Sedia berdepan provokasi

Oleh ZAZALI JAMIAN
sukan@utusan.com.my

SEPANG - Kekuatan mental dan strategi yang kukuh menjadi bekalan utama buat skuad negara apabila berkunjung ke Lahore untuk aksi kedua kelayakan Olimpik menentang Pakistan, esok.

Malah, jurulatih Ong Kim Swee juga seolah-olah menyedari layanan kurang selesa bakal diberikan skuad Olimpik Pakistan selain provokasi sebelum dan semasa perlawanan oleh tuan rumah untuk memberi tekanan kepada pemain negara.

Katanya, semua bentuk provokasi tersebut mampu dihadapi oleh pemain-pemain negara kerana mereka bersikap profesional dalam menghadapi situasi sebegini di samping mempunyai sifat kesabaran yang tinggi.

''Antara bentuk provokasi yang saya jangkakan ialah taktik permainan kotor, sorakan penonton tuan rumah serta mungkin dari aspek padang atau pemakanan yang kurang selesa.

''Saya beritahu pemain agar bersedia untuk menghadapi perkara ini. Ada di kalangan pemain kita yang telah mempunyai pengalaman dalam situasi sebegini yang dan saya yakin dengan (kemampuan) mereka,'' katanya kepada pemberita sebelum berlepas ke Lahore Pakistan dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), semalam.

Dalam pada itu, Kim Swee juga percaya skuad Olimpik Pakistan akan mengunakan sepenuhnya kelebihan beraksi di tempat sendiri, esok bagi menebus kekalahan di Stadium Shah Alam pada 23 Februari lalu.

Tambahnya, beberapa strategi telah dirancang untuk perlawanan itu nanti, malah akan cuba memperkukuhkan bahagian serangan serta meningkatkan keupayaan bahagian tengah yang bakal menggunakan khidmat gandingan Mohamad Muslim Ahmad dan Nazirul Naim Che Hashim.

Melihat daripada 18 senarai pemain Skuad Olimpik negara ke Lahore, Kim Swee dijangka lebih banyak mengunakan khidmat bahagian serangan apabila memanggil dua penyerang Harimau Muda A, A. Thamil Arasu, dan Syahrul Azwari.

''Kali ini corak dan strategi yang akan kita gunakan adalah berbeza dengan perlawanan pertama kerana matlamat kita berkunjung ke Lahore adalah untuk mendapatkan kemenangan.

''Pada perlawanan pertama di Shah Alam, bulan lalu kita dapat lihat pada separuh masa kedua Pakistan lebih banyak melengah-lengahkan masa dan bagi saya tujuan mereka melakukan sedemikian adalah untuk mengelakkan kita menambah jaringan selain mahu mengatasi dua gol yang kita perolehi itu,'' jelas Kim Swee.

Pasukan negara akan menjalani latihan pertama di Stadium Punjab, Lahore pada hari ini sebelum beraksi menentang Pakistan esok dalam cuaca 10 hingga 15 darjah Celsius.

Regu Hiroshima kemudi skuad elit?

Oleh ABDUL HAFIZ AHMAD
hafiz.ahmad@utusan.com.my

AHMAD Jais Baharom (tiga dari kanan) dicalon sebagai jurulatih negara sementara kontrak Rosli Ab. Rahman (kiri) dan Ku Halim Ku Musa (dua dari kiri) selaku penolong jurulatih berakhir selepas Sukan Asia Guangzhou, November lalu.

KUALA LUMPUR - Mereka merupakan yang terakhir memenangi pingat emas sepak takraw Sukan Asia pada 1994 dan merekalah yang meledakkan keegoan Thailand di Hiroshima, lalu bergelar Olimpian Majlis Olimpik Malaysia yang sehingga kini belum ada galang gantinya.

Mana tidaknya. Sudah empat Sukan Asia bermula di Bangkok, Busan, Doha dan Guangzhou (November lalu) tetapi kilauan emas masih tidak menyapa sedangkan negara Gajah Putih terus bertakhta dan berleluasa dalam memanjangkan kemarau Malaysia sehingga hampir dua dekad.

Kali ini, regu 1994 - Ahmad Jais Baharom, Iskandar Arshad dan Malek Shamsudin bakal digandingkan semula, namun dengan peranan berbeza sebagai jurulatih skuad elit sekiranya mendapat restu Jawatankuasa Kerja Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) - Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia (PSM) di Bukit Jalil, hari ini.

Semalam, mereka menjadi antara sembilan calon yang menjalani sesi temu duga dengan Jawatankuasa Pemilihan dan Kejurulatihan PSM di Kompleks Sukan MSN, Taman Keramat di sini untuk melatih skuad elit, pelapis dan wanita kebangsaan mulai bulan ini.

Turut menghadiri sesi berkenaan ialah dua jurulatih pelapis dan wanita sebelum ini, Yunus Ibrahim dan Dian Zulkarnain Amin, Osman Che Meh dan Md. Fikri Md. Nor selain Jamaluddin Hassan yang kali terakhir melatih skuad elit pada Sukan Asia Doha 2006 dan Najib Iman, bekas apit kiri negara akhir 90-an.

