RTM to show 41 of 64 World Cup matches, 27 live, 14 delayed

Gobind: RTM to show 41 of 64 World Cup matches, 27 live, 14 delayed (updated)

There will be 41 FIFA World Cup matches that will be aired for free on RTM for football fans to enjoy.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that out of the 64 matches, the national broadcaster will show 41 matches, out of which 27 will be live and 14 delayed.

“From the Cabinet meeting this morning, the Government has agreed to broadcast for free the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament on RTM.

“We know that this is where the world famous players will be in action.

“For me and the Ministry, this is an important international event so we think it is important that it should be broadcast by RTM as it is a government agency,” he said after his Ministry's post-Cabinet press conference on Wednesday (May 30).

Gobind said he had presented a working paper to the Cabinet and has allocated RM40mil as a ceiling cost.

“But the actual cost and so forth will be revealed tomorrow (Thursday) by the Finance Ministry.

“I expect it to be less as there will be negotiations and sponsors. We believe many will take part and so we hope by this way, it can reduce the overall cost,” he said.

~Courtesy of The Star~

LionsXII out of Malaysia Super League

LionsXII out of Malaysia Super League

In a post on its website, the FAM said it is not renewing the MOU signed with the Football Association of Singapore in 2011, and so the LionsXII will no longer play in the MSL beginning in 2016.

The LionsXII will not be playing in the Malaysia Super League (MSL) in 2016, announced the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) at a press conference late Tuesday evening (Nov 24) in Kuala Lumpur, following a meeting among FAM's executive committee.

In a post on its website, the FAM said it is not renewing the MOU signed with the Football Association of Singapore in 2011, and so the LionsXII will no longer play in the MSL beginning in 2016.

The side is currently involved in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals, where they lost 4-1 to Pahang in the first leg on Tuesday night.

The LionsXII have been playing in the MSL since 2012. The vacancy left by the Singapore-based team will be filled by another team with a playoff.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Sultan of Selangor Cup 2014

RTM World Cup Schedule (17-22 Jun)

Larkin Stadium set for Super League

Larkin Stadium set for Super League

The use of the Tan Sri Hassan Yunus Stadium in Larkin here is for only football activities and will not stifle the growth of athletics and sports in the state.

Johor Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage committee chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Ahmad Tajuddin (BN-Parit Sulong) said the stadium popularly known as the Larkin Stadium is the home ground to the Johor Darul Ta'zim football team.

Other facilities in the stadium such as the track had been removed to make way for the football teams taking part in the Malaysian Super League (MSL).

At the state assembly here on Monday, Datuk Samsol Bari Jamali (BN-Semarang) said that closing the stadium to other sporting activities was a concern among the people and short-term measures needed to be taken to curb the problem.

In his reply, Zulkarnain said those who had used the facilities at Larkin Stadium in the past can choose to use other facilities in their district to carry out sporting activities.

"There are stadiums in every district in the state to facilitate the needs of the athletes.

"Short-term measures for athletes in Johor Baru is to access the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai (UTM) Stadium and also the Educity Sports Centre in Nusajaya," he said.

For instance, Zulkarnain said the Johor contingent to the Malaysian Games (Sukma) athletes used the facilities at the SM Tun Hussien Onn in Kluang, which is the official state centralising training camp for the contingent.

"The State Sports Council has a close rapport with the respective district stadium operators, management and owners, thus they have always been given priority in the development of athletes and are allowed to use the facilities to organise championships or training."

For long-term solution, Zulkarnain said the state government has given the approval for the Johor Baru Sport City to be built in Mount Austin to replace the Larkin Stadium.

He said the prestigious stadium will be fitted with the state-of-the-art facilities namely track and field facilities, a field, a futsal court, a fitness centre, gymnasium, a sports clinic, rehabilitation centre, a recreation centre, a sport-science facility managed by the state sports council and hostels, among others.


The Tan Sri Hassan Yunos Stadium here in Larkin, can be spotted miles away, thanks to its bright colours. that represent the state flag colours.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Malaysia RTM World Cup Schedule

Cheaper LionsXII season ticket prices

Cheaper LionsXII season ticket prices

Season ticket prices for LionsXII home games have been slashed for the upcoming Malaysia Super League campaign.

