Macam nok aku janji on my last entry aku akan buat reveiw for the first third of Malaysia Super League. Sarawak mengakhiri kempen 1/3 daripada MSL dengan seri with Penang 0-0. No wins, two losses, and five draws, 2nd bottom, ya lah rumusan nok aku boleh polah pasal Sarawak.

:: Sabah - Sarawak :: 3 - 1

Match pertama for Sarawak. Gilbert menjadi penjaring pertama MSL bila nya scored the first goal of the match. The score stayed for only 5 minute when Josiah Seton scored the equaliser. Nuthing changed lah, gya aku rasa bila aku tauk score line half time Sarawak. Then the worst happened when Josiah Seton ngan Keith Gumbs scored a brace in a space of a minute. Sarawak lost again 3-1. But more importantly Sarawak got off to the worst start possible. Petanda season tok akan jadi sik bagus juak kah? Kita tanga sama - sama apa jadi kak match tok.

So sebagai match pertama, match tok penting sebab semua peminat memberi sepenuh perhatian pada match tok. Not only it is the first of the inagurual MSL pun match, nya juak merupan Borneo Derby. For the past 3 years, Sabah dah stamped their mark as one of the force to be reckoned with dalam bola sepak tanah air.

Sarawak, dengan coach baru, with several new players, Mohamad Nor Derus, Wan Kamarulzaman, Rodriguez to name a few, memberi semangat baru pada peminat Sarawak nok dahagakan kejayaan pasukan Sarawak. Tapi malangnya semua ya masih jauh agik.

:: Sarawak - Perlis :: 1-1

First match kat Kuching. 15,000 odd crowds turn out. If this figure is to be taken as indicator sebagai sokongan terhadap pasukan Sarawak, ramey rupa - rupa nya nok masih mengharap. Ramey rupa - rupanya nok sik penah putus asa.

Phillemon Chepita, the crocodile hunter, scored first mini ke 10. Then Wong Sai Kong scored the exact replicate of that goal. One all the game finished.

After kekalahan 3-1 ngan Sabah during first match, Sarawak was hunting their first win. Malangnya, loose defend nok membolehkan Perlis skor dolok. Setpiece nok bermula ngan long throw. Chepita, head it brilliantly on the far post, escaping the clutches of Kamarul. Nasib bait, Wong Sai Kong berjaya skor equaliser through an Irwandy Jempaka long throw.

Compare ngan team - team lain, Sarawak lah nok las skalik mengkompemkan sapa player import nok nya akan pakey. Nang dudi alu lah. Trevor James Morgan time ya, mala jak mada, apa guna kita begaut, kelak leka begaut sik gney - gney result. Ya kata omputeh ya lah. So tegal ya lah, dudi baruk Sarawak decide sapa mok di sign. Tegal ya juak lah, keserasian antara player lambat lah mok berlaku. So tegal ya juak lah, barisan depan Sarawak masih tumpul.

::Kedah - Sarawak :: 2-2

Kedah sebenar nya bernasib lebih malang dari Sarawak. Duak match pertama Kedah against Pubic Bank ngan Penang, dak nya skor dolok. Only to loose 4-3, and 2-1 respectively. So match tok was very important for both team. Duak - duak gik ngepong their first win.


Tapi nampak cam penyokong Kedah paksa tunggu lamak kit lah. Wong Sai Kong skor dolok, following a rebound dari shot from Fernando Manuel Co. Lekak ya minit ke 38 Marco Tavrez canceled Sarawak lead, through a brilliantly struck free kick. Minit ke 70, Marco Tavarez again scored, rupa - rupa cam Kedah akan merekodkan kemenangan pertama lah. But virtually by the las touch of the ball, Eshun scored from a header via a floater from Wong Sai Kong pada minit ke 92. 2-2 the match end, much to Kedah's fan disgust, much to my relief.

Up till now, both teams are still winless. Kedah suffered more, failiing to win after leading a game. What
a bummer!

:: Pahang - Sarawak :: 1-1

Ater postponement ngan FA Cup fixture, match tok berlansung juak akhirnya after 3 weeks of break. A shocking result from Darul Makmur stadium. Kim Grant scored his first goal, hopefully of many lah, for Sarawak. Sarawak coming fresh from an FA Cup shocker against Perak kat Kuching, ampir - ampir menang match tok. If only chances are converted lah. Sarawak played brilliantly against team dubbed as Real Madrid Malaysia tok.

Adakah tok petanda akhirnya revival team Sarawak? Kita sama- sama nantik kan result lawan Public Bank di Kuching.

:: Sarawak - Public Bank :: 1-2

All this while, aku salu anggap Stadium Sarawak tok stadium keramat. Sarawak boleh main kedak champion kat stadium tok. Sarawak boleh main kedak taik kat tempat lain, tapi kat stadium tok Sarawak boleh main brilliant football.

Tapi result tok proved me wrong. With Kim Grant limping off by the end of first half, Rodriguez jadi makeshift striker, and managed to score the solitary goal for Sarawak. Result to really capped of a sad week for Sarawak. After dumped out of FA Cup lekak kalah oleh Perak kat Ipoh, we don't need this. We need to get this match as tonic for a revival. Tapi malangnya our worst fear struct us.

Still winless even kat home. A very bad sign. The fans started to shout out resignation of Trevor James Morgan ngan Kim Grant. Again, a very bad sign. Sinar harapan nok aku letak pada team tok makin malap dah kinek tok.

::Pulau Pinang - Sarawak :: 0-0

Walapun Penang pernah menang sekali, tapi rest of the result, daknya pun tengah melngalami a run something kedak Sarawak juak lah. Sarawak pegi ke match tok without, Bobby Chua, Mohamad Nor Derus ngan Kim Grant. Aku nang dah sik menaruh harapan gik dah padah match tok. Aku jus nak konsentret pada round ke 2 jak. Tapi result dari Batu Kawan is a relief. Sarawak defended brilliantly. Credits have to be given ngan Kamarul against his old team. He put up a string of superb saves to ensure Sarawak mengakhiri pusingan pertama tok, atleast not with another defeat.


