Vettel setelah sempat bersaing sengit di sepanjang balapan.

Ditenggarai keberhasilan itu tidak lepas dari strategi tiga kali masuk pit yang diterapkan oleh timnya. Menggunakan ban yang lebih sempurna, Hamilton sukses mengambilalh pimpinan balapan dari tangan Vettel pada lap ke-54 di tikungan ketujuh.

Tapi belakangan terungkap fakta bahwa pada awalnya McLaren tidak berniat menggunakan strategi itu. Phil Prew yang menjabat sebagai principal race engineer di tim besutan Martin Whitmarsh yang menjabarkan hal tersebut.

"Saya melihat balapan berjalan buruk. Lalu kami berpikir mengubah strategi dengan mempertimbangkan pemilihan ban serta penggunaannya oleh pembalap. Mungkin jika kondisi ban masih bagus, maka kami akan memilih dua kali masuk pit sebagaimana intensi awal," ujar Prew seperti dikutip Autosport, Selasa (19/4/2011).

(msy)

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MADRID - Barcelona berada di "jalur benar" untuk kembali meraih tiga gelar (treble) musim ini, kata mantan pemain internasional klub itu, Deco dari Portugal, dalam wawancara yang disiarkan Senin (18/4). Klub Catalan itu unggul delapan poin dalam klasemen kompetisi liga dengan sisa enam pertandingan, setelah menahan Real Madrid 1-1 pada laga Sabtu.

Kedua tim itu akan bertemu lagi Rabu pada pertandingan final Piala Raja. Mereka juga akan bertemu lagi dua kali dalam semi final Liga Champions, yang pertama diadakan di Bernabeu pada 27 April dan kedua pada 3 Mei di Nou Camp.

"Melihat cara bermain mereka, tim itu akan kembali melakukan kemenangan tiga kali kendati maju ke final Liga Champions akan sulit sekali apalagi memenanginya. Dalam turnamen ini, hal kecil sekali pun bisa jadi penentu kemenangan atau kekalahan," kata Deco dalam harian olahraga Spanyol, Mundo Deportivo.

Barcelona memenangi Liga Spanyol, Piala Raja dan Liga Champions pada 2009 ketika Pep Guardiola menangani klub itu, merupakan klub peretama Spanyol yang meraih tiga gelar itu sekaligus. Deco meninggalkan Barcelona dan pindah ke Chelsea pada Juni 2008 setelah Guardiola menangani tim perteama klub Catalan itu.

Guardiola mengatakan beberapa waktu setelah berada di Barcelona bahwa ia tidak terkesan dengan pemain tengah itu. Pemain berusia 33 tahun itu memenangi dua gelar liga, Liga Champions dan dua Piala Super Spanyol, selama berada empat musim bersama Barcelona.

Pemain kelahiran Brazil itu, yang ikut serta dalam tim Portugal pada dua kompetisi Piala Dunia, bergabung dengan klub Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense pada Agustus 2010.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ZURICH—Tim nasional Indonesia berhasil melampaui peringkat Uruguay di rangking terbaru federasi sepak bola dunia FIFA! Namun capaian ini bukanlah diraih oleh tim nasional sepak bola putra, melainkan tim nasional putri. Tim sepak bola Putri Indonesia menempati peringkat 68 FIFA atau satu peringkat di atas Uruguay.

Walau berada dalam 100 besar FIFA, prestasi yang diraih Akudiana Tebay cs tidak terbilang istimewa. Tim putri bahkan kerap dipermalukan dalam ajang Sea Games. Akibatnya cabang olah raga sepak bola wanita tidak akan dipertandingkan dalam ajang Sea Games 2011 mendatang di Palembang.

 Jika tim wanita berada dalam kisaran 68 dunia, maka peringkat tim sepak bola putra terus terjun bebas. Jangankan bersaing dengan Uruguay yang kini berada di posisi 7, Indonesia bahkan tidak mampu menyaingi peringkat Ethiopia, Yaman, bahkan negara St. Kitts and Nevis.

Dalam peringkat terbaru FIFA April 2011, tim sepak bola putra Indonesia menempati posisi 130.

Tidak terjejas tanpa Misbun

Oleh ZAZALI JAMIAN
sukan@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR - Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek percaya persediaan pemain badminton No.1 dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei bagi menghadapi Olimpik 2012 tidak akan terjejas, walaupun tidak lagi mendapat sentuhan sifunya, Datuk Misbun Sidek.

Menurutnya, ini kerana prestasi konsisten yang dipamerkan Chong Wei sepanjang tidak mendapat bimbingan Misbun, sudah memadai sebagai petanda bahawa pemain itu berada pada tahap terbaik.

Katanya, walaupun tidak lagi bersama sebagai jurulatih, Misbun masih boleh untuk mencurahkan pandangan kepada Chong Wei, bagi memperbaiki apa juga aspek yang dilihat sebagai kelemahan pemain tersebut.

"Saya melihat sepanjang kemelut yang melanda sejak tiga bulan Misbun meletak jawatan, dia (Misbun) masih memberikan nasihat dan kata-kata semangat kepada Chong Wei.

