The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- The people's response
- Five memorable football manager rants
- Wei Feng and Daren vow to deliver the goods in Axiata Cup
| Posted: 28 Mar 2013 06:00 PM PDT Mohd Wazir Barmawi, 33, bank executive, Selangor and Malaysian supporter "I think the gag order imposed under FAM's Article 88 deprives a person of his freedom of speech. If we look at Datuk K. Rajagopal's statement, he was pointing out a problem. It seems that FAM prefers to discuss problems instead of finding solutions. The national coach is definitely the right person to comment on his team and the M-League." Fazal Azwandi Abu Bakar, 30, executive "Article 88 is a draconian law and is not relevant anymore. FAM should be open to criticism. If they can't handle the heat they should leave the kitchen. FAM needs a revamp and it should be from top to bottom. The bigwigs who have been on the job have not done anything to improve our football standards." Elroi Yee, 30, TV director "I personally feel that FAM is run by an incompetent bunch of people. If they can't handle a simple constructive criticism how are they going to improve the standard of our football. If they have the guts, they should just sack the national coach and pay him compensation instead of abusing their power under the Article 88. Hussein Shaharuddin, 33, photographer "I find it ridiculous for a person to be punished for being honest. What Rajagopal said was a fact. Can FAM say otherwise in this issue? Even FIFA accepts and responds to criticism but FAM just hushes people up." Awang Mahyan (former Sarawak coach) "Why do people get worked up when someone tells the truth? This is all part and parcel of the modern game and we should be more open-minded in accepting criticisms. I think FAM is going overboard by shutting the mouth of coaches and officials. What they should be doing is to improve the game and not kill it. Sidhatrtha (local Brazil fan) "It is a fair comment. What was said was in the best interest of the game. We do not have good strikers and that is a fact. In fact, everyone knows it by just looking at our poor FIFA rankings and dismal showings at international matches. The truth hurts and by penalising the coach we are not going to move forward." Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad (Malaysian Hockey Confederation vice-president) Every association has a way of dealing with such matters but they do not allow discussions on policy matters. We, in hockey, have such a ruling. But we allow coaches to comment on team matters that are relevant and positive in nature. Of course, when you criticise you have to make sure the rules are followed and know what you are saying. Procedures have to be followed to raising sensitive matters. At times this may seem harsh but it is to avoid anyone running down the association without any proof or using the platform to create mischief. Rao Rallapilli (businessman) A coach should have more say than the president or management team because he knows more about the game. A coach is answerable to the fans. I feel that our coaches deserve to say more. Unlike the EPL, our coaches hardly speak out. I think it's time that FAM is run by sportsman or sportswoman and not be totally dependant on politicians and royalty. Probably then, the whole scenario in Malaysian sport will change. Datuk Naim Mohamad (MNCF deputy president) A coach must bring up their grouses through the proper channel. But then again, if the coach has proposed something to rectify the matter, only for the association not to do anything about it, then it would be fair for to coach to air his views. Fadzli Failul Rahman (entrepreneur) It is an unofficial gag order. Archaic law. The association's self-esteem cannot be too low to not accept any criticism, not even from the coach. It is a bad thing if they want to see the sport move forward. Ali Azis (managing director) There is no logic behind the rule (Article 88). If the coach cannot comment on his own team, how can we rectify the weaknesses? The rule should be scrapped if we want to see football rise again in the country. Holloway Cheah (national bowling coach) In the West, coaches can say whatever they want and not get punished for it. Over here it is different. But it is also how you bring up the matter. If I'm not happy with certain things, I will talk to the association first, rather than the media. If the team is not performing well, I will blame myself first before pointing fingers at others. |
| Five memorable football manager rants Posted: 28 Mar 2013 04:51 PM PDT Kevin Keegan Kevin Keegan's rant against Sir Alex Ferguson during the 1996 Premier League title race is one that will never be forgotten by football fans. Keegan – then manager of Newcastle United – famously blew his top live on television after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that teams tried harder against his team than Newcastle. "I'll tell ya – you can tell him now, he'll be watching – we're still fighting for this title. And I'll tell you honestly, I will luv it if we beat them – luv it!' Jose Mourinho The Portugese-born manager of Real Madrid is no stranger to controversy. After losing to arch-rivals Barcelona in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in April 2011, he sensationally accused European football governing body UEFA of conspiring against Real Madrid in favour of their rivals. His tirade earned him a five-match European ban. "I don't understand why. I don't know if it's the publicity of Unicef (Barcelona's then-shirt sponsor), I don't know if it's the friendship