70,000 untuk penyokong kita

Oleh MUHAMMAD DAYNE AZMIN
dayne.ghazali@utusan.com.my

Penyerang kebangsaan, Mohd. Safee Sali (tengah) menjalani latihan bersama rakan sepasukan di padang Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya semalam, sebagai persediaan untuk perlawanan akhir pertama Piala Suzuki AFF menentang Indonesia, Ahad ini.

KUALA LUMPUR - Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) memperuntukkan 70,000 tiket untuk penyokong Malaysia pada harga RM30 dan RM50 untuk perlawanan akhir pertama Piala Suzuki AFF di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, Ahad ini.

Harga yang diumumkan semalam menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak RM10, apabila RM50 dikhaskan untuk tempat duduk berbumbung, sementara tempat duduk tidak berbumbung pula ditetapkan RM30.

Berbanding pada perlawanan separuh akhir membabitkan Malaysia dan Vietnam lalu, harga tersebut merupakan kenaikan sebanyak R10, namun harga tiket bagi kanak-kanak kekal RM5.

Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad berkata, penyokong tempatan boleh mula mendapatkan tiket yang akan dijual esok di pintu pagar berwarna kuning Stadium Nasional, bermula pukul 10 pagi hingga 7 petang sehingga hari perlawanan.

''Tiket ini hanya dijual kepada penyokong Malaysia sahaja dan mereka perlu menunjukkan kad pengenalan masing-masing ketika membeli tiket.

''Sebanyak 70,000 tiket kerusi tidak berbumbung dan 2,500 tempat duduk berbumbung diperuntukkan kepada penyokong Malaysia.

''Sementara bagi penyokong Indonesia, berdasarkan persetujuan dengan Persatuan Sepak Bola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI), 15,000 tiket bagi kerusi tidak berbumbung dan 500 tempat duduk berbumbung akan diagihkan kepada penyokong mereka di sini.

''Kami belum memberi keputusan di mana tiket untuk penyokong Indonesia akan dijual, kerana mengikut cadangan asal, FAM mahu tiket dijual di Kedutaan Indonesia, namun ia bergantung perbincangan Setiausaha PSSI, Jeneral Nugraha Besoes yang akan melakukan kunjungan hormat ke sana esok (hari ini), '' katanya.

Jika kedutaan tidak bersetuju mekanisme cara penjualan tiket kepada penyokong Indonesia, Azzuddin berkata, pihaknya mempunyai alternatif lain.

''FAM akan serahkan kepada Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tiket dan Pintu, Datuk S. Sivasundram dan antara cadangan awal ialah menjual tiket di pintu pagar biru dan mereka harus menunjukkan pasport Indonesia ketika membeli tiket.

''Mungkin esok (hari ini) saya akan beritahu secara rasmi cara penjualan tiket kepada penyokong Indonesia, '' jelasnya pada sidang media di Wisma FAM, semalam.

Sebelum itu, beliau dan Sivasundram menerima kunjungan hormat perwakilan PSSI ke Wisma FAM, bagi membincangkan pengagihan tiket dan taklimat mengenai langkah keselamatan menjelang perlawanan akhir pertama, Ahad ini.

Azzuddin memberitahu, FAM akan mempertingkatkan kawalan keselamatan pada hari perlawanan bagi mengelakkan insiden yang tidak diingini.

''Berasaskan pengalaman pada enam tahun lalu ketika kedua-dua pasukan bertemu, pemisahan penyokong antara kedua-dua pasukan harus dilakukan.

''Satu mesyuarat khas membincangkan soal keselamatan akan dilakukan pada hari esok di Wisma FAM, '' katanya.

Skuad Indonesia akan tiba ke Malaysia Jumaat ini dan akan menjalani latihan di Padang Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN).

Ikat sayap Indonesia - Rajagobal

Oleh MUHAMMAD DAYNE AZMIN
dayne.ghazali@utusan.com.my

k. Rajagobal memberi arahan kepada Norshahrul Idlan Talaha pada sesi latihan pasukan kebangsaan di Kelana Jaya, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR - Kelibat dua pemain sayap Indonesia, Oktovianus Maniani dan Muhammad Ridwan bersama pemain import mereka, Cristian Gonzales akan diberikan perhatian istimewa oleh pertahanan Malaysia.

