Beach soccer in Malacca

The scenic Klebang Beach in Malacca will play host to a major international invitational beach soccer event in October.The inaugural Malacca International Beach Soccer 2008 is set to be a top sports tourism draw for Melaka on Oct 13-19 this year.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, speaking at the press conference to announce the event, said that event would promote the State as a key sports-tourism destination.

The event would be organised and promoted by AEJAZ EVENTS SDN BHD together with SENANDUNG KURNIA SDN BHD."With participating teams coming from as far as South America, Europe and Asia, I am sure this tournament would turn out to be a major sporting event for 2008 and also become a tourist attraction as it will be the first time that a Beach Soccer tournament will be held in our State," said Ali Rustam.

Eight teams including one from Malaysia are expected to participate in the tournament.Malaysia last hosted an international beach soccer event a decade ago at the Stadium Negara.

Event promoters Aejaz confirmed that they are already in discussion with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to ensure the smooth running of the event as well as the participation of the Malaysian team.

*Dipetik daripada blog http://rizalhashim.blogspot.com/

Projek PLPT Brickendonbury dibatalkan

Projek PLPT Brickendonbury dibatalkan

Kementerian Belia dan Sukan tidak akan meneruskan projek pembinaan Pusat Latihan Prestasi Tinggi (PLPT) di Brickendonbury, seperti yang dirancang sebelum ini sebagai pusat untuk melatih dan persiapan atlet bagi menghadapi Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London. Menterinya Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata keputusan itu dibuat pada mesyuarat pascakabinet kementerian semalam dan mendapat persetujuan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, yang juga pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai Pembangunan Sukan. "Seperti yang diketahui sebelum ini, permohonan kita untuk membina Puast Latihan Prestasi Tinggi di Brickedonbury telahpun ditolak oleh Majlis Jawatankuasa Kawalan Pembangunan Timur Herts. Pihak kementerian boleh membuat rayuan dan membuat permohonan baru (kepada majlis itu). "Tetapi selepas mengkajinya dari beberapa sudut serta melihat dan mendengar pandangan semua pihak, akhirnya kementerian membuat keputusan untuk membatalkan terus projek. Maka, kita tidak akan merayu dan memohon semula (untuk melaksanakan projek itu)," katanya pada persidangan akhbar di Putrajaya Khamis. Isu PLPT melibatkan kepentingan negara apabila Majlis Jawatankuasa Kawalan Pembangunan Timur Herts menolak permohonan Malaysia untuk menaik taraf Pusat Penyelidikan Tun Abdul Razak (TARRC) di Brickendonbury, Britain kepada Pusat Latihan Prestasi Tinggi. TARRC adalah milik Lembaga Getah Malaysia yang terletak di kawasan seluas 6.475 hektar (16 ekar) di Brickendonbury, Hertfort, di Utara London dan kira-kira 24km dari tapak Perkampungan Sukan Olimpik London 2012. "Saya membuat keputusan itu berdasarkan kepada keputusan yang dibuat oleh Majlis Herts sendiri. Saya rasa kalau kita merayu pun, mereka akan memberi keputusan yang sama. Ia bukan sesuatu yang mudah untuk membuat rayuan terhadap keputusan yang telah dibuat. Proses rayuan itu mungkin akan melibatkan lebih banyak kos," kata Ismail Sabri. Kawasan TARRC terletak dalam Kawasan Hijau daerah itu dan sebarang projek pembinaan tidak akan dibenarkan kerana bimbang akan merosakkan ekosistem kawasan persekitarannya. Bernama melaporkan menyentuh mengenai jumlah perbelanjaan yang telah digunakan pentadbiran kementerian sebelum ini untuk projek pembinaan PLPT itu, Ismail Sabri berkata beliau masih mengkajinya. "Saya sedang mengkajinya, Saya tidak menafikan memang ada perbelanjaan yang dikeluarkan...dari segi kos untuk menggaji perunding, perbelanjaan penerbangan dan sebagainya. Tugas saya ialah sama ada meneruskan atau tidak projek itu dan keputusan telah dibuat, kita tidak akan meneruskannya," katanya. Beliau berkata sebagai alternatif kepada projek pembinaan PLPT di Brickendonbury itu, kementerian merancang menghantar atlet menjalani latihan di negara yang bersesuaian dengan jenis sukan tertentu. Antara negara yang dicadangkan adalah Australia, China, Korea Selatan dan Jerman. Ismail Sabri berkata sebagai contoh bagi sukan gimnastik, atlet mungkin dihantar untuk menjalani latihan di Romania atau Rusia. "Kita akan berbincang dengan beberapa negara untuk meneruskan program untuk menghantar atletatlet kita mendapat latihan di sana," katanya. Katanya selain menjalani latihan, atlet juga dibenarkan menyertai mana-mana kejohanan di negara itu dalam usaha menggilap dan meningkatkan prestasi mereka. Bagaimanapun, Ismail Sabri menegaskan beliau tidak mahu atlet menggunakan peluang berlatih di luar negara untuk melancong tetapi memanfaatkannya untuk meningkatkan prestasi.

dipetik dari Agendadaily.com

Nik Mahmud Pesuruhjaya Sukan baru

PUTRAJAYA – Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) memutuskan untuk tidak melanjutkan khidmat Tan Sri Elyas Omar sebagai Pesuruhjaya Sukan yang akan tamat tempoh perkhidmatan 15 April ini, lapor HASHNAN ABDULLAH.