So lekak 7 match 0 wins, 2 losses, 5 draw. A very bad result. Aku menar - menar sedih ngan result tok. Apa improvement nok kita boleh polah?

Dari pengamatan aku, Kim Grant still needs time to adjust to style of football kat Malaysia tok. Menar nya dah lamak partner ngan Eshun, tapi nok 9 orang lain team mate sidak duak giney gaya? So he still need more time to adjust lah. So jangan lah berik banyak gilak harapan ngan nya mok skor.

So aku masih berharap kat Eshun lah. Harap nya dapat kembalikan form nya awal last season, bila nya just can not stop scoring. Nya jak lah harapan kinek tok. Sapian Wahed gik juak injured. Selagik nya sik bait, selagik ya lah aku sik nyaman ati.

Sigek gik pemilihan pemain import. Sarawak kinek tok ada 4 orang Awang Import. Trevor James Morgan jus akan guna 3 orang jak nok biasa nya. Manuel Co. kinek tok nang dah disisihkan lah. Semenjak kehadiran Kim Grant. Apa gik bila Sapian dah bait kelak? Kenak Sarawak boleh ada senario tok. Pakey apa lah ko beli mun ko sik pakey nak? Mun dah piya, bagus iboh beli in the first place. Also akhir gilak Trevor James Morgan beli dak tok. Nei lah cukup masa mok get used.

Mun ekot jadual nok dikuarkan 15/5 is Sarawak next match against Sabah kat Kuching. Mun prestasi first round tok mok dijadikan kayu pengukur, aku jus arap Sarawak sik relegate lah ke Liga Perdana. Aku dah sik berani meletak harapan tinggi. Aku takut aku kecewa. Bukan putus asa, tapi bijak bah. Kita dah tauk kemampuan kita.

Banyak nok kita perlu improve. Tapi aku sik put blame solely to the team. Banyak gilak faktor nok menyumbang kepada kejatuhan tok. Injury, suspension, fatigue is the main factor lah. So team sik akan dapat perform to the optimum mun semua masalah tok sik di overcome.

So better things are hoped for next round...

-ngap ajak!

- posted by zulhardy @ 11:23 AM

 
Seri malam tadik ngan Penang 0 - 0. Mun ekot, untung Sarawak sebab seri 0-0. Penang tengah form lekak ngalah Sabah 3-0. Dah lah Sarawak downed to 10 men right from the 33rd minute Penang lah yang rugi sik ngalah Sarawak. Former Penang player Wan Kamarulzaman standing between the goals for Sarawak was at his best last night. Denying chances after chances for Penang to ensure Sarawak balit dari Batu Kawan sik empty handed.

Aku sik mok dah ambik tok sebagai petanda, premenation they call it overhere, yang Sarawak akan memulakan kebangkitan. Dah banyak kali gilak dah false alarm. So apa mok jadi pastok jadi lah. hehe. Aku just nantik our very first win.

Memandangkan first round dah abis 0-2-5 ya lah Sarawak pun record, I'll come out with my review of the first half of the season. Watch out for it.

As of now,

ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 8:10 AM

 
This coming Saturday Sarawak is going to make their way up north to face Penang at Stadium Batu Kawan. After a misreable week, Sarawak is hoping to launch their rebound climbing up the ladders of the Super League.

After 5 Super League match, Sarawak is yet to record any win. Only three draw, and two defeat is to show what Sarawak had acheived so far. The solitary win came against Perak during FA Cup 2nd round 1st leg tie at Kuching.

Last week saw Sarawak rooted at the bottom two of the league table. After conceeding defeat against the club debutants Public Bank, 2-1 at Kuching last weekend, Sarawak is set to forget all their pass result to relaunch their survival fight.

The match against Public Bank had put both Trevor James Morgan and Kim Grant for the wrong reason. Fans jeered when Kim Grant was sub out due to his injury and fans had called for the state FA to fire Trevor James Morgan. FAS was saying that it is not time yet to fire both these fella. Give both this guys a chance, that is what FAS appealed to the fans.

As for Trevor James Morgan, he came out with a defence statement two days ago, saying that fatigue was the major factor leading to Sarawak first defeat at Kuching this season. The team arrived at Kuching at about 2am on Friday and they had the match against Public Bank the very next day. He is no magican that can pull out a wand and cast spells to give result. He have my sympathy in this matter. So now, no longer involved in FA Cup, I want to see changes. Though against Penang we are still Bobby Chua-less, I want to see changes in the team. I want to see they played like they played against Pahang. Playing against Pahang showed that Sarawak can actually play atractive football. Or is it, Pahang was playing under - par?

As for Kim Grant, he did showed his ability against Pahang. Scoring what was considered as one of many. I still give him my stick. He still have the entire season to proof his worth. People do not jus change to great players overnight.

As of the team, my best wishes is with them going to Penang this weekend. I am awaiting for a shock result against Penang this weekend.

ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 12:49 AM

 
Kenak sekda update? Aku gik panas ati. Kenak panas ati? Frust ngan Sarawak.

Kalah 2-1 was the result against Public Bank. First home defeat, second league defeat. And most importantly, defeat came after Sarawak badly need a morale boost win after exit of FA Cup in the hands of Perak. By this time kitak urang semua dah baca report kat suma macam media kan? Paper, website apa suma lah nak, so aku dimpun malas juak lah nak molah review pasal match ya. Apa aku nak molah kinek tok sak kita suma ponder, kita suma sama - sama tanga siney hala tuju team tok season tok.