"Saya juga percaya dalam syarat yang diberikan oleh Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) kepada Misbun, pastinya tidak ada menyatakan jurulatih itu tidak boleh untuk terus rapat dengan pemain No.1 dunia itu,'' katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Sukan Malaysia di Bukit Jalil, semalam.

Sabtu lalu, Jawatankuasa Kejurulatihan dan Latihan (CTC) BAM membuat keputusan bahawa Misbun akan membimbing sekumpulan pemain pelapis yang belum dikenal pasti manakala Chong Wei kekal di bawah bimbingan Tey Seu Bock dan Rashid Sidek sehingga tamat Sukan Olimpik London 2012.

Dalam pada itu, Shabery menggangap pemilihan Misbun yang diberi tanggungjawab melatih skuad pelapis sebagai suatu yang positif ke arah pembangunan sukan badminton negara.

Katanya, kembalinya Misbun ke BAM juga adalah petanda yang baik buat persatuan itu bagi meneruskan perancangan pembangunan seterusnya.

"Tugas membimbing skuad pelapis adalah satu tanggungjawab yang sungguh besar dalam usaha melahirkan lebih ramai jaguh badminton negara.

"Ini juga bukan tugas mudah buat Misbun yang perlu berusaha untuk melahirkan pemain berprestasi tinggi bagi mengisi kekosongan yang ada.

"Kita serahkan susunan atau percaturan ini kepada BAM dan kita tidak mahu campur tangan malah saya juga percaya Misbun mampu melakukannya,'' jelas Shabery.

Manassero wajar jadi contoh

Oleh Norzie Mohd. Khasbi
norzie.khasbi@utusan.com.my

Pemain golf negara Danny Chia melakukan pukulan di lubang ke 11 pada hari ke tiga Kejohanan Golf Terbuka Malaysia 2011 di Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) di sini, minggu lalu.

KUALA LUMPUR - Penganjuran edisi ke-50 kejohanan golf Maybank Terbuka Malaysia yang berakhir kelmarin memang menakjubkan, bermula dengan penyertaan ramai bintang dunia, kedatangan lebih sekali ganda penonton dan kemenangan sensasi bintang remaja Itali, Matteo Manassero menjadikan ia penutup paling sempurna.

Kejayaan Manassero mencipta rekod juara termuda, dua hari sebelum meraikan hari jadi ke-18 adalah kemuncak kejohanan paling hebat. Apatah lagi dia mengetepikan nama-nama besar yang menjadi tumpuan di awal kejohanan seperti pemain No. 1 dunia, Martin Kaymer, juara Masters, Charl Schwartzel, juara Terbuka Britain, Louis Oosthuizen dan pemain No. 9 dunia, Roy McIlroy.

Cerita kemenangan Manassero yang baru bergelar profesional 11 bulan lalu dan catatan 16 bawah par 272 yang dilakukan untuk menewaskan pencabar terdekat, Gregory Bourdy dari Perancis pasti akan dijaja peminat golf untuk tempoh yang lama. Malah kejayaan itu turut meneruskan dominasi remaja selepas bintang muda Korea Selatan, Noh Seung-yul melakukannya tahun lalu.

Bagi Kaymer, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen dan McIlroy, biarpun memiliki rekod hebat, namun Kelab Golf & Country Kuala Lumpur terbukti bukan lapangan yang mudah ditawan.

Ketika Manassero dan sekumpulan pemain ternama dunia menjadi tumpuan peminat golf tanah air, perhatian juga tidak mampu dilarikan daripada persoalan apa kesudahan pula dengan pemain golf tempatan ? Dan, mengecewakan sekali, skripnya tidak berubah dari tahun-tahun terdahulu, di mana hanya Danny Chia berjaya melepasi kelayakan. Malah, Danny menutup pusingan keempat dengan buruk, empat atas par 76, sekali gus melengkapkan empat hari kejohanan dengan satu bawah par 287.

Di tepi lapangan, kedengaran rungutan peminat yang sering membandingkan Danny dan pemain-pemain Malaysia yang lain dengan wakil tunggal Bangladesh, Siddikur Rahman, pemain yang mencuri tumpuan dengan muncul pemain terbaik Jelajah Asia menerusi sembilan bawah par untuk berada di tangga kelapan.

Kebanyakan peminat golf mungkin sudah mengetahui kisah sedih Siddikur, 27, tentang bagaimana dia mula terlibat dalam golf pada usia tujuh tahun kerana hendak menampung pelajaran dan keluarganya yang sangat miskin, malah ketika itu di negaranya cuma terdapat tiga lapangan golf sembilan lubang.

Ketika itu juga kata Siddikur, peralatan golf bukan saja terlalu mahal dan hampir tidak mampu dimiliki, malah sukan tersebut tidak popular di negaranya. Dia terpaksa menjadi kedi dan mengutip kepala club yang sudah dibuang. Malah, iron pertama yang dimiliki disedekahkan oleh seorang ahli kelab yang tidak lagi mahu menggunakannya. "Begitulah saya bermula,'' cerita Siddikur.