Menterinya, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata, serentak itu kementerian melantik Pengerusi Penasihat Panel Sukan KBS, Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusoff, 59, bagi mengisi kekosongan tersebut.

“Pemilihan Nik Mahmud dibuat kerana beliau adalah bekas Ketua Setiausaha KBS yang sudah semestinya mempunyai pengetahuan dan pengalaman yang luas dalam berurusan dengan persatuan sukan tempatan.

“Malah, selepas tamat tempoh perkhidmatannya sebagai Ketua Setiausaha KBS pun, beliau masih bersama kementerian sebagai Pengerusi Penasihat Panel Sukan KBS bermula 2005,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat pasca Kabinet kementeriannya di sini semalam.

Kontrak Elyas yang sepatutnya berakhir 15 Januari lalu disambung hingga 15 April ini oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan ketika itu, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Ismail turut berharap, dengan pelantikan Nik Mahmud, dia dapat menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah yang belum dapat diselesaikan semasa Elyas memegang jawatan berkenaan.

‘‘Apa pun, itu bukan bermakna Elyas gagal melaksanakan tugasnya tetapi mana-mana yang tergantung itu dapat diselesaikan sebaik mungkin,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya juga berharap Nik Mahmud dapat melihat secara terperinci mana-mana klausa dan peraturan dalam usaha memperkasakan lagi akta-akta sukan sedia ada.

‘‘Ini kerana kami dapat melihat ada beberapa kelonggaran dalam akta-akta sukan sedia ada,” katanya.

Nik Mahmud yang ditemui kemudian menyifatkan pelantikan tersebut satu cabaran yang getir sepanjang penglibatannya dalam bidang sukan negara.

‘‘Jika berdasarkan laporan akhbar mengenai isu-isu melibatkan Pesuruhjaya Sukan sebelum ini, memang saya agak gusar menyandang jawatan ini. Tetapi saya yakin pelantikan ini dibuat kerana kepercayaan menteri kepada kebolehan saya menangani masalah yang bakal timbul,” katanya.

RAFA: WE CAN STOP FREE-FLOWING ARSENAL

Rafa Benitez admits it could require another defensive masterclass from his side to progress past free-flowing Arsenal in the Champions League.

While Liverpool became the first team in the country to break the 100 goals barrier on Sunday, the Gunners are right behind with 98.

With Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Robin van Persie all posing a threat, Benitez believes it could take a defensive display likes those witnessed against Chelsea in 2005 and 2007 for his side to progress.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "One hundred goals in one season is not bad! When people sometimes say we are defensive, what they really mean is that we are good in defence and also good in attack.

"The key to progressing past Arsenal will be to work really hard as a team in defence, because we will be playing against a team that is very offensive. After that it is about determination and going forward to try to win.

"We have experience but if you analyse their team they have Almunia, Hleb, Toure and Adebayor. These are players with experience. Yes, they have young players in the squad, but the team that will be on the pitch has experience. I think the teams are in more or less the same situation."

While wary of Arsenal's attacking potential, Benitez is confident of finding weaknesses in their 'beautiful' football.

He said: "They play very offensively and it's very attractive for the supporters. These are the positive things, but when they attack and attack, they have problems in defence, but that is normal.

"Our idea is to win and score. It's always important to get an away goal in this type of competition."

Benitez has yet to taste victory at the Emirates, but while some would say that doesn't necessarily have to change over the next week, it's a fact the Spaniard is keen to change. Asked what would be a good result on Wednesday night, he responded: "To win, nothing else."

The game will be the first of three meetings between the sides over the next six days, with the two Champions League ties sandwiching a Premier League clash on Saturday. The last league encounter between the red of north London and the red of Merseyside ended 1-1 at Anfield, a game which Benitez hopes can inspire confidence in his squad. He said: "We have some experience because we played Arsenal in the cups close together last year, and also with all the games we have played against Chelsea in the last few years – though not in the space of a week.

"I think we will see three very different football matches. The two Champions League games will be different with it being home and away, and the Premier League is a very different competition.

"Last time we played they were in form yet we could have won. This is really important for me because they were playing really well, yet we could have won without being at that level.

"We had some problems because Fernando Torres wasn't fit and Xabi Alonso had to go off with his metatarsal."

Arsenal's scorer back in October was Cesc Fabregas, a player who Benitez knows is central to Wenger's brand of football.

"Everyone knows he's a key player for them," said the Anfield manager. "Arsenal signed him really young so it was difficult to look at him. If there was ever an opportunity in the market I think all the managers would look to sign a player of his quality."