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FAS introduces online ticketing service BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

FAS introduces online ticketing service

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:03 AM PST

by Matthew Umpang, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 8, 2014, Wednesday

KUCHING: Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) have launched what they said is the first online ticketing service in Malaysia league football.

During the press conference held at the Sarawak Foundation headquarters yesterday here at Jalan Sultan Tengah, FAS deputy president Datu Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki announced that the system is now fully functional and operational.

"We called for a press conference today to tell the fans that they now have an alternative in buying tickets for home matches in the future. Now let's hope that there would be no more mad rush like the one we saw last season," he added.

Developed by MyElink Sdn Bhd together with FAS, it is understood that FAS have allocated 50 per cent of tickets for each match for online booking and sales.

As the system is new to fans, FAS may decide to increase the quota of the online tickets if it receives good response.

Each fan is entitled to online purchase of five tickets. He can then bring his identity card and booking number as proof of purchase to collect the actual tickets at counters provided by FAS subsequently.

There will be four places to collect the actual tickets namely LEA Centre Kuching Central, LEA Centre Hopoh, LEA Centre Sarawak Plaza and the Stadium Negeri.

The booking number as proof of purchase can be in printed form or soft copy, flashed at the counter through a mobile device.

All match tickets purchased online can be collected as early as one day before match day. Online booking will open as early as 10 days before match day and close one day before match day.

The first online booking for tickets can be expected to open on Jan 11 and close on Jan 20 for Sarawak's first home match against Penang on Jan 21 in the FA Cup competition.

All online ticket booking are for home matches only.

FAS secretary-general Abdullah Julaihi, who was also present at the press conference, said FAS reserved the right to change the number of tickets that can be bought by a single identity card number (fan), depending on the situation.

"During hot matches, we might limit the number of ticket which can be bought by a person. We must give everyone from all over the state a fair chance to watch our beloved team in action," he explained.

Links for the online ticket purchase can found on Sarawak's official website (www.sarawakfootball.com) and their official Facebook page.

Season tickets are also available online but are only limited to Sarawakians only.

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State taekwondo squad aim to repeat 2012 performance

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:02 AM PST

KUCHING: The Sarawak Taekwondo Association (PTNS) are targeting to dominate the sport at the 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis in June.

To ensure the state contingent repeats its achievement of four gold medals in the Pahang Sukma in 2012, 16 exponents including eight women have been identified to take on the challenge for the state in the Games.

PTNS technical chairman Tan Check Joon said 40 participants aged 16 to 21 years from several PTNS associated clubs in the state are now undergoing selection exercises.

"The sixteen athletes shortlisted will undergo training and be given exposure at championships locally and abroad for the 2014 Sukma," he told Bernama here yesterday.

Tan said they expected stiffer competition from other states in the coming meet and have enlisted a Thai coach to assist. — Bernama

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Portugal pays final homage to Eusebio

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:01 AM PST

LISBON: Tens of thousands of people turned out in the rain on Monday to say a final farewell to Portuguese football legend Eusebio, who grew up in grinding African poverty to become one of the world's greatest players.

Mourners lined the streets of Lisbon and applauded as the black hearse carrying Eusebio's coffin, draped in the red and white colours of his club side Benfica, passed by in a funeral cortege broadcast live on TV.

Earlier, about 10,000 mourners applauded and cheered as six pall-bearers carried the coffin and placed it on a golden plinth in the centre of the pitch at Benfica's "Stadium of Light".

The coffin remained on the plinth for only a few minutes before it was carried around the stadium in the hearse as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's "Con te partiro" was played from loudspeakers.

Mourners, many in tears, threw red and white Benfica scarves on the hearse and waved red and green Portuguese flags as it passed by, crying out: "Eusebio, Eusebio".

"Eusebio was out of this world like (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi. He will be Benfica's eternal myth," said Benfica coach Jorge Jesus.

Fans left flowers, handmade posters and Benfica scarves at a statue of the player that sits outside the stadium.

Flags flew at half mast across Lisbon, with the Portuguese government decreeing three days of mourning for Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, who died of a heart attack early Sunday aged 71.

"Portugal has today lost one of its most beloved sons, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira. The country mourns his death," President Anibal Cavaco Silva had said.

