State of Malaysian Football

I still could recall my numerous trips to Merdeka Stadium, watching and supporting the Selangor state team or even Malaysia in those Merdeka Cup tournaments. How proud was I of the teams I had supported.

Well, gone were the days of those memorable wins over South Korea and Japan. Now this 2 nations have taken the world by storm even with their own local leagues respectively.

Minnows like Philippines, Laos and Vietnam were whipping boys for Malaysia in the yesteryears but it's a total different story nowadays. Today, these 3 teams stand an equal chance of beating Malaysia on their good days. Vietnam, even though football league is corrupted internally, is well above Malaysia's standards.

Why? It will be hard as long as Malaysia do not revamp how their football teams were being managed. Not that I knew lots about it but the fact where royalty members and chief ministers holding on to the highly ranked positions is good enough. What the heck do they know about football? All they care about is their own ego. Do you see any British royal family members holding any post in the English FA or in any of the English football clubs? They should as they are world class but they didn't.

What developments did our royalty members/chief ministers brought for Malaysian football after all these years and that too, dumping hundreds of millions into it and the results were getting trashed by China (5-1) - China hammer co-hosts Malaysia and Uzbekistan (5-0) Uzbeks trounce sorry Malaysia in the on-going AFC Asian Cup 2007. Another trashing by Iran in the last group match? The headline could be "Iran was more at home than Malaysia".

As long as the football management was not done professionally, Malaysia will continue to drop down the world rankings. Who bothers anyway even if it goes up. Rumours surfaced that even the New Economic Policy played a part for the downfall of Malaysian football. What? How is that so? Well, by limiting the participation of certain race or ensuring a certain percentage for a particular race was there at all times. This is not football !!!!

If you are asking where does Malaysia's football future lies ahead then that's the wrong question to ask. You should ask "When are we getting professional football management back into the system?"

A friend in the local football management once told me, that the main reason for those royalty members/chief ministers helming top football management positions was because they were able to source for sponsorships easily. Meaning to say, the rest of the management teams were not doing their work at all for having to rely on only the top person to source such sponsorships.

The Football Association of Malaysia's Deputy President, the son of the Sultan of Pahang, has tendered his resignation due to Malaysia's poor results in the Asian Cup. Would say that he should have tendered donkey years ago as Malaysian football was in doldrums all these years, not recently.

I'm waiting for his father (Sultan of Pahang) to do the same, resign as President of FAM. He has been holding this position for decades. Please do justice to the state of our Malaysian football. And also from the state teams please, each and everyone of you royal family members and chief ministers. It's the same scenario for all the sports association in Malaysia.

This blog posting may not be read by the people concerned and FAM won't be bothered at all. But generally out there, who's talking about it during chit chats or while lepaking at mamak stalls. For that matter, some people who have received free tickets from sponsors, were not even bothered to go for those matches especially when it involved the national team. As for those who went, they were there to see how China whacked Malaysia instead of supporting Malaysia (hehehe....they were not bookies in knowing that China will win but everyone could have guessed the result, only the scoreline).

Malaysia still Boleh?
Tags: Sports, Football, Soccer, Malaysia, Sultan of Pahang, Football Association of Malaysia, FAM, Asian Cup, English FA

Benefits of Night Classes

Ah Beng went to take night courses with the reasoning in future can get promotion or better job. During work, Ah Beng likes to show off to Ah Seng about his knowledge.

Ah Beng: Ah Seng ah... I've been taking night courses for 3 months already, next week is the exam.

• Ah Seng: Oh... Good luck ah.
• Then Ah Beng started show off...
• Ah Beng: Ok, I test you, who is Graham Bell?
• Ah Seng: Don't know
• Ah Beng: He is the inventor of phone la... in 1876, see... if you take night courses, you would know this.
• Ah Seng: ........................ *speechless*

The next day, Ah Beng shows off again...

• Ah Beng: Ah Seng ah... let me ask you, who is Jean Jacques Rousseau?
• Ah Seng: Wash your toilet one ah?
• Ah Beng: No! He's the author of "Confessions", nah nah nah... told you already, if you take night courses, you would know this.
• Ah Seng: ......................... *speechless + frustrated*

The next day, once again...

