Crocs boss fires warning

 by Abdul Hakim Bujang reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on September 12, 2011, Monday

KUCHING: Although mathematically Sarawak is still having the chance to qualify for Malaysia Cup quarterfinal, the team management is already looking beyond the tournament.

“To me, here we are able to see the crop of players that we have in our team against other teams from Super League, and there is very big gap in quality of players,” admitted Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president, Datu Sudarsono Osman.

Sudarsono said the telling results from Malaysia Cup were very good indication of what need to be done for next season when Sarawak play in Super League.

Sarawak played twice against Super League team thus far and lost both game – 0-2 to Kelantan at home and 0-1 to KL Felda United.

Those knowing Malaysia football will have no complaint because Sarawak is losing to two team blessed with finest players in Super League.

Kelantan is the richest team in Malaysia that never fail to fill up its stadium to the capacity – powered by the best talent in the country and have been winning Malaysia Cup last year, losing to Terengganu in FA Cup and won Super League in the just concluded season.

KL Felda United is parading current and former Malaysia players from top to bottom – its goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and strikers – played for Malaysia in recent years at various levels.

Whereas our next rival, Johor FC was the losing finalist of Malaysia Cup last year – leading 1-0 at one point against Kelantan on Saturday before eventually losing 1-2 away in Kota Bahru to give defending champion Kelantan a scare.

EYE OPENER

Sudarsono was being realistic when saying Malaysia Cup was an eye opener for the young Sarawak players that were plucked from the local football development programme jointly carried out by FAS and Education Department of Sarawak – one of them is Ashri Chuchu.

“This is a learning experience for the players and what is more important for the management and coach to assess what need to be done for next season in Super League,” he told Borneo Post.

He said the result from the two games and glaring differences in players quality more or less showed the management “what it take to be there” in Super League.

Sarawak he stressed clearly lacked the much needed leadership in the field that were once on the shoulder of Mohd Ali Sapiee or Abdul Jalil Ramli – having nobody in command or being above to motivate the team.

“Some investment needs to be done,” he said, stressing that Sarawak would be recruiting big names or A-rated players from Super League who are willing to be based in Kuching and foreign imports.

Players who were not able to read between the lines would continue to think that the Crocs management were satisfied with their achievement to play in Super League next season.

TO BE A RESPECTED

Unknown to them, Sarawak management want to become serious contender in Super League and not mere participant.

Sarawak want to earn the respect and send shiver to the opponent like what they used to do when winning Malaysia top league under Alan Vest by fielding local talents with helps from the likes of David Evan, John Hunter, Alistair Edwards, Shamsurin Abdul Rahman, Ong Kim Swee and Mazlan Abdul Wahed.

Based on the indication given by Sarawak manager cum chief coach Robert Alberts, Crocs lacked depth and quality players to compete at higher level.

Unlike A-Rated players, average team members in the squad may not be able to undergo strenuous professional training required by top league footballers.

At worst their limited thinking ability may not be able to absorb tactical strategy or further develop it when the need arise due to changing climate or playing difficulties arriving from heavy rain or below par playing surface.

The sarcasm by ASTRO Arena anchor that Sarawak were very successful in defending but give the match away to a lame goal from KL Felda United may not be music in Crocs fans ears.

MUCH NEEDED FAN SUPPORT

Those who have long tolerated the far from friendly host at least have reason to continue supporting Sarawak on Tuesday by coming to State Stadium on when we played against Johor FC.

Win, lose or draw – doesn’t really matter because the current young squad need the morale booster from Sarawakian.

Let them know that the fans will be there for them next season to achieve Sarawak ambitious plan of seriously becoming a challenger in Super League.

With new players – A-Rated players as stressed by FAS boss and hopefully highest quality foreign imports that we can afford.

Let the Sarawak Spirit prevail on September 13 – another Tuesday – an insult for low rated team that do not deserve a Saturday night home game!