Aku belajar dari penyokong - penyokong Sarawak yang lain lah, bila team kita tengah down, bila team kita tengah dalam period yang down, time ya lah kita boleh asingkan true fan and fan wannabe. A true fan akan ekot team nya gugok or nait. Bila teamnya dalam kegemilangan fan tok tek akan sokong team nya bagey sekda esok, bila team nya kalah tengah down, fan tok tek akan lebih kan sokongan nya! Nya akan lebih menyokong team nya tok tek. Ya lah beza a true fan and a fan wannabe. Ask any Liverpool fan, sampey kinek tok gik juak nyokong team ya kinek tok dah di cop a has been. I'm not saying that I'm a true fan. Aku pun baruk kembali nyokong team negeri aku last season. Aku baruk give back my full comitment towards Sarawak start dari last season. Aku baruk sedar bah, sik guna sokong team luar, all the Manchesters, the Madrids, the Milans sebab sapa dak nya? Sokong team negeri kita dimpun kita sokong anak negeri kita. Anak negeri kita dimpun.

So now is a testing period for all Sarawak's fan outhere. Seriusly aku padah sitok, aku benar - benar down. Mun kitak orang ada baca entry - entry aku nok lepas, aku berani jamin, Stadium Sarawak ya stadium keramat team kita. Kita boleh main macam Wolves bila main away, tapi kita memang boleh main macam Arsenal kat Kuching. Ya beza nya.

Aku pun eran, kenak kita boleh kalah. Correspondent aku dari Kuching, madah ngan aku, team kita main kedak cilaka! What are Morgan teaching our boys? Tapi aku baca dimpun dari website Sarawak Tribune, Sarawak was playing fine, just nasib sekda nyebelah kita. Aku sik lalek lah, main burok kah, nasib sekda nyebelah kita kah, yang penting kalah tetap kalah!

Lekak menang lawan Perak and seri ngan Pahang, aku padah ngan rumet aku, Sarawak kinek tok dalam peak form, mun form tok continue, Sarawak actually can actually mount a title challenge. In your dreams Zul!! Tapi aku padah lah ngan member aku, provided sekda orang injured lah. Mun sekda orang injured, everybody is injury free, kita memang boleh main like a true champion. So my worst fear happened las weekend. Sarawak is Bobby Chualess. The very and only pillar in the defence sekda, we are in for a shaky defence lah. Bila di engkah Gilbert as left back, my fear doubled. Kenak sik engkah Mohamad Nor Derus kat belakang, Gilbert is a better attacking player bah mun form season tok di ambik kira lah. Ya antara keputusan Trevor James Morgan nok aku mok persoalkan lah. Lagik, taktik nya. Too predictable. Even team opponent pun tauk, Sarawak suka main long ball. Dari zaman Alan Vest agik, Sarawak memang terkenal ngan permainan long ball. Aku pun sik paham, kenak FAS suka ambik coach nok ada mentaliti ya. Mentaliti English tok! Yang menerapkan English style of football. Ya stail lamak lah! Sekda orang main stail ya lagik. Even England pun dah tukar stail main. Atleast team national nya lah nok dah bertukar stail main.

Kinek tok all modern team game nya akan start dari DM, passed to CM to dictate the move. Wingers are only optional, AM yang penting. Sebab ya lah player like Zidane ngan Kaka' very influential dalam team masing2. Eh jauh gilak ya Zul contoh kau, dak nya ya nang teror bah lain lah cerita! Ok ok, Sabah ada Bobby Gaspar, Perak ada Ahmad Sharul Azhar, MPPJ ada Bruno Marteletto. All these are the very influential midfiel player. So sapa Sarawak ada? Sarawak ada the very influential Wong Sai Kong. Tapi sayang, apa nok aku tangga dimpun, asal ball sampey ke kakinya, nya akan pump ke atas, pakey Eshun to nod down, Kim Grant ambik to shoot. Sayang eh. Kenak speed nok Kim Grant ada, holding prowess nok Eshun ada, sik di fully utilise dengan short, defence spiliting pass? Kenak mesti main long ball? Team kedak Perah eh, ada Patrick Viera of South East Asia, Nanthakumar. Nei nak lepas mun main gya?

Last season, Wong Sai Kong proved his inventiveness, creativeness meant a lot to Sarawak. The trio of Eshun, Sapian, and Wong himself struck fear to any opposing team. But now, all the oozing confidence are gone. Mensia marek, Sarawak boleh main long ball bab ada John Hunter. The biggest striker of them all dalam liga Malaysia. Tapi kinek tok, tanga defence line team opponent, nei apat main gya eh.

Sedih aku menar - menar sedih. Tapi belum putus harapan. Sepul, jangan alu kak kalah sekali tok alu sik mok ke stadium agik. Sarawak need us most at this period of time. Time tok lah kita menar - menar tunjukan sokongan kita. Our undying love for Sarawak. Kita sik boleh menentukan style of play, kita main tulis jak lah dalam blog kedak tok. Let the management do their part. They know whats best. Apa nok aku padha tek, pandangan aku nok main ball pun sik ke siney, management football pun sampey takat Championship Manager jak.

Our part is simple but very very painful. Sokong lah team tok terus menerus. Kalah kah, seri kah, menang kah, treat it as equal. Take kalah as a pengajaran. Kita berutung, kita dah puas rasa kalah. Kita tauk giney mok handle kalah. Bila kita seri, kita look back, kenak team kita sikpat menang. Apa nok kurang, bila dah seri ya ckit gik yang menidak kan kemenangan. Bila kita menang lah kita perlu berhati - hati. Players and fans alike, kita akan rasa over - confident. Kita akan rasa kita dapat ngalah suma team. Also opponent akan take us cautiosly, opponent akan lebih berhati - hati dengan kita.