of (Spanish football federation president Angel María) Villar at Uefa, where he is vice-president, I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they have got this power. The rest of us have no chance." Sir Alex Ferguson The most-decorated manager in England, the Manchester United manager is not averse to airing his views publicly. He went on one of his many tirades after his team lost 2-1 to Chelsea on March 2011. In an interview, he stated that decisions did not go his team's way, and laid the blame specifically on match official Martin Atkinson. He received the heaviest punishment of his career in the form of a five-match touchline ban and £30,000 (RM140,000) fine. "You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway, and we didn't get that. I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared the worst." Arsene Wenger Nicknamed "The Professor" in football circles, the Arsenal manager is known to give measured replies and rarely loses his cool during interviews. However, in a rare outburst in February this year, Wenger lashed out at journalists who questioned his tactics and whether he was being a offered a contract extension with Arsenal. "You think I am so naive that I don't see what is behind that? You think I am a complete idiot? I'm angry because you give wrong information. The lie is targeted to hurt. It's easy to say people are not happy and on top of that say he's extending the contract. I don't accept lies when the target behind it is to manipulate people." Rafael Benitez During his tenure as Liverpool manager, the Spaniard was constantly at loggerheads with Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson. In a memorable interview in January 2009, he let loose on Ferguson, reading "facts" from a piece of paper about his conducts towards match officials and how the fixture list was weighed in Man United's favour. Some have put this rant on the same level as Kevin Keegan's "luv it" tirade. "During the Respect campaign – and this is a fact – Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett. He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things." |
| Wei Feng and Daren vow to deliver the goods in Axiata Cup Posted: 28 Mar 2013 06:13 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian fans have seen the best of Lee Chong Wei at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium (KLBA) in Cheras. Now, in his absence, two others – Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng – have vowed to step up and give the home crowd a fantastic treat when Malaysia begin their campaign in the return leg of the Axiata Cup, which starts at the same venue today. Malaysia will field either Daren or Wei Feng in the opening match against Singapore today and both have vowed to thrill the home fans if given the mandate to draw first blood. Wei Feng said that playing on home ground had its ups and downs but "I will use it to my advantage". "The atmosphere will surely be different. In Surabaya, the fans jeered us. Here, we will have great home support and I am counting on it to give my best," said the 25-year-old Wei Feng. "My most memorable outing in Malaysia was when I reached the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open last year. I'm hoping to give another good account of myself." Wei Feng was given a chance to strut his stuff once in Surabaya – during the tie against Indonesia – but he went down 16-21, 11-21 to Tommy Sugiarto much to the joy of the vociferous and fanatical home fans. "Tommy is a strong opponent. There are others too like Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and South Korean veteran Lee Hyun-il. They'll be tough nuts to crack but, hopefully, I'll be able to win in front of the home fans ... if I'm given the opportunity to play," said Wei Feng. Daren admitted that playing at home would be more challenging. "The pressure to perform will be much higher here compared to Surabaya because everyone will be expecting me to deliver the first point now – just like how Chong Wei normally does. I'll surely give my best," he said. Daren endured mixed fortunes in his debut as the country's first singles in the first leg of the Axiata Cup in Surabaya. He was fielded in three ties but won twice – against Antonino Benjamin Gadi of the Philippines and Scott Evans of Ireland (Team Europe). He lost the crucial one to Tanongsak. The others in the Malaysian team are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Lim Yin Loo and Tee Jing Yi. Chong Wei's name has also been registered but he prefers to give the youngsters the opportunity to play. Malaysia are in the running for the semi-finals after finishing third with 11 points in the eight-member field. Only the top four teams in the standings will make it to the elimination round, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on April 13. This year's format of the Axiata Cup is quite intriguing. Each team will play in four events – men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles – and every team will gain a point for every match won. If teams are tied with the same number of points, their positions will be determined by the Badminton World Federation, who will look at the games won by the teams, followed by the points won by the teams. If the tally is still tied, then the result of the men's singles will be the deciding factor between the two teams. Thailand, who are in the lead with 13 points, and Indonesia are favourites to finish as the best two teams based on the depth and determination of their teams. |
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