All seating categories are now S$8 cheaper, which translates to a reduction of more than eight per cent.

A Grandstand season ticket, which is the most expensive, now costs S$143.

This was revealed at a media event on Tuesday morning to unveil a new-look LionsXII squad, ahead of the season opener away to Pahang on Friday.

Plans are also afoot to have several of the Lions' home matches played at the Singapore Sports Hub, which is set to be completed in about three months.

Videos promoting the team will also be shown on StarHub television, Golden Village cinemas, Singapore Sports Council platforms and digital display boards across the island.

President of the Football Association of Singapore, Zainudin Nordin, says the idea is to continue having fans onside.

Mr Zainudin said: "At the end of the day we believe that this is a team for the fans. We want the support from as many people as possible.

"And that's the reason why the people are working behind the scenes to ensure that we come up with a most rational programme that will be able to entice, encourage and motivate our fans to come back."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

National Stadium to open with Singapore-Malaysia clash

National Stadium to open with Singapore-Malaysia clash

It looks like a Causeway derby between Singapore and Malaysia will indeed be the first football match to be played at the Sports Hub this year.

Bernama, Malaysia's national news agency, reported recently that the country's national football team will play the Lions in an opening match for the new 55,000-seater National Stadium in May.

Responding to queries from TODAY, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed on January 6 that the Harimau Malaya, the country's national team, will play the Lions. However, no details were available at press time.

TODAY had first reported last September that the World Sport Group (WSG), the commercial partner of the Sports Hub, was considering a Causeway derby to mark the opening of the National Stadium, which will feature the world's biggest dome roof and air-cooled seats.

When contacted, a Football Association of Singapore (FAS) spokesperson would only say: "We are currently working out the details of the match to be played at the opening of the Sports Hub and will announce the details at an opportune time."

Although top sides like Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona had been cited as possibilities to mark the grand opening of the Sports Hub, it is believed this year's busy football calendar will prove a tough challenge for event organisers to find a top international club side to play at the National Stadium.

The race for the 2013-14 English Premier League title is expected to go on till May, while the world's best 32 national sides will be focused on the World Cup in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. However, fans TODAY spoke to were happy to watch a Singapore-Malaysia game.

"It's a nice way to kick off as Singapore and Malaysia are historic rivals," said Henry Han, 38, a line supervisor in the marine and offshore industry. "It's been a while since we've watched the national team play at a national stadium since the old one was demolished (in 2010).

"I have very fond memories of the place as I watched the Malaysia Cup there when I was a teenager. This will give families a chance to relive the olden days and it is still something many people look forward to."

Likewise, while Royston Jalleh is a Manchester United fan, he will still buy a ticket to the Singapore-Malaysia game.

"I think it's wonderful news as it's been some time since we heard the Kallang Roar," said the 50-year-old. "Having Singapore play Manchester United would be exciting, but I would rather have Singapore play Malaysia any time. That's where you get the true Singapore spirit, and people go there wanting to support their team."

Others like John Tommy Yeo - who operated a drinks stall at the old National Stadium from 1972 to 2007 - are more keen to see the Lions challenge the region's bigger teams.

"Of course it will be good to see Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich play here," said the 52-year-old, who has fond memories of Singapore football legends like Dollah Kassim and Quah Kim Song.

"But it will be more interesting to see Singapore play teams like Thailand, South Korea or Japan. It's been a long time since we've seen South Korea and Japan here and it will be more exciting than if Singapore plays Malaysia."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Inaugural FAM-FAS Championship Series postponed

Inaugural FAM-FAS Championship Series postponed



The inaugural FAM-FAS Championship Series has been postponed until next year.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) jointly decided on the postponement, citing tight domestic competition schedules.

Announced in July by the FAM, the series was to see a one-off match between Malaysia's and Singapore's league and cup champions of the previous season this month.

League champions Kelantan and Tampines were to play each other in Malaysia, while Singapore Cup champions Warriors FC were to take on cup runners-up ATM FA at the Jalan Besar Stadium on August 13.

FAS said details on the new arrangements will be announced in due course.

In May, the annual Causeway Challenge was also cancelled.