So suma sama, kalah menang seri suma sama. Yang penting, jangan sekali peminat putus asa. Mun dah kita dimpun sik mok sokong gik, sapa lah nak nyokong?

Glory days are near believe me my dear friends. We will taste the sweetest of win sebab kita dah puas kalah. Kita dah puas kecewa!

- Lalek apa, ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 4:33 AM

 
Kalah 3-0. Sakit ati? Erm dah lali dah. Salu gilak dah aku tanga Sarawak kalah kat Ipoh. Pernah tanga Sarawak kalah 5-1 gik ya aku tok. So dah pateh lah. Tapi sedih lah. Sebab harapan aku memang tetap ada bah.

For once aku ingat Sarawak dah improve vastly over the past few weeks. Lekak ngalah Perak 1-0 kat Kuching ngan seri kat Pahang, aku ingat kita dah diri sama tinggi duduk sama rendah ngan the Malaysia elite. Tapi aku nang disajikan dengan a hurtful truth. The truth that team negeri kita tok jauh agik mok pegi mun maok jadi elit.

Review pasal match ya ada kat paper. Aku rasa tak orang suma dah baca dimpun lah. Aku pun malas nak ngingat gilak. Aku mun tanga match kat Ipoh harapan default aku memang seri. Aku tauk how good Perak can be bah. So malam tek, Perak main nang kacak alu. Kalah pun aku sik kisah ngan opponent nok main kedak ya. Nang passing perfect, ball distribution nang second to none lah. Toni Netto menar - menar dah berjaya serasikan samba football ngan team Perak tok. Both winger Liew Kit Kong ngan Essa Bassile really make life difficult to Sarawak's player. Ahmad Sharul Azhar nang smart lah dalam ball distributing. Nya tauk bila perlu change side, nya tauk bila mok tukar tempo game. Bila mok main long ball, bila mok main short passes, bila mok counter attack. Nang worthy pegang jawatan kepten Perak lah. Nang worthy jadi pengemudi midfield engine Perak lah. As for Seator, nang dari dolok gik nya tok jadi duri dalam daging for our team. He is everywhere. Everytime ball sampey ke kakinya, nang aku nahan napas jak lah. Sendat nyawa nanga. Aku tauk nya ada 1001 benda nya boleh polah ngan ball ya. Sik ngam ngan saiz nya nok besar, he is very very agile.

Defence Perak dikepalai oleh Nanthakumar nang menar - menar solid. All four of them were very cool headed guys. Nang cool alu2. Sik nebes. Sik begaut. They read the ball carefully. They read the game carefully. Nang menar - menar solid. Nanthakumar nang exceptional lah malam tek.

So semua pujian aku hamburkan ngan team Perak. Kenak? Aku dah belot ngan team kedirik kah? NEVER!

Tapi nei lah nak molah, they deserved it. They played like a true class. Mun Pahang lah digelar Real Madrid Malaysia, Perak layak digelar Brazil Malaysia. They played like true champion. Aku beli buku panduan jadual perlawanan Perak. Ada kata pengantar kat depan book ya point out one very importang and interesting fact

Perak season tok mok menang suma ada yang ditawarkan oleh bolasepak Malaysia. What a vision! Dari FA Cup, Super Cup, Malaysia Cup including AFC Cup. They got the team to do it. Mun dak nya perform macam malam tek for the entire season, sik mustahil suma ya dikecapi.

So how bout Sarawak?

Terus terang aku padah, Sarawak kalah bukan tegal dak nya main terok, jus everyone is playing at average level or below average. Perak main bagus, kalah lah kita. Before Shahrul Azhar skor opening gol, dah nampak dah crack dalam defence line kita. The defenders memang ada maslah mok contain both winger Perak. Essa Bassile di pakey untuk umpan defender kita, tapi the real threat akan datang dari Liew Kit Kong lah. Bapa kali Seator ngan Shahrul Azhar dapat nyelit masuk antara defender2 kita. Nasib bait Khalid Jamlus main terok malam tek.

As of Bobby Chua, setakat bapa belas minit nok nya main ya he played briliantly. Nya dapat contain Essa ya so si Essa tok tek dapat make unfruitful run-ins jak lah. Tapi lekak nya kuar lah, defence kita shaky. Sekda last man bah main.

Hussein Razak was very reckless. Sukati nya jak tekel. Sik duli dalam kotak penatli kah, luar kah. Duak kaki kah, sigek kaki kah. Suma nya tekel. Tapi yang nang perlu lah. In order to stop free flow football dari Perak, bring them down lah.

Aku sik tauk kenak Gilbert malam tek, main kedak orang sakit jak. Masa first half aku ingat nya simpan energy pakey second half. Mun di ekot nya lah nok paling rajin berekot sia sitok. Tapi malam tek, jangan kan mok berekot sia sitok, berekot rah flaknya pun kurang. Ya sigek major point, kenak midfield kita sik productive malam tek.

Ramos yang pulang lively malam tek. Berani to take the ball against a very stalwart defence line. Berani to make a shot. To take opportunity. Tapi aku sik paham kenak nya yang di sub out tukar ngan Ramles. Kenak bukan Gilbert.

Wong Sai Kong was at his usual best. Sik banyak nei nya boleh polah mun dah teamate sik get into spaces. He kept on pumping the ball up for Kim Grant ngan Eshun. Tapi nothing sepanjang match ya can get through Nanthakumar and co.

As for Eshun, aku benar - benar disappointed ngan nya malam tek. Laju nei Sarawak attack, asal ball sampey ke Eshun jadi slow balit tempo. Kenak nya pun form terok gilak kinek tok? Ball control nang sekda. Asal mbak ball, sure kenak rampas. Asal hold ball, sure kenak rampas. Asal diberik ball sure sik mok kepong. Aku pelik. Shoot boh arap lah. I'm very dissapointed ngan nya lah.