Itu janji jurulatih skuad kebangsaan, K. Rajagobal menjelang perlawanan akhir pertama Piala Suzuki AFF menentang Indonesia di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil, Ahad ini.

''Berdasarkan analisis, Saya melihat mereka pemain yang boleh menghadirkan ancaman serius kepada kami jika diberikan ruang untuk bergerak bebas.

''Saya ada perancangan khusus untuk mengikat mereka dan jika itu berjaya, kami mampu bermain mengikut apa yang saya rancangkan dan itu mampu berikan kelebihan buat kami.

''Saya harap para pemain boleh mengambil kelebihan bermain di gelanggang sendiri untuk mendapatkan bekalan selesa sebelum bermain pada perlawanan kedua.

''Selain mereka, saya lihat ketua pasukan Indonesia, Firman Utina dan Ahmad Bustomi juga antara pemain yang bagus, '' katanya ketika ditemui di padang Wisma FAM, semalam.

Skuad negara kembali menjalani latihan semalam, selepas diberi pelepasan dua hari oleh Rajagobal, sejurus pulang dari Hanoi, Ahad lalu.

Namun dua pemain, Khyril Muhymeen dan Mohd. Amirulhadi Zainal tidak dapat bersama rakan-rakan yang lain menjalani latihan, kerana cedera lutut.

Rajagobal berkata, dua pemain tersebut berlatih di bawah pengawasan ahli fisioterapi dan dia masih belum pasti sejauh mana tahap kecederaan pemain Kedah dan Selangor itu.

''Khyril ada masalah di lutut kanan sementara Amirulhadi pada lutut kiri, tetapi saya lihat tidak serius. Saya akan lihat perkembangan mereka dari semasa ke semasa, '' katanya.

Selain itu, Rajagobal berharap tiga pemain, Safee Sali, Mahali Jasulli dan Amirulhadi dapat mengelakkan daripada mengutip kad kuning kedua pada final pertama, supaya dapat beraksi di Stadium Gelora Bung Karno pada final kedua.

''Mereka bertiga masing-masing sudah mendapat satu kad kuning perlawanan separuh akhir berdepan Vietnam.

''Saya harap mereka berhati-hati semasa bertemu Indonesia di Stadium Nasional nanti supaya tidak digantung pada perlawanan seterusnya, '' katanya.

Skuad bimbingan Rajagobal akan berdepan Felda United di Wisma FAM pada aksi persahabatan pada pukul 8 malam ini.

WINDSOR, Ontario, Dec 22 — WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will fight Shane Mosley, a former champion in three divisions, on May 7 in Las Vegas, promoter Bob Arum said yesterday.

The fight, to be held at the MGM Grand, will be contested at the welterweight limit of 147lb, Top Rank promoter Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview.

After considering a choice between Mosley, lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) informed Arum of his choice last week in the Philippines.

Arum finalised the bout yesterday, he said.

Pacquiao and Arum would have preferred a bout with undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr, but according to Arum, Mayweather did not respond to their attempts to contact him.

The 39-year-old Mosley, an American, is 46-6-1 with 39 knockouts but has a loss and a draw in his last two fights. — Reuters

 

PERTH, Dec 22 — England were blindsided by the intensity of paceman Mitchell Johnson's swing during their third test defeat to Australia in Perth, but would not be caught out again in Melbourne, batsman Kevin Pietersen said today.

Johnson ripped apart England's top order in the first innings with a match-turning six-wicket haul that propelled Australia to an emphatic 267-run victory that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.

"(It) Definitely took us by surprise, for sure, but he bowled well, bowled really, really well, he bowled a really good game of cricket," Pietersen, who was trapped lbw for a duck by Johnson in Perth, told reporters.

"Obviously we're going to prepare ourselves for that swinging ball. We knew he was going to swing it, but we didn't think he was going to swing it that much."

