same story every Jan & Feb

What do athletes do when their programmes end and await a new programme?

Nothing! So how do they survive for a living? Well only they can answer.

Not even National Sport Council (NSC) as all funding are stopped.

Anyway Mailsport the story. Thankfully NSC's Arrifin Ghani (pic) says 'We'll get it right soon'

The Dope King?

Is Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim the dope king in our athletic scene?

The six that bolted from a doping test have blamed Karim, so has then national coach Harun Rasheed (still feel he should have come out way sooner to protect his integrity as coach)

Now, Sabahan Yunus Lasaleh - a member of the national 4x400m - blames Karim for him being tested positive for doping at the Sea Games, which the quartet won gold.

Yesterday was a dramatic day at the National Sports Council (NSC) - it was supposed to be a working committee meeting between MAU and NSC but athletes and coaches had other plans.

They wanted to hand a petition of MAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, demanding the resignation of Karim. It was signed by most athletes and coaches.

But the former Perlis MB got defensive.... sigh! and as usual calls to Karim went unanswered.

Read how the dram unfolded in Mailsport, NST and The Star.

It was fun nonetheless - but embarassing!

Ikut Boss??

Hmmm... If only we all could put the blame on our bosses when we break the law or do something unwarranted.

No I'm not saying former national coach Harun Rasheed (pic) took the easy way out by pinning the blame on Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) Karim Ibrahim.

pic taken from The Malay Mail

I just find it ridiculous that one can put their own integrity on the line and go against job ethics just becasue on "Boss' orders".

Anyway if you have no idea what this post is regarding, please check my previous post.

Read today's Mailsport for Harun's response to Karim's claim that he is being used by National Sports Council (NSC)

Will the drama in athletics ever stop?

Nope! I don't see it coming to a halt any time soon. Sad though...

So what's new?

pic taken from The Malay Mail.

Their latest mess? - former national chief coach Harun Rasheed blaming deputy president Karim Ibrahim for the six that sprinted away from the doping test as highlighted by NST.

Meanwhile Karim insists that this was a ploy by some top brass in National Sports Council (NSC) to remove him from office. 

Sigh! grow-up la... Just because you can't work with someone you don't go trying to remove him. 

Reminds me of my kid years.... "Don't fren with A kay. I fought with him"

Anyway Karim tells his side of the story in today's Mailsport.

Lack of proper planning..... again!

What's new? - Nothing!

This year athletes had to choose between representing state at SUKMA or at the national schools meet (MSSM).

This didn't go too well with some parties as some opted for the MSSM instead. But of course there are two sides to a coin.

Read all about it here.

Things are unlikely to change but this time athletes will have to choose between representing state or country at school level.

Oh wait even NSC is not sure when SUKMA is going to be but the recently launched website states it will be July 5-14, 2012.

Even MoE is left in the dark over this.

If the two events clash, the ministry will enforce the ‘Students competing in tournaments organised by associations or national bodies’ circular dated Oct 11, 1995. Paragraph 3.2 of the circular states: “If a competition organised by an association or national body clashed with an MSSM competition, preference will be given for the MSSM as the student is required to represent his State at the MSSM and beyond (Asean, Asia etc),” said Education Ministry sports unit director Ee Hoong.

Haresh Deol has the story here.

Will there ever be proper planning?......

In the shadows

It seems that after Malaysia won the SEA Games football final - everything else during the Games didn't matter

No one cared about the other gold medals won. Why? The football medal was the mother of all gold medals.

While many 'worship' the team, it must be noted that the 11 men on the field was merely another contributor to Malaysia's gold medal tally. Btw anyone took interest in medals tally after 'that' gold medal? Nope! I for one didn't hear anyone talk about it.

 Here's the medal tally 

I feel for the other 58 medals contributor. Suddenly their achievement didn't matter to most outside their respective sports. 

One athlete contacted me asking if it was true the footballers were getting RM30,000 each for their effort, while the rest are only getting RM 10,000.

Yes, they are getting RM30,000 for each member of the team. However, it is from the FA of Malaysia itself and not the Government or National Sport Council (NSC). I hope the players don't get spoilt though.

I long for the day Malaysian football reach greater heights. The SEA Games to me is just a stepping stone - not goal itself. Being best in the region should be nothing great - considering we have more resources than most countries in South East Asia. 

Because our football has been in the dumps before 2009, this SEA Games is a big achievement. 

Because so the plight of our 4x400m relay team is quickly forgotten. I hope sincerely hope the culprits for their medal bungle are made known.

Pic taken from NST

Food for thought : Why is that winning the football gold medal in Olympics seen as just another gold medal and not much hype? but for the SEA Games it is everything.

A never ending story!

Noraseela after winning 400m hurldes at 2009 Laos Sea Games

The national athletic scene never fails to disappoint me. I enjoy covering athletics - the drama that unfolds between Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU), National Sports Council (NSC) and to a lesser extend the athletes.

It brought me no surprise when I saw The Star's back page minutes ago - but for the first time I felt disappointed not being able to cover the SEA Games. Click here to know what unfolded in Palembang.

Hats off to Noraseela Khalid for voicing out - most athletes are to afraid to speak up against MAAU for fear of a backlash. This includes several athletes who bring back honours for the country.

It was good for her to stand up for 4x400m gold medal winning team S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and Mohd Yunus Lasaleh. The quartet were not given a chance for a medal finish and was also a last minute inclusion to the Games. They had to return to Malaysia even before the prize giving ceremony as their flight was already booked.

What a shame MAAU! - why is it that athletes fly back earlier but officials stay on until the end?

MAAU and Noraseela are not in the best of terms. She was shouted at previously at the MAAU office when she went to ask about her welfare. All this because Karim Ibrahim sees her as the golden daughter of NSC director general Zolklpes Embong, oh he's no saint too.

I hope more athletes will come out of the shadows and reveal their dissatisfaction. Maybe then something can be done - only maybe.