Archive for Egypt Sport

Thailand ousts defending Suzuki Cup champs Malaysia 2-0

by admin
December 14th, 2012

Thailand beat Malaysia 2-0 on Thursday to advance to the Suzuki Cup final.

BANGKOK: Thailand used a stellar second half to run past defending Suzuki Cup champions Malaysia and a 2-0 win to advance to the finals.

The match was even 0-0 at half of the Southeast Asian football championship, but Thailand surged ahead with two goals to beat 10-man Malaysia.

In many ways, Malaysia’s hopes were dashed in the 43rd minute after Mohamad Fadhli Shas was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

In the 61st minute, Teerasil Dangda ran past the Malaysian defense and powered in a goal.

Theerathon Bunmathan was then on target five minutes later to make it 2-0.

The first leg of the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday ended in a 1-1 draw.

Malaysian fans were noticeably frustrated in Bangkok as they left the stadium.

One fan told Bikyamasr.com that “this was not the match we came to see and it just shows that we were not ready for this year’s tournament.”

But Thai fans showed jubilation as they hope to win the title, which they have not hoisted in a decade.

For the fans, it was a signal that they were returning to previous glory when they had dominated the regional championship.

“This is the best Thai team we have seen in a long time. We will win it all,” one fan yelled as they waved flags and began celebrations, which are expected to go well into the evening.

BM

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Malaysia football team protests Thialand’s “paddy field” training ground

by admin
December 13th, 2012

Malaysia celebrates a goal in in the Suzuki Cup.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of the second leg of Malaysia and Thailand’s semi-finals of the Southeast regional football championship, or Suzuki Cup, Malaysia is protesting the poor quality of the training facility provided by Thailand, calling it a “paddy field.”

Malaysia’s football association said on Wednesday that it had lodged a complaint after Thailand provided what they termed a run-down training pitch for their Suzuki Cup match.

Football Association of Malaysia General Secretary Azzuddin Ahmad said the association verbally protested at a meeting this morning with Thai FA officials and plans to file a written complaint to the Thai body and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

Malaysia’s New Straits Times newspaper reported that the country’s squad “arrived at the Jaran Buraparat ground in Bangkok on Tuesday to find the pitch uneven and filled with puddles of water.”

Team manager Subahan Kamal was quoted angrily criticising the pitch as a “paddy field.”

Broken bottles were also present on the pitch, the association reported.

Malaysia fans, although disappointed after the first leg draw, hope that the squad can turn it around and reach the final to defend their title.

“I think we played okay, but we should have got that last goal in the final minutes,” 43-year-old Jamal Aziz told Bikyamasr.com in Kuala Lumpur as he left the national stadium.

“We were right there and so close, but being the underdogs, I don’t think we can complain and we should have confidence going into the next match,” he added.

BM

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Singapore fans want better showing after Suzuki Cup draw with Philippines

by admin
December 12th, 2012

Singapore hopes to push through in the second leg of their Suzuki Cup semi-final against Philippines.

SINGAPORE: Singapore residents were disappointed after their national team showed little inspiration in the first leg of the Suzuki Cup semi-finals against Philippines, settling for a 0-0 draw on Saturday night.

The match has made the second leg all that much more important, with neither side having the upper hand.

And Singapore residents know that if they are to overcome years of disappointment, this will be their chance.

“We are a good team. We beat Malaysia in our opening match and if we can play that way against the Philippines, we will advance,” one fan told Bikyamasr.com on Tuesday morning.

Although Singapore dominated the opening half in Manila, the Philippines woke up in the second session, but neither side was able to net a goal.

Singapore had outdone expectations at this year’s Southeast Asian championships, but fans and residents of the wealthy city-state believe that they can go all the way.

“We just have to play like we are capable of and make things happen on the field,” added the avid fan, who didn’t give his name.

The Philippines may be undefeated against Singapore in the last three matches between the two countries, but Singapore has certainly stepped up their performance during the Suzuki Cup. They are a deep team with a point to prove against their regional rivals given recent results.

BM

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Malaysia praises, proud, of female bodybuilder Lilian Tan after championship

by admin
December 12th, 2012

Lilian Tan becomes first-ever Malaysian woman to win bodybuilding championship.

KUALA LUMPUR: Young Malaysian women and girls are already praising the first ever Malaysian woman to be crowned champion in the World Bodybuilding and Physique Federation (WBPF) World Championships held in Bangkok.

“This is a great moment for Malaysia and women in this country and it shows that we are not only strong here, but we are, literally, the strongest women on the planet,” 31-year-old mother of two and housewife Nouran Syriah told Bikyamasr.com as she dropped her two young children off for gymnastics practice.

“With our success at the Olympics last year and now this, our girls have such great role models to look up to,” she added.

Tan came out on top in the above 50kg weight division at the Nimibutr National Stadium on Monday, giving Malaysia their third gold medal for the country in the world championship.

She is the only woman in a team of seven bodybuilders sent to the world meet by the Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBBF).