Kisah keperitan Siddikur dalam memulakan karier, mengingatkan kita betapa bertuah menjadi pemain di Malaysia kerana lapangan golf (pelbagai standard) di negara ini wujud merata-rata dan peralatan golf tidaklah terlalu mahal. Malah hari ini, golf bukan sekadar sukan golongan atasan tetapi turut dimainkan golongan pertengahan.

Malangnya, mengapa kita masih gagal melahirkan ramai juara? Danny, 39, masih menjadi sandaran utama untuk sekian lama, manakala Terbuka Malaysia, yang menginjak edisi ke-50 terus kempunan melahirkan juara tempatan sendiri. Malah edisi kali ini turut menyaksikan Malaysia memiliki wakil paling ramai dalam sejarah - 22 pemain,16 daripadanya profesional tetapi hanya Danny bernafas di pusingan akhir.

Apa sudah jadi dengan 21 lagi pemain? Selain Danny, kita ada Ben Leong, Shaaban Hussin, Iain Steel, Rashid Ismail, R. Nachimuthu, A. Sasar, Mohamad Hanafiah Mohd. Jamil, Akmal Tarmizee Nazari, M. Sasidaran, S. Sivachandran, Airil Rizman Zahari, Khor Kheng Hwai, Sukree Othman, Nicholas Fung dan Mohd. Shaifubari Muda membawa cabaran profesional tempatan, manakala cabaran amatur dipikul Gavin Kyle Green, Mohd. Azman Basharudin, Kenneth de Silva, Mohd. Hisyam Majid, Jeremiah Kim dan Chan Tuck Soon.

Prestasi hambar pemain negara turut menarik perhatian Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, yang pada hari terakhir kejohanan menyeru Persatuan Golf Malaysia (MGA) mengkaji semula program pembangunan remaja, supaya Malaysia pada suatu hari nanti boleh memiliki juara.

MGA juga sedar tentang kegagalan yang menghantui pemain tempatan sejak sekian lama. Sesuatu cuba dilakukan tahun ini, di mana program Pembangunan Remaja Elit Kebangsaan diperkenalkan buat kali pertama, melibatkan pemain bawah 14 tahun.

Namun bagi pemain yang sudahpun bertapak, kejayaan Manassero serta kisah Siddikur wajar menjadi tauladan kepada mereka. Semoga edisi ke-51 tahun depan akan memberi keputusan lebih menggembirakan, walaupun mungkin sukar hendak mencari juara tempatan pertama atau mengulangi pencapaian P. Gunasegaran muncul naib juara 1994, namun sekurang-kurangnya kita mahu melihat lebih ramai pemain melepasi kelayakan.

AC Milan''s Antonio Cassano (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a second goal against Sampdoria at the San Siro stadium in Milan, April 16, 2011. — Reuters pic

After their main challengers all slipped up, Barcelona, Manchester United, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund would need to slip up spectacularly in the next few weeks to miss out on their respective championships, leaving France and the Netherlands to provide some excitement in May.

Dortmund, seeking their first title in nine years, are likely to be the first to close out the race among the "big four" leagues after they beat Freiburg 3-0 at the weekend to open an eight-point lead with four games remaining.

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen lost ground in spectacular style when they were thrashed 5-1 at Bayern Munich and Dortmund can secure the title next weekend by beating Borussia Moenchengladbach if Leverkusen fail to take all three points against Hoffenheim.

Barcelona are also eight clear after their 1-1 draw with second-placed Real Madrid. Even with the distraction of a Champions League semi-final and King's Cup final against their big rivals to come, it would be a huge surprise if they allowed themselves to be reeled in over the remaining six games.

United spent the weekend being knocked out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals by Manchester City but after Arsenal were held 1-1 at home by Liverpool, Alex Ferguson's team are six clear with six to play.

The top two still have to meet at the Emirates and United also have to host last season's champions Chelsea but it still looks a formidable gap, particularly as Arsenal seem to have completely lost their form in recent weeks, drawing four and winning one of their past five league games.

Both sides are in action midweek, when a United win at Newcastle United combined with a defeat for Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur would end any remaining debate.

AC Milan have a six-point lead after Napoli lost 2-1 at Udinese on Sunday to probably end their hopes of winning the league for the first time since Diego Maradona led them to glory 21 years ago.

Milan, 3-0 winners over Sampdoria, are on course to win the league for the first time in seven years — a success made all the sweeter as it will end Inter Milan's five-year hold on the trophy.

Although Porto wrapped up the Portuguese title two weeks ago, there are still some interesting battles to be found elsewhere in Europe.

With seven games to go in France, Lille's tilt at a first championship in 57 years seems to be getting to them.

Their lead is down to a point after they drew with Girondins Bordeux and Olympique Marseille beat Montpellier.

Lyon are a further five points back after they lost 1-0 at Paris St Germain but they also remain in the mix.