Johnson said he had enjoyed taking Pietersen's wicket and described him as a "smart-arse" after the South Africa-born batsman had asked him teasingly for his phone number so they could be "best mates".

Johnson declined to give it, and Pietersen, who remains firm friends with Australia's retired leg spinner Shane Warne, confirmed the players were far from being on good terms.

"I don't have a relationship with Mitchell Johnson," Pietersen said, repeating himself when pushed to clarify.

Australia's bowlers credited their improved performance in Perth in part to a renewed aggression that saw them exchange heated words with a number of English batsmen amid peppering them with volleys of furious short-pitched bowling.

Pietersen denied England had been unsettled by any verbal attacks, and said he had heard worse when facing the likes of Australia's Warne and retired paceman Glenn McGrath during England's last Ashes tour four years ago.

"I haven't seen or heard anything different to anything that's happened in the first two test matches let alone last year in England," he said.

"There's not really any big chirpers or big sledges.

"It's just England versus Australia, it's an Ashes series. Blokes get a bit of red mist occasionally.

"It's historic, it's huge, but there's nothing that's been overboard and if things go overboard, match referees deal with stuff like that."

Pietersen also shrugged off controversy over the choice of pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the fourth test gets under way on Sunday.

Pitches for the MCG are dropped into the oval and English media have cried foul that the head groundsman would choose a grassier wicket more suited to Australia's quicks rather than a drier track that might favour England and, particularly, spinner Graeme Swann.

"Of course, they're going to do it, they just had success in Perth with a bouncy wicket, but we've had success around the world with bouncy wickets," Pietersen said, attributing England's loss to their disastrous first innings collapse, rather than the pitch.

"We lost that test match in half an hour, (with) five (wickets) for 20, that's where we lost that test match." — Reuters

MANCHESTER: Manager City boss Roberto Mancini admitted he was disappointed not to see his side top the Premier League following their 2-1 defeat to Everton at City of Manchester this morning.

City had the chance to move to the top of the table at Christmas for the first time in 81 years but they were stung early on by two goals in the first 20 minutes by Tim Cahill and Leighton Baines for the visitors.

Mancini received a welcome boost earlier in the day with Carlos Tevez committing his future to the club, but his side, and his star striker, failed to convert their chances, having 25 shots at goal and only seeing one go in.

That too via an own goal by Phil Jagielka in the 72nd minute when the defender tried to stop a Yaya Toure cross.

Mancini felt the game had very much been an opportunity missed, bemoaning their inability to make their dominance count and saying their response must be a swift one.

"We have missed a big opportunity to go top and I think we are disappointed because we had a lot of chances to score a goal," Mancini told Sky Sports.

"Football is unbelievable but the season is long and we must now start again. There are three more games this month.

"Maybe in the first-half we started not very well, but they had only two chances and scored two goals, the same as against Everton last year."

The Italian admitted that Tevez's decision to withdraw his transfer request was the only comfort he could take from a tough night.

"We are happy for this. This is the only good news of the evening."

Tevez withdrew his transfer request and expressed his "absolute commitment" to City following clear-the-air talks.

The Argentine had earlier handed in a formal transfer request on Dec 11 which City rejected.

"During the meeting Tevez expressed his absolute commitment to the club and formally withdrew his transfer request. His contract remains unchanged and both Tevez and the football club are keen to focus on the opportunities that lie ahead," said a City statement.

Mancini was furious with rightback Pablo Zabaleta after the defeat to Everton.

He was particularly annoyed with the length of time Zabaleta was off the pitch receiving treatment following a clash of heads with Cahill.

"It is impossible for one player to spend eight minutes in the dressing room," he said.

"He should have been back more quickly or we should change the player. I thought he would have been back after one or two minutes."

It was during this period that the Toffees got their second goal.

LONDON: Midfielder David Beckham (pic) wants to play for a European club this winter in a bid to win back his England place.

Beckham has spent the last two winters on loan from LA Galaxy at AC Milan but accepts that move will not happen again and he has ruled out all Premier League clubs apart from Manchester United.

