Congrats to the Sabah Team!!!

SUPER LEAGUE HERE WE COME … Sabah players, coaches and officials pose for the camera after their short meeting at the Likas Stadium yesterday.

Congrats to the Sabah Team for getting promoted with style and grit when needed. I watched the second last match with my son last week when there were tied for second with a poorer goal difference. They need a win and PKNS needed to lose the final game. It happened!! Managed to catch the Sabah game on ASTRO where they scored in the 4th minute and played ugly to win! They have been promoted to the Malaysian Super League!! A bug thank you to the coach Gary Phillips who has added discipline and composure to the team.

from http://www.sabahrhinos.com/2010/07/sabah-thrilled-to-be-back-in-the-top-flight-after-five-year-absence/#more-1170

Sabah thrilled to be back in the top flight after five-year absence

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source: the Star
PETALING JAYA: Sabah are on cloud nine over getting back to play in the Super League after a lapse of five years.
The Rhinos had gone on a roller-coaster ride this season in the Premier League but ended up pipping PKNS to a second-place finish in the 12-team competition.
Sabah beat Pos Malaysia 1-0 in their final fixture to take their tally to 48 points while PKSN crashed to a 1-2 defeat by a depleted Harimau Muda (national Under-19) side. Both teams went into the final fixtures tied on 45 points with PKNS having a vastly superior goal difference.
Sabah thus joined Felda United as the promoted sides to the top flight next season. Felda had taken an unassailable lead at the top of the table going into their match against Armed Forces and they settled for a goalless draw to finish their campaign on 50 points.
Sabah chief coach Gary Phillip said that they were glad Harimau Muda did them a favour by beating PKNS while his men did just enough to pull through.
“I guess the football god favoured Sabah,” said the Australian.
In fact, Sabah would not have been in such an agonising situation. They were even in the driver’s seat at one stage to clinch the Premier League title but lost ground with a draw against Muar Municipal Council (1-1) and defeat by lowly USM FC of Penang (0-1),
“We let our guard down after the six-week break for the World Cup Finals but I am glad the boys showed character to bounce back and pick up the runners-up spot,” said Phillip, who will now prepare the team for the 16-team Malaysia Cup competition in September.
“We have to be realistic of our chances in the Malaysia Cup, especially when we will be in the company of the likes of Selangor, Kelantan and the other big guns. We have spoken to a couple of players to get them on loan to strengthen the team for the competition.”
Harimau Muda coach Ong Kim Swee sympathised with PKNS and felt that they were too tense in their approach to win the game.
“Our boys did well even with an under-strength side. I am happy for Sabah as I have played for them before,” said Kim Swee, who featured for the Rhinos between 1994 and 1998.
PKNS had hoped to make a name for themselves in the mainstream of Malaysian football after having been reduced to a feeder role to their state side, Selangor, and back-up squads in the second-tier of the M-League since 1998.
But their dreams have been dashed again. The consolation for finishing third was qualification for the Malaysia Cup competition as one of the top four teams in the Premier League. Felda, Sabah, PKNS and Armed Forces will join the top 12 teams in the Super League for the competition.

Things to Do with My Son - Watching Football

My son remarked one day when we passed Likas Stadium that he wanted to watch football at the stadium.

I used to watch Sabah Football Weekly without fail in the 90's and early 2000 but was disenchanted by the game fixing scandal that caused the careers of some players in the team.

I was definitely curious how the team was doing so I got myself the New Sabah Times to check. The team third, tied on points with the second team, had two games left with one home game on the 16th July 2010 against Melaka (lower recess of the table).

I then decided to attend and bring along my seven year old son the experience of attending a real game. Now you must understand when I used to attend we had partisan capacity crowd of 35,000 with number seats. We had to arrive about an hour before the game.

Today it is very different, we left the house 30 minutes before the game time. Found a parking at the Asrama right next to the Stadium.When I bought the ticket for RM12, I found out that 14 year olds and younger get in for freeeeeeee. There was maybe about a thousand people max, very different from the old days.

