Category: Sports

KUALA LUMPUR, The national Under-23 (U-23) football squad ended their campaign in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup without any victories after losing 1-2 to Kuwait in the final Group D match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar early today.

The defeat saw Juan Torres Garrido’s squad finish the campaign at the bottom of the group standings without any points following defeats of 0-2 each to Uzbekistan and Vietnam in the first two matches.

In the match against Kuwait, the rhythm of the Harimau Muda squad was disrupted when they had to play with 10 players after goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman was shown a red card at the end of the first half for fouling Kuwait captain Salman Mohammed outside the penalty box.

Forward Luqman Hakim Shamsudin was sacrificed by Garrido to bring in substitute goalkeeper Muhammad Firdaus Irman Mohd Fadhil.

However, Malaysia fell behind at the end of the extended first half by 15 minutes through a penalty converted by Salman after Muhamad Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan was pe
nalised for fouling Talal Al Qaisi following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi missed the chance to equalise for Malaysia in the 56th minute when he failed to finish a cross from Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli before Muhammad Firdaus saved a one-on-one attempt against Salman in the 59th minute.

However, a minute later, Malaysia faced more pressure as Emilio Peixe’s team successfully extended their lead after Talal headed in a cross from Sultan Al Faraj.

Entering the final 10 minutes of the match, Salman was ordered off the field after being shown a red card by referee Alexander King from Australia following a harsh tackle on Muhamad Umar Hakeem in the 83rd minute, leaving both teams to finish the game with 10 players.

The score remained 2-1 in favour of Kuwait until the final whistle, allowing Peixe’s team to surpass Malaysia to finish Group D in third place with one point, but still failing to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan progressed
to the quarterfinals as the Group D champions after defeating Vietnam, who had also confirmed their ticket to the knockout rounds, 3-0 in another match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

During the post-match press conference, Garrido apologised to all the fans because his team failed to reach the expected level.

‘And coming (to today’s game) from the last two defeats it’s a bit difficult. The team tried and gave everything, we’ve been close to getting the second equaliser but didn’t manage to get it,’ he said.

The 44-year-old Spaniard said his team had several chances to open the scoring before facing an unexpected situation when they had to play with 10 players thus putting the team in a difficult situation.

‘We cannot be positive on that (results) because our expectations were different and it’s difficult to define because when it comes to performance, my analysis is one (and) when it comes to results and what’s happening in the games was a bit different.

‘We need to apologise to the fans b
ecause we didn’t reach the level we wanted to,’ he added.

KUALA LUMPUR, After going through a game of footgolf, one should realise how non-strenuous and laid-back it is, a great fun get-together with friends while you perspire by briskly walking the 18-hole golf course.

Footgolf combines two of the most popular sports in the world, football and golf, where your legs are the golf clubs, and you kick the size-five football to the designated hole in as few tries as possible.

The head of Dynamic Eagle Footgolf Club Development Program (DEFG) Muhammad Rozaimi Abdul Kadir Jelani said to play, one does not need to be a skilled football player, but the skills would still help to make excellent kicks.

In terms of attire, he said one would have to don sports attire for ease of movement and also to respect the dress codes some golf clubs might have, while studded shoes are not allowed, only futsal shoes or shoes that don’t damage the green and fairway.

‘For a start, it is alright to put on futsal, turf or sport shoes, but for safety, the advisable footwear is turf shoes e
specially when it rains and when entering a tournament, one has to adhere to turf shoes and collared shirts,’ he told Bernama recently.

According to Muhammad Rozaimi, footgolf is played by six in a team to make up a complete flight, and each ball is then kicked to its destination, a hole at the end of the course.

He said the tee-off is a pivotal starting point where the ladies’ tee-off is nearer to the hole than male participants, and the same is the golf rule.

Meanwhile, the terms used in golf, are also utilised in footgolf, for instance, birdie, a shot below par; eagle, two shots below par; and boogie, a shot above par.

‘Cost-wise, it is evenly divided amongst the players, it would amount to less than RM40, with the option to rent out size five football for RM10 and lockers to keep valuable items for safekeeping.

‘Imagine there’s six in a flight, and the total cost for the whole team is RM200. One player would come out with RM30 for a game that lasts about three hours,’ he said.

Muhammad Rozaimi said
The Club at Bukit Utama, Damansara, offers an excellent location for foot golfers in the Klang Valley,’ adding that another location offering footgolf in Klang Valley is Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam.

He said those two locations pull a different crowd because the one in Bukit Jelutong is available during the day while The Club offers footgolf to be played at night with floodlights.

The other locations for footgolf courses in Malaysia would be Kuala Ibai, Terengganu; Desaru, Johor; and Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Muhammad Rozaimi said in Asia, Japan is the country that started footgolf and the sport is gaining ground in Malaysia during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020.