It is even tighter in the Netherlands, where PSV Eindhoven and Twente Enschede both have 65 points and Ajax Amsterdam 64 with three games to go. — Reuters

Too little too late: Robin Van Persie opens scoring for Arsenal with this penalty against Liverpool at the Emirates on April 17, 2011, only to have compatriot Dirk Kuyt reply with a penalty in the last kick of injury time for a 1-1 draw. — Reuters pic

Arsenal's decline has been stark in the past two months, and defeat at White Hart Lane would be the final nail in their Premier League coffin.

It all started to go wrong when they were Birmingham City beat them in the League Cup final on February 27 — though throwing away a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 at Newcastle United earlier in the month was also something of a psychological hammer blow.

They were then knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United, and the Champions League by Barcelona.

In the league, they drew 0-0 at home with Sunderland, 2-2 at West Bromwich Albion, 0-0 at home with Blackburn, and, after beating Blackpool, suffered the heartache of gifting Liverpool a 1-1 Emirates draw after 11 minutes of stoppage time.

That result on Sunday left them six points behind leaders Manchester United and only two ahead of Chelsea, who beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 away on Saturday to restore their hopes of a top-two finish with six games to go.

With Manchester City seven points adrift of Arsenal in fourth, Arsene Wenger's side look unlikely to miss out on a top-three finish, but their trophy drought looks set to go into a seventh year.

They still have to play United at the Emirates, and Alex Ferguson's team also have to play Chelsea, so everything is far from settled, but Wenger has a real job on his hands to slam the brakes on the decline, starting tomorrow, where Tottenham and their fans would be delighted to ensure it does not happen.

Wenger has ranted and raved at everyone and everything except himself and his players during the lean streak, but would be better employed addressing his team's problems — not least their lack of a strong leader on the pitch and their declining ability to make and take chances.

The extraordinary finale to Sunday's game diverted attention from the fact that Arsenal had again looked relatively toothless in attack. However, Wenger criticised Liverpool for their defensive approach.

"We are maybe jaded a bit physically, you could see that some players have played around 40-45 games and we lacked a bit of a change of pace," Wenger said.

"We will have to give everything until the last game of the season and see if it is our year or not."

By the time Arsenal run out for what will be another formidable test at White Hart Lane, they could be nine points adrift if United triumph at Newcastle today.

Chelsea are also in action tomorrow, at home to Birmingham City. — Reuters

MILAN: Veteran tactician Marcello Lippi is keeping his options open for a return to coaching, but made it clear he would not be interested in taking charge of a Serie A club, hinting at Real Madrid — just days after speaking about Chelsea.

The World Cup winning Lippi is seeking employment after leaving his post as Italy coach following a failed campaign in South Africa last year, which saw Italy finish bottom of their group.

Lippi has been linked with a number of clubs, including Juventus and Roma, but he admits he is unlikely to manage an Italian club as he aims to move abroad.

"There is plenty of will to get back into football, but what is certain is that I won't be leading an Italian side," he told Rai Sport.

"I am waiting for the right offer. Whether it's a club or a national team I will accept. There have been some offers, but I thought they were not right.

"I would be very attracted to the Premier League. As for Real Madrid, who would not go there? I would run there.

"In the past they had offered me the job, but I decided to stay on at Juventus."

Lippi continues to be linked with Chelsea and a number of other clubs around Europe.

And his latest comments come just hours after reports claimed Real manager Jose Mourinho had enrolled his children in a school near Inter Milan's training ground as speculation grows over the Portuguese's future.

ONE LAST HURDLE, MATE! (From left) Huth, Thomas Sorensen and Ryan Shawcross of Stoke celebrate the final whistle during the FA Cup semifinal against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Stoke wiped out Bolton 5-0

Stoke will face Manchester City in the final after Walters scored twice, with the other goals coming from Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones.

"We wanted to achieve something this year. It was a tough game but we did really well from back to front. I'm quite honest," Walters told ESPN.

"It's been very hard over the years but a lot of people have helped me along the way."

Defender Andy Wilkinson, who is from Stoke, said words cannot describe it.

"It's unbelievable. The fans have been great, it's like a home game for us. I'm a bit emotional, I'm going to enjoy it and then focus on the final," he said.

Etherington said Stoke scored some great goals yesterday.

"We get our knockers, people say certain things about us. Today was our day to prove them wrong. We are used to being the underdogs," he said.

"The manager said before the game and we will be the underdogs in the final as well. Bring it on."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis paid tribute to chairman Peter Coates and his family for the way they had turned Stoke into an established club in the Premier League.

"It's fantastic for everybody connected with the football club. The Coates family have taken over a club that was really down in the dumps and they've turned it around," he said.

Pulis also praised his players.

"It was a great performance. To do it on a stage like this is great. We know Bolton and 90 per cent of their goals came off phases of play off Kevin Davies, so we narrowed everyone in and made sure their wide players were covered.

"From that tight position we knew we could cause them problems on the break."

Bolton manager Owen Coyle bemoaned his side's poor defending.

"I certainly don't think anybody envisaged what happened," he said.

"From our point of view we've lost soft goals today. I think we were the architects of our own downfall.

"We were certainly way below what we are capable of. We didn't perform to the levels we have before," said Coyle.

Bolton captain Davies described the demolition by Stoke as "a terrible dream".

