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1,373,495 | Soccer-Scotland's Porteous banned for two games | (Reuters) - UEFA has banned Scotland defender Ryan Porteous for two games for "serious rough play" for his studs-up tackle on Ilkay Gundogan during the Scots' 5-1 thrashing by Germany in the Euro 2024 opening match on Friday.
Germany were leading 2-0 when Porteous was shown a red card on the stroke of halftime after lunging in with a two-footed challenge on Gundogan inside the box.
Kai Havertz converted the resulting penalty.
Porteous will sit out Scotland's games against Switzerland on Wednesday and Hungary on Sunday.
Scotland are hoping to get past the group stage in a major finals for the first time.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | (Reuters) - UEFA has banned Scotland defender Ryan Porteous for two games for "serious rough play" for his studs-up tackle on Ilkay Gundogan during the Scots' 5-1 thrashing by Germany in the Euro 2024 opening match on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/18/soccer-scotland039s-porteous-banned-for-two-games | |
1,373,493 | Soccer-Reaction to Romania's 3-0 win over Ukraine at Euro 2024 | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - The following is reaction to Romania's 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Euro 2024 Group E on Monday, the country's first European Championship win in 24 years.
Edward Iordanescu, Romania coach: "I'd like to thank every Romanian everywhere in the world. I know that they were with us today. It was a fantastic effort by my team. If you had any doubts, I think you can believe me now that this is a great team. Congratulations to the lads. It's just incredible.
"Since I joined the national team I've had difficult moments. It's not always been easy. We've had other big performances. We've had golden generations with big performances, but this generation represents the soul. This team has put the biggest effort into everything. As big a heart as this team, nobody has ever had. This generation is limitless."
(Reporting by Alexandra Hudson, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - The following is reaction to Romania's 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Euro 2024 Group E on Monday, the country's first European Championship win in 24 years. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-reaction-to-romania039s-3-0-win-over-ukraine-at-euro-2024 | |
1,373,491 | Tennis-Rune stunned by Australian Thompson at Queen's Club Championships first round | (Reuters) - Seventh seed Holger Rune had his Wimbledon warm-up cut short as he crashed out of the Queen's Club Championships in a shock 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3 first-round loss to Australian Jordan Thompson in London on Monday.
The 21-year-old Dane secured the opening set after it was all square at 4-4, but Thompson stepped up a gear to level the contest by taking a tight second set to a tiebreak where he put on a clinical display to force a decider.
Thompson, ranked 43rd in the world, then raced to a 3-0 lead and made no mistake to grab the win over the 15th-ranked Rune while also ending his own five-match losing streak.
Rune, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon last year, bowed out in the second round of the Australian Open in January and was knocked out of the French Open in the fourth round earlier in June.
Wimbledon runs from July 1-July 14.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Tennis | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Seventh seed Holger Rune had his Wimbledon warm-up cut short as he crashed out of the Queen's Club Championships in a shock 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3 first-round loss to Australian Jordan Thompson in London on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/tennis/2024/06/17/tennis-rune-stunned-by-australian-thompson-at-queen039s-club-championships-first-round | |
1,373,486 | Soccer-Belgium forced into defensive changes for opener v Slovakia | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Wout Faes and Zeno Debast will start in central defence for Belgium in their European Championship Group E opener against Slovakia on Monday, while Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku provide the attacking threat.
First-choice defenders Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate have returned to training following injuries but have not been risked from the start in Frankfurt, though they are on the bench along with Axel Witsel, another injury doubt.
Lukaku has scored 17 goals in 11 games under new coach Domenico Tedesco, who is unbeaten in his 15 matches in charge, while exciting winger Jeremy Doku is also in the starting side.
Slovakia have highly rated midfielder Stanislav Lobotka to set the tempo and Lukaku’s former Inter Milan team mate Milan Skriniar will be tasked with limiting the Belgian forward’s chances.
Belgium: Koen Casteels; Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes, Zeno Debast; Amadou Onana, Orel Mangala, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco, Jeremy Doku; Leandro Trossard, Romelu Lukaku.
Slovakia: Martin Dubravka; Peter Pekarik, Denis Vavro, Milan Skriniar, David Hancko; Juraj Kucka, Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda; Ivan Schranz, Lukas Haraslin, Robert Bozenik.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Wout Faes and Zeno Debast will start in central defence for Belgium in their European Championship Group E opener against Slovakia on Monday, while Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku provide the attacking threat. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-belgium-forced-into-defensive-changes-for-opener-v-slovakia | |
1,373,479 | Soccer-Romania stun Ukraine with first Euro win in 24 years | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -Romania turned in a high-octane performance to win their first European Championship match in 24 years with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Ukraine in their Euro 2024 Group E opener on Monday.
Before the match, Romania coach Edward Iordanescu said his players would fight for every metre on the pitch and they did just that, flying into tackles and racing all over to defend in waves as their boisterous supporters roared them on.
"We've had golden generations with big performances but this generation represents the soul," Iordanescu said. "This team has put the biggest effort into everything. As big a heart as this team, nobody has ever had. This generation is limitless."
Stunning long-range strikes in each half, one from captain and man-of-the-match Nicolae Stanciu and the other from midfielder Razvan Marin, shocked Serhiy Rebrov's Ukraine, who had dominated the opening 20 minutes of the match.
Stanciu's cannon shot into the top right hand corner gave Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin little chance. The Real Madrid keeper should have done better on the second, however, which slipped underneath him as he dived.
Stanciu called his strike the goal of his career and said the support from fans was like something he had never experienced.
"To score at a Euro finals and to win in the manner that we did it's just incredible," he said. "(The support) was unique. We've never felt anything like this before. My siblings, my father and my wife all had tears in their eyes."
Rebrov's side paid dearly for their inability to convert their early possession into any real chances, as Romania soaked up the pressure and then struck first after dispossessing Ukraine deep in their own half.
"I'm really disappointed with our performance," Ukraine captain Taras Stepanenko said. "Today we were not the team like we always were. Romania deserved this win and we have to keep going."
Dennis Man -- who became the first Romania player to provide multiple assists in a single match at a major tournament since Gheorghe Hagi against Colombia in the 1994 World Cup -- created the first goal after intercepting Lunin's poor clearance and sweeping the ball to Stanciu.
The result was all but confirmed shortly before the hour mark when Man drove into the box from a corner and put the ball across goal for Denis Dragus to tap in.
Romania's tight-knit defence denied Ukraine any real sniff at goal, helping secure their country's second win across 17 matches at European Championships, the first being a 3-2 victory over England at Euro 2000.
Romania's players hugged each other following the final whistle and stayed on the pitch to celebrate with their cheering supporters.
The match was briefly interrupted by two separate pitch invaders, who were quickly escorted away by stewards.
For Iordanescu, whose father Anghel had three spells in charge of Romania and took them to the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, the victory showed his side's unbeaten qualifying campaign was no fluke.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -Romania turned in a high-octane performance to win their first European Championship match in 24 years with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Ukraine in their Euro 2024 Group E opener on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-romania-stun-ukraine-with-first-euro-win-in-24-years | |
1,373,478 | Soccer-Dutch see goalkeeper Verbruggen as new Van der Sar | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Not since Edwin van der Sar have the Netherlands had a goalkeeper of major international standing but in picking Bart Verbruggen as first choice at the European Championship, they are hoping they have found one.
Coach Ronald Koeman designated the Brighton & Hove Albion keeper as first choice before the tournament started and the 21-year-old did not disappoint on Sunday as the Dutch came from behind to beat Poland in their Group D opener.
Verbruggen, who became the third-youngest keeper to play at the Euros, made several key late saves to preserve the Dutch lead as they hung on for a 2-1 victory.
"It's something I always dreamed of and so far it hasn't disappointed at all," Verbruggen said.
He only had no way of stopping Adam Buksa's header from a corner that gave Poland a surprise lead.
"I think we gave away very little in the first hour - apart from that corner. At the end, though, Poland started to play, and I had to work a few times. Fortunately, I was able to help the team," he said.
Koeman was also pleased with Verbruggen’s contribution.
"He was really good," he said. "The goal from the corner was not his fault. It was impossible to stop that ball."
Frans Hoek, former goalkeeping coach of the Dutch team, described Verbruggen as an all-rounder.
"This means that he can make a good contribution to the build-up, but that he can also defend his goal well," he said.
"He’s a natural talent. Now he has to convert potential into performance. Then it may well be that he will be the next one on whom the Dutch team can build for a long time, à la Edwin van der Sar. But we are not that far yet," Hoek added.
(Editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Not since Edwin van der Sar have the Netherlands had a goalkeeper of major international standing but in picking Bart Verbruggen as first choice at the European Championship, they are hoping they have found one. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-dutch-see-goalkeeper-verbruggen-as-new-van-der-sar | |
1,373,477 | Soccer-It's so easy to watch games backwards - Denmark's Hjulmand | (Reuters) - Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand was roundly criticised back home for his substitutions in the team's disappointing 1-1 draw with Slovenia in their Euro 2024 Group C opener, but the coach hit back on Monday.
Having taken the lead through Christian Eriksen in the 17th minute, the Danes looked to be tiring before Slovenia grabbed a 77th-minute equaliser and Hjulmand's team lacked the energy to find a winner on Sunday.
"Let's say I'd substituted earlier, and then they scored - then I'd be asked why I made changes to a team that was working well," Hjulmand told reporters at the team's base in Freudenstadt.
"It's so easy to watch football matches backwards, (but) you never get the answer to what would have happened if you'd done something differently. Sometimes changes work, sometimes they don't," Hjulmand added.
The Danes had several chances to make it 2-0 before Slovenia's equaliser, but the coach did not agree with the assessment that his side dominated the first half before wilting.
"I have looked through the period leading up to their goal and there was nothing in the sun, the moon or the stars to suggest that they had gained the upper hand - all the statistics showed that we had the upper hand," Hjulmand said.
With the Danes facing on England on Thursday, defender Joachim Andersen had blunt advice for Danish fans who were critical of the team.
"I would like to say that people need to relax and be a bit more positive, we have another game and we have to look forward to it now. Everything is open," Andersen told reporters.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | (Reuters) - Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand was roundly criticised back home for his substitutions in the team's disappointing 1-1 draw with Slovenia in their Euro 2024 Group C opener, but the coach hit back on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-it039s-so-easy-to-watch-games-backwards---denmark039s-hjulmand | |
1,373,444 | Soccer-I was born this way, says Hungary's Adam on fat-shaming memes | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Footballers nowadays tend to be lean and svelte to keep up with the demands of the fast-paced game, so Hungary forward Martin Adam is not surprised to see social media memes about his unusually large frame, even if some go too far.
Adam came on as a substitute late in Hungary's opening 3-1 defeat by Switzerland in Cologne and caused a stir among fans online who were surprised to see a player 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 86 kilogrammes running onto the pitch.
The Ulsan Hyundai striker also has a shaved head and a large ginger beard, leading to his nickname the "Hungarian Viking".
"The posts? Of course one or two get to me, I usually have a laugh about it," Adam, 29, told a press conference at the team's base on Sunday.
"I was born this way, I have this body shape. I'm not saying that I was this big when I was born, but I have a basic, physique. Genetics - I can't change that."
Most of the posts are positive, though, as Adam has quickly become something of a fan favourite already at the tournament after his short cameo.
Hungary supporters will just be hoping their No. 9 can add to his three-goal tally for the team in their next game, against Germany on Wednesday, as they seek to reach the knockout stage for the first time since Euro 2016.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Footballers nowadays tend to be lean and svelte to keep up with the demands of the fast-paced game, so Hungary forward Martin Adam is not surprised to see social media memes about his unusually large frame, even if some go too far. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-i-was-born-this-way-says-hungary039s-adam-on-fat-shaming-memes | |
1,373,423 | Tennis-Sabalenka to skip Paris Olympics | (Reuters) - World number three Aryna Sabalenka will not play at the Paris Olympics in order to focus on her health and prepare for the hardcourt tournaments, the twice Grand Slam champion said on Monday.
The 26-year-old Belarusian won the Australian Open in January, but was knocked out by 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals this month.
"Especially with all the struggles I've been struggling with the last months, I feel I have to take care of my health," Sabalenka told reporters at the Berlin Ladies Open.
"It's too much for the scheduling and I made the decision to take care of my health.
"I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I'm ready for the hard courts."
Sabalenka will next be action against Russian Daria Kasatkina in the last 16 in Berlin.
The Paris Olympics run from July 26-Aug. 11.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Tennis | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - World number three Aryna Sabalenka will not play at the Paris Olympics in order to focus on her health and prepare for the hardcourt tournaments, the twice Grand Slam champion said on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/tennis/2024/06/17/tennis-sabalenka-to-skip-paris-olympics | |
1,373,422 | Soccer-Germany's title credentials to be tested in Hungary grudge match | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Euro 2024 hosts Germany will get a better idea of whether their blend of youth and experience can sustain a title challenge when they take on a Hungary side on Wednesday eager to bounce back from a disappointing result in their Group A opener.
Germany ran riot in a 5-1 win over 10-man Scotland in the tournament's first match while Hungary slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Switzerland.
Young forwards Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz gave Germany fans hope that a new era beckons for the national team but they will carry the memory of Hungary winning 1-0 in Leipzig in the Nations League in September 2022.
Germany are winless in their last three meetings against a Hungary side led by young captain Dominik Szoboszlai who was visibly frustrated in their opening defeat in Cologne as the tournament's dark horses failed to get up to speed.
The 23-year-old did set up a goal for team mate Barnabas Varga and the duo will be key to their team's chances of getting their first points on the board having both grabbed four goals in Hungary's excellent qualifying campaign.
However, coach Marco Rossi knows that any of the same sloppiness that was on display from his side against the Swiss will be ruthlessly exploited by the Germans who play with a fluid intensity under manager Julian Nagelsmann.
The German coach employed Kai Havertz as a front man to draw space for Wirtz and Musiala to drive at defenders either side, a system likely to be used again as the team seek to wrap up a spot in the knockout stage.
However, Nagelsmann is wary of Hungary's relationist system - where players are free to dictate the play between each other using their individual talents, rather than sticking to a positional doctrine and rigid formation.
"Hungary are an unpleasant opponent, they can sometimes be wild and they're difficult to get a hold of. There are a lot of free spirits out there," the coach said after the win over Scotland.
In their last Euros meeting in 2021, a 2-2 group stage draw in Munich, there were off-the-field arguments and protests in the stands over the Hungarian government's anti-LGBTQ+ law.
Hungary were sanctioned by UEFA for discriminatory behaviour by their fans and Wednesday's game is expected to be a high risk event for security services.
The main Hungary supporter group, Carpathian Brigade '09, said on social media they were preparing for the group match against the Germans "with the highest volume of away spectacle of our group and the national team. The active participation of more than ten thousand Hungarian fanatics will be required".
The group also called for fans to avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Even a draw for the Magyars would be a positive result knowing that they face Scotland in their final group game, while Germany would aim for top spot against the Swiss.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Toby Davis) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Euro 2024 hosts Germany will get a better idea of whether their blend of youth and experience can sustain a title challenge when they take on a Hungary side on Wednesday eager to bounce back from a disappointing result in their Group A opener. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-germany039s-title-credentials-to-be-tested-in-hungary-grudge-match | |
1,373,411 | Soccer-Tartan Army, and Switzerland, expecting Scotland backlash | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of kilt-wearing Scotland fans will take part in a pre-match march to Cologne Stadium ahead of Wednesday's clash with Switzerland and they will expect to be rewarded with a vast improvement from Steve Clarke's team.
The Tartan Army were also present in massive numbers in Munich last Friday but were left drowning their sorrows as an abject Scotland were thrashed 5-1 by rampant hosts Germany.
Even Germany's players and those of next opponents Switzerland were surprised at the flimsy Scotland showing and Clarke admits he has had to kick some backsides and offer some cuddles in the aftermath of the drubbing.