The game started with the usual lineup and handshaking. Kickoff and Sabah had an early lead and I was expecting a thrashing. However the defense decided to give away a goal. I am still upset with the No. 2("Buuuuuuuuudddooooh!!!!!!") And as usual I started shouting at the opponent, at the Sabah players (especially that idiot No.2) and of course the referee. Somehow I have this ability to transform into another person when I watch games (even on TV at home). Sabah scored two more goals before the half ended with the score 3-1. We left early to beat the crowd to get some food and drinks and of course the toilet (which was smelly but clean!).

So while waiting for the second half I ask Tristan how he found it so far. "You freaked me out dad! you shout so loud." Maybe slightly out of embarrassment, however I told him to get used to it!

I became a fashion police when I photographed a guy wearing a purple jacket with fake fur collar. Ooi buddy this is a tropical country but then again a free one. Must be a Prince fan!

The second half was eventful with Sabah scoring 5 more goals to make it 8. However they did let in another silly goal. To be fair no.2 wasn't at fault.

The standard has definitely dropped but it is the second tier league. I am happy to note that they do have a good back bone in the team - the goalie, 1 or 2 defenders, the midfield is strong but sometimes really lazy to cover for the defenders and the strikers are decent. Looking forward to next season.

World Cup 2010

Ahhh withdrawals, the World Cup is over!!!! What will I do?! So we had the German team playing like the Dutch and the Dutch playing like the Germans. Now there are media are leaking that the Germans are a bit "soft". I don't care they played one of the most attractive and Goal (!) leaden games in the World Cup. Enjoyed most of their games except the England game. I was backing the mentally challenged English team. The problem with them they think too highly of themself. They should just go out and play their game and enjoy it!

For the Dutch....well if you have a Van Bommel and De Jong in the team use them. They were very good at disrupting their opponents. The Dutch played hard football that bordered playing dirty and we are not used to the Dutch playing that way. When you mention Netherlands I would think of Cruff, Bergkamp, De Boer and Koeman (Hardman with class). What really annoyed me is they seem not to realize their folly and almost destroyed the game (if they had won) and who did they blame??!! the referee! But I foresee more teams putting in two midfield enforcers to neutralize the stronger more skillful teams. If I was the manager, if it that is what it takes to play Barcelona, so be it!!

Well Next Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzil!!! Can't wait!!! ONLY FOUR YEARS TO GO!!

Friday Music - May 7th

Dedicated to one of the most underachiving football club that I have the honour of supporting. Tottenham made a historical achievement on Wednesday the 5th May (wee hours on the 6th here in KK) when it defeated Man City 1-0 to confirm 4th Spot (not top spot) . The funny things after waking up at 4am to watch the match I miss the goal cos I had to poop!!!
It seem sad that 4th spot seems like winning a cup but it confirms participation of Champions League next year (well at least the qualifiers) but it is an opportunity to earn up to 30 million pounds, and we may still have the opportunity to pip Arse@al for 3rd!!
(thanks to Spurs Club and regular Martin Gibbins for the picture)

My Eternal Addiction is feeling better

After the disaster with Portsmouth, Spurs have won some important games against Ars*nal and Chelsea. I have had my fix and life is good for at least another week!!! It is best put by a TOPSPURS Columnist - "The Kings of London". Now Manchester United another roller coaster ride!!

My Addiction

I have a confession to make.... I have had a addiction since May of 1981.

Why did I watch the replay? Long suffering, I must now confess.

This addiction has made me depressed, elated (once every ten years if I am lucky), excited and wanting more........

My addiction is football of the Tottenham Hotspurs nature. I cannot support another team especially God forbid the other North London club, so I am stuck with it.

(Footnote: Spurs lost to Portsmouth last night in the FA CUP semi-final. Portsmouth, a team that has been relegated, is bankrupt and under administration with long list of injuries. However Spurs manage 20+ shots at goal and 20+ corners, dominated the game, and ...lost 2-0 after extra time!!!)