21/03/2025

FRIDAY | MAR 21, 2025

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SPORTS

Kiwis focused on Fiji job on road to World Cup NEW ZEALAND’S professional footballers will take on a team of amateurs when they face Fiji in Wellington today (2.10pm Malaysian time) seeking a place in the final of Oceania qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley is urging his players to focus on Fiji and ignore the bigger picture. “We’re the favourites, we’ve got this team of professionals and everything but it’s a big game for them as well,“ he said at the team’s final training session in Wellington yesterday.

WORLD CUP (AFRICA QUALIFIERS) Group D: Eswatini 0 Cameroon 0. Group H: Liberia 0 Tunisia 1. Group I: Central African Republic 1 Madagascar 4. RESULTS

untimely knee injury was a major blow but the team were in good spirits ahead of the match at Wellington Regional Stadium. “We believe we can win. It’s about executing our game plan and believing in ourselves,“ he said. New Caledonia and Tahiti meet in the first semifinal at the same venue, a match-up of French territories ranked 152nd and 153rd respectively. New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner said reaching the semifinals was already a triumph for his players, who have had little club football since civil unrest broke out last year. “We are very delighted to be here,“ Sidaner said. “The group, the team, the selection is already very satisfied.” – Reuters

The winner will play either Tahiti or New Caledonia in Auckland on Monday for a direct ticket to the global showpiece in North America. While New Zealand are by far the strongest team in the region, they missed out on the last three World Cups after losing intercontinental playoffs. This time the world No. 89 All Whites are a shoo-in to qualify, with Oceania guaranteed a berth for the first time in the expanded, 48-team World Cup. Amid great expectations from home fans,

SHORTS Takraw boys off to great start

“We need to respect that, they’re going to be organised and competitive. So we need to be ready for those challenges.” Ranked 148th, Fiji’s squad includes policemen, labourers and warehouse workers but lacks their most accomplished player, Roy Krishna, a striker who played over 100 matches for A-League team Wellington Phoenix. Fiji coach Rob Sherman, a former assistant coach at Melbourne Victory, said Krishna’s

MALAYSIA began their Group B campaign in the 2025 Sepak Takraw World Cup quadrant event on a strong note after defeating France 2-0 in Bihar, India, yesterday. The national squad, comprising Muhammad Shahalril Aiman Halim, Amirul Zazwan Amir, Norfaizzul Abd Razak, and Muhammad Fetri Mohd Azwadi, had little difficulty securing the first set with a 15-6 victory in the match held at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium. In the second set, Malaysia made two substitutions, bringing in Aidil Aiman Azwawi and Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin, before overpowering the French duo 15-7. The national team are scheduled to play their second Group B match against Myanmar. Anita Azrina to head PSM FORMER Petronas group senior general manager of strategic communications, Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz, has been appointed as the Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia (PSM) chairman, effective today. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that Anita Azrina will serve for the 2025-2027 term. She said that in addition to Anita Azrina, the ministry has also appointed Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor John as the new deputy chairman of PSM. “Both of them were previously members of the PSM board. I believe that Anita Azrina’s corporate experience with Petronas and Windsor’s expertise in football will help continue the efforts of the previous chairman, Datuk Hans Isaac,” she told reporters during the Youth and Sports Ministry Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) iftar event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. On Monday, Hans announced via Instagram that he would no longer be serving as PSM chairman, a position he had held for the past two years. Isaac increased PSM’s revenue to RM10.64 million in 2024, with the Bukit Jalil National Stadium contributing RM1.8 million through non sporting activities such as concerts. Hannah hoped that the appointments of Anita Azrina and Windsor would facilitate the Kuala Lumpur Sports City upgrade programme as part of Malaysia’s preparations to host the 2027 SEA Games. “I want KL Sports City to continue evolving into a world-class sports and recreation hub,” she said. SAM gets new office THE Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) will relocate its office from the Olympic Council of Malaysia building on Jalan Hang Jebat to a new office space inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in the second week of April. SAM president Norismadi Abdul Manap said the new office, consisting of two units, would also serve as a one-stop centre for association members covering events around the National Stadium. “We would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) because our application for a new office space at the National Stadium has finally been approved after a long effort. After the second week of Raya, SAM’s office will officially move to the new location,” he added. “With the office there, it will be more convenient for SAM members, especially during events at the National Stadium or in the surrounding area. They can arrive early, rest, or do their work in the office space,” he said. Norismadi also said SAM plans to further diversify activities for its members in 2025. “Last year, we organised around 39 events. Our hope for this year is to have 30 to 40 events, one of which is the iftar gathering we held today (yesterday),” he said.