"I won't be going back to Milan this time because it is not possible to go onto the roster for such a short length of time," he said.

"But I will be going back somewhere as I want to keep myself fit and keep myself in with a chance of getting called up for England again. To do that, I have to be somewhere so fingers crossed I can sort something out."

Beckham, whose Major League Soccer season with the LA Galaxy does not begin again until March, trained with Arsenal in the past to regain his fitness but he will resist offers to play for any other Premier League club apart from United, and he concedes the chances of that are remote.

"I have always missed playing in the Premier League since I left it almost eight years ago. It is a great league and one of the most competitive in the world. Maybe one day I will come back here but I have always said that it will only be for United. I am not holding my breath on that one, but we will have to wait and see.

"But definitely not Preston (where he played on loan as a teenager) — it's too cold up there!"

Beckham has not played for England since suffering a torn Achilles tendon last March that kept him out of the World Cup in South Africa, but he made a successful return for the Galaxy.

"My body feels great after my injury. I always said I needed to get that back into order and keep my fitness and we will see," he said.

"I love the game and am not done with playing the game yet. I might be 35 years old but I still feel that I can play at the top level for another couple of years. Hopefully, I can do that."

LONDON (AP) - Jerome D'Ambrosio will next year become the first Belgian driver to compete in Formula One since 1994 after signing for Virgin Racing on Tuesday.

The British team said D'Ambrosio will take the second seat and partner lead driver Timo Glock for the 2011 season, Virgin's second in F1.

The last driver from Belgian to appear in F1 was Philippe Adams, who started two grand prix races with Lotus.

D'Ambrosio, who impressed Virgin bosses in practice ahead of four grand prix at the end of the past season, will replace Brazil's Lucas Di Grassi.

"There was a lot of competition for this seat but at the same time I got on well with the team and felt that I had found my home," the 24-year-old D'Ambrosio said.

"I feel very comfortable with them - they are extremely professional and ambitious people and it is exciting to think that I can be a part of shaping the team's future."

D'Ambrosio spent the last four seasons competing in the GP2 Series after spells in GP2 Asia, International Formula Master, the F3000 Euroseries and Formula Renault.

"Jerome had been on our radar for quite some time," said Virgin team principal John Booth. "Apart from his obvious skill at the wheel of a Formula One car, he is an immensely personable young guy who is a pleasure to have around.

"He has secured this seat absolutely on merit and I think coupled with Timo and (test and reserve driver) Luiz (Razia) we have the perfect blend of youth, experience, speed and potential and we can't wait to see what they can achieve together next season."

Neither Glock nor Di Grassi, who was without a team for next season, won a point in Virgin's debut year in F1.

NEW YORK (AP) - Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer top World Golf Ranking:

Final

1. Lee Westwood Eng 9.37

2. Tiger Woods USA 8.07

3. Martin Kaymer Ger 7.37

4. Phil Mickelson USA 6.86

5. Jim Furyk USA 6.34

6. Steve Stricker USA 6.25

7. Graeme McDowell NIr 6.24

8. Paul Casey Eng 6.02

9. Luke Donald Eng 5.73

10. Rory McIlroy NIr 5.69

11. Ian Poulter Eng 5.65

12. Ernie Els SAf 5.45

13. Matt Kuchar USA 4.83

14. Dustin Johnson USA 4.60

15. Retief Goosen SAf 4.47

16. Francesco Molinari Ita 4.45

17. Robert Karlsson Swe 4.39

18. Edoardo Molinari Ita 4.21

19. Hunter Mahan USA 4.12

20. Louis Oosthuizen SAf 3.79

21. Robert Allenby Aus 3.70

22. Zach Johnson USA 3.68

23. Padraig Harrington Irl 3.65

24. Adam Scott Aus 3.62

25. Geoff Ogilvy Aus 3.62

26. Tim Clark SAf 3.61

27. Miguel Angel Jimenez Esp 3.54

28. Rickie Fowler USA 3.50

29. Justin Rose Eng 3.47

30. Kim Kyung-Tae Kor 3.46

31. Anthony Kim USA 3.44

32. Bubba Watson USA 3.40

33. Ross Fisher Eng 3.32

34. Charl Schwartzel SAf 3.30

35. Nick Watney USA 3.20

36. Camilo Villegas Col 3.15

37. Ryo Ishikawa Jpn 3.15

38. Jason Day Aus 3.09

39. Ben Crane USA 3.07

40. Peter Hanson Swe 3.00

41. Yuta Ikeda Jpn 2.98

42. Sean O'Hair USA 2.93

43. Y.E. Yang Kor 2.91

44. Ryan Moore USA 2.77

45. Bo Van Pelt USA 2.77

46. Stewart Cink USA 2.75

47. K.J. Choi Kor 2.73

48. Hiroyuki Fujita Jpn 2.67

49. Alvaro Quiros Esp 2.66

50. Martin Laird Sco 2.62

51. Henrik Stenson Swe 2.53

52. Charley Hoffman USA 2.50

53. Jeff Overton USA 2.49

54. Angel Cabrera Arg 2.38

55. Brendan Jones Aus 2.36

56. Lucas Glover USA 2.35

57. Heath Slocum USA 2.34

58. Toru Taniguchi Jpn 2.25

59. Ryan Palmer USA 2.24

60. Richard Green Aus 2.23

61. Bill Haas USA 2.23

62. Matteo Manassero Ita 2.20

63. Simon Dyson Eng 2.12

64. Noh Seung-yul Kor 2.11

65. Kevin Na USA 2.06

66. Tetsuji Hiratsuka Jpn 2.04

67. Liang Wen-Chong Chn 2.04

68. Thongchai Jaidee Tha 2.03

69. Rhys Davies Wal 1.98

70. Anders Hansen Den 1.96

71. Scott Verplank USA 1.96

72. J.B. Holmes USA 1.94

73. Fredrik Andersson Hed Swe 1.93

74. Danny Willett Eng 1.92

75. Kenny Perry USA 1.91

- AP

Latest sports news from AP-Wire

Siaran langsung di RTM

PEMAIN negara gigih berlatih di padang Wisma FAM semalam sebagai persediaan menghadapi Indonesia, Ahad ini.

---

RADIO Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) akan menyiarkan siaran langsung perlawanan akhir pusingan pertama Piala AFF Suzuki 2010 antara Malaysia dengan Indonesia di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, Ahad ini.

Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, perlawanan dijangka bermula pada pukul 8 malam.

"Kita telah mendapat pemerhatian awam bahawa ini bukan pertandingan bola sepak biasa, ini pertandingan yang mendapat perhatian nusantara, sebab itu kami berusaha untuk membuat siaran langsung," katanya selepas melancarkan program Istana Budaya (IB) 2011 di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Malaysia melayakkan diri ke perlawanan akhir selepas menewaskan Vietnam dengan agregat 2-0.

Pada aksi separuh akhir lalu, RTM menyiarkan siaran langsung lewat 30 minit selepas permainan berlangsung dan ini menimbulkan perasaan kurang senang peminat bola sepak tempatan.

Pertandingan akhir pusingan kedua akan berlangsung di Jakarta pada Rabu depan.

Begitupun, penyokong diharap terus memenuhi Stadium Nasional di Bukit Jalil bagi memberi sokongan kepada skuad muda negara menghadapi Indonesia.

Indonesia perlu diberi pengajaran selepas menewaskan skuad bimbingan K. Rajagobal itu 1-5 pada perlawanan peringkat kumpulan 1 Disember lalu.

Tiket final RM30 dijual esok

PEMINAT boleh mendapatkan tiket final pertama Piala AFF Suzuki 2010 bermula esok.

---

TIKET-TIKET bagi menyaksikan final pertama Piala AFF Suzuki 2010 di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, Ahad ini akan dijual pada harga RM30 dan RM50 bermula pagi esok.

Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) memperuntukkan sejumlah 88,000 keping tiket dengan 72,500 daripadanya untuk penyokong Malaysia dan baki 15,500 untuk penyokong Indonesia.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tiket dan Pintu FAM, Datuk S. Sivasundaram berkata, tiket berharga RM30 adalah untuk tempat duduk terbuka manakala tiket berharga RM50 untuk tempat duduk utama.

"Bagi kanak-kanak berusia 12 tahun ke bawah, tiket untuk tempat duduk terbuka masih kita kekalkan RM5. Nak beli dalam jumlah lima keping atau 10 keping boleh tetapi jika nak beli sekali gus 500 keping, kami tidak akan benarkan.

"Untuk penyokong Malaysia, mereka boleh mula membeli tiket di Kaunter Pintu Kuning, Stadium Nasional pada Khamis (esok) dari pukul 10 pagi hingga 7 malam, juga pada waktu yang sama pada Jumaat dan Sabtu.

"Jika masih ada tiket, ia akan dijual pada Ahad bermula 10 pagi," katanya pada sidang media di Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya petang semalam.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung FAM, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad pada sidang media sama memberitahu, hanya 15,500 tiket daripada jumlah keseluruhan 88,000 tiket itu diperuntukkan kepada penyokong Indonesia.

"Saya menerima kunjungan Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Sepak Bola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI), Nugraha Besoes hari ini (semalam) untuk membincangkan tentang peruntukan tiket penyokong Indonesia.

"Kita beri peruntukan 15,000 keping tiket RM30 dan 500 keping tiket RM50 kepada mereka. Nughara akan berbincang dengan Kedutaan Indonesia di Malaysia pagi esok (hari ini).

"Jika dibenarkan, tiket untuk penyokong Indonesia ini akan dijual di pekarangan kedutaan. Jika tidak, FAM akan menjualnya di Kaunter Pintu Biru, Stadium Nasional bermula Khamis (esok)," jelas Azzuddin.

Menurut Azzuddin, skuad kebangsaan Indonesia akan tiba dengan pesawat sewa khas di Lapangan Terbang Subang pada 12.30 tengah hari Jumaat ini dan mengadakan latihan pada pukul 5 petang di Padang MSN, Bukit Jalil.

Ditanya soal keselamatan kedua-dua penyokong, Azzuddin berkata: "Jawatankuasa Penganjur Tempatan (LOC) bagi perlawanan ini akan bermesyuarat esok (hari ini) untuk membincangkan secara terperinci tentang isu ini."

THE pressure is not on Malaysia as they will be playing as underdogs against Indonesia in the AFF Suzuki Cup final.

But if they hope to lift the title for the first time, the young team will need a favourable result when they host their Southeast Asian rivals in the first leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

National coach K. Rajagobal has been reminding his players that they have overcome the most difficult part of the competition and that they are now in the all-to-play-for final against Indonesia.

"It is a matter of how much they want to win the title. We came into this competition without 10 regulars and also faced many other difficulties. "But my young players, including the seniors, overcame all these obstacles despite many shortcomings," said Rajagobal when met at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

"Being in the final is a big achievement for local football. Everyone is talking about these young players. It is now entirely up to them." Against Indonesia, Rajagobal said he wants his players to play for a desirable result in the first leg.

"We need a good result to take to Jakarta but in football, it is not always the case. Sometimes, a team can lose at home and win big away to lift titles.

"But of course our aim is to win. We know what we need to do in the final. Indonesia are tough opponents but we have played them before in this competition. Everyone in the team knows about Indonesia's strengths and weaknesses," he said.

Rajagobal, however, said special attention will be given to Indonesia's strikeforce led by Cristian Gonzales and Irfan Haarys Bachdim.

"Indonesia have quick and skillful flankers. I believe if we can play to our game plan, we would be able to contain whatever obstacles in the final," said Rajagobal. Gonzales is the tournament's leading scorer with three goals while captain Muhammad Ridwan (defender), Octovianus Maniani (midfielder) and Irfan have scored two goals each. Malaysia's Safee Sali, Mahalli Jasuli and Amirulhadi Zainal should all avoid being booked in the first leg as each of them has collected a yellow card.

