NST Online: Sports

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 05:19 PM PDT

2011/07/16
By Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my

Muhammad Hafizhan Hafishul, 7, poses with Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt while new signing Charlie Adam autographs a jersey at a promotional event at The Gardens in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — Picture by Osman Adnan

KENNY Dalglish's belief in young players coming through at Liverpool will be put to the test in a friendly match against Malaysia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

Towards the end of last season, Dalglish handed first-team debuts to John Flanagan and Jack Robinson while the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Kelly also enjoyed extended runs in the side.

Another promising talent is Conor Coady who emerged to score in Liverpool's first pre-season warm-up against Guangdong Sunray Cave on Wednesday as Dalglish looks to promote home-grown talent within the club.

"It was great to see Conor Coady last night (Wednesday) and also nice that when he scored. Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom, two players he has grown up with, were on the field at the same time and were there to congratulate him," said Dalglish at a question-and-answer session in Bandar Utama on Thursday before he left for London.

"One of the things we are really proud of is how well the academy is developing since the Spanish coaches came in. You can't get success just by buying players, you have to bring through your own as well. We are all very proud of what is being achieved at our academy and long may it continue."

Few talents have come through the ranks at Liverpool since Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen first emerged and a succession of managers, including Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, chose to bring in foreigners rather than promote players from inside the club.

Dalglish, however, is also keen on signing talented players from outside the club and the arrival of Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson is a sign that Liverpool under Dalglish are returning to their roots of being populated by British-born players.

"If someone comes up who is of interest we will try our best," said Dalglish. "No one can point the finger at (owner) John (W Henry) and say they haven't supported us financially. They have been fantastically supportive since January when Fernando Torres went and we brought Andy Carroll straight in, along with Luis Suarez who was coming in anyway."

Liverpool coach Steve Clarke will take charge of the side for today's friendly as Dalglish returned to England to finalise the transfer of Stewart Downing.

But he left this message for Reds fans in Malaysia: "We appreciate the support we get from you all. The players have been taken aback by the support you have given them.

"It's important as a club that we come out and see you whenever we can.

"Support isn't just measured by finance and we really do appreciate what you do for us."

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Football: 20,000 students get Chelsea tickets

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 05:17 PM PDT

ProEvents International managing director San Boon Wah (seventh from left), Maybank Deputy President and Head of Community Financial Services Lim Hong Tat and Shekhinah PR CEO Christopher Raj with the students of SMK Bandar Baru Sentul and SMK Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2, Setapak yesterday.

TWENTY thousand Klang Valley students will get to watch the Chelsea match on Thursday, thanks to Maybank.

The banking giant is sponsoring the tickets for students from 100 schools for the tie against Young Tigers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

"Maybank is pleased to sponsor 20,000 tickets to enable the schoolchildren from over 100 schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur adopted by Maybank under Bank Negara Malaysia's school adoption programme to watch world class Chelsea footballers play in Malaysia.

"Our sponsorship is part of the bank's mission of promoting excellence among schoolchildren where sports is a powerful medium to inspire the children to achieve this," said Lim Hong Tat, Deputy President and Head of Community Financial Services at a special ceremony to hand tickets to the schools at Menara Maybank yesterday.

Twenty schoolchildren from SMK Bandar Baru Sentul and SMK Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2, Setapak received the tickets from Lim. Also present were San Boon Wah, managing director of ProEvents International, the Chelsea Asia Tour organiser and teachers from the two schools.

Maybank's sponsorship will also enable the bank to send participants to the Chelsea Kuala Lumpur Blue Pitch Programme, which was launched last month to promote the development of grassroots football in the region and in Malaysia.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Jumaat, 15 Julai 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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