Switzerland, on the other hand, defied some negativity heading into the tournament to start with an impressive 3-1 victory over Hungary in Cologne and a similar performance against Scotland would likely seal a last-16 berth.
Scotland have never made it out of the group phase in 11 previous major tournaments and while they have already put themselves on the back foot, all is not lost. Although it almost certainly will be if they suffer a second defeat.
With the best four of the six third-placed teams going into the last-16, Clarke believes four points from the games against Switzerland and Hungary could be enough.
"When you lose a game 5-1, and I have been in this a long time, you have to take all the criticism that comes," he said. "You have to respond. The good thing for me is, I have been in this position before. I have always responded pretty well. The players have always responded pretty well.
"We believe in ourselves. They are disappointed. But they know they have to be ready and up for the next game because that's the nature of being involved in football."
Scotland will be without centre back Ryan Porteous after his red card against Germany meaning a likely start for Grant Hanley while there are calls for midfielder Billy Gilmour to be restored to the team at the expense of Ryan Christie.
Switzerland will start the game as favourites on the basis of their first-half showing against Hungary although manager Murat Yakin was not happy with the second half in Cologne and will warn his players of a Scotland backlash.
"We are sure there will be a reaction from Scotland -- we are expecting a great reaction," Yakin's assistant Giorgio Contini said -- comments echoed by midfielder Vincent Sierro.
"For them it's a very important game because they didn't play the way they wanted against Germany. We know they will not give us anything," Sierro said.
Yakin is likely to start with the side that began against Hungary with striker Kwadwo Duah and midfielder Michel Aebischer -- both of whom scored their first goals for the national side -- getting another chance to impress.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of kilt-wearing Scotland fans will take part in a pre-match march to Cologne Stadium ahead of Wednesday's clash with Switzerland and they will expect to be rewarded with a vast improvement from Steve Clarke's team. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-tartan-army-and-switzerland-expecting-scotland-backlash | |
1,373,404 | Soccer-Football fever inspires unusual opera in Germany | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Football fever at Euro 2024 in Germany is being felt not only inside packed stadiums, raucous bars and heaving city squares - but also in the more rarefied atmosphere of an opera house.
On the banks of the Elbe river in Hamburg, one of the tournament's host cities, a new production called the "Fussballoper" (Football Opera) is selling out to lovers of both sport and music.
The work by director Inken Rahardt recreates a football pitch and the chaotic interactions between players, referee and ball, mixing fan chants with traditional arias and pop songs.
Naturally, it lasts 90 minutes: the time of a game.
"The connection between football and opera is just perfect," Rahardt said on another busy night at the Opernloft (Opera Loft) venue in a trendy part of Germany's second-largest city.
"The hall is buzzing, people are happy, they recognise the soccer moves, connect that with the emotional music of opera and just have a great evening."
'BIG MIX OF EVERYTHING'
Songs range from the Champions League anthem to Giacomo Puccini's "Nessun dorma" - with plenty of participation from spectators in colourful hats and scarves.
"It's a big mix of everything, different genres," said singer Freja Sandkamm, who plays a referee and quipped that her biggest challenge was to suppress her normal opera voice and learn how to "belt" out football songs instead.
Spectators were delighted.
One lady said she was finally able to bring her football-loving partner to the opera, while others praised the imaginative albeit surreal fusion of entertainment cultures.
"I chose it for the combination really because I thought it's really a good way to attract people that maybe are not going to opera very much," said York Rudhard, 53, a pharmaceutical scientist from Hamburg.
(Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Football fever at Euro 2024 in Germany is being felt not only inside packed stadiums, raucous bars and heaving city squares - but also in the more rarefied atmosphere of an opera house. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-football-fever-inspires-unusual-opera-in-germany | |
1,373,403 | Soccer-Free sunscreen as fans dodge heavy rain at Euro 2024 | LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Wear sunscreen is the advice at Euro 2024 from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection in Germany, which is doing all it can to protect fans from the dangers of UV radiation, but for now most are seeking shelter from the rain.
For the massive number of fans flocking to 10 cities around Germany, sunscreen may not be top of their list when it comes to packing for the trip, but it is available free of charge.
Anyone arriving at the stadiums, or enjoying the atmosphere at the large fan zones in each host city, can help themselves to sunscreen from the dispensers.
At the Leipzig fan zone in Augustusplatz, which can accommodate up to 15,000 people, two mega umbrellas have been set up to offer protection from the sun and shelter from the rain.
Free drinking water is also available at fan zones and as well as watching matches on large screens the supporters can enjoy musical entertainment.
"UV radiation is a health risk that is often underestimated," said Inge Paulini, president of the Federal Office launching the Euro 2024 UV Safe campaign.
"There is a simple rule for good personal UV protection: avoid, cover up, use sun cream."
In addition to high protection sunscreen, the Federal Office also provides information on the current UV index, which shows fans the intensity of the sun's radiation in their area. So far, there has been little demand for that service.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Wear sunscreen is the advice at Euro 2024 from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection in Germany, which is doing all it can to protect fans from the dangers of UV radiation, but for now most are seeking shelter from the rain. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-free-sunscreen-as-fans-dodge-heavy-rain-at-euro-2024 | |
1,373,392 | Soccer-Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Global Investment purchase Seattle Reign | (Reuters) - A group including Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders and private equity firm Carlyle Global Investment has purchased top-flight women's side Seattle Reign for $58 million, former owners OL Groupe said on Monday.
The sale brings the top men's and women's soccer clubs in Seattle under the same umbrella for the first time since 2019, when Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer, a minority owner in Reign, sold his stakes.
The deal, which includes 97% of the club's share capital, was announced after it was approved by the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) and MLS (Major League Soccer) board of directors.
OL Groupe, owners of Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, had bought its stakes in 2019 for a reported $3.5 million. The group said in a statement the sale was in accordance with its strategy of refocusing on men's football.
Reign, who played under the name OL Reign from 2020 to 2023, have won the NWSL shield three times, but are struggling so far this season, sitting 13th in the 14-team NWSL table with eight points after 13 matches.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - A group including Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders and private equity firm Carlyle Global Investment has purchased top-flight women's side Seattle Reign for $58 million, former owners OL Groupe said on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-seattle-sounders-and-carlyle-global-investment-purchase-seattle-reign | |
1,373,390 | Soccer-Ukraine shows shell-blasted Kharkiv stadium seats to remind Euro 2024 of war | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko presented the shell-blasted seats of a Kharkiv stadium built for Euro 2012 in Munich on Monday, as cheering Ukraine fans vowed to keep fighting the Russian invasion.
Ukraine's football association said the Sonyachny stadium in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, had been destroyed by Russian shells in 2022. In a central Munich square, Ukrainian refugees and supporters who had driven 25 hours from Ukraine looked at the blue and yellow seats, hours before their team were due to play their first Euro 2024 game against Romania in the city.
"When I was the coach of the national team, we often came to Kharkiv for training. We prepared for the Euro 2021 qualifiers at Sonyachny. Learning that the stadium was destroyed felt like finding out your home was ruined," said Shevchenko, now president of the Ukraine Football Association (UAF).
"Even if football pitches or stands cannot withstand Russian shells, we will never stop standing for our country and telling the world about this ruthless war," Shevchenko added.
Kyiv wants to bring a stark reminder to Euro 2024 that Ukrainian forces have been engaged in Europe's bloodiest fighting since World War Two, and civilian life in the country has been upended. More than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed, including 77 football stadiums.
Ukraine's first match will highly emotional for the team, Ukrainian refugees and those watching at home.
Coach Serhiy Rebrov said he and his players were in contact with soldiers on the front lines who have told them to show "the spirit of Ukraine" at the tournament.
FORMER HOST NATION
Ukraine and Poland co-hosted Euro 2012, with the final held in Kyiv. Besides Kyiv and Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk also staged matches and more than one million foreign visitors came to the country. Donetsk is now under Russian occupation and Kharkiv is repeatedly attacked by missiles and drones.
As a six-year-old, Daria Reshetilo remembers watching Italian and Spanish soccer fans streaming through a sunny Kyiv for the Euro 2012 final, and the party atmosphere.
Today she is a refugee, living and studying in Germany apart from her family.
"I will be offering face painting outside the stadium before the game to raise money for Ukraine. I want to do something, this is so important for us," she said.
Anna Lymarenko, 25, originally from Kharkiv but visiting Munich for a craft show, said the football would help keep Ukraine visible abroad.
"There are lots of Europeans who understand what we are fighting for - not just for our own freedom and democracy, but also theirs, so I hope there will be a lot of support for Ukraine."
"It is so hard to live in Ukraine, to see childhood places destroyed... when you live there you can easily lose hope, so it is good to feel you are not alone."
The front lines in Ukraine have barely moved since the end of 2022, despite tens of thousands of dead on both sides in relentless trench warfare.
After initial Ukrainian successes in which Kyiv repelled an assault on the capital and recaptured territory, a major Ukrainian counter-offensive using donated Western tanks fizzled out last year. Russian forces still hold a fifth of Ukraine and are again advancing, albeit slowly.
Moscow casts what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine as part of a broader struggle with the West, which it says wants to bring Russia to its knees. Kyiv and the West say Russia is waging an illegal war of conquest. (This story has been corrected to say that Donetsk is under Russian occupation and Kharkiv is under repeated attack in paragraph 8)
(Reporting by Alexandra Hudson, editing by Ed Osmond) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Former Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko presented the shell-blasted seats of a Kharkiv stadium built for Euro 2012 in Munich on Monday, as cheering Ukraine fans vowed to keep fighting the Russian invasion. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-ukraine-shows-shell-blasted-kharkiv-stadium-seats-to-remind-euro-2024-of-war | |
1,373,382 | Soccer-Fans tell of travel chaos in Gelsenkirchen after England-Serbia game | BERLIN (Reuters) - Fans complained of lengthy travel disruptions and crowded trains following England and Serbia's Euro 2024 game in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, which drew tens of thousands to the western German city with a population of 200,000.
Crowds waited for available carriages to carry them from the crowded station near Arena AufSchalke stadium until well into the night, according to the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper on Monday.
Video shared on social media showed trains and station platforms packed with fans who jostled to find space.
"Game finished just before 11pm. 3 hours to travel by tram and train to Dusseldorf, which is less than 50 miles. Astonishingly bad," one fan wrote on the X social media platform.
Local police said the fans' departure had been "largely orderly", but acknowledged bottlenecks at some stations due to the large number of visitors.
"This is normal," a spokesperson for the city authority told Reuters. "If 60,000 people all come at once, they can't expect to leave within 10 minutes," he said.
Gelsenkirchen is flanked by the larger urban centres of Cologne, Dortmund and Dusseldorf. Many international fans stayed in those cities, putting pressure on the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn to get them there and back.
Deutsche Bahn said it and various local operators had worked to increase train capacity, including a special line running between Gelsenkirchen and nearby cities.
"Football fans know that as soon as the referee blows his whistle, everyone goes home. It can get crowded on the platform," a spokesperson said.
Tournament host Germany expects 2.7 million people to attend matches in stadiums across the country and some 12 million in fan zones for outdoor viewing.
(Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Friederike Heine and Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | BERLIN (Reuters) - Fans complained of lengthy travel disruptions and crowded trains following England and Serbia's Euro 2024 game in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, which drew tens of thousands to the western German city with a population of 200,000. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-fans-tell-of-travel-chaos-in-gelsenkirchen-after-england-serbia-game | |
1,373,371 | Soccer-Swiss swap training base after new turf dies | DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Switzerland's squad have had to move their Euro 2024 training sessions ahead of Wednesday's Group A clash with Scotland because of the poor quality of the turf at their camp.
Murat Yakin's team had been based at the home of lower-tier German club Stuttgarter Kickers but the newly laid turf began to die out, raising fears of players getting injured.
Switzerland have now switched to the training base of VFB Stuttgart while the problems are rectified.
"The roots of the grass have died in several places. Therefore, we will train Monday and Tuesday on the VFB Stuttgart training pitch at Robert-Schlienz-Stadion, which is in good condition," the Swiss federation said in a statement.
"Following the Scotland game, it is planned to train on the new pitch at the Stadion auf der Waldau. However, the condition of the new grass needs to be checked on Thursday."
Switzerland opened with a 3-1 victory over Hungary and will book a last-16 place if they beat Scotland in Cologne.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Switzerland's squad have had to move their Euro 2024 training sessions ahead of Wednesday's Group A clash with Scotland because of the poor quality of the turf at their camp. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-swiss-swap-training-base-after-new-turf-dies | |
1,373,372 | Soccer-Huge praise for Bellingham but not much else after England's narrow win | WEIMAR, Germany (Reuters) - Pegged as the man to lead England to glory, Jude Bellingham duly delivered on Sunday against Serbia at Euro 2024 with a first-half masterclass that drew rave reviews from fans and pundits alike, amid an otherwise sub-par Three Lions performance.
The 20-year-old's powerful 13th-minute header made the difference in an unconvincing 1-0 win that put England atop Group C, but it was his swagger and sheer dominance that earned the Real Madrid midfielder high praise.
"He's come out there today with the attitude of: Listen, guys, this is my game, and I am him," former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on the BBC broadcast.
"The way he's gesturing, shoulders back, just the way he walks around the pitch, makes you think this guy knows, believes and understands that he is the guy."
European media similarly praised the midfielder, but were less kind to the rest of the England squad, whose lack of composure in the second half threatened their victory.
German outlet BILD called Bellingham "the only one who stands out" while Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo wrote that England "were dull" and that there was "Bellingham and little else" to celebrate.
Under the headline "Without roaring with Pleasure", French sports newspaper L'Equipe criticized the Three Lions' "disappointing performance overall, notably marked by a drop in intensity in the second half."
They gave centre back John Stones an underwhelming 3 out of 10 overall and even captain and striker Harry Kane only got 5.
While England's opener may have made their fans sweat, the supporters' love affair with Bellingham continues to flourish.
There was a moment on Sunday when Bellingham was seen shouting in the face of Serbia's Filip Kostic before giving the Serb a shove with his shoulder. Fans quickly took to social media to sing Bellingham's praises.
"The Jude Bellingham shoulder barge needs to go into the Louvre," one supporter wrote on X. "Love it!"
Another wrote: "That shoulder barge from Bellingham is why I love him ... letting em know they're in a game."
"This is what you want, drag us through to the final Jude lad," posted another.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was hopeful that Bellingham can finally carry England -- looking for their first major tournament trophy in 58 years -- across the line.
"His character is what I'd say about him, his mentality, he he's got that swagger where he wants to be the main man in the team," Richards said on the BBC broadcast. "If he can keep this form throughout the tournament, he's the person that we can rely on."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | WEIMAR, Germany (Reuters) - Pegged as the man to lead England to glory, Jude Bellingham duly delivered on Sunday against Serbia at Euro 2024 with a first-half masterclass that drew rave reviews from fans and pundits alike, amid an otherwise sub-par Three Lions performance. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-huge-praise-for-bellingham-but-not-much-else-after-england039s-narrow-win | |
1,373,364 | Soccer-Licking their wounds, Croatia and Albania prepare for Group B dogfight | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Chastened by defeats to the heavyweights of Group B, Croatia and Albania both need a win in their clash on Wednesday to ignite their Euro 2024 campaign and give them hope of progressing.
Croatia have a rich World Cup history but have never replicated that at the Euros and began their latest attempt with a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Spain.
Albania are at only their second major tournament and performed creditably against defending champions Italy in their opening match, taking an early lead before succumbing 2-1.
Both teams urgently need points in their second game at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion, either to compete for the two qualifying spots or to bolster their chances of being one of the four best third-placed teams who will progress to the knockouts.
Croatia's coach Zlatko Dalic wants more aggression and speed from a team oozing quality -- from veteran midfielder Luka Modric, 38, at probably his last big tournament, to classy defender Josko Gvardiol, 22, at the other end of his career.
"We know what we're up against. We have two difficult matches. It's not over, keep your heads up. Our goal is to advance from the group and we will do our best to achieve that," Dalic said of a game Croatian media have billed as do-or-die.