As for Kim Grant, nya menunjukan kerajinan nya lah. Laju berekot. Rajin kepong ball. Gney - gney bodo pun ball nok diberik nya nang akan ngepong lah. Nei lah gaya, ball sekda nok inviting. Aku rasa the entire match, Grant ada polah 2 igek jak shot kali. Tapi duak2 off target.

As a whole, Sarawak main average lah. Mun gitok lah main, aku sik eran our first win season tok still far away.

Lawan Public Bank gik sok ari. Gney ndak kah?

Aku akan nunggu result dari Kuching lah.

Dah putus asa kah Zul? Sik eh, sakit ati jak sekda asal aku tanga Sarawak main, mesti kalah. Aku sik mok memberi harapan palsu gik pada pembaca blog aku. Harapan palsu nok diberik pada aku. Harapan palsu nok datang dari rasa suk dimpun. Sak juak Sarawak masih ditakuk lamak!

-ngap ajak! <----setakat tok nok kenak ngap ada lah, mengap orang sekda :(
- posted by zulhardy @ 11:48 AM

 
Today is Tuesday. Yesterday is Monday. The day after tomorrow is Thursday. That makes tomorrow, Wednesday. The day I shall put here. After much frenzy caused by TV3, Berita Harian, and again TV3 again, the match against Perak is going to be held tomorrow. 2nd Leg 2nd round tie against the best team in the country is going to happen tomorrow. With a slender one goal lead, Sarawak will try to fight its way through to quater final.

Wong Sai Kong won the game for Sarawak almost three weeks ago at Kuching. One goal is never enough, heck even 4 is not enough. Just ask AC Milan and Madrid.

Perak is all fired up to avenge for that defeat. Supported by frantic crowd, full house capacity is sure to greet Sarawak. A tough game is promised by both the players and coach alike. Brazilian Tonny Netto promised the fan a changed perfomance, a change attitude by the players. They are sure had set their target. Put Sarawak off their course on the first silverware since 1997.

Records are against Sarawak at Ipoh. Putting form into calculation, we might actually have a chance. Perak drew their last two game. Against a rock solid Perlis and luckilly not to lost their AFC Cup match against Home United of Singapore. As of Sarawak, beat Perak in their FA Cup encounter, drew with Malaysia B aka. Pahang 1-1.

Perak now have the chance to field Bassile, their speedy winger, as an option for midfield attacks. He missed the last two game due to injury. But his last involvement with Perak, saw Perak disposed the challenge of Penang with a thumping 4-0 win. Though not scoring, his mere presence is enough to be more than handful for the defence line. With defenders giving more attention to Bassile, this spelss oppurtunity for Seator. The well builed striker has always been a menaced to Sarawak. It seems that is regular for him to find his way pass the Sarawak defence finishing it with a goal bound shot. Be it a header or a well placed shot. This two will caused trouble to the Sarawak defence. With Liew Kit Kong and Ahmad Sharul Azhar on their best form, we are in for a very special treat come Wednesday.

What about Sarawak?

The most complete team ever assemble by Sarawak in recent years. Starting from goal with Kamarulzaman as the custodian, Irwandy Jempaka and Hussein Razak covering the flanks, Rodriguez being watchful for any run - ins , and championed by the sensatioanal Bobby Chua, I now can say, Sarawak have a very solid defence line. No longer we have defence woes that proved lethal to us last season.

Creative might not be the order of the day, but straight foward footbal seems to get the better of most teams up to now. Sarawak has never failed to scored in every match. With Wong Sai Kong mustering the midfield engine, Ramos and Gilbert keeping the ball at their side of the picth, Bobby Pian stopping any sign of attack from opponents before it flourish into a goal opportunity, we have a gritty midfield. A midfield that can supply the fowards with multiple choice of passes that can be very threatful.

Robert Eshun started his season for Sarawak as a striker. Can never stop scoring goal this fella. Only after midway of last season, Jalil Rambli moved him to the hole position, he only score goals occasinally but he never stop from presenting his teamates with chances. With magnifecent ball hodling skills, he is sure to attract the challenges from defenders tomorrow night. His well builed physique give him the advantege whenever he running towards the defenders.

With Eshun playing deep, James Morgan have put Kim Grant up front. In the expense of Manuel Co., this former teamate of Eshun proved his worth when scoring a beatifully headed goal against Perak two weeks ago. He missed the early part of the season due to permit problem, against Pahang is he showed his worth. Hopefully he can find his way through the Perak defence line.

The last leg between this two sides saw the form of Sarawak's fowards deny the team a bigger margin of goals. So if this problem continues, we are in a big problem. Coming to get a draw is never sure win tactic. Attack is always the best form of defence. Score early goal, that is the order of the day. Kill off Perak's chances as soon as possible. But do it cautiosly. Never to leave too big a hole for Perak player to move around. To mobilize the ball. Against Kedah shown that Sarawak is very exposed to counter attack. Hope Morgan remind the player of that matter.

Wait for a shock from Ipoh tomorrow. I will be there. I will be your eyes. Though outnumbered I know the hearts of thousands of Sarawak fan at home are with us!

lalek apa! ngap ajak!!
- posted by zulhardy @ 7:06 AM

 
The moment that I have been waiting for the entire season. Perak vs. Sarawak 2nd Round FA Cup 2nd Leg - Stadium Ipoh, Wednesday 8.45pm.

After winning 1-0 at Kuching (god knows how long ago!), Sarawak playing against the mighty Perak with one very slim goal advantage. Why slim? Because only one. Why very? Because we are playing against Perak. If not one of the best, the very best team in the country. They have the most potent midfield players around. Forget about Pahang, this is the real thing.