Mirror image Subadron sees his own reflection in Arif Aiman F ORMER Kuala Lumpur footballer Datuk Subadron Abdul Aziz sees a reflection of his younger self in Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, whom he regards as the best player in the country at present. JDT’s Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi. – BERNAMAPIC

having scored seven goals in the Super League campaign and five goals in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) tournament this season. The three-time consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the National Football Awards has not only been a driving force behind JDT’s attack but also a crucial asset in both the Super League and the national team, thanks to his ability to create chances and score goals.

Subadron said the sensational Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger possesses the ability to read the game, excellent ball control, and extraordinary agility, making him a constant threat to opposing defences. He said that, at just 22 years old, the player’s potential for further growth is immense, and it is not impossible that he will become a key pillar for both the Southern Tigers and the national team in their quest to rival Asia’s football giants. “Arif Aiman is brave and smart in the game, meaning he understands different situations during play. “If you want to play football, stamina must be the top priority, and intelligence is the second. “Without stamina, a player would tire after dribbling past two opponents – how could he get past three or four? “When I watch him (Arif Aiman), I can say he plays like I used to – intelligent and fast. “To play as a striker, you must have speed. When you are fast and possess great technique, opponents cannot take you down easily, but if you lack skill, you’ll be brought down effortlessly,” he told Bernama. Subadron was a key figure in Kuala Lumpur’s success, helping the team secure the Malaysia Cup title for three consecutive years from 1987 to 1989. Arif Aiman has proven

All eyes will be on Arif Aiman in Malaysia’s opening Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Nepal,

scheduled to take place at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri next Tuesday. Meanwhile,

Subadron has challenged all local players to showcase their true potential to compete at the highest level on the global stage. “Everyone can play football, but not everyone is skilled. Without intelligence in the game, it is impossible to compete internationally against highly skilled foreign players. “Football, both globally and in Asia, has advanced tremendously, with numerous prestigious tournaments and increasingly sophisticated pitches. If players continue to blame the pitch and other external factors, it will be difficult to progress, especially when they still struggle with basic ball control and positioning,” said the owner of Subadron Football Academy. – Bernama the training they have been put through, so far. Wilkin, who played in the 5-1 win over Nepal in a friendly in March last year, is also cautious about underestimating “The Gorkhalis”. “You can never underestimate a team like Nepal. They will be a different side to the one we played in the friendly last year. “We will definitely analyse what they’ll do in their friendly against Singapore this week and make sure we are well-prepared on match day,” he added. – Bernama

himself to be one of Malaysia’s most valuable football talents with his outstanding performances for JDT,

Wilkin ready to put in hard yards for first XI role

NEW COACH, new training methods but the goal remains the same for national heritage player Stuart Wilkin. That is to work hard in training, impress the coaching panel and get a place in the starting XI for the Group F opener against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday. Wilkin believes that the high-intensity training preferred by new national head coach Peter Cklamovski would push players to compete and stay fully focused at the

highest level. “Every coach has a different approach. Whenever there’s a new coaching lineup, they usually bring their own ways of doing things… but I think it’s a good thing to have a fresh start. “I think competition is very high in training because there are so many good players… Such a high level of competition is only going to push everyone to their maximum potential,” he told a press conference in Johor Bahru on Wednesday when asked about the intensity of