My Soccer World

CHE MAT JUSOH

A MUCH anticipated Charity Shield match between arch-rivals Kedah and Selangor on Jan 3, 2009 at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star, will kick off the new M-League season.

The clash between Kedah, winners of the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup and FA Cup runners-up Selangor, both perennial powers of Malaysian football, will also be the first Super League match of the season for both teams.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) competitions committee chairman Datuk Che Mat Jusoh said the Premier League will kick off on Jan 9 while the FA Cup gets rolling on Feb 3.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the FAM has also fixed the dates for the FA Cup final for April 25, Super League final for July 21 and Premier League final for July 24.

“When fixing the dates, we had taken into account the assignments of the national teams, fasting month and other international competitions, but nonetheless there could be slight changes,” Che Mat told reporters in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Che Mat added that the draw for the Malaysia Cup will be held on July 25 and the first match is scheduled for Aug 1. The tentative date for the final has been fixed for Nov 7.

He also said that apart from the dates, there could also be some changes to the rules of the Malaysia Cup competition with regard to eligibility of players on loan from other teams.

“In the past, even teams that qualified for the quarter-finals could loan their players to other teams but from next year, only players from teams that did not qualify for the quarter-finals will be eligible to play for another team, on loan,” said Che Mat, who added that FAM’s decision to bar foreign players from next season has been received well by all teams.

“This will give local players a chance to shine and if they can live up to the fans’ expectations, the fans will come to watch matches,” he said. — Bernama

New Straits Times

AFTER faithfully serving Kedah for close to four years, vice-captain Cornelius Bernard Huggins will soon be leaving to play in the Major League Soccer in the US but before he leaves the midfielder fully intends to help Kedah retain the Malaysia Cup on Saturday.

Kedah meet Selangor in the final at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Huggins, with his height and strength, is a towering midfielder and with his experience, he is an invaluable cog in Kedah’s midfield. “It saddens me that foreigners will not be able to play here (in Malaysia) anymore, but that is a decision made by the authorities, so we have no choice. But before I leave I would like to help Kedah win the Malaysia Cup again.” said Huggins yesterday.

Huggins, who arrived in 2004, has been Kedah’s backbone in defence with skipper Victor Andrag. The duo have forged a rock solid partnership.

“It will be a tough final, any final is tough but Kedah have been having a good run and the players are very motivated,” added Huggins, who is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“They say success breeds success and that is what we have been achieving in Kedah the last two seasons.”

Huggins is also the most capped defender in his country having played close to 100 matches and scoring 80 goals. His most recent outing for for country was against Canada in a Pre-World Cup qualifying match.

“Our (Kedah) foundation is good as we have many young players moving up the ranks, and coach Azraai Khor has been doing a lot of work with the players. I am sure no one expected us to come this far,” said Huggins, who is determined to ensure the coveted Malaysia Cup stays with the Canaries.

And this means Selangor will have to pull out all stops in order to stop Kedah from retaining the coveted Malaysia Cup.

New Straits Times

AFTER faithfully serving Kedah for close to four years, vice-captain Cornelius Bernard Huggins will soon be leaving to play in the Major League Soccer in the US but before he leaves the midfielder fully intends to help Kedah retain the Malaysia Cup on Saturday.

Kedah meet Selangor in the final at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Huggins, with his height and strength, is a towering midfielder and with his experience, he is an invaluable cog in Kedah’s midfield. “It saddens me that foreigners will not be able to play here (in Malaysia) anymore, but that is a decision made by the authorities, so we have no choice. But before I leave I would like to help Kedah win the Malaysia Cup again.” said Huggins yesterday.

Huggins, who arrived in 2004, has been Kedah’s backbone in defence with skipper Victor Andrag. The duo have forged a rock solid partnership.

“It will be a tough final, any final is tough but Kedah have been having a good run and the players are very motivated,” added Huggins, who is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“They say success breeds success and that is what we have been achieving in Kedah the last two seasons.”

Huggins is also the most capped defender in his country having played close to 100 matches and scoring 80 goals. His most recent outing for for country was against Canada in a Pre-World Cup qualifying match.

“Our (Kedah) foundation is good as we have many young players moving up the ranks, and coach Azraai Khor has been doing a lot of work with the players. I am sure no one expected us to come this far,” said Huggins, who is determined to ensure the coveted Malaysia Cup stays with the Canaries.

And this means Selangor will have to pull out all stops in order to stop Kedah from retaining the coveted Malaysia Cup.

New Straits Times

christopherraj@nstp.com.my

DEFENDING Malaysia Cup champions Kedah are just one win away from securing an unprecedented second consecutive treble.

Despite losing 2-0 to Terengganu on Sunday at the Sultan Mizan Stadium, Kedah qualified for the finals on a 3-2 aggregate.

After having successfully defended the Malaysian Super League (MSL) title and the FA Cup, Kedah are en route to creating history should they retain the Malaysia Cup but Kedah coach Azraai Khor remains cautious about the match against Selangor.