Cavaco Silva and Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho both attended the funeral mass held in the Seminary Church near the stadium, which was broadcast live on Portuguese television.

Eusebio was buried at the nearby Lumiar cemetery after the mass.

Portugal's current football star Ronaldo dedicated his two goals in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Monday to Eusebio.

"I want to thank everyone, especially to all the people in Spain for the homage they have paid to Eusebio. For the Portuguese it is very important to feel the warmth shown by the Spanish people," said Ronaldo.

"He helped me a lot with the national team and he is an example for us. It is very sad that we have lost one of the greatest players of all time."

Born into poverty in Africa, Eusebio scored 733 goals in 745 matches and rivalled all-time greats including Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano and Bobby Charlton.

"I was the best player in the world, top scorer in the world and Europe. I did everything, except win a World Cup," Eusebio said in a interview in 2011, recalling his tears after Portugal's loss in the 1966 World Cup semi-final to England.

From humble origins in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, Eusebio was to emerge as one of the world's most feared strikers, combining panther-like pace with a ferocious shooting ability.

Born in 1942, the poor boy from Maputo rose to prominence in Mozambique football circles as a teenager through his performances for Sporting Lourenco Marques. With his exceptional technique, strength and goal-scoring record, it was not long before word of Eusebio's prowess soon filtered back to Portugal and he joined Benfica.

In an early game for Benfica he outshone Pele in a friendly against Santos and in 1962 he scored the crucial goals in a 5-3 victory over Real Madrid in the European Cup final.

When Madrid's legendary Hungarian Ferenc Puskas symbolically handed his jersey to Eusebio after the match, the message was clear — the torch had passed, and in 1965 Eusebio was awarded the Ballon d'Or.

Pele, the Brazilian widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, took to his Twitter account to tell the world: "I cry for the death of my brother Eusebio. We became friends during the 1966 World Cup in England."

While Eusebio excelled with Benfica in Europe, it was his exploits at the 1966 World Cup for which he will be best remembered. Eusebio's nine goals in England propelled Portugal to a third-place finish, and a succession of opposing teams simply had no answer to the power and pace of his play.

He finished his 64-cap career having accumulated 41 goals for Portugal. He also earned European football's Golden Boot award twice and was Portugal's top scorer every season between 1964 and 1973. He helped Benfica to 11 league championships and five domestic cups.

Married with two daughters, in retirement he became an ambassador for Benfica and the Portuguese football federation. — AFP

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No limits for unstoppable Serena

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

Unstoppable American could eclipse Graf as most successful Grand Slam champion — Navratilova

ADELAIDE, Australia: Unstoppable Serena Williams could eclipse Steffi Graf as the most successful Grand Slam champion in the Open era, tennis great Martina Navratilova said yesterday.

Navratilova said she expects the American to equal her total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open starting in Melbourne this month and go on to better Graf's record of 22.

"If she can stay healthy there is no doubt she can go into the 20s. The sky is the limit," Navratilova told reporters in Adelaide.

World number one Williams has so far won 17 Grand Slam titles. Only Navratilova and Chris Evert (both with 18) and Graf have won more majors in the Open era.

Navratilova said she was in awe of the consistent excellence of the 32-year-old, who lost just four of 82 singles matches last year.

"I know how hard it is once you get to 30, all those little niggling injuries get worse and it's much easier to have an off day," Navratilova said. "Yet she seems to be playing her best tennis right now."

Williams is the favourite for Melbourne after beating rival Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the Brisbane International on Saturday.

Navratilova, playing in the exhibition World Tennis Challenge this week in Adelaide, said Williams was showing no sign of decline.

"At age 30, she had played about half the tournaments than I had played at 30, so she is fresh in tennis terms," she said.

"But still, she is in her 30s… she is eager and winning is very contagious. Once you get really used to it, you don't want to let go of it."

Former world number one Tracy Austin, also in Adelaide for the World Tennis Challenge, said Williams appeared motivated by surpassing Graf's record.

"I love the fact that she's 32 years old and still seems to be as hungry, if not hungrier, than she has ever been," Austin said.

"At 32, and realising that she is towards possibly the end of her career, she is now playing for history.

"Serena likes to be the best at everything and I think she wants to be the greatest player of all time on the women's side." — AFP

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