Setiausaha Agung PSM, Datuk Arshad Yahya mengesahkan sesi temu duga itu yang pada mulanya dijadualkan memanggil sehingga 11 calon dengan ahli jawatankuasa berkenaan turut melibatkan beberapa pegawai kanan lain persatuan.

Ahmad Jais mungkin dicalonkan ekoran rekod kejayaannya di peringkat tempatan dengan membimbing PKNS menjuarai Terbuka MBPJ, Kejohanan KFC-Utusan dan Piala Presiden PSS 2010 manakala Malek sebelum ini melatih pasukan Maksak Kedah.

Seramai 34 pemain dipanggil melapor diri ke skuad elit di MSN, Bukit Jalil mulai 2 Mac lalu dengan lapan daripadanya ialah tonggak naib juara skuad Sukan Asia Guangzhou lalu namun hanya 23 yang sudah hadir sementara selebihnya dikatakan perlu menunggu pelepasan majikan masing-masing.

Iskandar mengetuai barisan jurulatih skuad elit negara sambil dibantu Amir Abu Bakar, Nasir Ismail, Ku Halim Ku Musa dan Rosli Ab. Rahman sepanjang 2010 yang cuma menyaksikan kita menjuarai antara regu, namun terkandas pada separuh akhir berpasukan Piala Raja Thai di Chiang Mai.

Tahun ini jadual pertandingan antarabangsa tidak kurang padat menanti skuad elit iaitu Piala Dunia Pertama di Kuala Lumpur, Julai ini; Siri Super Dunia di Bangkok (September) dan Kuala Terengganu (Oktober) dan Sukan SEA XXVI (Palembang, November).

LONDON, March 8 — Tottenham Hotspur can underline their credentials as viable Champions League contenders tomorrow by adding the knockout-stage scalp of AC Milan to that of holders Inter, who they beat in the group stage.

Spurs fans have enjoyed a Champions League debut season beyond their dreams as they delivered a swashbuckling 18-goal romp through the group stage.

Now, having produced a performance of defensive maturity in the San Siro to match any of the competition's grand names and added the huge bonus of Peter Crouch's superb away goal, the Londoners have become a team others will want to avoid.

Redknapp, whose side ripped Inter Milan apart 3-1 in the group stage, said he intended to maintain his attacking approach.

"When you have that advantage in a two-legged game, if you sit back and think you have the lead then you find yourself in trouble," he said.

"We have to treat it as a one-off and we have to go for it. It's not natural for us to sit on a 1-0 lead for 90 minutes.

"We will pick an attacking team and have a go at them; that's how we have got to play."

Spurs drew 3-3 with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday and though the result was disappointing, Redknapp was pleased to see Gareth Bale come through a 20-minute run unscathed and to see Jermain Defoe back among the goals.

Bale, who tormented Inter home and away, missed six weeks with a back problem but should start tomorrow to add attacking width on the left and compliment the threat of Aaron Lennon on the right.

Rafael van der Vaart, who is behind much of the side's best attacking work, should also be fit after a calf injury.

Defoe scored twice on Sunday, his first league goals for 11 months, and with Roman Pavlyuchenko also on target and Crouch looking the part in Europe, Redknapp has good options.

Serie A leaders Milan have won three straight league games since losing the first leg but they are missing several key players and have a dire record in England.

Milan problems

In 14 visits, the seven-times European champions have won once and lost nine times, including last season when they were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United at the same stage.

Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is doubtful to face his former side after hurting his ankle in Saturday's 1-0 win at Juventus.

His absence would be a real blow given that midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are injured, Mark van Bommel is ineligible and Gennaro Gattuso is suspended.

Coach Massimiliano Ambrosini may have to employ a makeshift midfield of Clarence Seedorf, Mathieu Flamini and German youngster Alexander Merkel or play left back Marek Jankulovski further forward. The Czech won over doubters at the San Siro, who assumed his Milan career was over after being on the fringes for over a year.

"A player that I really like at the moment, who is doing really well, is Jankulovski," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said.

Striker Alexandre Pato is expected to recover from flu to replace the ineligible Antonio Cassano. — Reuters

Nathan Robertson, mixed doubles runner-up with now retired Gail Emms at the Athens Olympics and world champion with her in 2006, looks to go one better at the Olympics in London next year. — Reuters pic

The country is on the brink of an unprecedented spell of top-class, global badminton more than sufficient to dispel any gloom.

It kicks off with the All England tournament in Birmingham this week (March 9-13) followed by the world championships at Wembley in August, and the Olympics at the same venue in 2012.

The cornucopia follows Liverpool and Manchester staging major European championships in the last couple of years, but for global tastes the best is yet to come.

"I can't imagine this ever happening again, certainly not in my lifetime," Badminton England (BE) chief executive Adrian Christy told Reuters.

The All Englands have long been known as the Wimbledon of badminton and as ever all the big names will be on parade.

The return of top badminton to Wembley when the world championships come to call in the summer adds fresh relish.

"To have the worlds at the Olympic venue is not only a great opportunity and an exciting time for us but also for the athletes, teams, coaches and of course the fans that are going to be coming in August," Christy said.

New generation

The hope is that English players, without medals at major global events in recent seasons, can rise to the occasion.