"Everything is still in our hands, still under our control. We need to be better... It's up to me to turn things around, point out the flaws and not dwell too much on the Spain match."
Despite being viewed as minnows, Albania topped their qualifying group over teams such as the Czech Republic and Poland and are not at the tournament to make up the numbers.
Their Brazilian coach Sylvinho will try to keep his team disciplined before hitting Croatia on the break -- as they did against Italy with a goal after 23 seconds and so nearly again at the end when they narrowly failed to equalise.
"I have seen other sides in this tournament. If you try and go toe-to-toe with them, they will score five or six against you," he said. "It's only our second time here in the Euros. We have young players, very good players, but it's not easy."
Right winger Jasir Asani is Albania's main threat in what is the nation's first game against Croatia.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Chastened by defeats to the heavyweights of Group B, Croatia and Albania both need a win in their clash on Wednesday to ignite their Euro 2024 campaign and give them hope of progressing. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-licking-their-wounds-croatia-and-albania-prepare-for-group-b-dogfight | |
1,373,359 | Olympics-Blood, sweat and cheers - Paris to welcome kayak cross | LONDON (Reuters) - World champion Joe Clarke knows from experience that blood may be spilled as he goes for gold in the new Olympic discipline of kayak cross at the Paris white water centre in August.
Asked to explain how physical the event can get after a training session at the British team base in Waltham Abbey, Clarke pulls out his phone and plays a video.
It shows him during a practice run in Australia earlier this year taking a blow to the face from the sharp end of another kayak, blood streaming down his wet face.
"It was a big knock, but that's what can happen," Clarke, three-times world champion in kayak cross, previously known as extreme slalom, told Reuters. "I got a boat to the head. They glued it back together and I was out for five days."
Thankfully Clarke has now fully recovered and, after being surprisingly left off the team for the Tokyo Games despite being the reigning Olympic K1 champion, he is energised by the chance to showcase an event he thinks will be compulsive viewing.
"It's the head to head element that gets people on the edge of their seats," Clarke says. "The feedback is instant, first across the line. You see people have a terrible start but go from fourth to first in an instant. Or first to fourth."
Traditional canoe slalom events such as K1 are against the clock, with paddlers negotiating a course of gates in the churning water as quickly as possible without accruing time penalties -- a format Clarke admits can be boring.
Kayak cross starts with timed solo runs but then gets really wild. From then on, paddlers go head-to-head in knockout heats involving four boats -- launching from a steep ramp, picking their way down the course and even having to perform an Eskimo roll before crossing the line.
It is fast and furious with contact almost inevitable and Clarke says a cool head is required.
"If someone gives you a big knock off the start you can't let the red mist come down and go after them," he said.
"Your decisions have to be really in the moment. Make the wrong call and you'll pay for it. I go into races with a Plan A, B, C, D and E. Throw away the rule book.
"Those decisions can win you medals."
EXTREME SPORT
Kayak cross is the latest extreme sport added to the programme by the International Olympic Committee along with others like BMX racing and freestyle and skate boarding.
"I mean a canoe slalom final usually takes maybe half an hour or 40 minutes from start to finish, and unless you are really invested in that it's pretty boring," he said.
"We've got the attention span of goldfish nowadays so the fact that kayak cross races are over in 45 seconds and it's first over the line means people will hopefully be sitting on the edge of their sofas."
While the 31-year-old Clarke says his first love remains the technical and traditional K1, the addition of kayak cross has given him a new lease of life and he is even planning to extend his career to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.
"It's exciting to have it as a medal event," he said. "Everyone has jumped at it and its gone through a whirlwind since I became world champion for the first time in 2021."
While it can be rough, Clarke believes the secret to his success is fast starts and staying out of trouble.
"There's only so much you can control but you make your own luck," he said. "My biggest strength is getting out in front, getting off the ramp super quick.
"The more you get into that hustle and bustle that's when it can become a lottery."
Clarke will arrive in Paris as world champion in both of his events and knows he will be seen as the man to beat.
"I know they will be coming for me but I've been there and done it before. The pressure is mainly from myself."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Other Sports | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | LONDON (Reuters) - World champion Joe Clarke knows from experience that blood may be spilled as he goes for gold in the new Olympic discipline of kayak cross at the Paris white water centre in August. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/others/2024/06/17/olympics-blood-sweat-and-cheers---paris-to-welcome-kayak-cross | |
1,373,348 | Rugby-Wales call on Botham for test against Springboks | (Reuters) - Wales have added versatile loose-forward James Botham to their squad for their one-off test against South Africa in London on Saturday, officials have confirmed.
Botham, 26, the grandson of former England cricket great Ian, could get the chance to add to his 10 international caps despite having been left out of coach Warren Gatland’s original selection.
He can play anywhere across the back row of the scrum and made his debut in 2020 but has been in and out of the side since.
Wales now have 38 players in camp ahead of the clash with the world champion Springboks, with that number to be cut to 34 for a two-test tour in Australia in July.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Hugh Lawson) | Sport | Rugby | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Wales have added versatile loose-forward James Botham to their squad for their one-off test against South Africa in London on Saturday, officials have confirmed. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/rugby/2024/06/17/rugby-wales-call-on-botham-for-test-against-springboks | |
1,373,306 | Soccer-Belgium keep faith with Meunier for European Championship | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Belgium right back Thomas Meunier is 10 days away from full fitness and will join the squad at the European Championship, coach Domenico Tedesco confirmed.
Meunier stayed home in Belgium for treatment on a hamstring injury and Tedesco had until Sunday to name a replacement in the squad ahead of his side’s opener against Slovakia later on Monday.
"He will be able to join the team in a week and a half. That is one of the reasons why I did not tinker with the squad," Tedesco told reporters.
"I didn't want to drop Meunier because he showed himself so motivated (to recover). I'm glad the injury isn't too bad and that he can still come to Germany."
Meunier will also miss Belgium’s second Group E game against Romania on Saturday but has a chance to be fit for their final pool clash against Ukraine on June 26.
Belgium have been hard hit by defensive injuries in the build-up to Euro 2024 with Axel Witsel also likely to miss the clash with Slovakia.
Regular centre backs Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate are back in training after being sidelined but are not certain to start on Monday.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Belgium right back Thomas Meunier is 10 days away from full fitness and will join the squad at the European Championship, coach Domenico Tedesco confirmed. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-belgium-keep-faith-with-meunier-for-european-championship | |
1,373,248 | Tennis-Bowing out at Wimbledon or Olympics would be fitting, Murray says | (Reuters) - Britain's Andy Murray has said it would be a fitting end to his career if he bowed out at Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics.
The 37-year-old Scot, a three-time Grand Slam champion and double Olympic gold medallist, said in February that he was unlikely to continue playing after the summer.
Murray is set to compete at the Games having been named in Britain's team on Sunday and said the prospect of competing at Paris had been a real motivation for him.
"Probably if I was going to finish my career I would rather finish at Wimbledon or an Olympic Games - to me that would probably be more fitting," Murray, who won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, told BBC Sport.
"I've had amazing experiences and memories from Wimbledon, but also being part of British Olympics teams. To get a chance to compete at a fifth one is a reason to stay motivated and continue playing."
Wimbledon runs from July 1-14 at the All England Club. The Olympic tennis tournament begins on July 27 and ends on Aug. 4 at Roland Garros.
All England Lawn Tennis Club chief executive Sally Bolton revealed on Thursday that they have plans to honour Murray, if this year's tournament turns out to be a farewell to the 2013 and 2016 champion.
"I think in lots of careers, retirement is something you celebrate and people really look forward to that day – that's not something I feel. I love playing tennis," Murray added.
"Ultimately, if physically you're not able to play to the level you want to, the results are not as you wish, those things factor into the decision."
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Kolkata; Editing by Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Tennis | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Britain's Andy Murray has said it would be a fitting end to his career if he bowed out at Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/tennis/2024/06/17/tennis-bowing-out-at-wimbledon-or-olympics-would-be-fitting-murray-says | |
1,373,203 | Olympics-Mbappe rules out playing at Paris Games after Real Madrid move | (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe confirmed on Sunday he will not play for France's Olympic team at the Paris Games as his new club Real Madrid are against the idea.
The 25-year-old said in March that he was keen on playing at his home Games but since the Olympic soccer tournament is not on FIFA’s calendar clubs are not obliged to release their players.
Mbappe was not included in a 25-man preliminary squad for the Olympics earlier this month, though head coach Thierry Henry left the door open.
"My club's position was very clear, so from that moment on, I think I (knew) I won't be taking part in the Games," Mbappe told reporters ahead of Monday's Group D match against Austria at Euro 2024.
"That's just the way it is, and I understand that too. I'm joining a new team in September, so it's not the best way to start an adventure.
"I'm going to wish this French team all the best. I'm going to watch every game. I hope they'll win the gold medal."
The men's Olympic football competition begins on July 24, 10 days after the European Championships final, and ends on Aug. 9.
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Kolkata; Editing by Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe confirmed on Sunday he will not play for France's Olympic team at the Paris Games as his new club Real Madrid are against the idea. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/olympics-mbappe-rules-out-playing-at-paris-games-after-real-madrid-move | |
1,373,196 | Cricket-Pakistan's World Cup failure down to poor batting, Babar says | (Reuters) - Pakistan captain Babar Azam said on Sunday the team's batting let them down at the Twenty20 World Cup and apologised to fans for failing to reach the Super Eight stage.
Pakistan fell to the tournament's biggest upset when the United States, a tier-two member of the game, beat the 2009 champions via Super Over. Defeat by arch-rivals India then left Babar's side with a mountain to climb to advance.
India and the U.S. bagged the two Super Eight slots from Group A while Pakistan finished third after Sunday's laboured three-wicket victory against Ireland.
"Thank you so much for supporting us, and sorry for that performance...," Babar said after the match in Florida.
"I know the fans and the team are saddened by this. It is not any one player's fault. We all made a mistake."
Babar had stepped down as captain of all three formats after Pakistan failed to make the knockout stage of the 50-overs World Cup in India last year, but was reinstated as white-ball skipper ahead of the 20-overs showpiece in the U.S. and West Indies.
Amid sub-par performances at the tournament, talk of rifts within the camp surfaced, while Pakistan Cricket Board's chief promised "major surgery" on the team after their exit was confirmed last week.
Pakistan's batting was a huge disappointment as they failed to make the most of the powerplay overs and could not get partnerships established.
"The pitches here helped the fast bowlers a little but I think overall our batting did not click," said Babar.
"We lost two crucial matches even when we were in charge."
All-rounder Imad Wasim has said the team needed a complete reset of their approach to white-ball cricket and Babar agreed.
"Every player has to think, because cricket has become very fast. With modern cricket, you must have game awareness," he said.
"You know that the strike rate here is (low)... I think it's about game awareness and common sense."
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Cricket | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Pakistan captain Babar Azam said on Sunday the team's batting let them down at the Twenty20 World Cup and apologised to fans for failing to reach the Super Eight stage. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cricket/2024/06/17/cricket-pakistan039s-world-cup-failure-down-to-poor-batting-babar-says | |
1,373,093 | Dear Chinese football fans, Hassan Sunny’s 11 saves should be seen in the right spirit | BEIJING: When news emerged of Chinese fans flocking to show appreciation for Hassan Sunny by sending him money and patronising his food stall in Tampines, a Chinese friend asked me if the Singapore national team goalkeeper had indeed meant to help China.
The friend was referring to Hassan’s outstanding goalkeeping when Singapore played Thailand in a World Cup qualifier match on June 11. Thailand needed to defeat Singapore by at least three goals to advance to the next round but managed only a 3-1 win, which meant China progressed at Thailand’s expense.
Hassan was later feted by Chinese netizens as a hero for pulling off 11 saves against the Thais. This sparked an outpouring of support from the Chinese, so much so that Hassan had to urge them to stop sending money to his stall via QR code.
While I am glad that a Singaporean footballer has received greater recognition for his skills, my friend’s question left a bad taste in my mouth.
It cast an unwelcome cloud over Hassan’s sterling display in the Thailand match, which, to me, reflects nothing more than the goalkeeper and the other members of the Singapore football team putting up as good a performance as they can while representing Singapore.
Isn’t it expected that every athlete would strive to do his best when donning national colours?
Given that there is much goodwill in China towards Singapore, I wonder if many Chinese were thinking along the same lines as my friend, that a Singaporean footballer would be inclined to do China a favour.
But such thinking would run counter to the spirit of sports, which stands for fair competition.
The irony is that Hassan’s skills were also on display when Singapore battled it out with China in earlier World Cup qualifier matches in March, but he had not received as much attention from Chinese fans then.
China beat Singapore 4-1 on March 26, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw when they met earlier on March 21.
Singaporeans might be surprised by the outpouring of gratitude to Hassan by the Chinese, which saw many of them transferring money to his stall via QR code payments.
However, in China, this is not uncommon – netizens would show their love to businesses or personalities through their wallets.
For example, they would send payments to their favourite live streamers as a token of appreciation.
In February, when Zong Qinghou, founder of Chinese beverage giant Wahaha, died at age 79, Chinese netizens paid tribute to him by snapping up Wahaha products online, sparking an explosive surge in sales.
Zong, a delegate to China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, was known for being supportive of proposals to ease livelihood burdens.
But in Singapore’s context, it does seem odd for a footballer to receive payment from interested third parties for his performance in a match. It is good that Hassan has come out to say he would donate the money he received from Chinese fans.
That Chinese football fans have taken Hassan to their hearts is a heart-warming story that captured eyeballs from China to Britain. His heroics and China’s lucky break have come as sweet relief for Chinese fans amid the state of men’s football in their country.
While China has a better record in the Olympic Games, the men’s football team have made it to the World Cup finals only once – the 2002 World Cup held in South Korea and Japan, where they lost all three group matches and made an early exit.
In contrast, South Korea, its East Asian neighbour and co-host of the 2002 World Cup, became the first nation outside Europe and the Americas to reach the semi-finals that year.
According to the latest rankings by world football governing body Fifa, China’s national men’s team are ranked 88th, far below the US (11th), Japan (18th) and South Korea (23rd).
The sad thing is, football has become a bit of a joke in China.
The poor performance of the men’s national team has become a common lament among the Chinese.
Football in China is also rife with scandals such as match-fixing, gambling and corruption. Just in March, it was reported that Chen Xuyuan, the former chief of China’s football association, was handed a life sentence for accepting more than US$10 million (S$13.5 million) in bribes.
This is despite China investing billions in the sport, with Chinese firms buying stakes in European teams and developing Chinese provincial teams, in the hope that the country would become a “football superpower” by 2050.
Meanwhile, Hassan’s popularity among the Chinese looks set to grow – he has already garnered 384,000 fans on his newly set-up account on Douyin, the Chinese TikTok. On Weibo, he has drawn 24,100 followers. On June 16, he drew crowds in Shanghai while on a personal trip that also involved appearances at events.
While it is good that Hassan is winning acclaim and fans in China, his impressive performance in the recent match against Thailand should be seen in the right spirit.
It is in the spirit of fair play and competition, and not “assistance” towards any particular team. - The Straits Times/ANN | AseanPlus | Singapore | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Singapore,football,China,Hassan Sunny | BEIJING: When news emerged of Chinese fans flocking to show appreciation for Hassan Sunny by sending him money and patronising his food stall in Tampines, a Chinese friend asked me if the Singapore national team goalkeeper had indeed meant to help China. | https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/06/17/dear-chinese-football-fans-hassan-sunnys-11-saves-should-be-seen-in-the-right-spirit | |
1,373,089 | Soccer-Beatles' fan Bellingham delighted by fans' rendition of 'Hey Jude' | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Jude Bellingham said being serenaded by England fans with The Beatles' "Hey Jude!" was music to his ears after the midfielder's early header gave his side a 1-0 win over Serbia in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday.
The 20-year-old was named Player of the Match after setting the tempo for much of England's attacking play and was cheered to the rafters by their fans at the cavernous Arena AufSchalke.