"It was a horrible experience, the manner of the defeat. The first goal was like something from five-a-side rather than on an occasion like this," he said.

"To see the goals going in, I don't know what to say. It was just one of those days. We will try and put it right. It is just a terrible dream at the moment.

"We are all devastated and very emotional. It is very difficult and we feel ashamed and embarrassed.

"We feel sorry for the supporters as they paid a lot of money to come down. We've had a lot of plaudits this year and we will take the criticism and stand up as men."

Davies also believes his dream of lifting the FA Cup is over.

A losing semifinalist with Chesterfield in 1998, he said: "It is one of those things, it seems to have got away from me. This was probably my best chance of getting to the final."

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Political unrest in the Gulf is a concern for the European golf tour and organizers are monitoring the situation in Bahrain, which is due to host the first tournament of 2012, chief executive George O'Grady said Monday.

In an interview with The Associated Press, O'Grady said a decision won't be made "for several months" on whether the Volvo Golf Champions tournament will be held for a second year in Bahrain. This year's inaugural event, held in late January, was problem-free and deemed a success, he said.

Authorities in Bahrain have cracked down heavily on dissent since anti-government protests began Feb. 14. The unrest has left 30 people dead, including four opposition supporters who died in custody, and forced Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix to be called off.

"Bahrain is being monitored all the time," O'Grady said. "If we are advised not to go, we would do the same as F1. I don't think anyone fully knows. It's just too early to say. It will be up to the golf federation in Bahrain and the king as our hosts. We started in Bahrain and we hope we can continue."

Colin Montgomerie, who designed the Bahrain course, said how the situation unfolds will determine if the event goes ahead.

"Of course, it's concerning ... especially for local Bahrainis," Montgomerie said. "But at the same time, I think George is dead right in saying it's too early to say regarding the Bahrain tournament next year. We all hope that the unrest will come to an end and peace in the region will suffice once again."

O'Grady played down the long-term implications of the unrest, noting that the European Tour has navigated political challenges before, including the Gulf and Iraq wars as well as terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom. He also said the Nigerian Open in the 1970s was disrupted by an uprising in the African country that forced players to remain housebound.

"You have had terrorists attacks in Britain but you continue the tournaments don't you?" he said. "You don't run scared. When the Gulf War was on, we came to Qatar when a lot of other sports wouldn't come. We reckoned we were safe there. Some players were worried but we honor our agreements."

O'Grady said he has no regrets with the move into the Gulf which now features five tournaments, including the year's first tournament in Abu Dhabi, one in Qatar and the season-ending, $7.5 million tournament in Dubai. The tour has also held preliminary talks with Saudi Arabia on hosting a Senior Tour event and with Oman over hosting a sixth European Tour event in the coming years.

"We have to be reasonably circumspect to make sure everyone is fully committed. It is a big undertaking to have extra tournaments," O'Grady said. "We are talking to many different golf federations in the area. Oman would be the most developed in that sense."

O'Grady said talks are also ongoing regarding keeping the season-ending Dubai World Championship in the city. It is no secret that Abu Dhabi would like to host the event that concludes the Race To Dubai. The three-year contract with government-owned developer Nakheel ends after this year's tournament.

Prize money for the tournament has also been reduced from $10 million to $7.5 million due to the economic crisis that hit Dubai.

"We are comfortable in Dubai as long as all our partners in Dubai wish to continue," O'Grady said. "The Race to Dubai has been synonymous with Dubai and the European Tour through largely good times and in the last couple of years more challenging times ... I'll be surprised if we don't continue in Dubai."

In 1989, Dubai hosted the the first European Tour tournament outside of Europe in what O'Grady describes as a "catalyst for change." The tour now stages 50 events in 29 destinations but O'Grady said there are limits to its global ambitions.

O'Grady said there are no plans to host a World Golf Championship in Europe. Currently, three are held in the United States, one in Asia and a fifth is slated for South Africa in 2012.

"There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have one, but at the moment the desire of the sponsorship isn't there," he said.

ITALIAN teenager Matteo Manassero, who only turned professional less than a year ago, earned a US$416,660 birthday present after becoming the youngest ever golfer to win the Malaysian Open title at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Manassero, who will be 18-years-old tomorrow, started the celebrations early as a closing four-under 68 gave him a total of 16-under 272 and it saw off challenges from Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy.

The dashing Italian had a crucial eagle on the 10th hole to thank for his one-stroke win over Bourdy, who battled to a five-under 67.

McIlroy, the world No. 9, battled magnificently on the back nine to give himself a chance to win the title but failed to find the crucial birdie at the last hole to force a playoff with Manassero and settled for a three-under 69 for third place on 274.

The leaders had 27 holes to play on the final day after six hours of weather delays earlier in the week, with McIlroy immediately extending his two-shot overnight advantage to three with a birdie at the par-five 10th.

But the 21-year-old McIlroy was passed by Manassero and Alexander Noren of Sweden before the end of the third round after dropping two shots at the short 15th.

Manassero, on the other hand, birdied both par threes on the back nine for a five-under 67 that left him 12-under with one round to go alongside Noren.