This came after the Malaysians informed FAS that their first and second national teams would be unavailable on the two dates that both sides had earlier agreed on.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

2013 Malaysian League Champions - Lions XII

Congratulations! Syabas! 恭喜！

LionsXII extend MSL lead

LionsXII extend MSL lead

The LionsXII have extended their lead at the top of the Malaysian Super League to four points, after a hard-fought 3-1 win over 10-man PKNS at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday night.

The home side came out fired up, but they couldn't find the net.

Instead, defensive rock Baihakki Khaizan saw a flash of yellow just at the end of the first half.

It's his 11th booking in total, meaning he will likely sit out the rest of the season.

The opener finally came in the second half when vice-captain Hariss Harun strolled in unmarked to head in a 54th-minute corner.

It was 2-0 just 3 minutes later - Nazrul Nazari's shot taking a wicked deflection for the goal.

It got worse for the visitors after Helmi Remeli was harshly sent sent off for a foul on Gabriel Quak.

With just a minute to go, Khairul Nizam came off the bench to make it 3-0.

Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh scored a minute later for the visitors, but it was not enough to stop an impressive Lions' win.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

FAS calls off Causeway Challenge

FAS calls off Causeway Challenge

The traditional Singapore-Malaysia football rivalry will be put on hold after the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced the cancellation of this year's Causeway Challenge.

FAS called off the Challenge as Malaysia's first and second teams were unable to make it for the two dates, which were earlier agreed upon by both sides.

Instead, the Lions will play in international friendly matches, travelling to Yangon to take on Myanmar on June 4.

Singapore will also play Laos in Vientiane on June 7. The Lions squad list will be released by May 27.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Lions XII - May Fixtures

May 07, Tue 4:45pm
Terengganu - LionsXII
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium

May 11, Sat 7:45pm
LionsXII - Terengganu PBDKT T-Team
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore

May 17, Fri 8:45pm
Pahang FA - LionsXII
Darul Makmur Stadium, Kuantan

May 27, Mon 7:45pm
LionsXII - Selangor PKNS
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore

LionsXII late 1-0 victory against Kelantan

LionsXII snatch late 1-0 victory against champions Kelantan

The LionsXII have just snatched a late victory against defending champions Kelantan at the Jalan Besar Stadium in their Malaysia Super League match on Saturday.

Before the game, a minute's silence was observed for victims of the ongoing crisis in Sabah.

Just 11 minutes into the game, Kelantan's Keita Mandjou superbly found the net but it didn't count as he was ruled offside.

The champions continued to threaten from long range while Kelantan captain Badhri Radzi forced a fine save by Lions' keeper Izwan Mahbud.

In the second half, it was the Lions' turn to have a strike disallowed.

The whistle had blown for offside before Shahfiq Ghani slotted the ball home.

The Lions stepped up their tempo and were rewarded in the 88th minute - Shahfiq Ghani finally getting his first goal of the campaign.

The Jalan Besar Stadium erupted, as the Lions won 1-0.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

LionsXII prepare to face ATM

LionsXII prepare to face ATM

Singapore's LionsXII face a make-or-break match in the second leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals on Thursday, 8.45pm.

They are level one all against Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) FA after the first leg.

And the decider will be played at Selangor's Selayang Stadium.

Singapore's LionsXII coach V Sundramoorthy is facing problems with his defence.

Safuwan Baharudin and Irwan Shah are both suspended.

Sundramoorthy explained why the Lions won't be training in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the match.

He said: "The whole season we've been training at Singapore before we depart to a match, especially an away game. So I don't want to change anything. I want to train at home and go away. And we have our travelling constraints with the boys in National Service."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

狮城男子被控贿赂马国裁判

马超吹“黑哨”案　狮城男子被控贿赂马国裁判

锡瓦拉惹被控后表示要抗辩。（图／海峡时报）

继一名马来西亚籍裁判上星期被控受贿操纵马来西亚超级足球联赛后，贪污调查局前天将涉嫌贿赂他的男子也控上法庭。

被告锡瓦拉惹（Selvarajan S/O Letchuman）面控时神情镇定，代表律师狄瓦利表示，辩方不打算向总检察署陈情，准备抗辩。

法官案展本月28日进行审前会议，准被告以5万元保释。

《联合早报》

PKNS end LionsXII's unbeaten run

Football: PKNS end LionsXII's unbeaten run

League leaders LionsXII's 10-match unbeaten streak ended on Saturday night after a 1-0 defeat to PKNS.