Nathan Robertson, with current playing partner Jenny Wallwork, optimistic of the new generation. — Reuters pic

Still a leading medal hope himself, the 33-year-old told Reuters: "I can see we've got a young squad that's improving.

"We're still a few steps behind the strongest nations like China but we've players in the squad who have had world-class performances and beaten players who are in the top 10 in the world.

"The performances have been there in the past and those players are definitely improving so it's just a case of if they'll get there in time."

Robertson's playing partner Jenny Wallwork, excited as the big tests draw near, said: "We've had some great results in the last six to eight months, beating three of the top four pairs in the world.

"So it's just about us carrying on and hopefully getting more scalps like that and progressing from there."

International debut

Men's doubles player Andy Ellis made a huge impression on his international debut last month when he and Chris Adcock stretched world No. 1s Carsten Mogenesen and Mathias Boe to the limit.

In an epic clash at the European team championships, the English duo won the first game 29-27 and led 14-8 in the decider only to be pipped by the vastly experienced Danes 27-29, 21-19, 21-17.

Ellis told Reuters: "They're the top pair in the world but we put some real scares on them."

The 24-year-old is bullish as the All Englands loom. "It's a good chance to test ourselves," he said.

"I think now is the time we all have to prove to ourselves that we are good enough and we can be the best in the world. I for one do think Chris and I can be the top pair in the world."

Officials hope the high-profile events, laced possibly with medals, will have the crowds clamouring in a country that traditionally nurtured the sport and where it continues to have a healthy grass-roots appeal.

Around 86 per cent of secondary schools play badminton and an estimated one million people enjoy the sport each month.

Chief executive Christy said: "We want to use London as kind of a catalyst to present our sport to a whole new audience. What a fantastic legacy that would be." — Reuters

HIGH-FLYING KUYT: Best feeling ever

Kuyt opened the scoring in the big clash in the 34th minute — firing home from a metre out after great work from Uruguayan magician Luis Suarez.

His second arrived just five minutes later when the Dutchman capitalised on a poor defensive header from Nani.

And he completed his treble in the 65th minute — blasting gleefully into the net in front of the Kop from no more than two metres after Edwin van der Sar had failed to hold onto the superb Suarez's freekick.

Mexican Javier Hernandez scored consolation goal in stoppage time when he headed in Ryan Giggs' cross from 10 metres.

The win lifts Liverpool up to sixth in the table.

Liverpool's fully-deserved victory over United may not ultimately prevent their bitter rivals surpassing the Reds' 18 league titles at the end of the season.

However, it has dented the Red Devils' hopes of a straightforward run-in and at the same time restored some pride for Liverpool after two defeats at Old Trafford already this season.

And Kuyt's hattrick was Liverpool's first against United since Peter Beardsley's in September 1990.

"It's perfect. You always dream about the hattrick and then to make a hattrick against United is the best feeling ever," Kuyt told Sky Sports.

"Van der Sar said to me after the game, 'you don't score many goals against me and today the hattrick' so I'm more than happy with that.

"I have to thank Suarez because he played great today and created two of the three goals, so a perfect performance from him.

"They were quite easy goals, I used to score these types of goals when I used to play more like this as a striker in Holland but those goals count and I am more than happy to take them."

Liverpool made it wins against both Chelsea and United in the space of a month and Kuyt feels the team can use this momentum to carry them through the rest of the season.

"I think we showed belief that we can compete against the best. We showed that against Chelsea also but we know that we need to compete against the other sides," said Kuyt.

"Last week against West Ham (where Liverpool lost) was disappointing but hopefully we can go on a long run after today."

Manager Kenny Dalglish was naturally delighted with the win.

"Obviously for us it's a huge win and the lads deserve great credit for the way they played and went about their work, their discipline, application and the pride they showed in themselves and to the football club," he said.

"It's been a tough season. It's not finished yet but this has been the highest point so far for our supporters.

"We're not trying to say we've had injuries because everyone has injuries but when we start getting all our players back we've got quite a strong squad. Although when we have injuries like everybody else we get weakened, United had injuries today and we've just got to accept it and get on with it.

"The most important people are the people who are fit to play and today they were magnificent. In the first half we lost Fabio Aurelio and we had to change things so let's give them the credit they deserve because Fabio started really well."

LONDON: Champions Sebastian Vettel (above) says he is in for a "long, hard and tough season" as he bids to retain his title.

Vettel and his Red Bull Racing team are already being tipped as favourites for this year's crown after putting in some impressive performances during pre-season testing.

However, the German played down the favourite tag, saying no one will know until Australia where they are in the pecking order.

"It's very difficult in the beginning to tell," he told crash.net.

"I don't have an advantage with having the number '1' on the car. Obviously it's a nice feeling, and it was a great success and a big relief for me last season.

"Hopefully, that has made me a bit stronger, but nevertheless, it will be a long, hard and tough season."

This season sees the introduction of several new regulations, such as moveable rear wings and the return of KERS, while Pirelli have replaced Bridgestone as Formula 1's sole tyres supplier.

And it's the latter that Vettel believes could have the biggest impact on the title race.