Sarawak won the first game at Kuching thanx to Wong Sai Kong. Converting a flick on from Robert Eshun, with a header. Though, Sarawak have the chances to kill off Perak challenge from the first leg, the fowards were a bit edgy that night. (Suprising that i can stil recall that game because it have been to damn long ago!) Thanx to Sarawak's inability to score, Perak still have the chance to win the tie all together.

Perak might be fielding Bassile (if i'm not mistaken, that is his name) for only the third time this season. A very speedy player. Will cause problem to our defence line.

To enjoy more reviews on that game please do visit Perak's Forum

I will come up with my own in a short while. Very bz nowadays hehe.

ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 12:42 AM

 
Sarawak Crocs Fan Portal have moved to a permanent webhost. I have changed the link. Check it out.
- posted by zulhardy @ 6:25 PM

 
The rumors are strong now, Akmal Rizal Rakhaili was offered a 3 month training cum trial stint with England's Nationwide Division 1 leaders, Norwich. If he passed the trial, he will be the first Malaysia to donned the colours of an English team. Akmal previously have ply his trades for Strasbrough, in Frenceh Ligue. But dew to the suffecient amount of non - EU player that club have, he was load off to make rooms for others. His returned to Kedah two season ago, was penned with a special clause in his contract. He can leave anytime he want. If there is an offer from other European team, he is allowed to leave them anytime he wished to.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Akmal is the nations's best striker. Since his early days as the under - 23's frontman, he has never failed to deliver. He scored loads and loads of goals against opponents from far and near.

Norwich City is currently the leader of Nationwide Division One in England. At the start of last season, Proton started to be the main sponsor of that team. Proton promised better chances for development of football in our country in realtion with their sponsorhip deal. But after two season, this is the first time that such an action was taken by Norwich.

B.S.C.R.L the very company that brought Bruno Martaleto and Juan Manuel Arestegui to the shores of Malaysia is refusing to revelaed the actual player that was offered the trial stint. What they said was only, he is a very very talented local striker. The standard of football played overhere is not suitable to him. He should play at a higher level. Now, we'll only hope that both his state fa and FAM, released him unconditionally for this trial.

Akmal enjoyed a two season spell at Strasbourg of French. Where he performed well, even scoring goal. But unlucky for him, he was not offered an extension to his contract. He gained a lot, he had returned a far matured player both for Kedah and Malaysia. From time to time, I alwas thought that FAM should do something to send him play abroad. This is the only way for such a player to improve to be a better player. Players from China, Japan, and South Korea are displaying a different level of football compared to the other team from Asia because these three team have players who played abroad. Who played with some of the best in the world. Nakata is showing his sublime skill, pin point passing ability in Serie A, Lee Chon Soo, had scored against the meanest defence in la Liga, Sun Ji Hai had defended against the like of Henry and Nistelrooy. Players like this, contribute a lot to the development of their national team. All of them came back with confidence running high. Returning back, to be a better player. So it is well known that the only way to improved your level of football is to have players playing oversea.

Let us just hope that he really made it. Or at first, let us just hope, it is really him. Another player that came in my mind is Norhafiz Zamani Misbah of Negeri Sembilan. But signs are showing that I could only be Akmal.

My advice to Akmal is that, whenever his is call upon later, just leave. You don't have to think about anything else. Put everything behind you. You will never have another chance like this. The fans need you to go abroad. Show the world what we are capable of. We will wait a return of a hero!

Malaysia Boleh!
- posted by zulhardy @ 5:06 PM

 
This coming Saturday, we are suppose to be entertain by Sarawak - Perak encounter at Kuching. But due to the god-knows-when-it-will-stop fixture changes, the match will only take place on the 7th of July. So there will be no Super League match this weekend. Maybe FAM are giving the under-23 team ample time to prepare for Malaysia - South Korea encounter at Suwon this coming Wednesday, 14th of July.

Due on the same date is the 2nd leg, 2nd round FA Cup tie between Perak and Sarawak. Being involve in Super League, both team did not have to play the 1st round match. The first leg encounter between this two team ended with my team winning 1-0 courtesy of a Wong Sai Kong header. One goal advantage is what Sarawak have against Perak, going to Ipoh. Taking the previous two matches played against Perak and Pahang, Sarawak will actually have chance to go away winner on this coming fixture. Winning against Perak, and narrowly missing to register the first Super League win against Pahang last Saturday, is a very hopeful sign for the fan. Now fans are expecting more.

After drawing all the last 3 Super League matches, and only winning one against Perak, the fans are upbeat for another win. Against Perak will be very sweet. Somehow, I treat Perak nowadays as Sarawak's nemesis. For a couple of season now, they have stood in our way to glory. Last season's Malaysia Cup quater final match in Ipoh and Kuching still linger fresh in my mind. Perak is the very team that knock us out of Malaysia Cup. Winning 2-0 in Ipoh, but still advance, though the lost 3-1 at Kuching which by the way at one moment Sarawak led the game 3-0!

It has been very long since our last silverware. Any silverware would be nice now. Sarawak's last silverware was the M-League Champion. The fans are very hungry now for silverware. The trophy cabinet is missing its' trophy.

Though FA Cup is not as glamourus as Malaysia Cup, but I still treat it as important as any major competition in the country. Winning it will be a morale boost for greater things to come. Enough said about winning it, why don't we just take one thing at a time.

Sarawak's last match was against the galactico aka. Malaysia B aka. Pahang. The result 1-1 did not reflect the true performance of Sarawak for the entire game. Like how NST put it, they were playing like the home team. Sarawak was unlucky not to be the runaway winner on that day. Combination of misses from the like of Eshun, Bobby Pian, and Ramos Sari, and the from Azmin is in right now, kept the score level. Pahang scored with the only chance they got for the entire game. So the entire game, Sarawak played well. Pressing well, passing the ball around neatly, and actually creating clear cut chances. Unlike their game before that against Kedah where they luckily escaped with a point.