We are not born loser, and let show the visitors that Sarawak deserve respect.

Sarawak tewas 1-0 kepada Felda United

Ulasan peminat-peminat bolasepak Sarawak selepas match menentang Felda United (via Facebook & Twitter):

1. Sarawak menar perlukan pemain seperti "Hamid Termina" dolok. general in midfield yg boleh mengawal tempo permainan. (Ultracrocs Fan Club)
2. Mok carik player stature mcm tengku hazman, gary steven...serawak perlu congest midfieldnya mun player yg ada mcm tok...tp aku still mok nangga hafizal marzuki main box to box midfield...nya effective lawan atm ari ya...bagus gik dari jaganathan (Syaiffrie Syaiffuddin).
3. Why RA sik makei position n strategi yg sama masa main liga, ada 2 striker... mungkin RA ada alasan yg tersendiri...dan jugak piala malaysia mungkin plattform untuk belajar bersaing dlm liga super musim depan....teruskan menyokong.... (Yustaka Takenouchi)
4. Rata-rata penyokong Sarawak mempertikai taktikal RA nengkah bobby gonzalez sbg alone striker, corak permainan defensive. bg saya lah, HARAPAN RAKYAT SARAWAK HARUS DIDENGAR JUAK. jgn kmk org kaong2 tepi padang sik dtg faedah bagi team. tp aku bangga player sarawak ada nunjuk semengat NGAP SAYOT dalam match malam tadik, especially pakey Chun Keng Hong & Aidil Mohammad, Kapten Zamri, dan boleh kata kira semua sekali lah... yg benar2 membanggakan aku secara personally... TQ (Awang Khairul Adzhar)
5. permainan swk mengecewakan..corak permainan yg sama seperti selasa lepas..apa yg ingin dipamerkan oleh RA? Swk mmg terbukti tidak dpt mengikuti corak single striker..strategi bertahan tidak sesuai dengan nature pemain swk yg dahulunya terkenal dengan corak menyerang..come on, ini sudah match kedua dan swk masih belum lagi mencatat kemenangan..perlu membuat perubahan agar pemain tengah lebih berfungsi dan dpt memberi bola kpd bobby.. Hmmm..alangkah baik sekiranya JKT dan reshafiq bermain utk pasukan kita.. RA! Please do something..ada kita mahukan pasukan swk menjadi pasukan belasahan? (Mohd Sutiadi Hamsawi)
6. Datuk K Rajagopal, once again turun masa match Felda n Sarawak.. apa agaknya yang bermain kat fikiran nya? Mungkinkah players Sarawak akan diserap masuk teamnya? Ayuh Sarawak! bangkit! Bangun! Kita Ngap Semuanya! Kebangkitan harus bermula! (Garry Danny Lawrence)
7. Sarawak perlu banyak menyerang, jangan banyak bertahan.... harap next game corak permainan sarawak lebih agresif... jangan biar orang serang kita, tapi biar kita yang kucar-kacirkan pertahanan lawan.. (Ambrose George)
8. ‎:::sidak2 yang main bol kelak..main bagus2...no pressure...enjoy the game..polah jak attack yg pelik2..jgn malu nk dribble..jgn malu nk merembat mun ada ruang sekecik zarah..bol ya bulat..Ben Martens,Zamri Morshidi,Sharizan Sahari and the geng...agi idup..agik ngelaban..darah RENTAP, nyawa BOYAK..ya nang bUJANG SENANG::: (A Farhan Jamaludin)

Komen Peribadi Admin:

Pemain Sarawak dilihat seperti mengamalkan taktikal displin. Keep the ball, don't let opponent control the game and play their usual tactical. Apa yang menyedihkan peminat di Sarawak adalah setelah ketinggalan 1-0 pemain Sarawak seperti tiada urgency untuk mencari gol penyamaan. Jika tidak kerana kecekapan Aidil Mohamad, pasukan Sarawak akan kalah dengan jaringan yang lebih besar. Walau apapun kita masih dapat layak ke pusingan ke seterusnya dengan syarat akan menang pada SELASA ini menentang Johor FC! There's always light at the end of tunnel


p/s: Add twitter @BisakNet

Match Preview: Felda Utd vs Sarawak

Salam sejahtera semua pembaca sekalian,

Hari ini adalah penentu kepada hala tuju pasukan kesayangan kita dalam saingan Piala Malaysia! Sebelum itu saya ingin mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih kepada ASTRO kerana menyediakan aksi rakaman perlawanan ini di Channel 801 malam ini! (Jadilah semadi nadai kata kita)

Pasukan Felda United dibarisi oleh ramai bekas pemain kebangsaan. Sekadar menyebut beberapa nama Khaironnisam Shahbudin, Liew Kit Kong, Hamsani Ahmad (GK), Chow Chee Weng, Nizaruddin Yusof dan ramai lagi. 

Khaironnisam Shahbudin

Tapi buat apa kita nak takut. Player mereka mewakili Malaysia tapi masa ya team Malaysia ney ada kuat. Mala kenak bantey ada lah! So - so kita setara kekuatan.. Perlu di ingat, Last match Liga Perdana kita menang 1-0 di tempat sendiri pada 2010.

Point Penting:

1. Player mesti fokus 90 minutes!
2. Jika ketinggalan 1-0 jangan terus berputus asa. Try as best you can level the score.
3. Corner kick jangan rami gilak bergambar ajak. "Celen kan bol ya! Maka player tinggi-tinggi!" (kata Pak Mat kampung Pulo).
4. Be confident! Jangan takut try dari jauh.. Jangan malu-malu running off ball.. 
5. Support Bobby Gonzales cepat.. Jangan biarkan nya lonely seorang di atas.. 
6. Kita menang game tok - Kita layak ke pusingan kalah mati!
7. My prediction : Sarawak menang 3-1
8. P/s: Insya allah ada Live Twitter di website.. Rajin-rajin visit website tok malam kelak

Penyokong Sarawak kembali! Gugup punca kekalahan

NGAP SAYOT! Photo from Ultracrocs Fan Club

Malam semalam merupakan malam bersejarah buat sukan bolasepak di Sarawak. Setelah menyepi hampir sepuluh tahun - Stadium Negeri kembali bergema dengan sorakan dan sokongan dari penonton.

Cuba anda bayangkan saya turun 7:30 malam dari semariang, tepat jam 8:15 baru dapat masuk ke Stadium. Mujurrr tak lepas kick-off. Orang ramai parking dari bangunan STIDC sehingga ke bangunan wisma SESCO!! Seperti dijangkakan penuh 20,000 orang penonton, TYT Sarawak pun turun padang!

Stadium Penuh!! Camera hp my wife..

Tiket saya beli di Lea Centre, Hopoh!

Photo: Nizam H Fansuri

Tentang game saya tak nak komen panjang sebab kita memang tahu standard pasukan Kelantan memang a par ahead. Permainan tersusun disamping pemain-pemain mereka sudah biasa dengan crowd yang ramai seperti ini.

Sarawak menggunakan formasi 4-5-1 dengan meletakkan Bobby Gonzales sebagai penyerang tunggal. Menggunakan pendekatan menyerap asakan Kelantan dan mengharapkan serangan balas serta set pieces dari sepakan sudut.

First half, Sarawak berjaya mengekang asakan Kelantan dengan Norshahrul Idlan Taha dikawal ketat oleh Chun Keng Hong (No jersi 31). Tiada percubaan bahaya daripada pasukan Kelantan pada separuh masa pertama!

Photo: Nizam H Fansuri

Sarawak memperoleh beberapa peluang menerusi Bobby Gonzales akan tetapi percubaan lemah dan mudah ditangkap oleh penjaga gol Mohd Shahrizan. 