"Of course, it will be tough for the team if any of them getare suspended for the return leg. But it is tough to control these kind of situations as anything can happen in a match," he added. Malaysia and Indonesia have faced each other twice before in a major final, both in the Sea Games.

In 1979 in Jakarta, Malaysia edged Indonesia 1-0 but eight years later, also at the same venue, the hosts won by solitary goal.

Sukan

Saya tidak mahu kita terbawa-bawa dengan kejayaan ketika ini: Subahan

SKUAD bola sepak negara yang bakal berdepan Indonesia dalam final Piala Suzuki AFF dianggap mentah tetapi bakal menggegar dalam tempoh empat tahun lagi untuk cuba menakluki Asia.

Firasat itu diluahkan pengurus pasukan, Datuk Subahan Kamal yang meminta peminat tanah air usah cepat gembira sebaliknya segera memberi sokongan moral secara konsisten sehingga tempoh berkenaan. "Ini hanyalah permulaan. Sasaran sebenar kita adalah membentuk pasukan benar-benar mantap dalam tempoh tiga sehingga empat tahun lagi," katanya, semalam.

"Saya tidak mahu kita terbawa-bawa dengan kejayaan ini sehingga kita lupa matlamat utama adalah untuk kembali menjadi negara kuasa bola sepak di rantau Asia Tenggara dan juga Asia satu hari nanti. Harap rakyat Malaysia akan terus menyokong barisan muda ini, baik ketika berjaya atau pun ketika waktu sukar."

Pengurus berkenaan yang menikmati kejayaan merangkul pingat emas Sukan Sea 2009 dan kali ini berpeluang merakam sejarah baru dalam Piala Suzuki bersama jurulatih, K Rajagobal, mendedahkan rahsia kejayaan skuad negara ketika ini.

"Kita menerapkan suasana kekeluargaan dalam pasukan, barisan pemain muda yang dididik penuh disiplin oleh Rajagobal dan saya mengambil pendekatan lebih lembut dengan menjadi tempat mereka mengadu masalah," kata Subahan.
Malaysia menentang Indonesia dalam perlawanan akhir pertama pada Ahad ini sebelum berkunjung ke Jakarta bagi perlawanan kedua 29 Disember ini.

Sukan

LONDON: Bintang Arsenal, Samir Nasri mencipta rasa benci di kalangan pemain Manchester United, semalam apabila bersuara betapa lawan mereka itu tidak akan bergelar juara Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL), musim ini.

Pemain Perancis berusia 23 tahun itu juga memperlekehkan lawan dari Old Trafford itu apabila berkata: "Bagus perlawanan anda di Chelsea, kelmarin dibatalkan kerana anda tidak akan menang sekalipun jika perlawanan itu diteruskan!"

Ketika ketua pasukan Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas (berita muka 44) mempersoalkan sama ada kelab dari London itu memiliki kekuatan mental dalam perlawanan besar, Nasri percaya persaingan merebut gelaran masih kekal terbuka. Arsenal kehilangan tempat teratas apabila kecundang 1-0 kepada United, Isnin lalu.

Tetapi Nasri berkata: "Saya fikir gelaran liga hampir dalam genggaman kami.

"Jika dilihat, United sepatutnya berdepan Chelsea dan saya tidak boleh melihat mereka memenangi perlawanan itu. Saya juga merasakan perlawanan dalam tangan bukannya satu kepastian kerana meraih kemenangan di Blackpool bukannya mudah.

"Saya fikir kami memiliki kualiti dan kematangan yang kami tiada sebelum ini," katanya. - Agensi

"INILAH saat kami tunggu." Laungan keyakinan itu disuarakan penyerang kebangsaan, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (gambar) yang bertekad menebus kembali maruah bola sepak negara pada final Piala Suzuki AFF menentang Indonesia.

"Kami akan pastikan kemenangan berpihak kepada Malaysia untuk membalas dendam kekalahan memalukan awal bulan ini dan seterusnya menjulang buat kali pertama piala mula dipertandingkan sejak 1996 ini.