Actually both Ramos Sari and Bobby Pian are in a revelation mode right now. Both of them are currently undergoing the Edu period.

Edu, the Brazilian, Arsenal midfield is on his hottest form since joining the Gunners. Labeled as the most improved player in Europe.

So much so both Ramos and Bobby are in hot form, Mohamad Nor Derus have to fight for his spot in the midfield engine of Sarawak. Both Wong Sai Kong and Gilbert Cassidy are sure starters. Previously under the care of Jalil Rambli, I can sense that there is no connection between the defence line and fowards. Midfields are not really playing their role. But since the arrival of Trevor James Morgan, things have started to change bit by bit. The midfield is actually acting like the engine of the team. With Bobby Pian covering the defence line, Wong Sai Kong dsitributing the ball around, dictating the tempo, orchastrating the attack, Gilbert, running towards the opponent's defender, Ramos, terorizing the right flank, we actually have the midfield team that can rattle any defence, scoring loads of goal, stopping any attack.

So, if I am to take that perfomance as a yardstick, the match against Perak is going to be a stroll in the park. Why a stroll in the park?

Perak is in what you call, a bad patch right now. Not an obvious bad patch, just dip in performance. A draw against Home United last night, and draw against Perlis (credits have to be given to Perlis' defender), shown that they'd struggle to contain the opponents attack, and to start their own. With injury to several key players, not so consistent performance of Khalid Jamlus, the short tempered Frank Seator, Sarawak can actually cause trouble to this team. The buy of the season would have to be Liew Kit Kong. The former Kedah player is showing us why Perak pay him so much money in order to make sure he donned the yellow of Perak, not the green and yellow of Kedah. He scored goals one week after another. If not scoing, he would be setting them up. If not doing both of that, his mere presence is enough to shake any defence. He is the duri dalam daging for Sarawak. How to stop him? We call upon Bobby Chua! The ever so reliable captain of Sarawak, will have no problem to contain the likes of Liew Kit Kong. His size might be a disadvantag to him, but his reaction and reading of the game is second to none.

Am I being too confident? You can say so. But I know this season, Sarawak have the best team since recent years! So why not the confidence. We were denied a win twice on away game, due to drawing the game. So it is not impossible to record a win in Ipoh. Am I going to witness the first win in Stadium Ipoh? I know I'm not going to bet my money against that.

Come Wednesday, we'll see!

-ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 8:45 AM

 
..others, remember this name, and remember it by hard Kim Grant!

Match malam Sabtu antara Sarawak ngan la Galacticos aka. Pahang, ended in a 1-1 draw. Memangdangkan aku sekda kat ctok ari Sabtu riya, you can read the reveiw at Utusan Sarawak ngan nok Sarawak Tribune pun.Pakey apa baca reveiw orang lain bagus baca reveiw dimpun kan?

Apa pendapat kau zul pasal match ya? Any draw from away ground is always a point stole. Plus Pahang is the so call la Galacticos nak, so it is a heppy news for me. Tapi malam ya sebnarnya Pahang nok nasib bait sik kalah. According to Zainal Abidin player nya letarghic bab lamak gilak sik main competative ball. Kamon lah pok, dah nama player kau ya suma star, sikkan lah fitness pun sik pat mantain.

Finally Kim Grant buktikan his worth. After lamak - lamak tok di gembar - gemburkan pasal kehebatannya, time lawan Pahang ya, unfortunate for Pahang lah, jadi mangsa pertama Grant. He scored from a header, direct from a corner. If this form continues, steadily and unoticelly Sarawak creeping up the table. Sabtu tok, Perak jadi mangsa seterusnya.

Everybody played brilliantly, dari keeper sampey ke striker. Just unfortunate pakey Sarawak lah, Pahang settled first when 2nd half stared. Indra managed to lobbed the keeper to scored the equaliser. Also lucky to Pahang, Ramos Sari sik convert chance nok nya ada.

Mun dah diitong - itong suma faktor kedak ya, misses and all kan, actually Sarawak was unlucky not to record their first MSL win. Patutnya Sarawak boleh menang. Pahang was performing well under average. Aku suka baca review dalam News Straits time (excerpt of it ada di engkah kat Sarawak Crocs Portal ) nok madah pasal Sarawak main kedak dak nya home. I like that. Tapi nok di baca aku ari minggu ariya menyakit kan ati lah, nya padah lowly Sarawak. Sik lah tegal 3rd from bottom alu lowly. 3rd from bottom = 5th from top. Sakit ati eh.

Malang to Kedah bab Kalah agik. Nampak cam dak tok jak gugok. hehe. amin arap2 dak nya lah.

Overall aku puas ati ngan result weekend tok lah. Walaupun bukan seperti yang di harapkan, tapi atleast sik kalah. Tahniah Sarawak!

-ngap ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 6:53 PM

 
News flash!!

Pahang would be without their influential midfielder, Hairudin Omar and left back, Rosdi Talip.

The effect? Cancel out anything I have said about Hairuddin. Nya sik main, apa lalek!

Good signs are showing...

-ngep ajak!
- posted by zulhardy @ 4:12 PM

 
Ari Sabtu tok, an exciting match is going to take place. Nope you got it wrong, bukan Man U ngan Arsenal, tapi Sarawak v. Pahang. Stadium Darulmakmur bakal menyaksikan pertarungan antara duak team yang tengah on form. Pahang still fresh from drubbing a 2-1 defeat against Public Bank and a 2nd round FA Cup tie win. As of Sarawak, still fresh from a stinging performance against Kedah and Perak. Seri 2-2 ngan Kedah, win 1-0 against Perak. What a form!