"We seem to have a good car, but it's still too early to tell so we have to wait and see," he said.

"There have been a lot of changes which have involved a lot of work over the winter trying to get the whole package ready to start the new season.

"Obviously it's very busy now with preparation work, and we're all doing our best to try to get the best possible package together. You can never have enough preparation to make the car ready.

"The tyres are very different to last season, but then again, it's the same for everybody.

"I think the racing will change and that one-stopping — maybe even two-stops — is impossible at this stage, so it will be at least three or four-stop races, which will make it interesting."

BARCELONA – Gelandang Arsenal Samir Nasri menegaskan dirinya tidak akan membiarkan Lionel Messi kembali menjadi batu sandungan timnya, untuk melangkah lebih jauh di Liga Champions musim ini.

LIVERPOOL – Andy Carroll menemukan pengalaman besar saat mengantarkan Liverpool mengalahkan Manchester United 3-1, akhir pekan lalu. Pertandingan tersebut memang menjadi deubut Carroll buat The Reds.  
Carroll diboyong Liverpool dari Newcastle United dengan rekor transfer sebesar 35 juta poundsterling, Januari lalu. Pemain 22 tahun ini masuk sebagai pemain pengganti di menit 77, saat timnya sudah unggul. Tapi, perannya tetap dipuji pelatih Kenny Dalglish.
 
"Sungguh luar biasa bisa bermain dan menang melawan United. Saya mendapat sambutan dari publik Anfield dan itu adalah suasana terbaik yang oernah saya alami," jelas Carroll seperti dilansir Goal, Selasa (8/3/2011).
 
"Saat saya berlari, semua fans berteriak dan menjerit. Inii menambah semangat saya untuk mengejar bola dan bermain baik. Dukungan itu luar biasa bagi saya dan mereka sangat fantastis," lanjut Carroll.
 
"Saya berada di bangku cadangan, saya tidak sabar untuk dimainkan. Saya seakan tidak bisa menunggu permainan. Tapi, semua tergantung pelatih dan tim, kami banyak memiliki striker hebat," tutup Carroll.
(zwr)

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) - Second-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia defeated top-seeded Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win her third WTA title and successfully defending the Monterrey Open championship she won a year ago.

Jankovic was seeking her 13th WTA tournament title and got off to a good start. But the Serb had problems in the final set.

Pavlyuchenkova broke Jankovic in the seventh game to lead 4-3. She then held serve and broke again in the final game - thanks partly to a double fault by Jankovic - to close out the match.

Pavlyuchenkova has won both matches she's played against Jankovic and is also 10-0 in the Monterrey tournament. The Russian has won all three of her WTA finals - two in Monterrey and one in Istanbul.

"Last year I said this was very special for me, but this one was also very special, maybe even more," Pavlyuchenkova said. "The crowd made it possible for me last year and they made it possible for me this year too."

CHENNAI, India (AP) - Kevin Pietersen is out of the rest of England's World Cup campaign because his hernia surgery is more urgent than initially suspected.

The 30-year-old Pietersen had been scheduled for surgery after the tournament, but his condition worsened after batting and bowling in England's six-run Group B win over South Africa.

The England and Wales Crickdet Board has applied to the International Cricket Council for permission to call up Eoin Morgan as a replacement. Morgan would have been in England's original 15-man squad but for a broken finger.

Pietersen was diagnosed with the injury after England's 6-1 one-day series loss in Australia. The surgery requires six weeks recovery.

Popluhar yang 62 kali memperkuat Cekoslowakia dan mencetak satu gol, juga anggota tim Cekoslowakia saat timnya berada di posisi ketiga di kejuaraan Eropa 1960, demikian AFP melaporkan.

Dia sempat terpilih sebagai pemain papan atas Slowakia abad 20 setelah Cekoslowakia dibagi menjadi Republik Ceko dan Slowakia pada 1993.

Popluhar menghabiskan karirnya di Slovan Bratislava dan telah membantu timnya itu memenangi Cup Winners Cup pada 1969, namun terus pindah ke klub Prancis Lyon.

Dia mendapat sebuah reputasi penampilan "fair play" dia, dengan tidak pernah mendapat kartu kuning dalam karirnya selama 19 tahun. (A020/I015/K004)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
COPYRIGHT © 2011

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"Di Carlo orang yang hebat tapi kami tidak bisa melakukan hal lain dengan hasil-hasil yang diraih," kata presiden klub Riccardo Garrone pada para pewarta menyusulo kekalahan 2-3 di kandang dari klub papan bawah Cesena.

"Saya belum tahu apakah Cavasin hanya akan menjadi pelatih sementara. Kini hanya hasil-hasil yang menentukan."

Garrone berselisih dengan pemain depan Cassano akhir tahun lalu dan para pendukung klub itu juga terkejut saat dia juga membiarkan striker Pazzini bergabung ke Inter Milan.

Mereka digantikan di klub yang bermarkas di Genoa itu oleh pemain depan pinjaman Manchester United Federico Macheda, Marco Maccarone, dan Jonathan Biabiany, tapi ketiga pemain tersebut susah-payah memberikan pengaruh pada Sampdoria, yang dari posisi keempat merosot ke posisi ke-14 dalam klasemen Serie A.