• Ah Beng: Do you know who is Alexander Dumas?
• Ah Seng: Your gay partner?
• Ah Beng: Choiii!!! If you don't know don't simply answer la. He's the author of "The 3 Musketeers", if you take night courses, you would know this.
• Ah Seng: ....................... *speechless + frustrated + irritated

This time Ah Seng cannot tahan (stand) anymore and ask Ah Beng...

• Ah Seng: Eh... Do you know who is Ah Kaw?
• Ah Beng: Errrr... No!
• Ah Seng: He's the guy sleeping with your wife!! If you stop night courses, you would know this!!
• Ah Beng: ........................ *fainted*

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Night Class, Graham Bell, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Alexander Dumas, Ah Beng

Michelin's Tennis Shoes

Michelin - famous for its tyres manufactured for cars and especially those in Formula 1. Michelin has now embarked on a new venture where they transferred their technology in motor racing know-how into a revolutionary sole for tennis shoe. This was in collaboration with Babolat, the world leader in competition rackets and racket stringing.

Andy Roddick, the USA tennis player, has been wearing this newly designed shoes since Jan 2007, named Babolat Propulse.

The uniqueness of the tennis shoes:-
The sole is equipped with the OCS (Optimized Cell System) technology originally designed by Michelin for the World Rally Championships (WRC). The blend of rubber offers 40% greater resistance to abrasion and thermo-abrasion than other shoes on the market (according to tests carried out in March 2006 by an independent laboratory, the Centre Technique de la Chaussure, which compared the Propulse to a sample group of shoes in the same price range). The oblong-shaped tread of the sole improves slowing down, acceleration and sliding, just as for a racing car! The sole's curved geometry and the variation of its ridges and hollows prevent the appearance of cracks and make it possible to adapt grip to the type of surface of play, thus varying the sole's grip according to whether the player is on hard, dry or slippery ground. Babolat, for its part, has combined this special formulation of rubber with Exact Pro technology, a system of dynamic propulsion located beneath the forefoot, which optimises lateral movements when running.
Tags: Michelin, Michelin Tyre, Babolat, Babolat Propulse, Tennis Shoes, Andy Roddick

Breathing in Polluted Air

I still do exercise regularly but did stop jogging due to the polluted air. People are still jogging around my housing area. Why did I stop? Upon reading "Air pollution holds risks for athletes who exercise outdoors - IHT", I fully agree with it.

Did hear from health concious people that we should jog right early in the morning. Oh no. I like to sleep a lot and waking up at 6am is definitely way too hard. Why can't we jog in the evening? They said that the dust or dirt would settling down and thus we would be breathing it in. Is the air fresher and cleaner in the wee hours of morning? Air pollution is one of the major concern.

Maybe that was the reason why there were so many fitness centres mushrooming in Kuala Lumpur. People tend to exercise indoor to lessen inhaling the polluted air. Received a call yesterday from California Fitness in Mid Valley that I could join them for a 14 days free trial. When should I start? There is always this thought of joining a gym but California Fitness is still a bit inconvenient. But somehow there is a bad report from a member within.

I have got choices as well in choosing a fitness centre. At my office building, there are Gold's Gym in Plaza Ampang and Clark Hatch in Crown Princess Hotel. A few of my colleagues would drop in for their gym routines at 7.30am before reporting at work by 8.30am. Some would go after work.

There is a gym room in my condo compound but the equipments are not sufficient/complete. Another fitness centre within walking distance from the condo, Impressive Fitness, looks quite impressive. Buy my own weights?

Really want to look fit. Meantime, only way of keeping fit is to swim regularly at the condo pool.
Tags: Fitness Centre, California Fitness, Impressive Fitness, Air Pollution, Jogging, Exercise, Health, Gym, Swim, Fit, Clark Hatch, Gold's Gym

Why God Made Menopause?

With all the new technology regarding fertility, a 65-year-old woman was able to give birth to a baby recently.