Aok lah orang boleh anok, alah Zul takat menang 1-0 jak. Tapi mind you all k, Perak adalah champion M - League last season. The very team nok knock us out time q-final Malaysia Cup last year. Sepanjang friendly match time off season, AFC Cup pun tournament, plus Super League itself, dak nya sik pernah kalah. So Sarawak inflicted the very first defeat towards Perak. Mun sik tegal ketumpulan finishing Sarawak (Sapian, we need you!!) Sarawak dah menang dengan scoreline yang lebih besar last Friday. Sekpa lah berbekalkan kemenangan 1-0 pun, aku pasti team Sarawak weekend tok morale is at its highest.

Both team ada player nok fresh from national assignment ari rabu ariya. Wong Sai Kong for Sarawak, but Irwan Fazli, Indra Putra, Hairudin Omar, Shuko Adan for Pahang. Banyak o player Pahang main national. Arap - arap dak tok gik kepak lah lekak match ariya. Wong ok bab nya sik main. Other than that, suma player Sarawak eligable to play.

Kamarulzaman tengah form kinek tok, Boby Chua leading the young lad; Irwandy Jempaka, Hussein Razak, ngan player import Rodriguez. This defence line, including Kamarulzaman is starting to form a very stalwart defence line. Capable of stopping any form of attack from any team. Sebab ya lah match lawan Pahang kali tok menjadi ujian paling getir for team Sarawak. A test would never come more challenging than this. A start studed team engineered by the genius of Hairudin Omar, assisted by Indra, capable of terorrising any defence line. A very tough test for our mixture of old and young defence line. Tapi dari cara sidak 4 stop Akmal, Frank Seator and Liew Kit Kong from scoring, something is actually going our way this season. Unlike last season when Jalil's team was facing defensive woes.

In front of the defence line, the ever reliable Bobby Pian will try to win and hold the ball from the midfield engine of Pahang. Not an easy job. But with his vast experience I know aku boleh percayak ngan nya. If only nya lebih imaginative lah bila dah dapat ball ya. Nya cepat gilak mati akal bah. Depan Bobby Pian, the negeri lad, Wong Sai Kong, will offer the creative side of Sarawak pun tactic. Fresh sebab sik dipakey time lawan Kuwait, so we can expect a lot from him. I am expecting a lot from him. The leading scorer for Sarawak. Scoring the only goal against Perak, the first goal against Kedah, the equalising goal against Perlis, the solitary goal against Sabah. Try to add the fact that he is an attacking midfielder, then you will get the WOW factor. The very fact kenak aku ngan fir rate him highly. (Banyak mek orang sik puas ati kenak Tengku Hazman lebih dipuja agik!!) So all eyes will be on him. He always deliver, no wories there.

Both the midfield di apit oleh Mohamad Nor Derus belah kanan, and maybe Gilbert, belah kirik.

Aku eran, kenak match lawan Sabah ngan Perlis, Mohamad Nor tok sik dipakey. Maka nya ber experience ada bah. Tapi time lawan Kedah he showed his worth. He showed his credentials as a very formidable midfield. Oozing with confidence everytime he have the ball. Very good in a deadball situation. Very good with long range passes. I know our right flank is covered. Tapi time lawan Kedah ariya sik lah nya main role winger gilak. Lebih ke tengah lah juak.

Belah kirik flank Sarawak, who else than orang Krokop, Gilbert. Tapi nya tok amat misteri pada aku. Dah salu report madah nya injured tapi nya ada juak main di tanga aku. Time nya sik di padah injured sekda main. Aku pun sik paham. Easily, player Sarawak paling rajin di padang. Sik penah lejuk ngepong ball turun nait jak nya. SIk penah lejuk cross ball pakey striker Sarawak. His presence will make a different. His absence will be sorely miss. Kedak lawan Kedah ariya, mati kutu bah midfield Sarawak.

Belakang striker Sarawak, is where Eshun will be best put. Eshun patut main hole pun position. Kata mek orang, position Totti. Sebab nya boleh hold ball. Nya sik laju sebab ya sik sesuai jadi striker. Tapi suma orang tauk, nya ada very lethal shot. Nya boleh score goal. Tapi nya lebih sesuai main belakang striker, so ctok lah nya paling sesuai. Last season, time Sarawak kalah oleh Perlis kat Kuching, nya pun last effort, dribbling pass at least 4 player Perlis, only to have his shot hitting the bar. Time lawan Perak, Sarawak ketinggalan 1-0 nya single handedly mbak ball masuk penalty box kakya tripped down by player Perak to be awarded a penalty that he later convert to earn Sarawak a much needed draw. What I'm trying to say here is that, nya boleh mbak ball lah. Let the striker get into position. Let both Wong Sai Kong ngan Mohamad Nor get into shooting position. Sak chances mok score lebih tinggi.

Sarawak pun attack is going to be spearheaded by Kim Grant. Already a lot of comments have pun said about this Eshun partner from Ghana. Time lawan Perak ariya, his first game, he should have converted a couple of chances to put Sarawak in a more comfartable lead come 2nd leg kelak. Tapi kali nya lom besa gik bah. Against Pahang will be the best time for him to score a debut goal. His understandig with Eshun really helps Trevor James Morgan merancang strategy to torn Pahang pun defence into pieces.

So ya lah aku pun first eleven against Pahang kelak. Mun Sarawak menang, siap jak team lain, nobody can stop us now. Pahang menang 2 seri skali. So dak nya lead the table lah. Kinek tok Sarawak kumpul 2 point dari possible 9. Sekpa lah. Lom panas bah. So time lawan Pahang tok lah perlu panas.

All the bes guys. Aku nunggu kejutan dari DarulMakmur.

-ngap ajak!


- posted by zulhardy @ 10:38 AM