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FA Cup: T-Team-JDT match postponed, Pahang advance to quater finals BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

FA Cup: T-Team-JDT match postponed, Pahang advance to quater finals

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The second round match of FA Cup between Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Terengganu club T-Team at the Tan Sri Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin tonight was postponed to a later date.

Game commissioner Zainal Mukri made that decision when T-Team refused to continue playing the second half on safety reasons.

JDT was leading 2-1 in the first half, thanks to the goals scored by their Argentine striker, Luciano Figueroa in the 15th and 20th minute.

The Titans squad managed to reduce the goal deficit through a free-kick goal scored by the team captain, Marzuki Yusoff.

To reporters, Zainal said they would refer the incident to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to decide whether to retain the result of the game or to hold a rematch for the two teams.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Cup champion, Pahang, became the first team to claim a slot in the quarter finals after defeating Lions XII from Singapore 2-1 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore tonight.

The match ended the Super League champion's record streak of wins in their home turf.

Pahang managed to score its first goal through Mohd Hafiz Kamal in the 51st minute with Azidan Sarudin nailing the match for the Tok Gajah squad four minutes later.

Lions XII's defender, Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin softened the blow for his team with a free kick goal in the 86th minute.

Pahang are scheduled to meet either PBAPP FC or Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the quarter finals home and away on March 11 and 18.

The second round match between PBAPP FC and PDRM will take place at the Bandaraya Stadium in Penang on Tuesday.

Five more FA Cup matches will be held the same day, namely between Selangor and Sarawak at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium; Kedah vs Perlis at Darul Aman Stadium, Alor Setar; and Kelantan vs Sabah at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Baharu.

Selangor PKNS FC are also set to play against Terengganu at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Paroi, while Sime Darby FC will face Felda United FC at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium. — BERNAMA

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Sarawak coach laments unfavourable Super League fixtures

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 08:44 AM PST

KUCHING: Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts says that the Super League fixtures are somewhat "unfair" to local fans.

Speaking to reporters after the match against Sime Darby FC last Tuesday, he said that Sarawak did not get a fair share of Saturday home matches.

Such weekend matches, he noted, are vital for Sarawak fans, especially young fans, as they could have the next day (Sunday) as a rest day.

"We seem to have more Tuesday home matches than the ones on Saturday this year. This will make it harder for the fans as they will find difficulties to go to the stadium and support the team," he added.

Matches on week days are seldom sold out at the Stadium Negeri as fans may choose to stay at home with the following day being a working and school day.

This is compounded by the fact that all Super League matches at Stadium Negeri kick off at 8.45pm and finish by 10.15pm or later.

There is also the added factor of distance.

It is challenging for some fans who live far from Kuching to travel to support the Crocs.

For the 2014 season, Sarawak get to play only five home matches on Saturdays, while the other six are on Tuesdays.

The two home matches played so far this season support Alberts' observation.

The first against Kelantan on Jan 25 (Saturday) was played in front of a capacity crowd while a few empty seats were noticeable for the second against Sime Darby FC three days later on Jan 28 (Tue).

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SLTA gallop into new year with confidence

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 08:43 AM PST

KUCHING: The state is banking on three players to spearhead Sarawak's tennis challenge for Sukma XVII to be held in Perlis this year.

Aslina Chua, Mohd Assri Merzuki and Ariez Elyas Deen Hesham are the trio touted to lead the state contingent. All three players are currently undergoing training in the United States.

Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president Dato Patrick Liew is confident the players can deliver gold for Sarawak.

"These players are our current cream of the crop. I believe that they have enough firepower and ammunition to see off the challenges of other players from the other states," he said.

Four gold medals are targetted for the state team for this year's Sukma in June.

Sarawak last competed in Sukma tennis in 2010 winning three gold, five silver and two bronze medals.

The team did not contest the tennis competition in Sukma 2011. Tennis was not included in Sukma 2012 and 2013.