Cavasin terakhir kali bertugas di tim Swiss, Bellinzona dan juga pernah menangani Fiorentina. (I015/Z002/K004)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
COPYRIGHT © 2011

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BARCELONA, KOMPAS.com - Striker Barcelona, Pedro Rodriguez, mencoba mengobarkan semangat timnya untuk bisa membalikkan keadaan melawan Arsenal pada leg kedua babak 16 besar Liga Champions, Rabu (9/3/2011) dini hari WIB. Pedro yakin, "Azulgrana" memiliki apa yang dibutuhkan untuk bisa melangkah ke babak perempat final.

"Blaugrana" secara menyakitkan dibungkam Arsenal 1-2 pada leg pertama di Emirates Stadium, 16 Februari lalu. Meski unggul lebih dulu di babak pertama, Pedro dan kawan-kawan lengah sehingga "The Gunners" sanggup membalikkan keadaan di paruh kedua.

"Aku tahu bahwa pertandingan pertama adalah pertandingan bagus bagi para fans yang netral, tetapi ini membuat kami marah dengan kekalahan seperti itu. Kami tidak datang dan berpikir itu adalah pertandingan yang baik, meski iramanya intens dan kami memiliki banyak peluang," kata Pedro di situs UEFA.

"Kami hanya perlu berpikir bahwa kami 'kalah' dan merasakan keinginan membara untuk mengambil kesempatan berikutnya, untuk mendapatkan hasil yang lebih baik dan lolos ke babak berikutnya," sambung Pedro.

"Kami berbagi gaya serangan balik cepat, meskipun aku percaya kami memainkan gaya ini, tetapi kehilangan kesempatan untuk mencetak lebih banyak gol di babak pertama. Dan ini semua membuat pertandingan berjalan berbeda."

Kepercayaan diri Pedro kini membumbung tinggi. Hal ini karena ia mengetahui secara pasti publik Catalan akan berada di belakang timnya untuk mendukung perjuangan para penggawa "El Barca".

"Bagian dari keyakinan kami adalah bahwa kami dapat mencapai hasil yang kami butuhkan dengan mengetahui kami lebih kuat di depan pendukung kami sendiri. Kami dapat memainkan gaya kami di lapangan sepak bola milik kami sendiri," papar Pedro.

"Skor saat ini tidak menguntungkan kami. Arsenal memiliki keuntungan, tetapi dengan konsentrasi dan motivasi, kami mampu keluar dan mengulangi apa yang kami lakukan sebelumnya dan memutarbalikkan babak ini," tuntas Pedro.

GENOA, KOMPAS.com - Sampdoria akhirnya memutuskan untuk memecat pelatih mereka, Domenico Di Carlo. Tak butuh waktu lama, manajemen Sampdoria langsung menunjuk Alberto Cavasin untuk menangani Angelo Palombo dkk hingga akhir musim.

Cavasin sendiri sudah punya pengalaman di Serie-A. Ia pernah melatih Fiorentina, Lecce, dan Brescia.

Cavasin mengalahkan kandidat lainnya seperti Gigi Cagni, Gianni De Biasi, Giuseppe Papadopulo, dan Franco Colomba. Padahal, banyak media di Italia lebih menjagokan Cagni dan Di Biasi sebagai calon kuat pengganti Di Carlo.

Di Carlo dipecat setelah merengkuh hasil buruk dalam beberapa pertandingan terakhir yang mereka jalani di Serie-A. Dalam 10 laga terakhir, "Il Samp" kalah tujuh kali dan kini terancam terjerumus ke zona degradasi. Saat ini Sampdoria berada di peringkat ke-14 dengan 31 poin, hanya terpaut tiga poin dari Cesena yang menempati batas akhir zona merah.

Kini tugas berat sudah menanti Cavasin. Pertama, ia harus  membawa Sampdoria meraih tiga poin di kandang Catania, Minggu (13/3/2011). (FBI)

FAP bohong

KENYATAAN Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Pulau Pinang (FAP), Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd. Hashim bahawa tiada isu gaji tertunggak melibatkan pemain-pemain skuad Liga Premier Pulau Pinang merupakan satu pembohongan, lapor WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR.

Ini kerana, para pemain Pulau Pinang sebenarnya ketika ini sedang menanggung sengsara akibat gaji mereka bagi bulan Januari dan Februari masih belum diterima sehingga semalam.

"Saya sedih dengan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan Presiden FAP dalam akhbar hari ini (semalam). Ia sama sekali tidak benar kerana dia kata tidak timbul isu gaji tertunggak. Ia bohong.

"Malah pemain sebenarnya turut dianiaya oleh FAP. Pada awal musim, mereka dijanjikan gaji sekitar RM3,500 hingga RM4,000 sebulan.

"Tapi sehari sebelum tarikh tutup pendaftaran, nilai gaji dalam kontrak hanyalah RM2,000 sebulan bagi setiap pemain," kata sumber rapat FAP kepada Kosmo! semalam.

Kosmo! semalam melaporkan kenyataan Zahrain yang mahu menyiasat kemungkinan pemain-pemain Pulau Pinang menjual perlawanan sehingga menyebabkan pasukan itu kini menduduki tangga tercorot Liga Premier.