"I listen to the Beatles a lot. My style of music is a bit old, so that that's right on my street," Bellingham told a press conference.
"I really enjoy playing in front of the England fans. It's a different experience for me because obviously I play abroad. So when I can hear an English crowd for the first time every few months, I really enjoy it.
"They give me a lot of appreciation, a lot of love. And I try to give that back with my performances and my energy on the pitch."
Bellingham enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign with Real Madrid in which he was voted LaLiga's Player of the Season, scoring 19 goals to help them win the title by 10 points, and helping them claim a 15th Champions League crown.
On Sunday he caused no end of problems for Serbia's defenders, who resorted to a more physical approach to try to shackle him.
"I felt really confident coming into the game. I couldn't wait to play such an amazing tournament alongside such amazing group of players. So I think you could see that I was enjoying my football and wanted to make an impact," Bellingham said.
"We wanted to get the ball away from them because I think we wanted to build an energy for the fans to get behind the team. And when you're aggressive, it helps in that, trying to be aggressive without the ball as well.
"Yeah, I took a few kicks, but I think it's something I've kind of gotten used to over the last couple of years. And it's about trying to react to the right way and not lose my head. I think I handled that well tonight."
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Jude Bellingham said being serenaded by England fans with The Beatles' "Hey Jude!" was music to his ears after the midfielder's early header gave his side a 1-0 win over Serbia in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-beatles039-fan-bellingham-delighted-by-fans039-rendition-of-039hey-jude039 | |
1,373,064 | Golf-Crushed McIlroy bolts from Pinehurst after U.S. Open heartbreak | (Reuters) - After throwing away a glorious chance to end a decade-long hunt for a fifth major, a devastated Rory McIlroy high-tailed it from Pinehurst Resort on Sunday without speaking to media and before Bryson DeChambeau was awarded the U.S. Open trophy.
Usually a gracious competitor in defeat, McIlroy could not stomach this latest setback nor escape Pinehurst fast enough as he loaded up his car, got behind the wheel and left the property.
McIlroy was in prime position to end his barren run at the majors but shockingly missed two par putts inside of four feet over his last three holes and ultimately finished one stroke back of DeChambeau.
It marked the fourth runner-up finish in a major for the Northern Irishman including at last year's U.S. Open, but none came in a more crushing fashion.
"He'll win multiple more major championships. There's no doubt," said DeChambeau. "I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow."
McIlroy began the day three shots back of 54-hole leader DeChambeau but, bolstered by a sizzling stretch around the turn where he had four birdies across five holes, had a two-shot lead with five holes to play.
The wheels started to come off when McIlroy bogeyed the par-three 15th where he failed to get up and down after his tee shot rolled off the back of the green.
He then made a second consecutive bogey when, for the first time all season, he missed a par putt from inside three feet.
McIlroy left the door open for DeChambeau when he missed the fairway at 18, advanced it just off the front of the green with his next shot, chipped it just past the hole and then watched his par putt from inside four feet lip out.
"For him to miss that putt, I'd never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way," said DeChambeau.
As DeChambeau scrambled brilliantly for par on the final hole to seal the win, McIlroy, watching from inside a scoring tent, quickly cut a dejected figure and headed to his car.
The scene of McIlroy leaving Pinehurst was in stark contrast to last month's PGA Championship where runner-up DeChambeau went back to the 18th green to congratulate Xander Schauffele after a closing birdie sealed his win.
"At the end of the day we are all human," said Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who finished fifth at the U.S. Open, three shots back of DeChambeau. "Rory has been chasing another major since many years. He is one of the best players in the world, a true champion. It shows you how tough it is.
"The more you want it, the tougher it gets, and the highest expectation you have for yourself, the tougher it gets, the more pressure you got into.
"Maybe this is a little bit of pressure that got him today for sure, but Rory is just a massive champion. I'm sure he will fight back and really soon."
McIlroy's next shot at winning his first major title since the PGA Championship in August 2014 will be at the July 18-21 British Open.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Chris Reese) | Sport | Golf | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - After throwing away a glorious chance to end a decade-long hunt for a fifth major, a devastated Rory McIlroy high-tailed it from Pinehurst Resort on Sunday without speaking to media and before Bryson DeChambeau was awarded the U.S. Open trophy. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/golf/2024/06/17/golf-crushed-mcilroy-bolts-from-pinehurst-after-us-open-heartbreak | |
1,373,063 | Swimming-Walsh, Fink add their names to US team for Paris Games | INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) -Gretchen Walsh backed up her world record performance in the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly by winning Sunday's final while Nic Fink held on to win the 100m breaststroke as both swimmers secured spots on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics.
Walsh brought the house down at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday when she broke the record and almost did it again a day later, touching the wall in 55.31 seconds, just shy of her freshly-minted record of 55.18.
"I'm still in shock, I don't even know what to say," said the 21-year-old after booking her first trip to an Olympics.
"Making the team was the biggest goal but getting a world record was absolute insanity."
Torri Huske was second with a time of 55.52.
Fink got off to a blistering start and fended off a late challenge from second place finisher Charlie Swanson to punch his ticket to a second Games.
The soon-to-be father was cheered on by his pregnant wife Melanie, who shed tears after Fink touched the wall first on Father's Day.
"That's a win for me but it's really a win for everybody in my life," said Fink.
"My wife and I have had an equal share in this pregnancy so far so she's been great," he said to laughter from the thousands on hand for the second night of the nine-day trials.
Fink finished fifth in the 200m breaststroke at the Tokyo Games and considered putting less priority on swimming but the 30-year-old now finds himself heading back to the sport's biggest stage.
"It takes a village to get this old man this far," he said.
"I need a lot of help and I've got more than enough of it."
Carson Foster will be making his Olympic debut after his triumph in the 400m individual medley.
Foster was overcome with emotion after adding his name to the team. The 22-year-old had just missed out on the squad for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
"I have probably 25 family and friends in the stands and I wish I could just jump that fence and go hug them," Foster said.
Chase Kalisz was second with a time of 4:09.39.
Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky won her 200m freestyle semi-final and will be top seed for the final.
Ledecky qualified for her fourth Games on Saturday with a dominant victory in the 400m freestyle before a crowd of 20,689, a record number for a swim meet.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Indianapolis; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Peter Rutherford) | Sport | Swimming | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) -Gretchen Walsh backed up her world record performance in the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly by winning Sunday's final while Nic Fink held on to win the 100m breaststroke as both swimmers secured spots on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2024/06/17/swimming-walsh-and-foster-make-us-team-for-paris-games | |
1,373,054 | Sport-Clark and Ledecky lead charge of women's sports in Indy | INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Anyone looking for proof of the meteoric rise of women's sport need look no further than downtown Indianapolis this weekend where within a five block radius fans turned out in their droves to witness the brilliance of Katie Ledecky and Caitlin Clark.
Seven-times Olympic gold medallist Ledecky qualified for her fourth Games under the lights of Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday in front of an adoring crowd of 20,689, a record number for a swim meet.
Less than 24 hours later, Clark thrilled a sold-out arena of 17,274 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the WNBA's Indiana Fever beat the visiting Chicago Sky 91-83.
"It just shows that when given the opportunity, women's sports are amazingly fun to watch and only on the rise," Clark told reporters after scoring 23 points in the hard-fought win.
"People are finally starting to realise how great of a product it is," she said.
"Once they come and watch one time they can't get enough and they continue to come back.
"To be a small part of that is super fun and to play in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,000 people, that's not something you ever take for granted."
Clark was on the receiving end of a hard foul from rival Angel Reese during the contest but said that is just the way it goes when elite athletes battle head-to-head.
"People love to see the emotion and the passion that we play with," she said.
"I think that was something that was maybe not appreciated in women's sports and it should be. That's what makes it fun."
Ledecky said she was having more fun than ever after punching her ticket to the Paris Games with a triumph in the 400 metres freestyle.
The 27-year-old was by far the biggest attraction on the opening night of the U.S. Olympic Trials, which for the first time are being held inside an NFL stadium with the atmosphere of a rock concert.
"I was blown away walking out there and seeing all the fans," Ledecky said.
"I hope it moves our sport forward. I hope there are some young swimmers out there that get excited about today."
Clark's team mate Aliyah Boston said she is proud to be part of a movement that is inspiring the next generation.
"Younger girls now have so many more athletes to look up to and say I want to be like her, I want to be an Olympian just like her," Boston said.
"To be a part of that is amazing. I wouldn't trade it for the world."
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Indianapolis; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Other Sports | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Anyone looking for proof of the meteoric rise of women's sport need look no further than downtown Indianapolis this weekend where within a five block radius fans turned out in their droves to witness the brilliance of Katie Ledecky and Caitlin Clark. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/others/2024/06/17/sport-clark-and-ledecky-lead-charge-of-women039s-sports-in-indy | |
1,372,989 | Calmer Zii Jia is stepping in right direction after Down Under success | PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia (pic) will be heading to the Paris Olympic Games with a calm mind and a pep in his step.
The world No. 8 shuttler claimed his second title of the year at the Australian Open after defeating world No. 6 Kodai Naraoka of Japan 21-19, 11-21, 21-18 in the final yesterday at the Quaycentre in Sydney Olympic Park.
The decider was intense as Zii Jia had a comfortable 17-11 lead before Naraoka launched an attack that saw the score tied at 18-18. Zii Jia said the winning recipe for him was staying calm in stressful situations, which also gave him the edge against Naraoka in the final.
“My mentality has changed a lot. I’m calmer now and it’s a positive for me to take away before the Olympics,” said Zii Jia.
It was Zii Jia’s third final appearance in four recent tournaments after winning the Thailand Open and finishing runners-up at the Malaysian Masters last month.
“Things have been going good for me, there’s so much to be happy about in the last few weeks,” he said.
Zii Jia said he has learned not to lose his composure during crucial moments.
“I don’t think too much about the points but instead I think of how hard am I going to play for each point,” said Zii Jia.
“It was more about how I was going to solve problems that Naraoka was throwing my way, trying to make it hard for me.
“It was quite intense when he gave a chase but I was enjoying the game and didn’t feel nervous. That’s the feeling I want,” he said.
This was Zii Jia’s third win out of six meetings against Naraoka, and the result in Sydney should see him move up the world rankings before Paris, ensuring that he is seeded at the Games in July.
Zii Jia added that the match with Naraoka was among the toughest matches he has played so far.
“It was a very exciting game, probably one of the toughest and best-played matches in my career. Both of us gave it all on the court.
“Now it’s time to rest, recharge, and refocus for the Paris Olympics,” he added. | Sport | Badminton | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Badminton,Australian Open,Lee Zii Jia | PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia (pic) will be heading to the Paris Olympic Games with a calm mind and a pep in his step. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/badminton/2024/06/17/calmer-zii-jia-is-stepping-in-right-direction-after-down-under-success | |
1,372,975 | More to come from Morata | BERLIN: Three months after a section of Spain fans whistled Alvaro Morata, the striker got the ball rolling on their Euro 2024 bid by scoring the opener to inspire an impressive 3-0 win over Croatia on Saturday.
Spain’s lack of an elite number nine is often cited as one of the country’s weak points but the Atletico Madrid forward set up three-time champions La Roja for a perfect start in Berlin.
The former Juventus, Real Madrid and Chelsea forward has bounced around some of Europe’s biggest sides without fully convincing or becoming the consistently lethal weapon many hoped he could be.
Morata limped off after 67 minutes but insisted after the game it was just a knock and he would be fit for Spain’s second match in what was dubbed the ‘’group of death’’.
“I am ready for Italy,” he said, with Spain facing the Euro 2020 champions on Thursday in Gelsenkirchen.
After Spain had dominated early possession it was just when Croatia began to play their way into the match that Morata pounced.
The forward, occasionally derided for spurning presentable opportunities, broke in down the middle after the excellent Fabian Ruiz threaded a pass through for him from deep in midfield.
Morata stayed calm as he stared down Dominik Livakovic and, with his weaker left foot, clinically slid the ball past the Croatian goalkeeper.
“Fabian gave it to me, I said the other day that he’s brilliant, he had a great game and then he scored a great goal himself,” said Morata, passing on the credit.
The Atletico striker’s goal blew the game open after Croatia had kept it tightly closed, and Ruiz added the second just three minutes later, with Dani Carvajal grabbing another before the break.
Morata’s strike made him the standalone fourth top Spanish international goalscorer of all-time with 36 goals, trailing only leader David Villa on 59, as well as Raul and Fernando Torres with 44 and 38 respectively.
The striker also pulled level as the joint-third top Euros goalscorer, with Alan Shearer and Antoine Griezmann on seven -- Cristiano Ronaldo has 14 and Michel Platini nine.
With such strong tallies, it was surprising to some that Morata was whistled during a 3-3 friendly draw with Brazil in March at the Bernabeu.
Of course some Real Madrid fans took the chance to insult a rival at club level, but if Morata was an indisputable key player for Spain they might not have been so dismissive.
“It hurts my soul that in my country they whistle a player from the national team... when I hear them whistle, I feel shame,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente in March, but he was far happier in Berlin. — AFP | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | BERLIN: Three months after a section of Spain fans whistled Alvaro Morata, the striker got the ball rolling on their Euro 2024 bid by scoring the opener to inspire an impressive 3-0 win over Croatia on Saturday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/more-to-come-from-morata | |
1,373,009 | Squash: It’s C for class | PETALING JAYA: Debutant C. Ameeshenraj turned hero for Malaysia when he delivered the winning point against Hong Kong in the Asia Team Championships in Dalian, China, yesterday.
The 20-year-old Ameeshenraj hardly showed any nerves as he rose to the occasion by beating Tang Ming Hong 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 to help Malaysia edge Hong Kong 2-1 for the men’s title. | Sport | Squash | Metered | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Squash,Asia Team Championships,C. Ameeshenraj,S. Sivasangari | PETALING JAYA: Debutant C. Ameeshenraj turned hero for Malaysia when he delivered the winning point against Hong Kong in the Asia Team Championships in Dalian, China, yesterday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2024/06/17/its-c-for-class | |
1,373,008 | Mighty effort needed in Almaty for Azeem to reach Paris | PETALING JAYA: Sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi is saving his best for last in a bid to qualify for the Olympic Games.
After posting a poor time at the Malaysian Open, US-based Azeem must dip below 10.25s in the Kazakhstan Open from June 23 to 24 to meet the next Olympic Games qualification requirement, which is based on rankings. | Sport | Athletics | Metered | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Athletics,Malaysian Open,Azeem Fahmi | PETALING JAYA: Sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi is saving his best for last in a bid to qualify for the Olympic Games. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/athletics/2024/06/17/mighty-effort-needed-in-almaty-for-azeem-to-reach-paris | |
1,372,987 | DeChambeau finds success without bulk of the past | PINEHURST: Bryson DeChambeau has gone from being a bulked-up long driver to become a more all-around golfer and finds himself in position to win his first Major title since the switch.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, fired a three-under 67 to grab a three-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US Open, handling Pinehurst with putting precision and strategic thinking. It’s a far cry from four years ago, when he won his first Major crown with huge muscles and weight work and the idea to bash the ball as far as possible, then turn the distance edge into birdies and victories. | Sport | Golf | Metered | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | golf | PINEHURST: Bryson DeChambeau has gone from being a bulked-up long driver to become a more all-around golfer and finds himself in position to win his first Major title since the switch. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/golf/2024/06/17/dechambeau-finds-success-without-bulk-of-the-past | |
1,373,006 | Return of wonder winger Arif will give JDT a further lift | PETALING JAYA: The return of winger Arif Aiman Hanapi (pic) is a boost for defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
Arif showed that an ankle injury that saw him missing out on action this season has healed when he scored a goal in JDT’s 4-0 demolition of Kelantan to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri
Arif did not play in JDT’s first two Super League matches against Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan. He was also dropped from the national team before the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 second-round qualifier in Bishkek early this month.