Liew hoped that the New Chinese Year of the horse will bring more prosperity and success to the association.

"We are of course constantly finding ways to improve ourselves as an association. Work will start as soon as possible," he pledged.

The association will also be organising more international tournaments this year.

Liew was speaking to reporters during Chinese New Year open house celebration at his residence here last Friday.

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Phoon eyes Asia Games in S. Korea

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 08:41 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: After winning the nation's 1,000th gold medal at the SEA Games in Myanmar in December, national wushu backup athlete Phoon Eyin is eyeing the Asia Games in Incheon, South Korea in September.

The Bukit Jalil Sports School student said, he must compete with several team mates to get a place in the national squad, as places were limited.

"I hope to make my debut at the Asia Games," he told Bernama, recently.

He, nevertheless, did not set a medal target if he could qualify for the Asia Games, admitting the challenges at the international stage were very different compared to local championships.

"For example, the participants from China and Hong Kong are definitely great. But I will give my best performance if I qualify," he said.

Phoon, 18, said he would return to his home town in Negeri Sembilan for the Chinese New Year before continuing his training at the National Sports Council.

"I hope the coming of the Year of the Horse will give me more motivation to help boost the nation's image," said Phoon. — Bernama

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Zouma, Mitroglou top deadline-day arrivals

Posted: 01 Feb 2014 08:40 AM PST

LONDON: London rivals Chelsea, Fulham and Crystal Palace were the biggest movers in the English Premier League as the January transfer window closed with a flurry of activity on Friday.

Several clubs moved to strengthen their squads on the final day of the mid-season trading period, but there was nothing to rival Manchester United's £37.1 million (US$61.2 million) capture of Juan Mata from Chelsea last week.

Chelsea reinvested some of the money garnered from Mata's sale in 19-year-old French centre-back Kurt Zouma, who signed from Saint-Etienne for a reported fee of £12 million before being loaned back to the French Ligue 1 side.

Zouma, who recently completed a 10-game ban for fracturing an opponent's leg, is the fourth player to sign for Chelsea in January after Nemanja Matic, Mohamed Salah and Bertrand Traore.

Having frequently spoken of his desire to leave a long-term legacy at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised his employers for having the foresight to sanction a move for Zouma.

"He's another young player in the profile of some Chelsea signed in the last couple of years," Mourinho said.

"We liked the profile, we think he's very much adapted to the Premier League. He is a young player for a position where we also need the future. Well done Chelsea."

While Chelsea are jostling for position at the top of the table, it is the threat of relegation that prompted Fulham to pay around £12.5 million to Olympiakos for Greek international striker Konstantinos Mitroglou.

The 25-year-old, who claimed three goals in Greece's victory over Romania in their two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off, will be expected to score the goals that lift Fulham out of the relegation zone.

Fulham also signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Everton on a short-term deal and German international midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Moving in the other direction, Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov was loaned to Monaco, while Swiss centre-back Philippe Senderos joined Valencia on a permanent basis.

Injuries forced Arsenal into action, with manager Arsene Wenger signing experienced Spartak Moscow midfielder Kim Kallstrom on loan until the end of the season.

Wenger moved for the former Lyon man, who has won 108 caps for Sweden, in order to add depth to a midfield hit by injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, as well as Mathieu Flamini's suspension.

"Kim Kallstrom is a hugely experienced player," Wenger said. "He is a midfielder with proven quality at both club and international level."

Meanwhile, South Korean striker Park Chu-young, a transfer deadline-day signing for Arsenal in 2011, was loaned to second-tier Watford.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed his side's interest in signing Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, but reports in the British media said the move had broken down at the last minute.

Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha was given an opportunity to prove his ability when he was allowed to move to Cardiff City on loan.

The 21-year-old England international joined United from Crystal Palace last year, but he has made only two substitute appearances for David Moyes's side this season. — AFP

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