Pulau Pinang tewas kesemua lima perlawanan Liga Premier setakat ini iaitu kepada Sarawak (0-4), Pos Malaysia (0-4), Sime Darby (2-3), MP Muar (2-3) dan USM FC (0-3) selain tewas 1-5 kepada Johor pada pusingan pertama Piala FA.

Tambah sumber itu lagi, apabila gaji sudah dua bulan tidak dibayar, skuad bimbingan Robert Scully yang sedang dalam proses mencari keserasian kerana dibarisi 90 peratus pemain baru musim ini gagal memberikan perkembangan positif.

"Apabila gaji tiada, pemain hanya dapat beraksi ala kadar dan tidak dapat memberikan komitmen sepenuhnya. Anggapan Zahrain bahawa para pemain menjual perlawanan juga tidak benar dan keterlaluan.

"Apabila ia keluar dalam akhbar, apa perasaan keluarga, isteri dan anak-anak para pemain yang membacanya. Ia menjatuhkan maruah para pemain dan negeri Pulau Pinang sendiri.

"Sebagai rakyat Pulau Pinang, saya sedih dan malu. Zahrain sepatutnya turun padang, bukannya mencari alasan lain untuk melepaskan tanggungjawabnya selaku Presiden FAP," jelas sumber itu.

Pandelela buru gelaran kedua

Oleh HELMI TALKAH
helmi.talkah@kosmo.com.my

PANDELELA antara calon pilihan untuk meraih gelaran Olahragawati Kebangsaan 2010.

SELEPAS dinobatkan sebagai pemenang Anugerah Atlet Terbaik Persatuan Penulis-penulis Sukan Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS 2010 kelmarin, atlet terjun negara, Pandelela Rinong kini memburu gelaran anugerah yang kedua.

Ini kerana Pandelela telah disenaraikan antara calon bagi merebut anugerah Olahragawan dan Olahragawati Kebangsaan pada majlis Anugerah Sukan Negara 2010 yang bakal berlangsung di Hotel Mandarin Oriental, 15 Mac ini.

Selain atlet kelahiran Sarawak itu, dua atlet elit bergelar Datuk, Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton) dan Datuk Nicol Ann David (skuasy) antara atlet yang turut tersenarai sebagai calon anugerah tersebut.

Bagaimanapun Pandela, Chong Wei dan Nicol dijangka menerima cabaran sengit daripada atlet-atlet lain yang turut disenaraikan sebagai calon bagi merebut anugerah sukan berprestij itu.

Bagi calon Olahragawan Kebangsaan, Chong Wei yang juga merupakan pemain No. 1 dunia bakal dicabar oleh pelumba berbasikal trek, Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang, Sazali Abdul Samad (bina badan), Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim (angkat berat) dan Norshahrul Id- lan Talaha (bola sepak).

Gelaran Olahragawati Kebangsaan pula bakal menyaksikan Pandelela dan Nicol bersaing dengan Elaine Koon (gimnastik), Chai Fong Ying (wusyu) dan Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi (menembak).

Pada tahun 2009, Azizul- hasni telah dinobatkan sebagai Olahragawan Kebangsaan manakala Nicol pula menggenggam anugerah Olahragawati Kebangsaan.

Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS), Datuk Mohid Moha- med berkata, pemilihan tersebut dibuat berdasarkan pencapaian cemerlang atlet tersebut pada temasya Sukan Komanwel (New Delhi, India) dan Sukan Asia di Guangzhou, China serta kejohanan bertaraf dunia lain sepanjang tahun 2010.

"Agak sukar bagi KBS untuk membuat pilihan dan menentukan siapakah yang layak untuk menerima anugerah Olahragawan dan Olahragawati Kebangsaan kerana calon yang disenaraikan mempunyai kehebatan dan kelebihan dalam sukan masing-masing," katanya.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin merupakan tetamu kehormat pada majlis itu dan bakal menyampaikan hadiah dalam beberapa kate- gori utama yang dipertandingkan.

"Seperti tahun lepas, edisi tahun ini turut mempertaruhkan 11 kategori iaitu Olahragawan/Olahragawati Kebangsaan, Pasukan Lelaki/Wanita kebangsaan, Jurulatih Lelaki/Jurulatih Wanita Kebangsaan, Kepimpinan Sukan, Tokoh Sukan, Anugerah Khas dan Olahragawan/Olahragawati Paralimpik Kebangsaan," katanya lagi.

Pemenang bagi anugerah Olahragawan dan Olahragawati Kebangsaan, masing-masing akan menerima hadiah wang tunai berjumlah RM10,000 berserta trofi.

Mental pemain perlu kuat

Oleh WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR
fakhrul@kosmo.com.my

KEKUATAN mental menjadi elemen penting buat skuad negara apabila turun berdepan Pakistan pada aksi kedua pusingan pertama Kelayakan Olimpik 2012 di Stadium Punjab, Lahore malam esok.

Perlawanan tersebut dijadualkan bermula pukul 8 malam waktu Pakistan (pukul 11 malam waktu Malay- sia) dengan skuad negara mendahului 2-0 hasil kemenangan pada aksi pertama di Stadium Shah Alam, 23 Februari lalu.