The match was the LionsXII's 11th game in the last five weeks and, perhaps sensing that lethargy was creeping into the visitors' play, PKNS pressed forward from the kick-off.

Nevertheless, the Singapore side were superbly marshalled at the back, with Sevki Sha'ban and Safuwan Baharudin resolutely repelling everything the hosts threw at them. Sevki, in particular, was impressive, making several crucial goal mouth clearances to prevent a lively PKNS side from opening the scoring.

LionsXII captain Shahril Ishak was deployed as a lone striker and he hardly had a sniff at goal, with PKNS flooding the middle of the park to starve him of service.

The visitors were on the back foot for most of the first half as PKNS pressed incessantly, but the hosts just could not convert their chances.

Shahril wasted the LionsXII's best chance of the match right after the restart when he shot just wide of the PKNS goal.

The home side's French striker Michael Nicoise was a constant threat with his powerful bursts into the penalty area and he made sure LionsXII goalkeeper Hyrulnizam Juma'at had a busy night.

The Frenchman finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute when he headed home from a corner, with Hyrulnizam furiously protesting the goal, claiming that he was impeded by Mohd Helmi.

The LionsXII came agonisingly close to equalising in the 84th minute, Agu Casmir charging into the penalty area only to collide with the PKNS goalkeeper who dived at his feet. Agu got hold of the ball following the collision but his shot was deflected wide by a PKNS defender.

The LionsXII will not have to wait long to gain a measure of revenge for this defeat: Their next MSL fixture pits them against PKNS again on April 17 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

LIONSXII vs Negeri Sembilan Betaria FC

Ticket sales for FA Cup match - LIONSXII vs Negeri Sembilan Betaria FC

The pre-match ticket sales for the FA Cup match between LIONSXII and Negeri Sembilan Betaria FC (10 March 2012) will continue tomorrow, 9 March 2012 from 10am to 8pm.

Kindly note that concession tickets for the match have been sold out and only 50% of tickets remain available after our initial pre-match sales period.

Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets early to avoid any disappointment.

~News courtesy of LionsXII.sg~

LionsXII and Selangor draw 1-1

LionsXII and Selangor draw 1-1

Selangor and Singapore's LionsXII drew 1-1 in a Malaysian Super League match at Bukit Jalil Stadium on Wednesday.

Only some 200 Singapore fans made the trip to Malaysia to watch the away match.

They were rewarded when Shahril Ishak's solo effort in the 43rd minute gave the visitors the lead.

But the advantage was not for long, as the home team's G Gurusamy equalised two minutes later.

The second half was devoid of any goals and the match ended at 1-1, with both sides sharing a point.

LionsXII next host Negeri Sembilan at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Saturday(11 February). The match would be telecast live on Channel 5.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Kelantan beat LionsXII 2-1

Football: Kelantan beat LionsXII 2-1 in opening Malaysia Super League

SINGAPORE: It was a long wait but Singapore fans finally got to witness Singapore's return to the Malaysia Cup after a 17-year absence.

The LionsXII kicked off the Malaysia Super League campaign against Kelantan on Tuesday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium, but much to the disappointment of the local fans, the Malaysian side won 2-1.

It was a sea of red at the stadium as Singapore football fans packed the 7,500-capacity stadium.

On the field, the action got off to an explosive start, and Singapore could have gone ahead had Hariss Harun's header ended at the back of the net.

After repeated attempts, defender Baihakki Khaizan's glancing header from a free kick gave the Lions the first goal on the half-hour mark.

Just before the break, the visitors equalised through Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, to make it 1-1.

In the second half, Kelantan's Muhamad Ghaddar won a penalty after Singapore's custodian Izwan Mahbud brought him down in the 79th minute.

Ghaddar converted the spot-kick to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage, which ended as the final score.

LionsXII head coach V Sundramoorthy said: "I badly wanted at least a draw or a win tonight especially [when] the fans are here to support, and I hope the boys [have] done enough to bring them back for the next game.

"We are playing against the M League champions, so they are very experienced and you can see they have many good players.

"As for our boys it's after a long time -- 17 years coming back, playing against an experienced team. They definitely learn a few things out there."

Singapore next play Kedah away in Alor Star on Saturday.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~