In the final round, Manassero completed the first nine holes on 35 but his game lifted with the eagle on the 10th.

Two birdies more and a lone bogey ensured Manassero's place in history as he eclipsed Noh Seung-yul of South Korea as the youngest champion. Seung-yul won the title last year at 19.

And Manassero was beaming with pride as he collected the trophy and winning cheque from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Manassero will also break into the world top 50 for the first time with the win as the Maybank Malaysian Open this year was accorded the highest ranking points due to the elite field.

The winner gets 40 points and yesterday was also Manassero's second European Tour title in his young career.

Manassero was the youngest winner in European Tour history when he won the Castello Masters in Valencia last year.

"It's fantastic. To have another title two days before my 18th birthday, it's a great achievement," he said.

He felt the eagle on the 10th was the turning point as he started to pull his game strongly.

"Two great up and downs from the bunker and then holing a nine iron on the 10th (for eagle) was maybe the turning point and made me think of the possibility of winning," added the European Rookie of the Year.

"It was not easy. It was tough. The course is really tight and all the players were doing good and playing well.

"It's just not easy to concentrate, especially to stay calm. I managed quite well. Fortunately, I ended up like this. I'm happy to get my second title after 11 months as a pro."

On how he planned to celebrate his birthday tomorrow, Manassero said that he would return to Verona for a gathering with his family and close friends.

"I will also be looking at altering my playing schedule now that I may be inside the world top 50," he said.

"I am just looking at a few Majors and the TPC (The Players Championship) right now. Things will definitely change."

Related Stories:
Poor Danny hits a low point in his game
Danny fails to cling on to top 20 spot
McIlroy suffers another late collapse in final round
Eighth placed Siddikur is the best Asian performer

Petenis Inggris, Andy Murray. (ANTARA/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne)

Berita Terkait

Semifinalis Monte Carlo Masters yang bermain dibawah tekanan rasa sakit dalam pertandingan panjang tiga jam melawan Rafael Nadal Sabtu lalu, dianalisa siku kanannya oleh dokter di ibukota Katalan tersebut setelah menempuh perjalanan 600 km dari Monaco.

"Saya berharap akan baik-baik saja untuk besok (Selasa)," kata petenis peringkat empat dunia yang dijadwalkan memulai pertandingan Rabu di Real Club de Tenis melawan antara petenis Belgia Xavier Malisse atau petenis Spanyol Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"Saya sudah tidak berlatih sejak Monte Carlo tapi semoga akan baik-baik saja untuk besok. Bergantung pada bagaimana yang saya rasakan, saya akan memutuskan apakah akan bermain atau tidak."

Murray akan berharap tampil untuk keempat kalinya pada turnamen itu setelah hanya memenangi satu pertandingan sejauh ini di tempat tersebut pada 2006.

Petenis Skotlandia mencapai penampilan bagusnya pada lapangan yang menjadi favoritnya dengan masuk ke empat besar Monte Carlo Masters.

Tapi masalah siku yang mulai muncul ketika pertandingan perempatfinal melawan petenis Portugal Frederico Gil menghantuinya sesaat sebelum pertandingan semifinal.

"Saya tidak pernah mengalami cedera seperti ini sebelumnya. Ini seperti pembengkakan," katanya seperti dikutip Reuters.

I015/Z002

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
COPYRIGHT © 2011

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Kedua tim itu adalah Persipura dan PSPS.  Persipura sukses melibas tamunya dengan 3-1, sedangkan PSPS yang justru datang bertamu ke Bandung berhasil mempecundangi Persib dengan 1-).

Berikut hasil pertandingan Senin, dan klasemen sementara ISL.

Persipura vs Persiba (3-1)
Persib    vs PSPS    (0-1)

Klasemen (main, menang, seri, kalah, selisih gol, poin)

 1 PERSIPURA       21 14 5  2 54-17 47
 2 SEMEN PADANG    21 10 8  3 32-20 38
 3 AREMA INDONESIA 21 10 7  4 35-20 37
 4 PERSIJA         20 10 4  6 31-20 34
 5 SRIWIJAYA FC    21 10 4  7 35-26 34
 6 PERSISAM        22 10 3  9 26-31 33
 7 PERSIWA         20  9 4  7 29-31 31
 8 PERSELA         20  8 5  7 21-22 29
 9 PERSIB          23  8 5 10 36-39 29
10 PSPS            19  7 3  9 25-28 24
11 PERSIJAP        23  7 3 13 23-44 24
12 PELITA JAYA     21  7 2 12 23-26 23
13 DELTRAS         20  7 1 12 26-33 22
14 PERSIBA         19  5 5  9 23-33 20
15 BONTANG FC      21  3 3 15 22-51 12

B016/I015

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
COPYRIGHT © 2011

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MILAN - Marco Amelia tak mau main-main berlaga di Coppa Italia. Bahkan, kiper AC Milan ini sangat mengharapkan dapat meraih gelar juara untuk melengkapi dua trofi musim ini.
 