“It is a huge honor to be able to represent Malaysia at the international level in the world’s most prestigious championship,” said Tan.

”Honestly, I’m still trying to absorb this accomplishment. I’ve dreamt of this moment for years. I’ve worked very hard for this victory.”

The 40-year-old, who only stands at 157cm, came close to winning a medal when she finished fourth in the world meet in Malacca last year.

She took silver in the Asian meet in Guangzhou last year and this is her biggest achievement since she first developed a liking for lifting weights when she went to further her studies in California. The Penang-born woman continued with her involvement after graduating with a degree in Business Management in 1997.

The hope is that with Tan’s championship it will spur on development of female bodybuilding in Malaysia, which was not present when Tan was growing up, forcing her to head to the United States to train.

But many hope and believe that with more success on the global stage, it will change perceptions of bodybuilding for women in Malaysia.

BM

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Malaysia, Thailand fans disappointed with draw in Suzuki Cup

by admin
December 11th, 2012

Malaysia missed a golden opportunity to get a win against Thailand on Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR and BANGKOK: Malaysia and Thailand played to a tense draw on Sunday in the first leg of the semi-finals of Southeast Asia’s regional championship, the Suzuki Cup.

Teerasil Dangda scored on a great header late on Sunday to give Thailand a 1-1 draw against defending champions Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

The Thai striker, jumping near the penalty spot, met the cross and placed it into the top right corner in the 79th minute, equalizing Norshahrul Idlan Talaha’s well-directed header earlier in the second half.

Thailand were favourites heading into the two-legged semi, after winning all their group games, and they will now take the advantage of an away goal into Thursday’s return fixture in the Southeast Asian championship.

Fans in both countries were pleased with their teams’ performance, but had hoped for a win. Each side will now being forced to battle it out in Thailand as the tournament heats up for the spot in the final.

“I think we played okay, but we should have got that last goal in the final minutes,” 43-year-old Jamal Aziz told Bikyamasr.com in Kuala Lumpur as he left the national stadium.

“We were right there and so close, but being the underdogs, I don’t think we can complain and we should have confidence going into the next match,” he added.

In Bangkok, it was more disappointment than their Malaysian counterparts, with most Thai fans believing their squad to have been the favorites for the title and missing a number of opportunities.

“We played all right, but I think we should have come out stronger and shown the rest of the region that we are the best team,” said one fan at a local cafe as the match wrapped up. Bikyamasr.com was unable to get his name.

Overall though, the fans believe Thailand is in prime position to advance to the final, needing only a draw to advance on away goals when the two battle in Thailand.

BM

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Malaysia, Thailand face-off in Suzuki semi-finals

by admin
December 10th, 2012

Malaysia celebrates a goal in in the Suzuki Cup.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are the defending champions. Thailand has won the regional championship three times, but not in a decade. On Sunday, the two open their home and home semi-final with both sides hopeful of punching their ticket to the finals.

Thailand has rolled in their first three matches, giving them the surprise favorite status ahead of the match.

While many believe the title is Thailand’s for the taking, Rajagobal is adamant that Malaysia must ignore such claims, focus on their own game and – just as importantly – show no fear against Winfried Schafer’s men.

“No doubt we know about the strengths of Thailand but for us, the important thing is to focus on the match and to go down there and not fear them,” Rajagobal explained.

“It’s going to be an interesting match. We watched them in the preliminary rounds and they have been doing very well so far and are unbeaten. They have good players in all departments and they also got good results in their warm-up friendlies.

“I want my players to go out and enjoy it. They have shown fantastic mental character to come back after our opening loss to Singapore and I want to make sure that they show their character when they go out to play Thailand,” he added.

Dynamic winger Wan Zack Haikal and midfielder Shakir Shaari are both ruled out due to injury, however Rajagobal was more optimistic about the chances of Safee Sali, S Kunanlan and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri who are all struggling to be fit.

“Wan Zack Haikal and Shakir Shaari are definitely out, but the rest should be there,” Rajagobal said.

Malaysia lost to Singapore 3-0 to open their title defense, but rebounded with strong showings against Myanmar and Indonesia to advance to the final four.

“We will watch and we will cheer our team on, but right now it is not where we want to be,” William Cho, an avid football fan and computer engineer in Kuala Lumpur, told Bikyamasr.com. “Football brings us all together as Malaysians and we are excited to see what happens.”

BM

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Old feuds die hard as Ethiopia refuses to send football team to Eritrea

by admin
December 9th, 2012

Ethiopia’s Football Federation says it will not send its team to Eritrea.

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia and Eritrea have fought wars against one another, but after the two countries supposedly made peace, all should have begun to improve. But that is not the case after Ethiopia’s football federation has said it will not fly the national team across the border to play against Eritrea.

The two continue to maintain an icy and often tense relationship, which has been brewing again recently. The Ethiopian Football Federation says that Eritrea cannot guarantee its squad’s safety.