Wing kiri Sarawak iaitu Asri Chu Chu tidak menampilkan aksi garang seperti biasa. Beliau kelihatan gugup beraksi di hadapan ribuan penonton. But its ok.. Good exposure untuk dirinya yang baru berusia 20-an.

Kehebatan pasukan Kelantan sebagai pasukan pilihan terbukti pada separuh masa kedua. Pertahanan mereka lebih kemas, hantaran daripada midfielder serta off ball position yang lebih berkesan. 

Seat penuh! Sanggup nangar dari pagar ajak! Photo: Nizam H Fansuri

Akibat terlalu alpa hantaran ke belakang Hairol Mokhtar kepada Chun Keng Hong telah di hidu oleh Norshahrul Idlan Taha yang mudah menewaskan Aidil Mohamad. 1-0 untuk Kelantan. Beautiful disaster in seconds!

Sarawak bangkit dengan memasukkan Ben Martin menggantikan Jeganathan. Serangan bertubi-tubi ke arah gawang Kelantan, Ben Martin merembat dari luar kotak penalti menggunakan kaki kiri akan tetapi berjaya ditepis oleh Mohd Shahrizan (lepas ya alu eksen injured sakit pinggang, maka nepis makey tangan =p)

Seat penuh di bahagian scoreboard! Photo: Nizam H Fansuri

Sekali lagi kelekaan pemain pertahanan di hukum oleh Norshahrul Idlan Taha (aku dah madah nya tok bahaya).. Hasil serangan balas beliau berdepan 1 lwn 1 dengan Hairol Mokhtar yang membiarkan Mat Yo membuat turning.. Through pass kepada S. Chanturu dan sekali lagi menewaskan Aidil Mohamad 2-0!

Pengajaran penting - silly mistake membawa padah. Jangan fancy gilak main next time.. Sekali sekala sikpa..

Kesimpulan:

1. Secara peribadi bagus lawan Kelantan first game sebab dapat study balit apa weakness and sengan ney kekuatan team kita.
2. Pemain Sarawak harus sedar yang penonton anytime dapat datang ke stadium if performance team bagus.
3. Gap between midfielder dengan Bobby Gonzales sangat jelas ( Jaganathan selalu out position, winger lambat support nait). Long ball ke atas then Bobby sorang ajak. Belum sempat Bobby control ball, support belom datang ball dah kembali dikuasai pihak lawan.
4. Both winger Asri & Zamri tidak mendatangkan bahaya kepada pasukan lawan. Maybe too concentrate ke bahagian winger. Maybe next time try cut inside masuk ke tengah untuk memudahkan hantaran dari Wong Sai Kong & Shahrol Saperi.
5. Both wingback Maswandi & Dzuladzlan patut dipuji. Fitness tip top and prove that sidak duak dah ready untuk saingan liga Super. 
6. Set piece banyak. Player kita majoriti tinggi gik dari player Kelantan tapi sik di take advantage. Rugi! 
7. Mesti menang lawan Felda United Sabtu tok. Mun menang orang akan madah "Ok, lawan Kelantan logic kalah sebab sidak kuat gik" .. Selasa depan confirm penuh lagik stadium lawan Johor!
8. Sampei minit-63 kita sama kuat dengan Kelantan - just mistake ya team terus down. Tidak sepatutnya berlaku. Contohi Manchester United. Ketinggalan 2-0 lawan team paling mahal Manchester City. Semua player bersatu last sekali dapat menang 3-2!
9. Yang lain semuanya ok! Supporter Sarawak memang happening!! Tahniah dan terima kasih kepada semua yang hadir ke stadium malam tadik!

Match Preview: Sarawak vs Kelantan (Malaysia Cup)

Man to Watch: Kelantan

Norshahrul Idlan Taha

Tonggak penyerang pasukan Kelantan & Malaysia. Mempunyai vision, body trick serta kemahiran mengelecek. Bagi saya beliau merupakan pemain terbaik Malaysia selepas Safee Sali. Bukan sahaja mempunyai penyudah (finishing) yang superb malah berupaya membuat assist/membuka ruang kepada pemain lain untuk menjaringkan gol.

Man to Watch: Sarawak

Biarlah Rahsia

 Point Penting

1. Khairul Fahmi (GK Malaysia) confirmed tidak beraksi untuk pasukan Kelantan pada perlawanan ini. 
2. Weakest point still ke arah Daudsu (nya tok pemanas, mudah layap untuk offside trap, ada sejarah gol dirik pun).
3. Kedua-dua pasukan tidak pernah bertemu sebelum ini jadi peluang consider 50-50.. Kelantan still pilihan (favourite) kerana menjadi Juara Liga Super 2011.
4. Berdasarkan rekod perlawanan liga yang lepas kedua-dua pasukan mempunyai jentera serangan yang hebat.
5. Sama-sama makan nasik, bukannya Superman.
6. Saya meramal Sarawak menang 2-0! (Optimistik)

Play smart — Robert Alberts

Coach wants Crocs to play thinking game against Super League giants Kelantan

KUCHING: Robert Alberts shout from the sidelines whenever his charges were not doing up to his expectation.

As the game against Kelantan drew nearer, the Sarawak coach was obviously trying to motivate his players. He stopped training every now and then to give pep talk to the players. His voice was very loud and clear.

He demanded his players to think, nothing less. Alberts want his boys to think to overcome Kelantan.

When the training completed, Alberts gave them a pep talk before the players made a thunderous cheer “Sarawak” echoing in the empty stadium.

Speaking to thesundaypost after the gruelling two hours training, the manager cum chief coach emphasised that there are big gap between Premier League and Super League football.

He stressed that Sarawak have no other choice but to play thinking football to create an upset against Malaysia Cup champions Kelantan at home on Tuesday.

“At lower level in the Premier League they can get away with certain thing (mistakes) but against Kelantan they will kill you if you don’t think,” he nailed.

“They must think very carefully because they are playing against the best team in the country,” he said.

Alberts, who lead Kedah to Malaysia Cup and Super League wins previously, does not minced his words.

“Players, especially at lower level they don’t think. They run a lot and lost a lot of energy, good players run only when they need, that why they have a lot of energy because they think. Like my grandmother and your grandmother always said, if you don’t have it here (pointing to the head), you must have it here (pointing to his knee),” he said.

He insisted that Sarawak will not play negative football or commit fouls in order to stop Kelantan players from playing good football.

“My philosophy is we must play good football to stop the opponent from playing their game and not playing bad football or do bad things,” he stressed.

Alberts was very impressed by the players performance during training and is very optimist that his charges can match Kelantan.

“For our level from the Premier League to play against Kelantan champion of Super League, we are ready. We look forward to the match,” he said.

He, however admitted that there is a very big gap between the two team squad as Kelantan is having a very good depth, whereas Sarawak had very few to choose from.

He had a good laugh reading the newspaper as Kelantan declared crisis when having to play with only two goalkeepers throughout Malaysia Cup.

“Looking at the newspaper, I was having a good laugh today. They said they will only be having two goalkeepers for Malaysia Cup campaign.

“We have gone through whole season with only two goalkeepers. For us that is normal, for them they said it is a crisis. From there you can see the difference,” he said.

The Sarawak squad that start training at 4.30pm at Stadium Negeri on Saturday also saw the arrival of new coach, former Harimau Muda A goalkeeper coach, P Mohan.

While Roberts and Farhan polishing the Sarawak attacking formation finishing touch, Mohan were busy with Mohd Azley Abdullah drilling Aidiel Mohd and Mohd Azlen in between the goalpost.

Also seen training today was Hamidin Manap who undergone an operation recently due to knee injury.