Skuad negara yang dibarisi 18 pemain telah berlepas ke Lahore menerusi Karachi dengan menaiki pesawat Malaysia Airlines tengah hari semalam dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Sepang.

Jurulatih skuad Olimpik kebangsaan, Ong Kim Swee berkata, beliau dan anak- anak buahnya sudah bersedia untuk berdepan segala taktik kotor yang mungkin dilakukan Pakistan.

"Kita perlu bersedia menghadapi psikologi pasukan lawan. Tiba saja di Lahore, saya jangka macam- macam perkara tak diingini pasti berlaku dan itu seme- mangnya cuba kami atasi.

"Kita lihat Pakistan boleh melengah-lengahkan masa pada aksi pertama di Shah Alam. Mungkin mereka yakin boleh menang lebih 2-0 di Lahore.

"Jadi kita harus berwaspada dan saya yakin para pemain mampu untuk menangani segala ujian dari segi mental dan strategi," katanya ketika ditemui Kosmo! di KLIA, Sepang pagi semalam.

Skuad 18 pemain bagaimanapun hanya menampilkan dua bek tengah iaitu Muslim Ahmad dan Fadhli Shas setelah Faizal Muhamad terpaksa ditinggalkan akibat mengalami kecederaan pada sesi latihan terakhir petang kelmarin.

"Saya harap tiada apa yang berlaku kepada Muslim dan Fadhli sepanjang perlawanan nanti. Tetapi jika itu berlaku juga, saya masih boleh meletakkan Mahali Jasuli (bek kanan).

"Affize Faisal Mamat (bek kiri) boleh beraksi di bek kanan manakala Fandi Othman (sayap kiri) atau Nazi- rul Naim Che Hashim boleh mengisi tempat Affize.

"Bagi saya, kesemua 18 pemain yang dibawa ini boleh beraksi dua atau tiga posisi. Ia suatu kelebihan," jelas Kim Swee.

Pengendali berusia 41 tahun itu membayangkan untuk meletakkan penyerang tunggal, Ahmad Fakri Saa- rani manakala di posisi tengah, Irfan Fazail akan berada di hadapan K. Gurusamy dan Gary Steven Rob- bat.

Selasa, 08/03/2011 02:00 WIB

Kuyt Tagih Konsistensi The Reds
Meylan Fredy Ismawan - detiksport

Rekor head-to-head Liverpool saat bertemu klub penghuni empat besar di musim ini cukup baik. Bahkan, mereka merupakan pencetak poin terbanyak kedua dalam duel melawan MU, Arsenal, Manchester City, dan Chelsea.

Steven Gerrard dkk. mampu meraih sepuluh angka dari enam laga melawan keempat tim tersebut. Mereka cuma kalah dari MU yang meraih 13 poin dari tujuh laga.

Namun, catatan cukup apik itu tak diimbangi dengan hasil serupa saat Anfield Gank meladeni tim-tim lainnya. Mereka takluk di tangan Blackpool (dua kali), Everton, Stoke City, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, dan West Ham United.

Performa inkonsisten tersebut membuat Liverpool saat ini hanya menempati peringkat keenam di klasemen sementara. Karenanya, Kuyt berharap timnya bisa tampil lebih stabil agar bisa mengakhiri musim ini di peringkat yang lebih baik.

"Kami ingin memenangi tiap laga, kami ingin terus berlari," ungkap Kuyt, seperti dikutip Sportinglife.

"Tujuan kami adalah konsistensi. Kami telah menunjukkan bahwa kami bisa bersaing dengan tim terbaik, tapi bisa bersaing dengan tim terbaik tak cukup untuk memenangi sesuatu," jelasnya.

"Kami sudah mengalahkan United, kami sudah mengalahkan Chelsea (dua kali), tapi kami juga ingin mengalahkan tim-tim lain," imbuh striker asal Belanda itu.

Pemain 30 tahun itu masih berharap timnya bisa lolos ke Liga Champions musim depan. Namun, dia sadar bahwa perjuangan untuk mencapai target tersebut akan sangat berat.

"Kami semua tahu bahwa masuk ke empat besar akan sangat sulit, tapi kemenangan Birmingham di Piala Carling berarti jatah di Liga Europa berkurang. Jadi, kami perlu terus menang, lalu kita lihat apa yang terjadi," tuntasnya.

( rin / arp )

MMS eksklusif dari Old Trafford, Mau?? ketik Reg REDVIEW kirim ke 333 (khusus pelanggan tri) www.tri.co.id/MU

Dapatkan info Bola harian dari HP-mu. ketik REG DB kirim ke 3845. cuma Rp.2000/minggu (khusus pelanggan Telkomsel)

Tetap update informasi di manapun dengan http://m.detik.com dari browser ponsel anda!

Diskusikan pendapat Anda dengan pembaca lain melalui milis detiksport@yahoogroups.com
Kirim e-mail kosong ke detiksport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com untukberpartisipasi.