Seperti diketahui, Rossoneri dijadwalkan bentrok dengan Palermo, untuk memperebutkan tiket ke final Coppa Italia musim ini. Pada leg pertama, skuad Massimiliano Allegri akan menjadi tuan rumah, Kamis (21/4/2011) dini hari WIB.
 
Saat ini, Gennaro Gattuso dkk tengah berjuang untuk meraih gelar Serie A pada musim ini. Kendati demikian, Amelia membantah Milan tidak serius mengikuti kompetisi yang merupakan level kedua di Italia tersebut.
 
"Kami sangat peduli dengan Coppa Italia, sama seperti Seri A. Akan lebih penting buat kami di Milan musim ini, dengan meraih dua gelar," tegas Amelia dalam wawancara dengan Stadionews.it, Selasa (19/4/2011).
 
Namun, Amelia meminta kepada Milan untuk tidak meremehkan Palermo. Terbukti, skuad asuhan Delio Rossi itu berhasil mempermalukan tuan rumah AS Roma dengan skor 2-3, dalam lanjutan Seri A, pekan kemarin.
 
"Kemenangan Palermi di Roma akan membuat kami kesulitan. Palermo memiliki banyak pemain muda yang bermain penuh antusias. Ini laga berat buat kami, karena kami sadar Palermo juga berhasrat memenangi Coppa Italia," jelas Amelia.
 
"Kami semua harus berhati-hati. Meskipun Palermo mengalami beberapa kesulitan belakangan, namun Javier Pastore dkk masih bisa bermain baik," tandas kiper 29 tahun tersebut.
(hmr)

MAR DEL PALTA - Argentina akan melakoni duel persahabatan melawan Ecuador di Mar del Plata. Dalam laga itu, pelatih Sergio Batitsta memanggil sejumlah pemain baru.
 
Daftar pemain itu dirilis oleh situs resmi Argentina. Kali ini, Batitsta tidak memanggil pemain bintang yang bermain di Liga Eropa, seperti pemain Barcelona Lionel Messi dan gelandang Inter Milan Esteban Cambiasso.
 
Dalam pertandingan ini, Juan Pablo Carrizo berpeluang untuk memperlihatkan bahwa dirinya pantas membela Timnas Argentina di ajang Copa Amerika, setelah sebelumnya kiper River Plate itu tidak tampil ketika Tim Tango menghancurkan Venezuela 4-1 karena mengalami cedera.
 
Kendati menjadi pilihan kedua di Boca Juniors setelah pemain veteran Martin Palermo, namun penyerang muda Lucas Viatri juga dipanggil untuk memperkuat Timnas Argentina yang akan menjamu Ekuador
 
Sementara itu, Batitsta juga memanggil dua pemain baru seperti Federico Fernandez danEnzo Perez, yang tampil gemilang bersama Estudiantes, demikian sebagaimana dilansir Goal, Selasa (19/4/2011) dini hari WIB.
 
Berikut skuad Argentina:
Kiper: Juan Pablo Carrizo (River), Agustin Marchesin (Lanus).
 
Belakang: Luciano Monzon (Boca), Ivan Pillud (Racing), Jonathan Maidana (River), Ismael Quilez (Colon), Julian Velazquez (Independiente), Federico Fernandez (Estudiantes), Lisandro Lopez (Arsenal).
 
Gelandang: Enzo Perez (Estudiantes), Luciano Aued and Fabian Rinaudo (Gimnasia), Claudio Yacob (Racing), Christian Chavez (Boca), Diego Valeri (Lanus), Mauricio Sperduti (Newell's), Ariel Rojas (Godoy Cruz).
 
Penyerang: Pablo Mouche and Lucas Viatri (Boca), Gabriel Hauche (Racing).
(hmr)

Wenger tetap optimis

LONDON - Arsene Wenger masih belum menyerah kalah dalam perebutan gelaran juara Liga Perdana England meski- pun Arsenal sekadar seri 1-1 dengan Liverpool di Stadium Emirates kelmarin.

Pengurus skuad The Gunners itu yakin pasukan tersebut masih mampu memintas Manchester United di kedudukan teratas tetapi para pemain perlu berjuang sehingga akhir saingan musim ini.

Arsenal hampir berjaya meraih tiga mata penuh menerusi sepakan penalti Robin van Persie pada minit ke-97 tetapi Dirk Kuyt berjaya menyamakan kedudukan buat Liverpool minit ke-101, juga me- nerusi sepakan penalti.

Dengan keputusan seri itu, Arsenal kini ketinggalan enam mata di belakang United dengan saingan hanya berbaki enam perlawanan.

"Kami perlu memberikan segala-galanya sehingga ke perlawanan terakhir. Selepas itu, barulah kita akan ketahui musim ini menjadi milik kita atau tidak.

"Segala-galanya terletak kepada kami untuk memenangi baki perlawanan. Kami sudah harungi 15 perlawanan tanpa kalah tetapi banyak mencicirkan mata penuh. Memang semua pemain berasa kecewa.

"Tetapi kami perlu terus beraksi dan berjuang selagi mampu. Kami memiliki para pemain yang bercita-cita tinggi dan mahu melakukan sebaik yang boleh," kata Wenger.

