MALAYSIA WINS AFF-SUZUKI CUP FINALE

Malaysia wins AFF-Suzuki Cup on 4-2 aggregate; PM declares Friday a public holiday

By ERIC SAMUEL

JAKARTA: Malaysia has won the AFF-Suzuki Cup on a 4-2 aggregate. Indonesia won the second leg of the final 2-1 in Jakarta on Wednesday night while Malaysia had won the first leg 3-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
The scorers for Indonesia were Mohammad Ridwan (87th minute) and Mohammad Nasuha (71st). Safee Sali had scored in the 53rd minute to put Malaysia 1-0 in the lead.
It was a significant success for Malaysia as the last time the senior national team became champions in a regional competition was at the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian football fans celebrate our team's victory during the live telecast at Dataran Merdeka.

It was also the first time in the AFF Championships since 1996 that Malaysia has become champions.
To make it a grand night for Malaysia, Safee won the Golden Boot award with five goals to his name. The striker was on target twice in the first leg.
Later Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared Friday, Dec 31, a public holiday in recognition of our team's AFF-Suzuki Cup triumph.
Malaysia started with the same line-up that was fielded in the first leg, except for midfielder Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal and right-back Mahali Jasuli, who were suspended. The duo were replaced by Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin and Mohd Sabree Abu respectively.

Malaysian football fans celebrate at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya after Safee Sali scored the opening goal in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final.- AZMAN GHANI / The Star

The Indonesians were without their inspirational flanker Okto Maniani, who was also out on suspension while striker Yongky Ari Bowo was out with an injury. Their replacements were Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim respectively.
As expected, Indonesia came charging from the starting whistle but the Malaysian defence led by Mohd Muslim Ahmad and Mohd Fadhli Shas did well to keep a tight leash on Indonesian dangermen Christian Gonzales and Irfan Bachdim.
But a lapse of concentration inside the box resulted in Indonesia winning a penalty in the 15th minute, when Mohd Sabree handled the ball.

Malaysia's S. Kunalan challenges Indonesia's Mohammad Nasuha for the ball during the AFF Suzuki Cup final, second leg match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, December 29, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star

However, much to the disappointment of the Indonesian fans, skipper Firman Utina’s tame kick was saved by Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
The Indonesians, who were desperate for an early goal, kept on pressing for the opening goal but Khairul Fahmi proved to be a stumbling block, denying at least five attempts at goal before the half-time break.
Malaysia took the lead against the run of play in the 53rd minute, when Ashaari sent a long through ball for Safee to chase, and the Selangor hitman scored a clinical goal.

Police trucks enter the Gelora Bung Karno stadium before the start of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 final, second leg match in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday.-GLENN GUAN/The Star

Despite being a goal down, Indonesia never gave up and their persistence paid off as defender Mohammad Nasuha pounced on a loose ball from goalkeeper Khairul’s save to hit the roof of the net in the 71st minute.
Then with the clock ticking away, Muhammad Ridwan scored from a goal-mouth melee in the 87th minute but this was not enough to deny Malaysia the AFF-Suzuki Cup.

Bin Hammam launches Dream Asia School Challenge

Wednesday, 29 December 2010

Doha: Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam launched the AFC Dream Asia School Challenge on Wednesday as the continental body seeks to expand its successful Midnight Football programme into more territories in Asia. The event will see teams from schools throughout Qatar featuring in the competition, which will be held within the Aspire Park from January 20 until January 28, as the confederation extends its social responsibility efforts into the local community during the hosting of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ finals. “Football’s impact is great and it has more impact out of the field of play than inside the field of play,” said Bin Hammam. “It is compulsory for the AFC to play a good role towards social responsibility. “In Qatar we have many ethnicities and languages and nationalities and here we are seeking to have good interaction between these communities. “Schools here also have many languages and nationalities and we also want to have this good interaction with the families to help the students themselves.” The Dream Asia Street Soccer School Challenge replicates the initiative started in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur – which plays host to confederation’s headquarters, AFC House - earlier in 2010 and which uses football as a stepping stone towards character building and social awareness. The programme has been launched in conjunction with the Qatar Local Organising Committee of the AFC Asian Cup and the Qatar-based charity Reach Out To Asia. “The School Challenges programme aims to create a harmonization and intergrity among individuals of different age categories, genders and cultural background within Qatar society,” said Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, chairman of the QLOC. “This harmonization shall be unified by a programme addressing and nurturing social responsibility. It will be a widespread concept in order to establish a sportive, healthy environment serving all.” Mohamed Abdul Nazer, a representative of parents of children due to participate in the project, believes the initiative will play a role in bringing down barriers between the various communities that call Qatar home. “You will find a huge number of ethnic groups living peacefully in this country and there are several opportunities for all groups to be part of the mainstream,” he said. “However, there is a concern that people live within their communities and very rarely get to know one another. “This project by AFC gives parents an opportunity to be part of a great event, get their children to be part of the fun and get involved in sport and also to get involved in a good way with members of other communities.” The event starts on January 20 with the Dream Asia School Challenge for girls between the ages of 13 and 17, which is followed on January 23 with the first of three days of boys’ events, commencing with children aged between 6 and 10 years old. January 24 sees boys aged 11 to 14 participating and the 15 to 17 year olds play on January 26. The semi-finals and finals of both tournaments will take place on the weekend of the AFC Asian Cup final matches on January 27 and 28. Picture: From left: Parents' representative Mohammed Abdul Nazer, QLOC President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam and ROTA Acting Director Essa Al Mannai.