JDT coach Hector Bidoglio was wearing a huge smile after seeing Arif get on the scoresheet.
“He has fully recovered from his ankle injury. I am happy with the minutes he got and the fact that he scored a goal and was menace on the flanks,” said Bidoglio.
“We can’t wait to have him in the first eleven soon.”
Arif came on as a substitute and scored the fourth goal in the 94th minute.
JDT’s Argentinian striker Fernando Forestieri scored in the dying minutes of the first half while the other goals came through two subsititutes - naturalised player Romel Morales (61st minute) and Portuguese midfielder Francisco Geraldes (82nd).
JDT will take on Malaysian University in the two-legged quarter-finals. The first leg will be at UPM Sports Centre on June 28, followed by the second on July 4 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
Overall though, Bidoglio said JDT did well but under-performed in the first half.
“In the first-half, our opponents were resolute and it was tough to break them down because they closed the spaces,” he said.
“It was different in the next half. The dynamism was better and the intensity was brilliant. Our substitutes did a good job too.
“We attacked well from the flanks through Murilo (Henrique) and Arif. In the middle, we had Chico (Francisco Geraldes) and Romel who made good passes from the middle.’’ | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Football,FA Cup,JDT,Kelantan,Hector Bidoglio | PETALING JAYA: The return of winger Arif Aiman Hanapi (pic) is a boost for defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT). | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/return-of-wonder-winger-arif-will-give-jdt-a-further-lift | |
1,372,976 | Croatia coach Dalic apologises to thousands of fans for poor start | BERLIN: Coach Zlatko Dalic said he “apologised” to the tens of thousands of Croatia fans who travelled for his side’s disappointing opening 3-0 loss to Spain at Euro 2024 in Berlin on Saturday.
Croatia were stunned by a vibrant first-half display from Spain as goals in the opening 45 minutes from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal left Dalic’s men precariously placed in Group B.
They are attempting to reach the knockout phase at a fifth consecutive major tournament, after finishing third at the Qatar World Cup two years ago.
“It was a great atmosphere. I don’t know how many Croatia supporters were here today,” he said of the crowd at the Olympiastadion, which was vastly made up of Croatia fans.
“I apologise for this bad show today... It was amazing how many of them travelled here and my message is that I apologise to them.
“We weren’t aggressive enough, we were too far away from their players. We gave them too much space and when you give such players so much space, it is difficult. Especially in the first half.”
Croatia next face Albania in Hamburg on Wednesday, before a potentially crucial closing group match against reigning European champions Italy in Leipzig on June 24.
Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol played at leftback rather than in central defence, but Dalic insisted he would not be pressured into a change despite being angered by the manner of Morata’s 29th-minute opening goal.
“That deep, vertical ball we have spoken about,” Dalic said of Ruiz’s through ball from inside his own half which set Morata away.
“It was a cheap goal... We had a lot of issues in that part of the defence but until now it has been good so I hope this was just a bad day.
“We won’t erase everything we’ve done well, there were good games before when he (Gvardiol) played in that position.
“We have two matches left to get through the group and this was a bad day.
‘‘We need to see why it was bad and what we can do.”
Dalic withdrew key midfielders Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic in the 65th minute, but said that was just to ensure they are ready for the coming games.
“They played for an hour and we realised we have two difficult matches in front of us against Albania and Italy and we didn’t want to force them to play until the end... so we decided to rest them.” — AFP | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | BERLIN: Coach Zlatko Dalic said he “apologised” to the tens of thousands of Croatia fans who travelled for his side’s disappointing opening 3-0 loss to Spain at Euro 2024 in Berlin on Saturday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/croatia-coach-dalic-apologises-to-thousands-of-fans-for-poor-start | |
1,373,010 | Football: Sublime finish | HAMBURG: Substitute Wout Weghorst snatched a late winner for Holland in a 2-1 victory over Poland in their opening Euro 2024 clash.
The Burnley striker, who burst into life at the 2022 World Cup, once again brought his best game to the big stage in Hamburg as Poland looked to have frustrated their opponents, despite injured striker Robert Lewandowski being unable to play.
The Barcelona striker’s replacement Adam Buksa, headed Poland in front after 16 minutes before Cody Gakpo levelled with a deflected effort at the Volksparkstadion.
Holland failed to convert further openings and Poland improved as the game seemed to be heading for a draw, before Weghorst intervened in the 83rd minute to delight his team’s fans.
Clad in their traditional vibrant orange, a sea of bouncing Dutch supporters took over the streets of Hamburg before the game, hoping for a second European Championship trophy.
Coach Ronald Koeman, in his second stint at the helm, won the tournament with the Oranje as a player in 1988.
Holland, who performed strongly two years ago at the Qatar World Cup after failing to reach Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, came out of the blocks quickly.
Despite lacking the star power of previous generations – the likes of Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie – their current trio of forwards are dynamic.
Liverpool winger Gakpo took the creative reins alongside Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons, and tested Wojciech Szczesny with a low drive.
Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders steered a good chance narrowly wide before Michal Probierz’s Poland took the lead against the run of play with one of their first forays forward.
Antalyaspor striker Buksa planted a glancing header beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Piotr Zielinski’s corner after 16 minutes.
Szczesny saved well from Holland captain Virgil van Dijk and Depay flashed two efforts off-target before Gakpo levelled.
The forward’s effort from just outside the area deflected in off Bartosz Salamon, leaving Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny with no chance.
Gakpo put Holland ahead from close range after being teed up by Nathan Ake but his shot rose fractionally too high.
Sporting a striking white sweatband around his forehead, Depay fired agonisingly wide in first-half stoppage time as the Dutch maintained control and racked up shots.
Poland largely managed to stifle their opponents in a more even second half, with Holland short of ideas.
Verbruggen saved from Jakub Kiwior at his near post, while the rampaging Denzel Dumfries threatened twice at the other end.
Stefan de Vrij headed a corner over but the fluency Koeman’s side produced in the opening period was harder to come by as Poland’s confidence grew.
It took Weghorst to finally put the Oranje ahead. He finished clinically with his first opportunity two minutes after coming on.
Ake, who also teed up Gakpo for the opener, slid a low cross into the box and Weghorst diverted it home with a tidy finish. — AFP | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024,football | HAMBURG: Substitute Wout Weghorst snatched a late winner for Holland in a 2-1 victory over Poland in their opening Euro 2024 clash. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/sublime-finish | |
1,373,049 | Soccer-Serbia fear Kostic sustained knee ligament damage, manager says | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Serbia midfielder Filip Kostic is thought to have sustained a ligament injury in his left knee in the 1-0 defeat by England in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday, coach Dragan Stojkovic said.
Kostic was forced off in the 43rd minute after a challenge with England midfielder Jude Bellingham which saw him fall to the ground and immediately ask for medical assistance.
The 31-year-old Juventus player walked off the pitch crying and was substituted by Filip Mladenovic.
"Kostic felt a strong pain in the outside part of his left knee and we fear that he could have ligament damage. He will undergo medical tests on Monday, let's hope it's not as bad as it looks," Stojkovic told a press conference at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen.
Stojkovic said that he believed his side should have snatched a better result in a feisty performance against England, mainly in the second half, after they rallied and forced a nervy end of encounter for their opponents.
"We managed to corner the English team and I think we didn't deserve to lose," Stojkovic said. "We were so close today against a quality opponent and I'm not satisfied by the result, not satisfied at all. But what can I do now?
"I told my players I was proud of their performance and about everything but the result. Now all we can do is to rest and get ready for what is ahead, probably the most important match of the group stage against Slovenia."
The result left Serbia bottom of Group C after Denmark and Slovenia drew 1-1 earlier on Sunday. England are top and play Denmark on Thursday when Serbia take on Slovenia.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Serbia midfielder Filip Kostic is thought to have sustained a ligament injury in his left knee in the 1-0 defeat by England in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday, coach Dragan Stojkovic said. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-serbia-fear-kostic-sustained-knee-ligament-damage-manager-says | |
1,373,047 | Soccer-England's gritty win over Serbia good for team spirit, Southgate says | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - England's rearguard effort in a nervy second half as they held on to beat Serbia 1-0 on Sunday will hold the team in good stead as they look to go far at Euro 2024, coach Gareth Southgate said.
England, runners-up in the 2020 edition and seeking to finally win a trophy befitting their vast array of attacking talent, started brilliantly and led after 13 minutes through midfielder Jude Bellingham's superb header.
But they created few chances and allowed Serbia, who were much improved after the break, to play their way back into the Group C game though they rarely threatened an equaliser.
"I'm pleased that we had to show a different side, we had to show that resilience to defend our box because I think as a group that really builds a huge spirit," Southgate said.
He added: "Our team ran out of some energy and that didn't surprise me because of the lack of 90 minutes that lots of the players have had ... I think we can be more efficient in the way that we played in the first half, which would also help us."
Southgate said England were still a side in transition, without stalwarts like centre-back Harry Maguire, who is injured, and midfielder Jordan Henderson, who was left out of the Euros, and with several inexperienced players in the squad.
"This team is still coming together," he said. "Everybody's expecting us to waltz through. There's a lot of hard work ahead.
"We're short of certain things, we're finding the best possible solutions. We've had a very complicated run-in to all of this, but the spirit of the group was there for everybody to see tonight and we will definitely grow from that."
Man of the match Bellingham took issue with the suggestion that England's second-half performance showed a need for improvement, saying they would take the positives from the game.
"Obviously, commonly with the team there's a negative theme around all our games -- and sometimes rightly so -- but I think in this case you take the positives," he said.
"OK, maybe we had to hold on at times and suffer a little bit, but we kept a clean sheet and when you keep a clean sheet all you have to do is score one goal."
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - England's rearguard effort in a nervy second half as they held on to beat Serbia 1-0 on Sunday will hold the team in good stead as they look to go far at Euro 2024, coach Gareth Southgate said. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-england039s-gritty-win-over-serbia-good-for-team-spirit-southgate-says | |
1,373,046 | Analysis-Soccer-Bellingham the difference in England's hard-fought win over Serbia | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Midfielder Jude Bellingham proved to be the difference as England started their quest for a first European Championship title with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over battling Serbia.
Gareth Southgate's men can take some comfort from opening their campaign with a victory and a clean sheet, especially with Denmark and Slovenia drawing 1-1 earlier on Sunday, as they sit atop Group C ahead of Thursday's game against the Danes.
But they struggled on a night that belonged to Bellingham, who has been pegged as the player to lead England out of the dark years of disappointment and lived up the billing, rushing in to score with a powerful header in the 13th minute.
Bellingham, who became the first European player to make an appearance at three major international tournaments before turning 21, looked nothing like a 20-year-old and delighted the England fans who serenaded him with The Beatles' "Hey Jude!"
On the heels of a spectacular debut season with Real Madrid, Bellingham roamed all over the Arena AufSchalke pitch, making tackles and demanding the ball. His 56 touches in the first half were the highest in an England team who took the game to Serbia.
Bellingham deflected any praise coming his way though.
"Jude Bellingham is made up of amazing people, really," he said. "It's not just me who turns up and enjoys it like I do and just plays football, it's because I have such a great support network. My family, my friends, my team mates. Playing football is the easiest part."
BRIGHT SPOT
Defender Marc Guehi, alongside John Stones in defence, was another plus. With 11 caps before the game, he looked calm and composed at centre back, a position that has caused much concern with the absence of veteran Harry Maguire due to injury.
Southgate pulled Guehi in for a hug and a few congratulatory words after the final whistle with the Crystal Palace player playing an important part in England keeping Serbia out.
But there were plenty of concerns in a second half that conjured memories of previous England disappointments -- including their penalty shootout loss to Italy in the 2020 Euro final, and their 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia.
Their first-half composure disappeared altogether after the break as they allowed Serbia to creep back into the game, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was forced into action, making one terrific leaping save in the dying minutes.
"It's always hard to get off to a good start in a major tournament," Guehi said. "The most important thing was to get the win and we did that. We need to focus now, improve and on to the next."
While the ball went through Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker on the right -- at least in the first 45 minutes -- the left side of Phil Foden and Kieran Trippier was pretty stagnant.
Trippier, who is usually a right back, was played out of position and Foden was not in the more central midfield spot he thrived in during the second half of his Manchester City season.
Southgate put a positive spin on the narrow victory though.
"We had to suffer a bit which I think is really good for us," he said. "Second half we didn't keep it as well as I would have liked but to get the win is very important."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Midfielder Jude Bellingham proved to be the difference as England started their quest for a first European Championship title with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over battling Serbia. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/analysis-soccer-bellingham-the-difference-in-england039s-hard-fought-win-over-serbia | |
1,373,041 | Soccer-England struggled during win over Serbia, captain Kane says | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - England captain Harry Kane said the Three Lions struggled at times during their 1-0 win on Sunday as they launched their Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought victory.
"Overall a deserved win. It's just about getting through," Kane said. "There was a spell in the second half where we got camped in our box and we found it hard to get out but it was an important win tonight."
A headed goal by Jude Bellingham in the 13th minute put England on the way to all three points in the Group C game and Kane, who had a late header pushed onto the bar by the keeper, praised the young midfielder as "an unbelievable player."
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - England captain Harry Kane said the Three Lions struggled at times during their 1-0 win on Sunday as they launched their Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought victory. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-england-struggled-during-win-over-serbia-captain-kane-says | |
1,373,040 | Soccer-England hang on to beat Serbia 1-0 with Bellingham header | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) -A powerful first-half header by Jude Bellingham sent England on the way to a successful launch of their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 win over Serbia on Sunday that began confidently but saw the Three Lions clinging on for the points by the end.
The excellent Bellingham stormed into the box to connect with Bukayo Saka's deflected cross that sailed across the box perfectly for the 20-year-old midfielder to put the Euro 2020 runners-up ahead from close range in the 13th minute.
The result put England top of Group C after Denmark and Slovenia drew 1-1 earlier on Sunday.
Bellingham, who began the move for the only goal himself, set the tempo for much of England's attacking play and was cheered to the rafters of the cavernous Arena AufSchalke by the army of Three Lions fans bellowing his name.
Gareth Southgate's attack-minded team initially found space down the right as Saka linked up with full back Kyle Walker, whose surging runs threatened to help add to England's advantage.
But after the break, Serbia began to threaten and England showed little of their earlier fluency.
The tally of 11 shots by the final whistle – six by Serbia, five from England - was the lowest in a European Championship match since at least 1980, according to Opta data.
Bellingham took issue when asked by reporters if England's loss of momentum showed the team remained a work in progress.
"I don't agree with that," he said. "I think the first half shows why we can score goals against any team and the second half shows why we can keep a clean sheet against any team."
SERBIA IMPROVE
Serbia upped their game at the start of the second half after bringing on Ivan Ilic for defensive midfielder Nemanja Gudelj, and before long striker Dusan Vlahovic swept a cross dangerously across England's box, rousing their fans.
Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic doubled down on his switch to a more attacking shape as Dusan Tadic and Luka Jovic came off the bench with just over an hour played.
Southgate responded by introducing the hard-running Conor Gallagher - replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in an unfamiliar midfield role.
Another substitute, Jarrod Bowen, delivered a pinpoint cross for captain Harry Kane, whose header was pushed onto the bar by goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic in the 77th minute.
Five minutes later, a fierce Vlahovic shot was tipped over by Jordan Pickford as Serbia kept up the pressure.
But England, with an unfamiliar-looking defence that featured the impressive Marc Guehi, playing in a major tournament for the first time, and right-footed Kieran Trippier standing in as left back, held out for the win.
Kane acknowledged the performance was not a classic by England. "Overall a deserved win. It's just about getting through," said the England captain.
"There was a spell in the second half where we got camped in our box and we found it hard to get out but it was an important win tonight."
England next play Denmark on Thursday after Serbia take on Slovenia.