“It was a tough match against Terengganu, and we are facing yet another tough team on Saturday.” said Asraai yesterday.

“We need to be focused and ensure that we will take our chances well.”

“The players are motivated and excited about the final. We will spend the next few days in training before departing for KL on Friday,” he added.

While all teams will take a three-month break from competitions, Kedah will still need to soldier on as they will be involved in the AFC Cup quarter-finals in September.

“Our mission does not end on Saturday. More than anything else we would like to do well in the AFC Cup too, so we need to keep the winning momentum going.” he said.

Saturday’s final which will be played at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil and is expected to attract an 80,000 crowd.

Selangor will be looking at a revenge after losing 3-2 to Kedah in the FA Cup in June.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced that the tickets for the final are priced at RM20 for adults and RM5 for children below 12 years, and will be sold at the National Stadium from 10am to 5.0pm on Friday.

New Straits Times

christopherraj@nstp.com.my

DEFENDING Malaysia Cup champions Kedah are just one win away from securing an unprecedented second consecutive treble.

Despite losing 2-0 to Terengganu on Sunday at the Sultan Mizan Stadium, Kedah qualified for the finals on a 3-2 aggregate.

After having successfully defended the Malaysian Super League (MSL) title and the FA Cup, Kedah are en route to creating history should they retain the Malaysia Cup but Kedah coach Azraai Khor remains cautious about the match against Selangor.

“It was a tough match against Terengganu, and we are facing yet another tough team on Saturday.” said Asraai yesterday.
“We need to be focused and ensure that we will take our chances well.”

“The players are motivated and excited about the final. We will spend the next few days in training before departing for KL on Friday,” he added.

While all teams will take a three-month break from competitions, Kedah will still need to soldier on as they will be involved in the AFC Cup quarter-finals in September.

“Our mission does not end on Saturday. More than anything else we would like to do well in the AFC Cup too, so we need to keep the winning momentum going.” he said.

Saturday’s final which will be played at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil and is expected to attract an 80,000 crowd.

Selangor will be looking at a revenge after losing 3-2 to Kedah in the FA Cup in June.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced that the tickets for the final are priced at RM20 for adults and RM5 for children below 12 years, and will be sold at the National Stadium from 10am to 5.0pm on Friday.

New Straits Times

KEDAH fans are unanimous that their team will not be the same without the likes of Marlon Alex James, Bernard Huggins and Nelson Sam Martin

The trio, like all the rest of the foreign signings in other teams, are set to exit the Malaysia Super League following the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) decision on Saturday to shut the door on foreign players for an indefinite period.

“The team will not be the same without these players,” said Kedah coach Azraai Khor. “It (the team) is like a family and when you lose three family members it makes a difference, but we have to abide with the rule of FAM.” All three players’ contracts end on Aug 31, a week after the Malaysia Cup final is on Aug 23.

Marlon and Huggins are set to join the San Jose Earthquakes of the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States for the new season. Both players were spotted during the recent pre-World Cup qualifying in Canada.

But given a choice both prefer to remain in Malaysia as they feel that Kedah is like a second home for them.
Nelson is without a team but it is learnt that the Chilean could be playing in the Singapore League next year.

Kedah’s challenge in the AFC Cup has also all of a sudden got tougher as all the other teams in the tournament have close to six foreigners in their respective sides.

Coming back to the local scene, Kedah will face Perak in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, an encounter Azraai was hoping would come later.

“I thought Kedah would meet Perak in the next round. It is not going to be an easy match as both teams have their own problems.

“We don’t have enough time to prepare but we have to do all we can in this limited time,” said Azraai.

New Straits Times

KEDAH fans are unanimous that their team will not be the same without the likes of Marlon Alex James, Bernard Huggins and Nelson Sam Martin

The trio, like all the rest of the foreign signings in other teams, are set to exit the Malaysia Super League following the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) decision on Saturday to shut the door on foreign players for an indefinite period.

“The team will not be the same without these players,” said Kedah coach Azraai Khor. “It (the team) is like a family and when you lose three family members it makes a difference, but we have to abide with the rule of FAM.” All three players’ contracts end on Aug 31, a week after the Malaysia Cup final is on Aug 23.

Marlon and Huggins are set to join the San Jose Earthquakes of the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States for the new season. Both players were spotted during the recent pre-World Cup qualifying in Canada.

But given a choice both prefer to remain in Malaysia as they feel that Kedah is like a second home for them.
Nelson is without a team but it is learnt that the Chilean could be playing in the Singapore League next year.

Kedah’s challenge in the AFC Cup has also all of a sudden got tougher as all the other teams in the tournament have close to six foreigners in their respective sides.

Coming back to the local scene, Kedah will face Perak in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, an encounter Azraai was hoping would come later.

“I thought Kedah would meet Perak in the next round. It is not going to be an easy match as both teams have their own problems.

“We don’t have enough time to prepare but we have to do all we can in this limited time,” said Azraai.

New Straits Times