Selasa, 08/03/2011 01:02 WIB

Pele: Uang Bahayakan Sepakbola
Meylan Fredy Ismawan - detiksport

Dalam sebuah acara promosi klub New York Cosmos di Hong Kong, Pele menyoroti banyaknya para pemain yang mengejar gaji besar kemudian 'menghilang' dengan durasi karier yang pendek. Pria 70 tahun ini juga kecewa dengan para agen pemain yang terlalu mengejar keuntungan.

"Para pemain tak boleh lupa untuk merumput demi kecintaannya terhadap permainan," cetusnya, seperti dikutip Soccernet.

"Pemain lebih mencintai siapa pun yang membayar mereka, itu adalah bahaya buat sepakbola," imbuh pemenang tiga Piala Dunia bersama Selecao itu.

"Kadang-kadang saya menggoda pemain dan bilang 'Anda mendapatkan dalam tempo satu tahun apa yang saya peroleh dalam sepuluh tahun'," tambah Pele.

"Agen tak peduli apakah pemain bagus atau tidak. Mereka ingin menjual pemain dan mendapatkan uang. Itu adalah bahaya untuk masa depan sepakbola," tutupnya.

( arp / rin )

Dapatkan info Bola harian dari HP-mu. ketik REG DB kirim ke 3845. cuma Rp.2000/minggu (khusus pelanggan Telkomsel)

Tetap update informasi di manapun dengan http://m.detik.com dari browser ponsel anda!

Diskusikan pendapat Anda dengan pembaca lain melalui milis detiksport@yahoogroups.com
Kirim e-mail kosong ke detiksport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com untukberpartisipasi.

Pandelela Rinong with her trophy and cheque after she was adjudged the Best Athlete at the 2010 100PLUS-SAM Awards yesterday. — Picture by Intan Nur Elliana Intan Elliana

The Sarawakian, who turned 18 on Wednesday, is the first diver to win the prestigious award which comes with a cash prize of RM10,000 and a trophy.

Lee Chong Wei, the badminton World No 1, was among those beaten by Pandelela to the top award but he did not go home empty-handed as he took the Special Award.

The national football team, victorious at the recent AFF Suzuki Cup, were also honoured after being presented with the Outdo Yourself Award while wushu exponent Yeap Wai Kin was anointed as the most promising athlete.

Pandelela made history by clinching Malaysia's first ever diving gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year when she defeated Olympic medal winners from Australia and Britain to win the 10m platform event.

She also won the silver medal with Leong Mun Yee in the synchronised 10m platform final.

Pandelela was the toast of the nation when she bagged two silver medals in the individual 3m springboard and 10m platform disciplines at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in July last year.

Her two silver medals made her the first Malaysian female to mount the podium at a multi-Games meet organised by the International Olympic Council.

She also marked her Asian Games debut with one silver in the synchronised 10m platform and one bronze medal in the individual discipline.

A stunned Pandelela said: "I can't believe it. I honestly didn't expect to win the award

as I was up against some great champions.

"This is a big honour for me and I hope to build on this success. My main goal is to do well at the World Championships in Shanghai in July as it is an Olympic qualifying event.

"The finalists (top 12) will earn a place in the London Olympics next year and that is my initial goal apart from trying to get a medal," said Pandelela.

Besides Chong Wei, Pandelela beat out five-time world squash champion Nicol David, cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang and shooter Nur Suryani to emerge as the best athlete.

WINNERS -- Best Athlete: Pandelela Rinong (diving); Most Promising Athlete: Yeap Wai Kin (wushu); Special Award from National Sports Association: Lee Chong Wei (badminton); Outdo Yourself Award: National football team (AFF Cup champions).

Galina Voskoboeva (left) and Dinara Safina rejoicing after beating Jessica Moore-Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 7-5, 2-6, 10-5 in the final of the BMW Malaysian Open yesterday. — Picture by Yazit Razali

Dinara and Galina were doubles partners about 10 years ago in the junior circuit before they went their separate ways.

But their decision to renew their partnership in Kuala Lumpur paid dividends when they edged Australia's Jessica Moore and Thailand's Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 7-5, 2-6, 10-5 to lift the title.

"We did everything better than them today (yesterday). The victory is a big motivation as we are on a comeback trail from injuries," said Dinara, the former World No 1.

"I am pretty much happy with the title as I've not played doubles for a long time. I'm pushing harder on court now under a new coach (Davide Sanguinetti) and it has put a smile back on my face."

Dinara heads for Indian Wells while Galina will continue her quest to improve her singles world rankings by participating in smaller tournaments. They will not play as a pair anytime soon.

Jessica-Noppawan started on a promising note by breaking their opponents' serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead in the first set.

But the more experienced Dinara-Galina combined well by displaying breathtaking winners to break three times to win 7-5.

In the second set, Jessica-Noppawan raced to a 3-0 lead before winning the set to level proceedings.

But the champions were near unstoppable in the super tie-break when they hit straight winners for a healthy 5-0 lead before Jessica-Noppawan broke twice to reduce the deficit.

The Thai-Australian pair surged a late fightback with several forehand winners but Dinara-Galina held their nerves to clinch the title with a 10-5 victory.

Dinara-Galina earned the winners' cheque of US$11,000 (RM33,308) while Jessica-Noppawan received US5,750 (RM17,411).