(Reporting by William Schomberg and Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) -A powerful first-half header by Jude Bellingham sent England on the way to a successful launch of their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 win over Serbia on Sunday that began confidently but saw the Three Lions clinging on for the points by the end. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-bellingham039s-header-gives-england-1-0-euro-win-over-serbia | |
1,373,039 | Soccer-'Make them suffer' - Assured Austria promise courage against mighty France | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Austria are convinced they are strong enough to cause a major upset against twice winners France when they start their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday, with the in-form side certain they can shut out Les Bleus' big names and snatch all three points.
Austria have won only one of their last 10 encounters with the 2018 world champions but are bursting with confidence after being defeated in only one of their past 16 matches over a 19-month spell that included victories over Italy and Germany.
"That is crucial tomorrow, that we will be courageous, that we are convinced of our own strength," Austria's German coach Ralf Rangnick said on Sunday ahead of the Group D clash.
"What's really vital is the way that we perform tomorrow, not the way that France plays, or whether they are a little bit better or a little bit worse ... it's only about us."
He added: "We prepared for over two years for this day. It's finally starting for us. We're really excited. There's joy above everything else."
Rangnick has been credited with turning his young team into a formidable force, with their high press strategy rattling defences and helping Austria to win six of their eight qualifying matches.
The Austrians face lethal forward Kylian Mbappe, who has yet to score in a European Championship after a barren 2020 tournament that ended in France's shock second-round exit on penalties to Switzerland.
Rangnick said Mbappe was among the world's greatest, but just one player in 11.
"With our style of playing we have to counter him and the whole French team, we have to make sure that he doesn't receive as many balls as he likes," Rangnick said.
"We know from our own strengths that we can win this match."
Versatile midfielder Konrad Laimer echoed his coach's view that France can be beaten if Austria stick to their own game.
"We know if we can do that, we can hurt any team, we can make any opponent suffer," Laimer said.
"It's really crucial that when you play against teams such as France, that you have to take the superstars out and that you stay calm and in control in possession in order to become dangerous."
Netherlands secured a deserved 2-1 comeback victory over Poland in the opening Group D match on Sunday.
(Reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Austria are convinced they are strong enough to cause a major upset against twice winners France when they start their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday, with the in-form side certain they can shut out Les Bleus' big names and snatch all three points. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-039make-them-suffer039---assured-austria-promise-courage-against-mighty-france | |
1,373,038 | Soccer-Denmark's Eriksen writes new Euro chapter after near-fatal collapse | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - As Denmark got ready to take the field for their Euro 2024 opening clash with Slovenia on Sunday, broadcasters around the world flashed back to three years ago when midfielder Christian Eriksen almost lost his life in very similar circumstances.
On that occasion, 1,100 days ago, the Danes were also favourites, taking on a Finland side making their first appearance at a major finals, but none of that mattered when Eriksen, then 29, slumped to the turf after suffering a cardiac arrest as his partner watched horrified from the stands.
Remarkably, both he and Denmark recovered, with Eriksen having a device to regulate his heart fitted and his team mates going on a storied run to the Euro semi-finals, where they lost to England in the first of many new chapters written since.
"This time at the Euros, my story is very different to last time. Luckily there's been a lot of games since it happened. I felt confident going into this game and I was just happy to be playing," the softly-spoken Eriksen said after scoring in his side's 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
After almost losing his life on that June evening in Copenhagen, Eriksen was soon back playing, and he scored two minutes after returning to the national team in a game against the Netherlands in March 2022.
On Sunday, he was back pulling the strings in the centre of Denmark's midfield as if nothing had ever happened, scoring the opening goal in the 17th minute.
"I was very pleased (to score). I did have in mind that I hadn't scored at a Euros, so obviously that was on my mind - but nothing else but football was on my mind," he said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - As Denmark got ready to take the field for their Euro 2024 opening clash with Slovenia on Sunday, broadcasters around the world flashed back to three years ago when midfielder Christian Eriksen almost lost his life in very similar circumstances. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-denmark039s-eriksen-writes-new-euro-chapter-after-near-fatal-collapse | |
1,373,037 | Soccer-Ten Hag confirms Man Utd looked for other managers | AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Manchester United contacted other potential managers in recent weeks but in the end decided to “go for the best”, Erik ten Hag said on Sunday, confirming the speculation swirling around the club since they won the FA Cup last month.
"As in any organisation, and that seems very sensible to me, there is an evaluation," Ten Hag told a Dutch television sports show.
“Conclusions were drawn from there. The new leadership is playing football for the first time,” he said referring to new owner Jim Ratcliffe.
Ten Hag added that Ratcliffe's company Ineos had also spoken to other coaches, such as Thomas Tuchel.
“That's no secret. Everyone has heard that they have spoken to several candidates. In the Netherlands that is not done. You are not even allowed to talk to another club if there is a current trainer there. But in England the rules and laws are different.
"But in the end they came to the conclusion that they have the best trainer," Ten Hag quipped.
He had been on holiday in Ibiza when his future was settled.
“We had a good discussion and various topics were discussed. One of the conclusions is that we will extend the contract. But we still have to reach an agreement,” he added.
Manchester United might have won the FA Cup but their eighth place finish was their worst since 1990.
“It was a turbulent season. Never a dull moment", Ten Hag added.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Hamburg; Editing by Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Manchester United contacted other potential managers in recent weeks but in the end decided to “go for the best”, Erik ten Hag said on Sunday, confirming the speculation swirling around the club since they won the FA Cup last month. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-ten-hag-confirms-man-utd-looked-for-other-managers | |
1,373,036 | Soccer-Eriksen excels but Danes stutter again in opening Euro draw with Slovenia | (Reuters) - Denmark's recent habit of superb attacking and suspect defending came back to haunt them in their Group C Euro 2024 opener against Slovenia as they once again threw away a lead to end up with a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a game they should have won.
Christian Eriksen excelled in the playmaker role, scoring the opening goal and creating virtually everything of note for Denmark, but once again his side's defending let them down as they ran out of steam in the second half.
"Of course, there has to be energy all the time, but that's what happens in football games, sometimes it changes ... but I think the lack of the second goal also has an influence," Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said.
Flanked by Eriksen, who was given the man of the match award, the 53-year-old praised the midfielder's ability to control a game after returning from a near-fatal cardiac arrest suffered during their Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
"He (Eriksen) has something very special," Hjulmand said.
"He played a fantastic game for us today and he is the rhythm of our team. We want to push him close to the goal and we see again today why, because he has some finishing and break-through skills that we need."
Denmark's coach has been criticised for relying on Eriksen, who only played sporadically for Manchester United in the past season, but he remains steadfast in his decision to include him.
"I have never had my doubts with Christian as a football player, you cannot hold down that kind of class. He is a natural player who knows the rhythm of the game - we say he's the heart of our game. For me he's a great player, and he showed it today," he said.
Denmark take on England in their next group game on Thursday, with the Slovenians set to face Serbia.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Denmark's recent habit of superb attacking and suspect defending came back to haunt them in their Group C Euro 2024 opener against Slovenia as they once again threw away a lead to end up with a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a game they should have won. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-eriksen-excels-but-danes-stutter-again-in-opening-euro-draw-with-slovenia | |
1,373,035 | Soccer-De Bruyne hails Belgium improvement ahead of Euro 2024 opener | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is feeling no ill-effects of an injury-plagued season with Manchester City and aims to lead his in-form country to the European Championship title as they prepare for their Group E opener against Slovakia on Monday.
De Bruyne started 15 games in the Premier League last season as a long-term hamstring injury kept him sidelined, but is feeling fresh with several new youngsters in the Belgium squad, a positive new energy around the team.
“It was a long time out and other niggles are normal after such a period on the sidelines,” De Bruyne told reporters on Sunday. “But the last three or four months I played a lot of games at a good level, in my view anyway. I am ready to help Belgium do something good at this tournament.”
Injuries limited De Bruyne to four caps in the 18 months since Belgium’s calamitous first round exit at the World Cup in Qatar.
“Qatar is over, we can’t change things there positively or negatively. It was a disappointment but there is a new coach (Domenico Tedesco) and this is a new tournament.”
Belgium, who will have central defenders Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate fit for the Slovakia game, are ranked number three in the world by FIFA but De Bruyne shied away from suggestions they are one of the Euro 2024 favourites.
“I wouldn’t say our squad is the third best in the world right now, but in a tournament the rankings do not matter. We are in a positive flow and I feel the team is ready. We are not the favourites and it is difficult to say where we should be ranked.”
De Bruyne is enjoying the style of play under Tedesco, who is unbeaten in his 15 games in charge since taking over from Roberto Martinez in February 2023.
“At my age, I have played under a number of different coaches who had their own styles, and I have always had to adapt,” he said.
“I am on the same wavelength with the coach, he wants to play in an aggressive manner and for us to be aggressive up front.
“I think we have made progress as a team and will continue to do so.”
De Bruyne adds they have done their homework on Slovakia and are expecting a difficult encounter.
“The important thing for them is the triangle in the midfield, they are the guys who put Slovakia together with and without the ball,” he said.
“They have good defenders and pacey wingers. We know what to expect and we need to be at our best level to win.”
(Reporting by Nick Said; additional reporting by Jonas Wollrab; Editing by Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is feeling no ill-effects of an injury-plagued season with Manchester City and aims to lead his in-form country to the European Championship title as they prepare for their Group E opener against Slovakia on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-de-bruyne-hails-belgium-improvement-ahead-of-euro-2024-opener | |
1,373,034 | Soccer-Slovenia had early stage fright against Danes but will improve says coach | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Slovenia were initially overwhelmed by playing on the big stage in the 1-1 draw against Denmark in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday and the players have realised there is room for improvement, said coach Matjaz Kek.
His team were playing in their first international tournament since the 2010 World Cup and their first Euros since 2000 and it initially showed with Denmark in complete control and taking the lead through playmaker Christian Eriksen.
"I expected that the first half would be like that," Kek told a press conference. "That is because many of our players had never played a game like that in a tournament like this.
"Once they realised that they can actually create some chances then the game turned," he said
Slovenia battled back after a one-sided first half and levelled when defender Erik Janza scored with a deflected shot that wrong-footed keeper Kasper Schmeichel. A minute earlier Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko had rattled the woodwork.
"We were a bit intimidated in the first half but we improved after the break. What has become clear is how much room for improvement there is," Kek said.
Slovenia next play Serbia on Thursday before facing group favourites England in their last match five days later.
"Still I have to say that in the first goal we were too naive. It is something that we will learn from and we will improve," said the coach.
"Overall it was a good game. We did not have a lot of luck with Sesko's finish but we still managed to score. But that first half should make us think.
"I still want to congratulate my boys because Slovenia left a good impression in Europe," Kek added.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Slovenia were initially overwhelmed by playing on the big stage in the 1-1 draw against Denmark in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday and the players have realised there is room for improvement, said coach Matjaz Kek. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-slovenia-had-early-stage-fright-against-danes-but-will-improve-says-coach | |
1,373,032 | Soccer-Reaction to Slovenia's 1-1 draw with Denmark at Euro 2024 | STUTTGART (Reuters) - The following is reaction to the 1-1 draw between Slovenia and Denmark in Group C at Euro 2024 on Sunday, with Christian Eriksen scoring for the Danes after 17 minutes and Erik Janza grabbing a second-half equaliser.
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen: "Well, it was nice (to score), it came at a good time. We had talked about scoring from a set piece, and we did - and unfortunately, the others did too, but we scored and got off to a good start. It was great with so many Danish fans.
"Of course we had imagined and hoped for three points but it is not like that in some games. We have to get back up on the horse again and continue. The next game against England is difficult. We'll see how they do later.
"It's a miserable feeling (to drop points). It's always annoying to get ahead and think you have it and then lose the point in the end. We have a point and the tournament is on. So we have to build on from here."
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand: "They created some things on their set pieces (in the second half), I don't think we produced enough, and we can't close the game by making it 2-0, and then there is some nervousness in the game.
"We don't play the game to score the next goal, we became too passive in the game, in my opinion."
Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek: "Maybe we showed a bit too much respect in the first half and we managed to break free in the second. It looked a lot better, it is definitely a match that showed me how much room from improvement we have for the next game - the incredible energy from the stands was a plus in this situation."
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART (Reuters) - The following is reaction to the 1-1 draw between Slovenia and Denmark in Group C at Euro 2024 on Sunday, with Christian Eriksen scoring for the Danes after 17 minutes and Erik Janza grabbing a second-half equaliser. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-reaction-to-slovenia039s-1-1-draw-with-denmark-at-euro-2024 | |
1,373,030 | ANALYSIS-Soccer-Denmark's Eriksen makes memorable Euro return to silence critics | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Denmark captain Christian Eriksen marked a memorable return to the European Championship three years after suffering a cardiac arrest at the previous edition of the tournament, scoring the goal that secured a 1-1 draw with Slovenia in their Group C opener on Sunday.
The 32-year-old missed his team's run to the semi-final in 2021 after his shock on-pitch collapse in the opening match against Finland.
On Sunday he did not waste any time to put the trauma of that game behind him as he played his first Euro game since then.
In a textbook playmaking performance, especially in a strong Danish first half, Eriksen orchestrated their game and set a quick early pace as per the orders of coach Kasper Hjulmand who fielded two strikers.
He delivered almost all of their set pieces while also scoring a 17th minute goal that handed the Danes the lead in a performance that will go a long way in silencing the critics.
Were it not for his team mates' sloppy finish, he could have added an assist or two to his match stats.
Only a few months ago this seemed a very unlikely scenario.
"The Christian Eriksen we all know, he is no longer there. Christian Eriksen doesn't play football anymore," former Denmark and Real Madrid player Thomas Gravesen said in his scathing criticism of the international.
"Christian Eriksen sits on the bench and watches football. Christian Eriksen as we know him, he is no more."
Eriksen was coming off a disappointing season with Manchester United that saw him earn little playing time under coach Eric ten Haag. That was hardly the run-up he needed for a major tournament.
Many fans back home were surprised that Hjulmand had kept faith with him, while others were certain the midfielder was well past his best.
Hjulmand, however, was certain Eriksen was still a precious asset for his team.
"He can do things that no one else can or see," he had said a few months ago.
On Sunday he was proven right with Eriksen the only player to maintain his level throughout and even though the Danish defence gradually caved in under Slovenian pressure and conceded an equaliser, he deservedly picked up the man-of-the-match award on his memorable Euro return.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Denmark captain Christian Eriksen marked a memorable return to the European Championship three years after suffering a cardiac arrest at the previous edition of the tournament, scoring the goal that secured a 1-1 draw with Slovenia in their Group C opener on Sunday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/analysis-soccer-denmark039s-eriksen-makes-memorable-euro-return-to-silence-critics | |
1,373,029 | Alexander-Arnold starts for England in Euro opener v Serbia | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) -England coach Gareth Southgate picked Trent Alexander-Arnold to partner Declan Rice in midfield for the Three Lions' Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday with Marc Guehi making his first major tournament appearance alongside John Stones in defence.
Alexander-Arnold - whose usually plays at full back - will probably push forward leaving Rice to be the main shield of England's defence which has been hit by injuries in the build-up to the campaign in Germany. Right-footed Kieran Trippier starts at left back in the absence of Luke Shaw.
Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will flank captain Harry Kane in attack with Jude Bellingham just behind the front three at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen.
Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic selected Predrag Rajkovic in goal in place of his usual starter Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Nemanja Gudelj replaced midfielder and captain Dusan Tadic who is on the bench.
Stojkovic was able to field his favoured attack led by Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose power in the air will test England's new-look defence, backed up by striker Dusan Vlahovic. Mitrovic wears the armband for Serbia with Tadic out.
Teams:
Serbia: Predrag Rajkovic; Strahinja Pavlovic, Nemanja Gudelj, Milos Veljkovic, Nikola Milenkovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Sergej Milenkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Filip Kostic; Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic (c).