When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, her relatives came to visit. They asked, "May we see the baby?" "Not yet," said the mother. "I'll make coffee and we can visit for a while first."

Thirty minutes had passed, and another relative asked, "May we see the new baby now?" "No, not yet," said the mother.

After another few minutes had elapsed, they asked again, "May we see the baby now?" "No, not yet," replied the mother.

Growing very impatient, they asked, "Well, when CAN we see the baby?"

"WHEN HE CRIES!" she told them. "WHEN HE CRIES??" they demanded. "Why do we have to wait until he CRIES??"

"BECAUSE, I forgot where I put him..."
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Menopause

Expensive SMS

If you have been courted to subscribe for the SMS service from Mobile 365 Asia Sdn Bhd, please be careful of their rates and number of SMSes that may be sent/received. Though their business plan/potential under the mobile messaging and data services seems very good, that's for them as a business entity. But for consumers/users like us, it's better to be aware of it.Just at the bottom of the picture above, there is this statement:-
*Bonus realtone is for free. Bonus realtone will be sent the first week of subscription. After this the costs are RM 4.00 per msg incl. GST, 3 msg per week, 1 content item per sms. (RM 12.00 per week) Standard operator SMS/WAP/GPRS charges apply. Start up: standard message fee applies. Min. age 18+ with bill payers permission. Helpdesk: 1800 813682 (9am-5pm,Isn-Jum). Celldorado operates according to the Malaysian code of conduct for SMS services. Celldorado offers innovative information and entertainment for your mobile, such as ringtones, Javagames and wallpapers.

If you were not careful, you could be paying RM12.00 per week under their subscription service. Caveat emptor!

Tags: Mobile 365, Mobile 365 Asia Sdn Bhd, SMS, Mobile Messaging, Data Services, Realtone, WAP, GPRS, Celldorado, Ringtone, Java Games, Caveat Emptor

Can Christians Make A Lot of Money?

Absolutely “YES”! Christians can make a lot of money. But some may think having a lot of money is sinful! It is worldly!

In fact some may also be influenced by certain kind of “poverty mentality” teaching where one has to be poor in order to be spiritual! Some may also feel that money will pull you away from God. Well, pulling one away may be true for some but not for all.

We need to have the right teaching on money. Money itself is neutral; there is nothing right or wrong. It all depends on how you use it. If you use it for good mean then it is good. If you use it for bad mean then it is bad. So the problem is not with money but the GREED of money is the root of all evils.

Next, money itself does not make you more or less spiritual. It is developing a close and intimate relationship with God that makes you spiritual. I am very sure you are able to find a lot of rich people who fear God. In fact in the Old Testament you can find many great men of God who are rich and prosperous like the case of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are all very rich and prosperous and they fear God.

So, can Christians make a lot of money? Absolutely “YES” and there is no doubt about it! If you are a businessman earn as much as you can for the glory and kingdom of God. If you are working in the marketplace, put in all your heart, do your best and get increment and promotion every year.

However, I would like to list out 3 strong warnings. When you see these warnings lighted up, then it is the beginning of one drilling away from God, serving money rather than God and ultimately forsaking Jesus Christ.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Timothy 6:8-10

1) No time for God
If you work until you don’t have time for God then this is the first serious warning. You start to miss the cell group, prayer meeting and church service then there must be a problem. I understand that there is peak period but not for the whole year! So money starts to take a very important position in your heart.

2) Unable to give
If you are earning a lot of money and having difficulty in giving (may it be offering or tithing) then this is the second serious warning. Your giving is so painful and difficult; it is like ripping off your skin then you are treating money as THE most important perhaps even more important than God.

3) Violate the word of God
If you think it is alright to compromise and violate the word of God in order to earn more money because in the business world one needs to be unscrupulous and honesty has no place to stand. Then this is the last warning that money is getting hold of you.
Lastly, I pray that God will give you the power to gain wealth. The most important thing is not having a lot of money but having God because by having God you will have everything (including money).
Tags: Christian, Money, Old Testament, Jesus Christ, God