Namun Wenger ternyata berang dengan pengadil, Andre Marriner yang memberikan sepakan penalti kepada Liverpool selepas masa kecederaan berlangsung selama 11 minit.

"Penalti itu diberi pada minit ke-11 sedangkan masa kecederaan yang dinyatakan pengadil adalah lapan minit. Saya tidak tahu dari mana datangnya tambahan tiga minit itu.

"Ia juga tidak sepatutnya penalti kerana Lucas Leiva tiba-tiba berhenti di depan Emmanuel Eboue lalu terjatuh.

"Selepas perlawanan, saya turut memberitahu Kenny Dalglish (pengurus Liverpool) bahawa ia bukan penalti," jelas Wenger yang kelihatan berbalah dan enggan bersalaman dengan Dalglish. - AFP

Bale di puncak karier

LONDON - Pemain sayap Tottenham Hotspur, Gareth Bale telah dipilih sebagai Pemain Terbaik Persatuan Pemain-Pemain Profesional (PFA) England bagi tahun 2010.

Bale, 21, yang berasal dari Wales berjaya mengetepikan enam calon lain dengan pemain tengah Arsenal, Samir Nasri menduduki tempat kedua, manakala penyerang Manchester City, Carloz Tevez di tempat ketiga.

"Ia satu penghormatan untuk menerima anugerah ini terutama apabila ia merupakan undian daripada pemain-pemain profesional yang lain.

"Bagaimanapun, ia bukan untuk diri saya seorang tetapi milik rakan-rakan sepasukan lain yang banyak membantu saya sepanjang musim ini," kata Bale.

Setelah berhijrah dari Southampton pada 2007, Bale memulakan karier bersama Tottenham dengan agak mengecewakan apabila dihantui pelbagai masalah kecederaan.

Bale hanya mula mendapat tempat dalam kesebelasan utama selepas diturunkan sebagai pemain bek kiri pada aksi Piala FA pada Januari 2010.

"Pada permulaan saya gagal beraksi banyak perlawanan tetapi tetap memiliki keyakinan dalam diri. Apabila diberi peluang beraksi, saya cuba membuktikan kemampuan yang dimiliki," jelasnya.

Bale turut dicalonkan untuk anugerah Pemain Muda Terbaik PFA 2010 tetapi hanya mendapat tempat kedua di belakang pemenangnya iaitu pemain tengah berusia 19 tahun Arsenal, Jack Wilshere.

"Ini merupakan musim penuh pertama saya dan ia anugerah yang cukup besar buat diri ini. Saya merasa bangga menjadi pemenang kelima dari Arsenal.

"Ternyata Arsenal sebuah kelab yang bagus dalam menghasilkan pemain muda," kata Wilshere.

Penyerang Manchester United berusia 22 tahun, Javier Hernandez pula menduduki tempat ketiga kategori tersebut. - Agensi

Presiden PBNS turun padang 'cari masalah'

Oleh SYED AHMAD ZULKARNAIN SYED ALI
zulkarnain.ali@kosmo.com.my

PERSATUAN Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (PBNS) akan melakukan post-mortem bagi mengenal pasti masalah yang melanda sku- ad Hoben Jang Hoben yang kini menghuni kelompok bawahan Liga Super.

Presiden PBNS, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan berkata, beliau akan mencari masalah yang melanda pasukan itu yang mencatatkan tujuh kekalahan dalam 12 perlawanan sebelum ini.

Katanya, prestasi buruk itu tidak se- patutnya berlaku memandangkan Negeri Sembilan dibarisi beberapa pemain kebangsaan dan berpengalaman.

"Saya pun tidak tahu apa sebabnya, kita telah melakukan beberapa perubahan termasuk menukar jurulatih, namun masalah ini belum dapat diselesaikan.

"Walaupun bermula dengan cemerlang ketika awal musim tetapi prestasi pasukan terus menjunam dan mencatatkan kekalahan demi kekalahan," kata Mohamad dalam satu sidang media di Seremban semalam.

Mohamad yang juga Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan berkata, beliau akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan semua pemain dan pihak pengurusan bagi mengenal pasti masalah yang melanda skuad kendalian Mohd. Azraai Khor Abdullah itu.

"Saya akan berjumpa dengan bebe- rapa pemain senior termasuk pemain junior dan saya hendak tahu apa sebe- narnya yang berlaku.

"Prestasi buruk sebegini tidak sepatutnya berterusan kerana di atas kertas kita mempunyai pemain berkaliber dan rekod yang cemerlang," ujarnya.

Tambahnya, beliau tidak mahu lagi menuding jari kepada sesiapa dan akan mencari formula terbaik selepas bertemu dengan barisan pemain dan pihak pengurusan pasukan.

"Saya yakin kita mampu membaiki prestasi pasukan sekiaranya masalah ini dapat diatasi kerana kita mempu- nyai barisan pemain yang baik.

"Jadi, mesti ada sesuatu yang tidak kena. Saya akan cuba untuk berjumpa dengan pemain dan kalau didapati ada masalah dalam pasukan, kita akan cuba selesaikan masalah dalaman ini," tegasnya.