England: Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Kieran Trippier; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham; Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane (c)
(Reporting by Bill Schomberg and Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) -England coach Gareth Southgate picked Trent Alexander-Arnold to partner Declan Rice in midfield for the Three Lions' Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday with Marc Guehi making his first major tournament appearance alongside John Stones in defence. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-teams-for-serbia-v-england-at-euro-2024 | |
1,373,028 | Golf-DeChambeau wins U.S. Open as McIlroy's major misery continues | (Reuters) -Bryson DeChambeau came out on top in a dramatic final round, back nine battle with Rory McIlroy to win the U.S. Open by one shot on Sunday as the Northern Irishman's major misery continued at Pinehurst resort in North Carolina.
Poised to end a decade long major drought, McIlroy collapsed at the finish with bogey's on three of his final four holes, including a heart-breaker at the 18th where he missed from inside four feet.
At the same time, playing in the final pair, DeChambeau sent his tee shot into the rough but held his nerve with a brilliant up and down to save par for a final round one-over 71.
That was good enough to earn the LIV Golf standard bearer a heart-stopping victory with a six-under 274 winning total.
"Oh, man, I didn't want to finish second again," said DeChambeau, runner-up at last month's PGA Championship. "PGA really stung.
"As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the PGA. I really wanted this one.
"When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, nope, I'm not going to let that happen.
"I was a little lucky. Rory didn't make a couple putts that he could have coming in.
"I had an amazing up-and-down on the last.
"I don't know what else to say. It's a dream come true."
McIlroy had a final round 69 to finish alone in second one ahead of Americans Patrick Cantlay (70) and Tony Finau (67).
It was the second career major win for DeChambeau, his first coming at the 2020 U.S. Open.
The 30-year-old American started the day at the top of the leaderboard three clear of the chasing pack that included McIlroy but trailed the world number three by two with five holes to play.
"Ultimately on 13, I knew I had to make birdie there to give myself a chance because Rory was going on a heater," said DeChambeau, who collected is last birdie of the day at 13. "He (McIlroy) slipped up a couple on the way coming in, and I just kept staying the course."
DeChambeau had looked headed for another second place until McIlroy's sudden collapse.
McIlroy had used a red hot putter to snatch the lead, but with the finish line in sight, suddenly went cold on the greens missing from 30 inches at the 16th and from inside four-feet at 18 leaving the Northern Irishman shellshocked as he walked off the course and quickly into his car putting the disaster in his rearview mirror.
The U.S. Open thriller showcased golf's best providing fans something they have been regularly denied since the sport split into two camps with the PGA Tour on one side and Saudi-backed rebel circuit LIV Golf on the other.
The final round on a tricky Pinehurst No. 2 layout featured two of the game's more intriguing personalities with McIlroy, long one of golf's most popular players and the big-hitting DeChambeau one of the most entertaining.
Along with the silver trophy, a record $4.3 million winner's purse golf bragging rights were also on the line with a LIV golfer again claiming a major title.
"I hope this can bridge the gap between a divided game," said DeChambeau. "All I want to do is entertain and do my best for the game of golf, execute and provide some awesome entertainment for the fans.
"From at least what I can tell, that's what the fans want, and they deserve that.
"Let bygones be bygones and go figure it out."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Stephen Coates) | Sport | Golf | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) -Bryson DeChambeau came out on top in a dramatic final round, back nine battle with Rory McIlroy to win the U.S. Open by one shot on Sunday as the Northern Irishman's major misery continued at Pinehurst resort in North Carolina. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/golf/2024/06/17/golf-dechambeau-takes-three-shot-lead-into-us-open-final-round | |
1,373,027 | Soccer-Eriksen's fairytale Euro comeback spoilt by Slovenia in 1-1 Euro draw | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) -Denmark's Christian Eriksen crowned a remarkable return to the European Championship with a goal 1,100 days after suffering a cardiac arrest but Slovenia snatched a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday.
Eriksen, who collapsed to the turf in the first half of Denmark's first Euro 2020 game against Finland in Copenhagen, collected a clever flick from Jonas Wind and fired home to give his side the lead in the 17th minute.
Eriksen could have added to his tally but blazed a pair of left-footed efforts wide of the target, and the Danes should have had a second goal midway through the second half but Jan Oblak managed to swat Rasmus Hojlund's close-range effort away.
Those misses were to prove costly. Slovenia's striker Benjamin Sesko thumped a shot off the post and a minute later defender Erik Janza scored with a deflected shot that wrong-footed Kasper Schmeichel.
It was a tale of two halves as the teams, who played each other twice in qualifying, deservedly took a share of the spoils.
Denmark were wary of Sesko in the build-up and the 21-year-old got an early sight of goal in the 16th minute when he had space outside the box to shoot, but his powerful drive sailed wide.
In the next minute, however, Denmark were ahead. A throw-in high up the pitch and into the box was flicked on by a back heel from Wind to Eriksen, who chested the ball before poking it in the far bottom corner.
The goal was met with a deafening roar from the large contingent of Danish fans in Stuttgart Arena, with the emotion of the moment not lost on those who saw the 32-year-old midfielder collapse on the pitch in Copenhagen.
However, the Danes could not add to their score, with man of the match Eriksen missing a chance for a second goal shortly before the break when he lifted a cut-back from Wind in the box well over the bar.
Matjaz Kek's Slovenia, in their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup, came out with intent in the second half and grew confident their chance would come, with their outnumbered fans making the most noise as nerves crept in the Danish camp.
Midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin headed wide with the whole goal to aim at while Janza's free kick into the box was struck wide by Andraz Sporar. The breakthrough finally came after Sesko's pile-driver hit Schmeichel's left-hand post in the 76th minute.
The clearance from a corner fell to Janza outside the area on the left and the defender's fierce strike took a wicked deflection off Morten Hjulmand to sail into the net.
While the Slovenia bench and supporters celebrated wildly, Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand looked on knowing his side would rue failing to take their chances ahead of their games against England and Serbia to come in the group.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor and Christian Radnedge; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) -Denmark's Christian Eriksen crowned a remarkable return to the European Championship with a goal 1,100 days after suffering a cardiac arrest but Slovenia snatched a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-eriksen039s-fairytale-euro-comeback-spoilt-by-slovenia-in-1-1-euro-draw | |
1,373,026 | Soccer-COVID disappointment driving Portugal's Cancelo at Euros | HARSEWINKEL, Germany (Reuters) - Portugal defender Joao Cancelo is looking to make up for a lost opportunity, after missing out on the last European Championship, when his country start their 2024 campaign next week, he said on Sunday.
Cancelo was dropped just before the Euro 2020 tournament after testing positive for COVID-19, something he said still rankles him.
“It was unfair, because I had a great season, I felt like I should have been there but life didn't want it that way,” he told a press conference.
“Maybe I had to wait for this moment to be the right one to assert myself, added the full back, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester City.
"No matter how many clubs I play for, the national team is the highlight of my career because in it I represent my family, my friends who played with me on the street," he added.
"It's always the highlight, whether in a friendly or in top competition.”
Cancelo, who won the first of his 54 caps in 2016, is expected to feature on Tuesday when the Portuguese open their campaign against the Czech Republic in Group F in Leipzig.
“We want to have a good start, get off on the right foot and I feel like we have the team to do it. There is a lot of positivity, we are on the right path but the results will tell.”
Cancelo praised the input of coach Roberto Martinez, who took over after the last World Cup in Qatar.
“He is a coach who from the first day made me feel at ease, both on a sporting and personal level.
“He is very close to the players, has good ideas, likes attacking, offensive and attractive football and I identify with that because I think the same way,” added Cancelo.
“We hope to bring him joy. He has made a difference since he arrived and has adapted very quickly.”
However, at club level these are uncertain times for the 30-year-old. Spanish sports newspapers at the weekend suggested he could return to City if Barca cannot finalise a permanent move.
“From the first day here, I forgot all that,” Cancelo responded to a question about his next move after Euro 2024.
“I'm 100% focused on the national team, 100% focused on helping Portugal,” he added.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HARSEWINKEL, Germany (Reuters) - Portugal defender Joao Cancelo is looking to make up for a lost opportunity, after missing out on the last European Championship, when his country start their 2024 campaign next week, he said on Sunday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-covid-disappointment-driving-portugal039s-cancelo-at-euros | |
1,373,025 | Soccer-France captain Mbappe says extremes are knocking on door of power | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe found himself at the centre of his country's political turmoil on the eve of France's opening game at Euro 2024 on Sunday, describing the tumultuous events back home as a pivotal moment for French history.
Usual questions about the challenge Austria might pose in the Group D clash in Duesseldorf were relegated at the pre-match media conference with Mbappe speaking openly about his fears, saying the situation in France 'was dire'.
"This is a never-seen-before event," Mbappe, France's talisman, told reporters. "And that is why I want to talk to the whole of the French people, but also the youth.
"We are a generation that can make a difference. We see the extremes are knocking on the door of power and we have the opportunity to shape our country's future."
On Saturday the French football federation called for the national team's neutrality to be respected and for Les Bleus not to be politicised following President Emmanuel Macron's shock announcement a week ago to call a snap parliamentary elections for later this month after he was trounced in the European Union vote by Marine Le Pen's far-right party.
The move plunged France into political uncertainty and has roiled financial markets, with Macron's gamble offering the far-right a shot at real political power that could weaken his presidency three years before it ends.
Opinion polls project the far-right National Rally (RN) could for the first time top the June 30 and July 7 vote, but may fall short of an absolute majority to govern alone.
While saying that it rejected any pressure and political use of the national team, the French federation said players were free to express their views.
Forward Marcus Thuram urged people to 'fight daily' to prevent RN from gaining power, and Mbappe tackled the situation head-on.
"I share his opinion. I share the same opinion when I spoke about diversity, tolerance and respect," Mbappe, who will join Real Madrid after the tournament, said.
"The game tomorrow is very important. I think that I am well placed to say and I've said it until I'm blue in the face, but there is a situation that is even more important than the game.
"Kylian Mbappe is against extreme views and against ideas that divide people. I want to be proud to represent France, I don't want to represent a country that doesn't correspond to my values, or our values."
STRONG RULES
UEFA has strong rules against teams or players making political statements but Mbappe did not rule that out on Monday, although he said they did not want to steal the spotlight.
"Everyone cares. Everyone understands the situation in France. There are some people who feel more comfortable saying something and speaking out," the 25-year-old Parisian said.
"We want to protect all of our players and obviously protect the French team. But we have thought about this and I think we will be doing something. So keep your eyes peeled.
"People say don't mix football and politics but here we are talking about a situation that's really important, more important than the game. The situation in our country is dire and we need to act."
French winger Ousmane Dembele had earlier said "the alarm bell, I think it has been sounded," and urged people to mobilise and vote, as did team mate Olivier Giroud, who said there had been no impact on the team's preparation because of the political situation.
Despite France's build-up being overshadowed by politics, Mbappe said the team was focussed on beating Austria on Monday.
"We've got our heads down and we know just how important the game is, we have prepared as best as possible," he said.
"It's up to me as captain and the other senior players to make sure we are not disconnected to the world but we are competing and defending the colours of our country."
Coach Didier Deschamps said he respected his players right to their political views.
"It's their free will," he said. "We must recognise they are great players but also French citizens and they are not immune or indifferent to the situation in the country."
(Reporting by Martin Petty and Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon and Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe found himself at the centre of his country's political turmoil on the eve of France's opening game at Euro 2024 on Sunday, describing the tumultuous events back home as a pivotal moment for French history. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-france-captain-mbappe-says-extremes-are-knocking-on-door-of-power | |
1,373,022 | Soccer-Italy need to learn killer instinct says Buffon after narrow win | LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Italy managed to get a crucial 2-1 win in their opening Euro 2024 game against Albania on Saturday but their former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wants to see them learn to kill off games after they risked conceding a late equaliser.
Luciano Spalletti's side fell behind to Nedim Bajrami's goal in the first minute, the fastest ever scored at a European Championship, but within 15 minutes they had overturned the deficit through Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.
"We did well, we showed that we're a balanced national team, which has awareness," 46-year-old Buffon, serving as head of delegation with the national team at the Euros, said at Italy's training base in Iserlohn.
"Despite a shocking start that could have been destabilising, we continued to grind the game. As the coach said, our strength is to stick to the game plan, we fully deserved the victory.
"Spalletti always tries to get the most out of what he has at his disposal, sometimes he uses the stick and sometimes the carrot, I think they are inevitable tools when you have to get the most out of the boys."
Reigning champions Italy impressed with their response to the early blow but were unable to find another goal to kill off the game, and were almost punished at the end when substitute Rey Manaj forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a late save.
"The serenity with which we managed to recover after going behind, this was the strongest signal to take," Buffon said.
"But there is something to perfect - with a little more cynicism and anger we probably would not have risked seeing a fundamental victory almost fade away in the 90th minute."
Italy's next game is against Spain on Thursday, a side who also impressed in their 3-0 win over Croatia, and it is an opponent which brings back memories of Euro 2016, when Italy won their last-16 clash.
"It was a Spain perhaps at the end of a cycle, for age reasons," said Buffon.
"Ours, on the other hand, is a national team at the beginning of the cycle. I would like to think that in two years we will be at the top, but already, now, we can reach high levels of performance."
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Italy managed to get a crucial 2-1 win in their opening Euro 2024 game against Albania on Saturday but their former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wants to see them learn to kill off games after they risked conceding a late equaliser. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-italy-need-to-learn-killer-instinct-says-buffon-after-narrow-win | |
1,373,021 | Soccer-Romania will fight for every metre on pitch against Ukraine, coach says | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Romania will fight for every metre on the pitch in their Euro 2024 opener on Monday against a vastly more experienced Ukraine side, coach Edward Iordanescu said on Sunday, adding that his players need to channel their nervousness into positive energy.
The Group E clash at the Munich Football Arena marks the first time since 2016 Romania have appeared at the Euros – a return that adds extra pressure to a desire to do well for the estimated 30,000 fans who have travelled to Germany, he said.
“There is a certain nervousness but that can be positive,” explained 46-year-old Iordanescu, who was greeted at the news conference by Romanian journalists singing Happy Birthday to him. "We have to channel it into positive energy."
Romania cruised through the qualifying stages to finish top of their group but face a stern test in their tournament opener against an experienced and motivated Ukraine side who feature a clutch of players playing for top European clubs.
Iordanescu said it would prove challenging for his side but that a group effort and willingness to leave everything on the pitch could offset Ukraine’s quality and help Romania progress in a section that also includes Belgium and Slovakia.
"The team will give their everything,” the coach said. “We will fight for every metre on the pitch.
"There is a big pressure but this is because of our desire to represent our country the way we want to," he added. "When there is unity and sprit and hard work and discipline then everything is possible."
Iordanescu, whose father Anghel had three spells in charge of Romania and took them to the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, will hope his side can recreate the form that helped them reach the Euro 2024 finals after an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
One player with European Championship tournament experience is captain Nicolae Stanciu, a member of the 2016 squad who shrugged off suggestions he was the main threat for Romania.
“I don’t think I am the main danger for them,” he said. “Our power is in the group and that is the truth.”
(Reporting by Michael Kahn, Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Romania will fight for every metre on the pitch in their Euro 2024 opener on Monday against a vastly more experienced Ukraine side, coach Edward Iordanescu said on Sunday, adding that his players need to channel their nervousness into positive energy. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-romania-will-fight-for-every-metre-on-pitch-against-ukraine-coach-says | |
1,373,012 | Soccer-Probierz tells Polish players to stay positive after Dutch defeat | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Poland manager Michal Probierz wants his players to focus on the positives even though they were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands after conceding a late goal in their opening Euro 2024 game on Sunday.
Probierz's side took an early lead, and despite much pressure from the Dutch, had chances to score again, both before and after Wout Weghorst's 83rd minute winning goal, and the manager had words of comfort for his players.
"I told them we just missed scoring the winning goal and then we conceded the goal, we should keep the possession better," Probierz told reporters.
"We have shown that we can play football very well, we had our own chances.
"I told the players to keep their heads up, to keep the chins up. We can play against any rival and we just need to move on from this match."