He said last year, Malaysia participated in the World Cup USA in Orlando, United States and was ranked eighth in the world out of 42 teams.

“There are not many development programmes and there is no much promotion of this sport, it is probably known among friends,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, Former head coach of PDRM FC Azzmi Ab Aziz has been appointed as the new head coach of Negeri Sembilan FC with effect from February 15.

NSFC in a statement said the 49-year-old coach was chosen to replace K. Devan whose contract expired in December last year.

“With his extensive experience in the local football arena, this appointment is right for the team. He has proven to be a competent coach and would be able to take the team to a higher level,” according to the statement.

Azzmi coached the Negeri Sembilan FC President’s Cup squad for three seasons (2020 – 2022) before moving to PDRM FC.

He has also served as an assistant coach with Kedah Darul Aman FC for two seasons in 2017 and 2018.

“Azzmi’s commitment to the development of local players is also an important factor as he will focus on the development of local talents in the squad and take them to a higher level in the local football arena,” it said.

Meanwhile, Azzmi said the selection of players was made earlier and several PDRM FC play
ers were brought into the team.

“Some old players like Nasrullah Haniff Johan, Barathkumar Ramaloo, Muhammad Afiq Fitri Mohd Jefry and Amirul Hakimi Rosli have been with me before.

“With the support of all parties, God willing we will be able to perform better and get positive results.” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Three Malaysian track cyclists – Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri – have officially qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, to be held from July 23 to Aug 11.

Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said, it was confirmed after the International Cycling Union (UCI) published the track cycling quota for each of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), yesterday.

‘We are very pleased with the composition of the track team in Paris, with Datuk Azizul and Shah Firdaus in both keirin and sprint events, and Nurul Izzah making her debut in both keirin and sprint as well in the biggest sporting event in the world.

‘The track team has a detailed planning all set out for the next three months heading towards the Games, with training at the National Velodrome in Nilai, and thereafter to Europe for a short stint before heading for the track events in Paris, which will be held from Aug 6 to 11,’ he said
in a statement, today.

Last Monday, Amarjit, who is also a member of the UCI Management Committee, said that the three cyclists had unofficially qualified for the Paris Games based on the points and ranking published after the last round of the UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Canada.

Malaysia will have four cyclists competing at the Paris Games after Nur Aisyah Zubir secured her place in the road cycling event and was set to create history as the country’s first female road cyclist to compete in the Olympics.

With the latest development, nine Malaysian athletes have officially qualified for the Olympics after diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises, Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (sailing), Johnathan Wong (shooting), Ariana Nur Dania Mohd Zairi (archery), and Mohamad Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting) confirmed their places earlier.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) believe that woman track cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri should be included in the Road to Gold (RTG) Fast Track programme after she had officially confirmed her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

MNCF deputy president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said that would help to fully develop the 22-year-old’s potential to challenge the world’s best riders at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA28).

He said Nurul Izzah Izzati, who confirmed her maiden appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics from July 23 to Aug 11 in both the keirin and sprint events, can maximise her capability with the right support and training.

‘I am not going to put pressure on her for the Paris Games. This is her first outing, so we need to be more practical and she still has a lot of potential.

‘Her inclusion under the Fast Track programme would be excellent. Although she may not be a medal contender (in Paris), she needs to be included under the Fast Track programme because o
ur focus should be four years down the road, rather than two months (to Paris),’ he told Bernama.

Amarjit said although the ‘Pocket Rocketwoman’ didn’t win a medal at the recent International Cycling Union (UCI) Nations Cup in Milton, Canada, she still defied the odds to qualify for the Olympics with a splendid performance to advance to the second round to finish eighth overall.

Nurul Izzah Izzati’s two-gold feat in women’s keirin and 500m time trial events at the Asian Track Cycling Championship in New Delhi in February also helped in her qualification for Paris 2024.

Earlier, Amarjit announced that Nurul Izzah Izzati, together with men’s track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom have officially qualified for the Paris Games.

The RTG Fast Track programme was established in February to develop promising athletes aged between 16 and 25 who have the potential to win medals at LA28.

Squash players Ng Eain Yow, S. Sivasangari, Aifa Azman and Aira Azman as well as divers
Bertrand Rhodict Lises and Enrique Maccartney Harold have been listed in the Fast Track programme.

Meanwhile, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria congratulated the track cycling trio for their Paris 2024 qualification.

‘I believe (that) with their experience and determination, both Datuk Azizulhasni and Shah Firdaus will do their best to contribute medals for Malaysia.

‘As for Nurul Izzah, our young future cyclist, I am happy she managed to qualify. I take this opportunity to extend best wishes to them in their preparation ahead of the Olympics,’ he said in a statement.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency