Sayonara 2011, Game On 2012

Happy New Year!

2011 was a year that went too fast with may memorable moment, both pleasant and unpleasant ones.

It was a year that had many good moments in sports. My favourites were Malaysia conquering Bung Karno twice at the Sea Games, Some 90,000 (or more) Malaysians rallying our Harimau Muda against Singapore, The Project 2013 squad wining the Sultan of Johor Cup, and of course seeing Manchester United win their record breaking 19th English Premier League title.

Anyway Sayonara 2011 - I certainly will remember you but won't miss you.

2012 will be an interesting year - The Thomas Cup, Euro 2012, and Olympics . And also not forgotten General Elections and finally the uncertainty if the Mayans had actually got it right. 

2012, I say bring it on!

Finally a proper format..... but

FA of Malaysia has released the format of the M-league for the 2013 - 2016. In short teams will not be left wondering whether they are relegated.

All seems good except one thing....see for yourself.

 M-League 2013-2016

- Super League and Premier League will comprise of 12 teams each.

- Super League : top nine teams, LionsXII, champion of Premier League while final spot will be decided in a play off between the Premier League runners-up and the remaining Super League teams.

At the expense of a local team, LionsXII cannot be relegated. So if they play badly and finish bottom, they will still have a spot in the Super League.

Of course perhaps our Harimau Muda A is getting the same treatment in the S-League but this is just not right. Teams have to play in the respective leagues on merit not some arrangement made between two FAs.

Many might disagree with me but well that should be the nature of a league.

Of course it is unlikely they'll finish bottom - even our Harimau Muda A finished fifth last season, that of course considering LionsXII is equallly strong.

Anyway format and arrangements have already been done. For the sake of being professional, let's all hope FAM does not move the goal post at some point of the season.

Check out Foul! for all the decisions made by the FAM Competitions Committee yesterday.

Leave me out of this, I've got my battle with injuries to focus on

Quite rightly national high jumper Lee Hup Wei refuses to be dragged into the ever on-going spat between the national athletic body (MAU) and National Sports Council (NSC)

pic taken from bharian.com.my

Instead he wants to concentrate on staying injury free in 2012. This is after having bad luck - forced to sit in the sidelines for most of the year.

Yet he won the Sea Games gold in Indonesia last month but he does not want to get carried away...

He tells Mailsport that he will need at least another four to five months to be back in the business. Hopefully when London Olympics come, he'll be at his best. Not that a gold medal is expected but it's always good seeing our athletes do well.

Meanwhile please do read NST's MAU going nowhere fast! for a an understanding how the year has been for Malaysian athletics. 

In short, it falls short of the expectations.

Feliz Navidad!

Soak in the Christmas mood everyone. :)

Santa, where are you?.... Do you have my gift?

Here's a song for all....

It's time to move... maybe

Safiq Rahim is a man on a mission - he wants one more season at Selangor before moving abroad.

However, it may not be Cardiff City, the club he had trials with last month.

The national skipper - who many got 'excited' of the prospect of him plying his trade in English football - never in fact had intentions of making a move to England. Instead he is eyeing a move to either Indonesia or Japan.

Scored this freekick when the Reds were down in KL

He needs to move abroad to improve. J- League would be the perfect platform. It is after all the best league in Asia. 

But lets not get carried away. Safiq still has a lot to do to warrant a move abroad but he certainly has the ablility to do so.. Help Selangor to a good season and continue his performance with the national team - and soon suitor will follow.

Read today's Mailsport for more.