Federation spokesman Melaku Ayele said in a statement Ethiopia would be more than willing to host the Eritreans for the second leg of their tie in January, but has called for a neutral venue, potentially Sudan, for December’s first leg, scheduled for Eritrea’s capital, Asmara.

Melaku told reporters on Wednesday, “who can give you the security guarantee in Asmara? Nobody can give you a security guarantee … even you foreign journalists don’t get that. That’s the reality.”

The African Nations Championship is a continent-wide competition restricted to domestically based players.

It is unclear what the African Football Association will do over the matter or if they will force Ethiopia to forfeit the match for refusing to go across the border.

BM

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Malaysia hopes for success against Thailand in Suzuki semi-finals

by admin
December 8th, 2012

Malaysia hopes to get past Thailand in the Suzuki Cup semi-finals and defend title.

KUALA LUMPUR: The road was a tough one for Malaysia to get to the semi-finals, where they face a surging Thailand for a spot in the finals of Southeast Asia’s football championships, or Suzuki Cup.

Malaysia lost to Singapore 3-0 to open their title defense, but rebounded with strong showings against Myanmar and Indonesia to advance to the final four.

Up next, however are the War Elephants, and Malaysian fans are not convinced their team will have the strength to get past, but remain hopeful.

“We will watch and we will cheer our team on, but right now it is not where we want to be,” William Cho, an avid football fan and computer engineer in Kuala Lumpur, told Bikyamasr.com. “Football brings us all together as Malaysians and we are excited to see what happens.”

But Thailand has been near flawless in their arrival in the semi-finals, edged the Philippines 2-1, thumped qualifiers Myanmar 4-0 and then dismissed Vietnam 3-1 during their Group A games in Bangkok.

But that is all irrelevant now, with two matches waiting between either side and a trip to the finals.

BM

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Ethiopia sweeps again, this time in Macau

by admin
December 3rd, 2012

Ethiopia runners continue to show success globally.

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian runners are a source of pride in Ethiopia, and for the second straight marathon event, they swept through to victory.

Ethiopia’s Heile Haja Gemeda and Ehitu Kiros Reda were the winners of Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon on Sunday in China’s territory.

Gemeda sailed past the finish line in two hours 23 minutes and 56 seconds to lift the men’s title. Kenyan Duncan Cheruiyot Koech followed at heel in 2:24:00, reports Xinhua.

Gemeda’s compatriot Gezahegn Alemayehu Abebe was third in 2:24.11.

In the women’s event, Ethiopia had a one-two finish as Reda set the winning pace in 2:50:11 before Tsega Gelaw Reta on 2:51.04. Irene Kemunto Mogaka of Kenya took bronze 1:21 off the pace.

Each winner took home $20,000 as prize money.

The victories are another source of pride for the country, with many telling Bikyamasr.com they welcomed the success of their runners as a matter of nationalism.

“It is just another great action for us as a country and shows we are a strong people,” one cafegoer told Bikyamasr.com on as he heard about the race.

In Chicago last month, Tsegaye Kebede became the first Ethiopian man to win the Chicago Marathon by winning Sunday’s 35th edition in a course record, with compatriot Atsede Baysa taking the women’s title by a stride.

Kebede surged in the final mile to win in 2:04.38 and defeat countryman Feyisa Lilesa by 14 seconds, with Tilahun Regassa third in 2:05:26 on his marathon debut to complete an Ethiopian men’s podium sweep.

“This is a great day for us, for Ethiopia especially,” Kebede said.

BM

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Malaysia and Singapore fight to Suzuki semi-finals

by admin
December 3rd, 2012

Malaysia celebrates a goal in in the Suzuki Cup.

KUALA LUMPUR: Fans from Singapore and Malaysia were celebrating on Saturday night after both countries managed to secure spots in the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian football championships.

Defending champions Malaysia defeated Indonesia 2-0, overcoming their early group loss to Singapore and continuing their hopes for retaining the title won two years ago.

Fans in the capital told Bikyamasr.com they were “pleasantly surprised by the team’s showing and hope this performance will create confidence ahead of the next round.”

One Malaysian, Najeeb, told Bikyamasr.com that “after the first round loss to Singapore, I didn’t think we had a chance, but here we are after two great matches, ready to defend our title.”

In the same group, Singapore squeezed past a pesky Laos team 4-3 to advance.

As Group B runner-up, Malaysia will face Thailand who won Group A in the semi-final to be held in Kuala Lumpur on December 9 and in Bangkok on December 13. The other semi-final will be between Singapore and Group A runner-up, the Philippines on December 8 and December 12.

Both countries are expected to advance to the final, according to experts, but in this tournament, where a few surprises have been seen, Malaysia and Singapore will have to play their way to a rematch.

But fans are hopeful.

“I really would like to play Malaysia again because it is just a great rivalry between the two of us,” said Chris Tan, a Singapore resident who traveled to Shah Alam for the match on Saturday.

BM

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