WE CREATED ANOTHER HISTORY.

After winning the SEA Games Gold medal back in 2009. The national football teams started creating history after history. Second to follow is winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 and recently just concluded 2011 SEA Games Gold medal.

Not just winning but they way they work and struggle their way out and later proved they are a really worthy champions. But the things that really tick me to write is `it is just like a fairy-tale' and to make it more special that all the feat is being done on foreign soil.

In the AFF Suzuki Cup in our first group match we were humiliated and soundly beaten 5-1 by the host Indonesia.But we crawled back and work our way out and qualify into the final. Despite all the hassle and tussle created in the second leg by Indonesian fans and being escorted using the army armoured vehicle to the Gelora Bung Karno stadium. We won it fair and squared.

And then came the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia. We were drawn in the group of death with the likes of Thailand, Singapore and including the host. We emerged top of the group by defeating Indonesia 1-0 in our last group match in a full capacity home crowd. Despite the defeat it was reported they field a second fiddle side.

We then qualified in the final and guess what? We met Indonesia for the second time. And the host certainly looks confident and their fans wants revenge for their team loss in AFF Suzuki Cup and the earlier group match.

With a full house atmosphere they host shock us by taking an early lead. But we came back to level the tie. Both teams fails to find net in the full 90 minutes dragged into extra time and later was decided on penalties. It was really a heartbreaking moment for the host as we again triumph in the spot kick and thus defend the gold medal. 

We definitely silenced the home crowd and during the prize giving ceremony the Bung Gelora Karno was emptied.

The team deserved credit and coach Ong Kim Swee like Dato' K.Rajagopal he did his job well even though the are time when Ong was suspended from the bench.The players and the coaching staff  work very hard indeed on their way and prove their worth to be in the final.

But again in my previous column if you guys happen to read - lastly I would like to remind to all the Malaysian football fans that this kind of achievement could not happen just like that. It take years to come this far. Not but least we must thank and not to forget those coaches from the state working tirelessly in grooming and producing this group of young players at their tender age. Especially those coaches who are attached with the state football academy. Credit too must given to them. I am sure this coaches are the most happiest of them all.

The truth is, the rise of our Malaysian football surely we should be thankful to the father and creator of this such academy programme the late Dato' Paduka Ahmad Basri from Kedah would be surely smiling in heaven.

FAM should thank them if not for them the national body is just a bunch of crap. After nearly more than 10 years FAM is still in the dark and unsure about the football academy programme in the state FA's that they had created.

At a certain point they nearly close to shut down this programme but luckily the National Sports Council saw it and put this programme under their wings and collaborate with National School Sports Council. If FAM had been more focus on the programme with a solid base structure guidelines the national sides had already been higher up the ranks and could be much better.

Suddenly throughout the country everybody is talking about football. Even though the AFF Suzuki Cup and the SEA Games is just for the Asean countries but still the passion and the hunger from the fans is unbelievable.

Again it was a full house event at the kampong coffee shop it was pack with the veterans and otais all getting together watching with great interest for nearly two hours. Nasi lemak, roti canai, mee goreng, telor mata kerbau, maggie curry and teh tarik were sold out. Not to mention with the Indonesian fans at the other table.

Now it seems the fans are proud wearing the national Malaysian football team jersey blue and yellow everywhere. Before names such as Norshahrul, Safiee Sali, Safiq Rahim and now Khairul Fahmi, Badrol Bakhtiar, Mahali, Asarudin, Muslim and Fadhli Shas. Last not least is our new young talent Nazmi.

He has the touch which he did remind me of Azizul Abu Hanifah and the grace of Wong Choon Wah.

MALAYSIA ON COURSE - EDGING THAILAND 2-1

                 A far much better display shown by the National U-23 side by seeing-off the Thais 2-1 in the second group SEA Games football match at Bung Karno Stadium yesterday. Skipper Badrol Bakhtiar started off the momentum when he scored the opener in the 25th minute. Thailand drew level 1-1 before substitute Izzaq Faris Ramlan got the winner late in the match.

