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NST Online: Sports

Football / Malaysia Cup: Poor run-up worries Johor FC

Posted: 23 Aug 2011 05:15 PM PDT

2011/08/24
JJ Shah
nstsport@nstp.com.my

Johor FC's Azizan Baba is struggling to find the net.

THEIR best has been the semi-finals - in 2008 when they lost to Selangor 2-1 on aggregate -- and last year when Negri Sembilan stopped them from a historic place in the final by a similar score line.

Things look no better for club side Johor FC in this year's Malaysia Cup which kicks-off on Sept 6, having been drawn with defending champions Kelantan, who have established themselves as the new powerhouse in the game in the country.

Kelantan are also the reigning Super League champions and Charity Cup holders.

The other teams in Group C are Felda United, who are rich in experience and coached by E. Elavarasan, and newly promoted Sarawak, who are helmed by the wily Dutchman Robert Alberts, a former national coach.

Inconsistency has been Johor FC's main fault and this was seen in the Super League when they plunged to a lowly seventh after a fourth place last year and third in 2009.

And Johor FC's poor showing in the pre-Malaysia Cup friendlies have not drawn any encouraging results so far.

The most embarrassing was the 4-0 defeat to Johor, who play in the lower Premier League, a 1-1 draw against Negri and a 3-1 beating at the hands of Selangor, are statistics that are cause for concern.

Club president Ahamad Mohamad drove home the message when he said the team "lack a good motivator and leader" when voicing his disappointment with the team's management and coach Azuan Zain.

Johor FC secretary Tahir Hamdan, however, was more accommodating and said that the results of the friendly matches must be taken with a "pinch of salt".

"These are just warm-up matches as the coach tries out his match plans ahead of a tough competition like the Malaysia Cup. I believe that Johor FC will be able to hold their own against the challengers for a place in the quarter-finals," said Tahir.

"Kelantan look too strong and have the credentials to go far in the Malaysia Cup this season. After all they are the best football team in the country now. The second slot for a quarter-final berth is a battle between Felda, Sarawak and Johor FC.

"We have played Felda in the league and know their capabilities. They have an experienced team and the players to ride on while Sarawak are an unknown quality. However, the fact that they have earned promotion to the Super League speaks of their ability to stretch us."

Johor FC were again slow when coming to sign players who could have given the team more depth and plug the loopholes upfront.

Instead, Johor settled for another defender - Saiful Nizam Miswan from Pahang.

The club, who have never failed to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, have been struggling to get their act together upfront with former international Eddie Helmi Abdul Manan, national trainee Shahrizal Saad, signed from Perak this season, and Azizan Baba, all struggling to find the net.

Aquatics: Divers bag six gold in Wellington

Posted: 23 Aug 2011 05:11 PM PDT

2011/08/24
Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

Ooi Tze Liang won two gold and one silver at the Asia Pacific Rim Junior Invitational Championships in New Zealand last week.

THE national back-up diving team turned in a commendable performance at last weekend's Asia Pacific Rim Junior Invitational Championships by bagging six gold, five silver and six bronze medals in Wellington, New Zealand.

The gold medals came courtesy of Ooi Tze Liang, Jasmine Lai and Loh Zhaiyi in the championships which attracted 60 divers from China, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India and Croatia.

Tze Liang, who competed at the recent World Championships in Shanghai, claimed the boys' Group A (16-18 years) 1m springboard event with a 537.15 total ahead of China's Zhi Dongwei. Compatriot Chew Yi Wei was fourth with 448.90 points.

The Penang-born diver earned his second title when he teamed up with Yi Wei to win the boys' Open 3m springboard synchro discipline with 323.49 points.

Tze Liang, however, had to settle for silver in the 10m platform with a 426.60 series behind Dongwei (505.95). Pui Yee stamped her mark when she upset the form book in the girls' Group A (16-18) 10m platform competition.

She garnered 404.05 points to take gold ahead of compatriot Kam Ling Kar (385.95) while Traisy Vivien only managed fifth place (351.50). Pui Yee then partnered Ling Kar to win gold in the 3m springboard synchro with 274.68 points.

Loh Zhaiyi also created an upset by bagging the girls' Group B (14-15) 10m platform and 3m springboard titles.

She, however, failed in her bid to make it to the podium in the 1m springboard when she finished fourth.

The eight-member team's strong showing in New Zealand will surely boost their confidence ahead of next month's Asian Age-group diving championships in Palembang, Indonesia.

National diving coach Yang Zhuliang was delighted with the performance of his young divers.

"They are on the right track for next year's World Junior Championships in Adelaide. I am now looking at naming a few of them for the Indonesia Sea Games (Nov 11-22)," said Zhuliang.

The Malaysian medallists:

Gold -- Boy's Group A 1m springboard: Ooi Tze Liang; 3m springboard synchro: Chew Yi Wei-Ooi Tze Liang.

Girl's Group A platform: Jasmine Lai Pui Yee; Group B platform: Loh Zhaiyi.

Group B 3m springboard: Loh Zhaiyi; 3m springboard synchro: Jasmine Lai Pui Yee-Kam Ling Kar.

Silver -- Boy's Group A 3m springboard: Chew Yi Wei; Group A platform: Ooi Tze Liang.

Girl's Group A 1m springboard: Kam Ling Kar; Group A 3m springboard: Kam Ling Kar; Group A platform: Kam Ling Kar.

Bronze -- Boy's Group A 3m springboard: Ooi Tze Liang; Group C 1m springboard: Muhd Nazreen Abdullah.

Group C 3m springboard: Muhd Nazreen Abdullah; Group C platform: Muhd Nazreen Abdullah.

Girl's Group A 1m springboard: Traisy Vivien; Group A 3m springboard: Jasmine Lai Pui Yee.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 23 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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