Tahniah Harimau Malaysia

Malaysia 4-2 Indonesia (agg).

Yes, we did it. After a long hiatus, Malaysian football looks like to be coming out of the woods, at last.

We used to be an Asian soccer powerhouse back in the 1960s and 1970s. But somehow, after that, we just faded away.

I think we know what happened there. But that's another story in itself.

Tonight, let's just savour our rise to the pinnacle of Asean football. And let's hope that this will shove in a new golden era for Malaysian football.

Note: photo shows Malaysian soccer fans braving the rain (many with vuvuzelas in hand), starting to fill into Dataran Putrajaya to watch the live Indonesia vs Malaysia match on the big screen.


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Pesta Bola Merdeka: Lawak antarabangsa

The good old days

In case you hadn’t noticed yet, this year’s edition of Pesta Bola Merdeka kicked off last Wednesday, 15th of October.

And have you looked at the list of countries that the FAM has invited to participate? If you ask me, quite honestly, it’s a disgrace to the name and memory attached to this (formerly) grand dame of Asian football tournament which was mooted to commemorate the birth of our nation.

The countries that made it to the FAM list are nothing but minnows of footballing nations ranked below 100 in the official FIFA ranking. The highest ranked is Mozambique at 100. The rest are as follows: Sierra Leone (133), Myanmar (157), Vietnam (165), Nepal (175), Bangladesh (179) and Afghanistan (179).

Its a joke!

But with Malaysia being at number 160, I guess one could see where this list is coming from. The FAM is desperate for wins. After all aren’t we the defending champions?

FAM, did you know that Abraham Lincoln once said: You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time?

Malaysian football fans are more knowledgeable nowadays. If you want our support then be more professional in managing our football and bring it to a higher level. You cannot gain respect and support by us beating nations like war-torn Afghanistan in a football match.

Come on la FAM, get real will ya’.

Our first gold medal beckons

Shuttler, Lee Chong Wei did us proud by beating his South Korean opponent in the singles quarterfinals match this evening. My family and I were glued to the TV screen watching the match.

In so doing, Chong Wei guarantees that we have, at the very least, a silver medal to bring home.

If his winning streak continues right into the finals match, then it's a gold in the bag for Malaysia. Our first ever.

But to do that he would have to go against the Great Wall of China - in the form of world number 1, Lin Dan.

Go ahead Chong Wei. Show 'em what you've got. We've got nothing to lose. All Malaysians will be rooting for you.

Beijing Olympics 2008

They call it the greatest show on Earth. Judging by the show put up by hosts China during the opening ceremony, one can see why.

But that was just for starters. Now that the ceremony is over, let the games begin.

Over the course of next two weeks sports lovers will be treated to an overdose of sporting events. I shall be particularly on the look the lookout for results in badminton, cycling and archery - events which I think Malaysia has a decent chance of performing well.

Will this be the Olympics that we get our first gold medal? Only time will tell.

The problem with our athletes is that we just can't get over the "jaguh kampung" curse. If that trend continues, then I guess we'd just have to wait for the time when we become the hosts ourselves.

Now, that could take a while yet.

Perak 0 -- 3 Kedah

Ok, Ok, I know. Perak lost.

You could almost tell it by that big smirk on the Mem Besar's face. And I just can't stand looking at it. Arrrghhhh!!!

Perak vs Kedah

The Malaysia Cup finals match this Sunday at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, shall be between Perak and Kedah.

Yours truly is from Perak. The Mem Besar is of course from Kedah. Although she's not into football -- can't even tell a soccer ball from a basketball :-) -- she has already started taunting me.

This is an act of provocation!

So, who do you think will win?

My bet is on Perak. Kejor Yob kejor...!