Congrats to the team..they truly deserve the praised.They shown their all round strength and capability but again the same old story crept back that saw the neighbours got their equaliser and nearly snatched away the much needed three points.

Izzaq celebrate after scoring the winner

The 2-1 result do not reflect the exact scenario of the match. By right..everybody watching the match should agree that we could win with a bigger margin after missing a couple of chances. At least now the team are doing what they should have to do and they are in the right direction.

Our next match will be against Cambodia..and they must treat them just the same as like any other team. Yes many will agreed Cambodia is the weakest side in the group after being thrashed by 6-0 by the home side Indonesia. But against Singapore they proved otherwise only to go down by 2-1. And that should have give us the message  - do not underrate them.    

A GOALESS DRAW - NOT A BAD RESULT

STALEMATE - not a bad result. As the defending champions we know there will be huge pressure on the team. Opponent will surely come barging at all angles and certainly they will lift their game to the highest level to beat us. That is why the match was played at a very high tempo and there is no room to move and the players can feel their opponent breathing down their neck.

Defending wise we look solid and stable with Khairul Fahmi in goal looks confident. That's give us the extra edge. In midfield we did not stamp enough authority. Skipper Badrul Bakhtiar did work hard enough but still he lacks support from Gurusamy and Shukur. Gurusamy form was below he usual standard. His movement was cut out by the opponent. While Shukur looks uneasy whenever with the ball.

And the front line in the likes of Fakri and Thamilrasu could not hold their ground only for Shahrul Azwari on the right looks far more dangerous compare to those two.

Meanwhile in another group match host Indonesia sounded an early warning when they thrashed Cambodia 6-0.  

TAHNIAH NEGERI SEMBILAN JUARA PIALA MALAYSIA 2011

TAHNIAH kepada pasukan Negeri Sembilan kerana berjaya mengungguli Piala Malaysia buat kali ke-3 selepas menundukkan Terengganu 2-1 dalam perlawanan akhir di Stadium Shah Alam, Sabtu lalu.

Sudah semestinya orang yang paling bertuah ialah jurulatih Negeri Sembilan, Azraai Khor Abdullah yang berjaya merencanakan strategi licik bagi memerangkap anak-anak buah Irfan Bakti untuk merangkul mahkota kejuaraan kali ini.

Memang tidak dinafikan jentera serangan skuad penyu yang diketuai Abdul Hadi dan Manaf Mamat cukup berbisa dengan dibantu gandingan mantap Ashaari Shamsuddin bersama Joseph Kallang Tee di bahagian tengah berjaya membenam dua pencabar sengit Selangor dan Kelantan diperingkat suku dan separuh akhir sebelum ini untuk mara ke final.

Namun Azraai yang sememang sudah lali diperingkat paling tinggi ini bijak menganalisis kekuatan lawan dan mengeksploitasi dengan begitu berkesan. Ashaari walaupun berjaya menghasilkan gol tetapi pergerakkannya agak sedikit terbatas. Begitu juga dengan Abdul Hadi dan Joseph yang terus tenggelam pada final malam itu. Hanya Manaf Mamat yang paling menonjol antara mereka berempat.

Tindakan bekas jurulatih Kedah itu menggunakan formasi 4-5-1 sedikit sebanyak berjaya merencatkan corak permainan pihak lawan. Namun Terengganu punyai peluang untuk memenangi perlawanan selepas mendahului 1-0.

Akibat terlalu berhati-hati bagi memastikan kedudukan itu kekal mereka mula mengamalkan corak permainan bertahan sehingga memberi ruang untuk Negeri Sembilan menggandakan asakan sekali gus mengikat permainan.

Penyerang berpengalaman Hairuddin Omar turut bertindak cemerlang dan bagi saya final kali ini jelas adalah perlawanan terbaik beliau.