"Impian dan keazaman kami sepanjang kejohanan ini akhirnya tercapai untuk membuat perhitungan sekali lagi dengan juara kumpulan A itu," kata penyerang berusia 24 tahun itu.

Malaysia diaib Indonesia pada perlawanan pembukaan Kumpulan A di Stadium Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta pada 1 Disember lalu apabila tewas 1-5 walaupun mendahului melalui jaringan Norshahrul pada minit ke-18.

Namun pada perlawanan akhir, skuad kebangsaan pastinya menagih kelicikan pemain berasal dari Terengganu itu untuk mengkucar-kacirkan benteng pertahanan lawan serta mengatasi kekebalan penjaga gol Indonesia, Markus Rihihina yang hanya melepaskan dua gol di sepanjang kejohanan .

"Bagi saya pertahanan Indonesia tidak kebal terutama di pertahanan tengah tapi nasib mereka baik apabila bertemu dengan pasukan yang lemah seperti Filipina di separuh akhir sekali gus menampakkan skuad bimbingan jurulatih Alfred Riedl berada di kelas tersendiri.

"Saya berjanji memberikan aksi terbaik bagi membuka peluang kepada rakan sepasukan yang lain terutamanya, Mohd Safee Sali bagi mencari gol untuk dijadikan bekalan ke Jakarta," jelasnya.

Penyerang lincah yang membantu Kelantan menjulang Piala Malaysia itu menjangkakan akan terus diberikan peranan untuk lebih banyak bertahan oleh ketua jurulatih kebangsaan, K Rajagobal selain membantu dan membuka lebih banyak ruang untuk Mohd Safee menjaringkan gol.

"Saya tidak kejar status sebagai penjaring terbanyak, apa yang penting adalah kejayaan pasukan untuk menjulang buat kali pertama piala ini," tambahnya yang kini sudah menjaringkan dua gol untuk negara.

Pada perlawanan akhir yang dijalankan secara timbal balik itu, Malaysia terlebih dulu menanti kunjungan Indonesia di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil pada Ahad ini sebelum berkunjung ke tempat lawan pada Rabu depan untuk menentukan juara baru edisi kelapan Piala Suzuki AFF itu.

BARISAN pertahanan muda negara seharusnya diberikan pujian apabila bangkit mempelajari sesuatu selepas dimalukan Indonesia pada perlawanan pembukaan Piala Suzuki AFF pada awal bulan ini.

Apa tidaknya, barisan pertahanan dibarisi Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Shas dan Mahali Jasuli dilihat lebih matang terutama selepas menyingkirkan dua gergasi Asia Tenggara, Thailand dan Vietnam untuk mara ke perlawanan akhir.

Kecekalan dan kesungguhan mereka terutamanya Mohd Muslim dan Mohd Fadhli yang berturut mendapat pujian ketua jurulatih kebangsaan, K Rajagobal yang semakin yakin dengan persembahan mereka namun menegaskan masih ada ruang untuk meningkatkan permainan.

Bagi Mohd Muslim yang baru berusia 21 tahun, dia berjanji akan mempamerkan persembahan terbaik pada perlawanan akhir selain mengelakkan sebarang kesilapan yang boleh memberikan kelebihan kepada lawan.

"Inilah peluang terbaik menebus kekalahan tempoh hari. Kami akan mengikut segala arahan jurulatih bagi memastikan strategi direncanakan berjaya dicapai.

"Penyerang Indonesia kelahiran Uruguay, Christian Gonzales yang kini sudah menjaringkan tiga gol perlu diberikan perhatian yang lebih kerana dia adalah kunci utama kepada kekuatan Indonesia sehingga berjaya mara ke perlawanan akhir," katanya yang kembali berlatih di Wisma FAM hari ini.

Menurut pemain kelahiran Terengganu itu, pengalaman beraksi buat kali pertama di kejohanan itu amat berguna kepadanya sekalipun pernah mendapat pendedahan di Slovakia bersama skuad Harimau Muda sebelum ini.