Poland were missing their top scorer Robert Lewandowski, with Adam Buksa stepping in and opening the scoring, and the manager is looking forward to having more players available for the next game.
"Robert Lewandowski is coming back to strength and he will hopefully play against Austria," Probierz said.
"He's a very important player for us, and Pawel Dawidowicz, hopefully also comes back to defend and hopefully we have more competition in this team."
Probierz may have players returning but he could face another injury worry after Bartosz Salomon went off immediately following the late winning goal for the Netherlands, saying afterwards that someone had stood on his foot.
"Bartosz is with a team doctor and we will see how he feels," the manager said.
"Hopefully there is no break in the foot for him."
Poland face Austria on Friday and their manager is convinced his side can still advance. He will have a chance to take a look at the opposition when the Austrians play France on Monday.
"We are not giving up. We will do whatever we can to fight and qualify," Probierz said.
"I believe that we still have something to prove and we will be stronger. When it comes to Austria, we need to see how France plays against them first.
"And then, we haven't said our last word."
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Poland manager Michal Probierz wants his players to focus on the positives even though they were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands after conceding a late goal in their opening Euro 2024 game on Sunday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-probierz-tells-polish-players-to-stay-positive-after-dutch-defeat | |
1,372,926 | Analysis-Soccer-Netherlands sharp-shooter Weghorst shows value of killer instinct | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Modern-day football sometimes shuns the strapping centre forward but Netherlands super-sub Wout Weghorst came off the bench to spare their blushes on Sunday and show the value of a number nine with a killer instinct in a 2-1 Euro 2024 win over Poland.
There was no question that the Dutch were the dominant side against a Polish outfit who were perfectly happy to sit and wait for their moments.
Yet goals win games and if the Netherlands are to go far at the tournament they will need to sharpen their knives after a largely wasteful display in Hamburg.
The Dutch started the game with a dynamic front three of Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons who were full of running and creative interplay, carving apart the Poles and creating chance after chance.
They had 64% of possession and 20 shots on goal but apart from Gakpo's deflected effort in the 29th minute to level the scores, the opportunities came and went.
As the Netherlands' hopes of opening their Group D campaign with a victory started to fade, boss Ronald Koeman summoned Weghorst off the bench in the 81st minute, one of a number of changes he made as he looked to shift the dial in their favour.
Two minutes later, the Netherlands had the lead as Weghorst latched on to Nathan Ake's pass and rifled the ball into the back of the net left-footed.
Weghorst, who came on with the Dutch trailing 2-0 to Argentina at the 2022 World Cup to score twice, has netted with his past three shots at major tournaments.
And underlining his super-sub credentials, it was the third consecutive game in which he has come off the bench to score for the Dutch.
"A real No.9 knows exactly where he needs to be to get those sort of goals," said former Netherlands striker and Dutch TV analyst Pierre van Hooijdonk.
Those who have followed Weghorst's club career would be forgiven for thinking they are watching a different player from the version who lines up for the Dutch.
He scored no goals in 17 league games during a dismal loan spell at Manchester United last season, while this campaign he has scored seven in 28 games for his loan club Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. He has bagged the same number for the Dutch this season in 11 appearances.
While the victory was deserved, Poland can take some solace from a competitive display when many had been predicting a more comprehensive defeat.
There was some trepidation among Polish fans after they scraped into the tournament through the playoffs following a woeful qualifying campaign, even if their recent form had shown more promise.
With record scorer Robert Lewandowski, who boasts a remarkable 82 goals in 150 internationals, sidelined through injury, it was always going to be an uphill task.
There are occasions when losing your best player can be a blessing in disguise, as a team that has become overly reliant on an individual's brilliance is forced into a rethink.
In came Adam Buksa to lead the line, a big man to replace a big star and not only did the 1.93-metre striker open the scoring for the Poles but his all-round game gave the Dutch defence headaches.
Lewandowski may be fit for their second group game against Austria on Friday but Buksa may hope he has done enough to keep him on the sidelines.
(Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Pritha Sarkar) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Modern-day football sometimes shuns the strapping centre forward but Netherlands super-sub Wout Weghorst came off the bench to spare their blushes on Sunday and show the value of a number nine with a killer instinct in a 2-1 Euro 2024 win over Poland. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/analysis-soccer-netherlands-sharp-shooter-weghorst-shows-value-of-killer-instinct | |
1,372,925 | Soccer-UEFA starts disciplinary proceedings against Albania over pitch invasion | DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -UEFA is starting disciplinary proceedings against the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) over incidents including a pitch invasion and the throwing of objects during the country's 2-1 defeat by Italy in Dortmund at Euro 2024 on Saturday.
European soccer's governing body said in a statement on Sunday that it had also begun proceedings over the lighting of fireworks by Albania fans during the Group B game, as well as "transmitting a provocative message unfit for a sports event".
UEFA did not provide any further details about the message alleged to have been transmitted.
The organisation said UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) will decide on the matter in due course.
An FSHF spokesperson said in a statement that it planned to submit an official statement to the CEDB within the deadline set by UEFA.
"We would like to emphasise that all necessary measures were taken to ensure the successful organisation of the match," the spokesperson added.
"The event was a celebration of European football, and no major incidents occurred that would detract from the positive atmosphere."
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Ken Ferris) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -UEFA is starting disciplinary proceedings against the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) over incidents including a pitch invasion and the throwing of objects during the country's 2-1 defeat by Italy in Dortmund at Euro 2024 on Saturday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soccer-uefa-starts-disciplinary-proceedings-against-albania-over-pitch-invasion | |
1,372,891 | Soldiers tell players to 'show the spirit of Ukraine', says Rebrov | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Soldiers on the frontlines are asking the country's soccer team to show 'the spirit of Ukraine' at Euro 2024, said manager Serhiy Rebrov, adding that players have felt an extra sense of duty ever since the Russia invasion.
Ukraine, making their fourth straight Euros appearance, will face Romania in the Munich Football Arena on Monday in their opening game of Group E.
"All the players, me personally, are getting lots of messages from our fighters, from our soldiers, from our friends who are now fighting for the freedom of Ukraine," said Rebrov.
"I am sure they are very proud of us, we are very proud of them. They are telling [us], when you are here 'show the spirit of Ukraine'. This tournament is really about the spirit of our country."
Ukraine have a talented squad and are expected to reach the knockout stage. Their qualifying campaign was exclusively held outside the country due to the Russian invasion.
"It is very good and very important for Ukraine to be in this forum. Because all Ukrainians want to be a European nation... Of course now in our country, football is not in first place. There are lots of people dead, lots of kids dead... now is a very difficult time for Ukraine," Rebrov said.
He thanked Europeans for their support but added that he wanted to remind people of their fight.
Defender Illia Zabarnyi said the first match of Euro 2024 and seeing Ukrainian flags in the stadium would be an emotional moment.
"For me it is a great honour to represent Ukraine. You know what times we are going through now. I feel incredible responsibility for my actions but I'm not worried about my game.
"We understand where we are and what we need to do. It is football and we need to play with a cold head."
Asked whether defender Vitaliy Mykolenko had returned to full fitness ahead of the game, Rebrov said he was working very hard but it was not the type of injury that would be healed in one or two days.
Ukraine will also face Belgium and Slovakia in Group E.
(Reporting by Alexandra Hudson; editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Soldiers on the frontlines are asking the country's soccer team to show 'the spirit of Ukraine' at Euro 2024, said manager Serhiy Rebrov, adding that players have felt an extra sense of duty ever since the Russia invasion. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/17/soldiers-tell-players-to-039show-the-spirit-of-ukraine039-says-rebrov | |
1,372,890 | Soccer-Danes seek goal-fest through Wind and Hojlund against Slovenia | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand selected Jonas Wind and Rasmus Hojlund in an attacking lineup in their Group C match against Slovenia on Sunday as his side seek to get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start.
Hjulmand has sometimes deployed the 21-year-old Hojlund on his own up front but opted to go for goals with Wind also lining up in a 3-5-2 as Denmark, champions in 1992, are heavily favoured against their opponents who are ranked 57 in the world.
Slovenia, led by goalkeeper captain Jan Oblak, are playing in only their second European Championship and first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup.
However, they have one of the continent's most exciting young forwards in Benjamin Sesko leading the line in a 4-4-2. Coach Matjaz Kek will hope the tall but speedy 21-year-old can inspire his side to a major upset and a first ever victory over the Danes.
Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen plays his first European Championship game since collapsing in their Euro 2020 opener against Finland.
Teams
Slovenia: Jan Oblak, Zan Karnicnik, Vanja Drkusic, Jaka Bijol, Erik Janza, Peter Stojanovic, Adam Gnezda Cerin, Timi Elsnik, Jan Mlakar, Andraz Sporar, Benjamin Sesko
Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Andreas Christensen, Joachim Andersen, Jannik Vestergaard, Alexander Bah, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg, Victor Kristiansen, Christian Eriksen, Jonas Wind, Rasmus Hojlun
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor and Christian Radnedge; editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand selected Jonas Wind and Rasmus Hojlund in an attacking lineup in their Group C match against Slovenia on Sunday as his side seek to get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/soccer-danes-seek-goal-fest-through-wind-and-hojlund-against-slovenia | |
1,372,882 | Soccer-Weghorst winner gives Dutch late victory over Poland | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Substitute Wout Weghorst snatched an 83rd-minute winner as the Netherlands fought their way back to beat Poland 2-1 in the Group D opener at the European Championship on Sunday, leaving it late to win a contest they dominated.
Weghorst had barely been on the field when he finished an expert pass from Nathan Ake to secure a deserved three points.
Poland shocked with a 16th-minute opener from striker Adam Buksa, brought into the team to replace injured talisman Robert Lewandowski. He rose expertly to head home stand-in captain Piotr Zielinski's corner.
A deserved Dutch equaliser at the Volksparkstadion came 13 minutes later as Cody Gakpo's shot took a deflection off Bartosz Salamon.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Substitute Wout Weghorst snatched an 83rd-minute winner as the Netherlands fought their way back to beat Poland 2-1 in the Group D opener at the European Championship on Sunday, leaving it late to win a contest they dominated. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/soccer-weghorst-winner-gives-dutch-late-victory-over-poland | |
1,372,852 | Motor racing-Ferrari win 24 Hours of Le Mans for second year in a row | (Reuters) - Ferrari's factory team won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second year in a row on Sunday after a tight and tense battle with Toyota to the finish.
Almost out of fuel, Denmark's Nicklas Nielsen took the chequered flag at the wheel of a number 50 Ferrari 499P hypercar shared with Italian Antonio Fuoco and Spaniard Miguel Molina over 311 laps of the Sarthe circuit.
The number seven Toyota GR010 hybrid of Argentine Jose Maria Lopez, Japan's Kamui Kobayashi and Dutch driver Nyck de Vries finished 14.221 seconds behind.
Ferrari's winning crew from last year -- Italians Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Giovinazzi and Britain's James Calado -- finished third in the 51 car.
Last year's win was the Italian marque's first overall victory at the French circuit in 58 years.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Motorsport | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Ferrari's factory team won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second year in a row on Sunday after a tight and tense battle with Toyota to the finish. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/motorsport/2024/06/16/motor-racing-ferrari-win-24-hours-of-le-mans-for-second-year-in-a-row | |
1,372,840 | Soccer-France coach Deschamps on brink of ton of triumphs | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - When coach Didier Deschamps takes to the dugout on Monday for France’s European Championship opener against Austria, it will be an opportunity to register a phenomenal 100th win in charge of the team.
The 55-year-old is by some margin the most experienced coach at the tournament in Germany, with his almost 12 years in charge of Les Bleus, and brings with him impressive credentials as a player too.
Monday’s Group D match in Duesseldorf marks Deschamps’s 154th game as French coach with 99 wins, 30 draws and 24 losses in a glory-filled career, where consistency and calmness have been his hallmarks.
He has been coach of his side more than three years longer than the next most experienced manager at Euro 2024 -– England’s Gareth Southgate.
Deschamps has won the World Cup as both a coach and player -- first in 1998 on home soil in a star-studded French line-up.
His considerable role as midfield kingpin was belittled by Eric Cantona who branded him a "vulgar water carrier" but Deschamps earned 103 caps and his club career saw him win the Champions League with Olympique de Marseille and Juventus.
As a coach he has taken France to two World Cup finals, victorious in Russia in 2018 and losing four years later to Argentina on post-match penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar.
“What keeps me going is the passion, the desire and the determination. What interests me is always having new objectives,” he said on the eve of the tournament in Germany.
“At a very high international level, winning is very difficult and maintaining it is even more difficult, because only one team wins and then the others don't sleep.”
There is the possibility in Germany for him to become the first to win the World Cup and the Euros as both a player and a coach but that is not something he said he was concerned about.
“The objective is around the French national team in terms of what we've achieved and what we're capable of achieving,” he said.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - When coach Didier Deschamps takes to the dugout on Monday for France’s European Championship opener against Austria, it will be an opportunity to register a phenomenal 100th win in charge of the team. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/soccer-france-coach-deschamps-on-brink-of-ton-of-triumphs | |
1,372,830 | Soccer-Cuddles and kicked backsides needed to lift Scots, says Clarke | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Kicked backsides and a few cuddles were needed in the wake of Scotland's demoralising 5-1 defeat by Germany in their opening Euro 2024 game, according to manager Steve Clarke.
The thrashing by the hosts in Munich means Scotland sit bottom of Group A, although with Switzerland to play on Wednesday, followed by Hungary, there is still hope of making the last 16.
For that to happened though Scotland will have to show an enormous improvement as they bid to collect the four points Clarke believes could take them through.
"Kick a couple of backsides, give some cuddles, make the players understand why the Germany result happened and make sure it doesn't happen again," Clarke told reporters on Sunday.
"I've spoken to one or two players around the squad whose opinion I value. I had a good chat with a few of them.
"I had a little chat with a lot of them on the training pitch this morning. Tried to put one or two things in their head about things they maybe didn't do on the pitch."
Asked if Ryan Porteous, who was sent off for a rash tackle in the first half against Germany, had needed special treatment, Clarke said: "He was one of my cuddles.
"He is very down, but we'll pick him back up."
Scotland have never reached the knockout phase of a major tournament but with third place in the group potentially good enough to progress, all is not lost, although Clarke said Friday night's result was still not out of their system.
"We're still tidying up the loose ends of a really bad night," Clarke said. "There are no excuses when you lose a game 5-1. You have to take all the criticism that comes.
"The good thing for me is that we've been in this position before; I've always responded pretty well, this group of players have always responded well. So that's what we try to do."
With goal difference likely to play a part in the group standings and also deciding the best third-placed teams from the six groups, Clarke knows Scotland's heavy defeat by Germany has left them with little wriggle room.
"(At the last Euros) we still had an outside chance with the goal difference. This time, that little safety net is gone," Clarke said. "We know that, so we have to get four points in the next two games."
Tens of thousands of Scotland fans are expected to be in Cologne for Wednesday's game against Switzerland who impressed in their 3-1 victory over Hungary on Saturday.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon) | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Kicked backsides and a few cuddles were needed in the wake of Scotland's demoralising 5-1 defeat by Germany in their opening Euro 2024 game, according to manager Steve Clarke. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/soccer-cuddles-and-kicked-backsides-needed-to-lift-scots-says-clarke | |
1,372,496 | Football: ‘Papa Giroud’ ready to pass the baton | PADERBORN: Veteran France striker Olivier Giroud knows he is no longer a first choice for his country going into Euro 2024 and says he is ready to be a father figure for the emerging generation as Les Bleus aim to win the continental title for the first time in almost quarter of a century.
France’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals from 133 caps, Giroud was a key member of the side that won the World Cup in 2018 and lost the final in Qatar in 2022.
However, the striker, who is leaving AC Milan to move to Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer after the Euros, is aware that this will be his last major international tournament.
And Giroud, who made his debut for France in November 2011, before the arrival of current coach Didier Deschamps, is set to be a back-up to Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Thuram in the French attack in Germany.
“I need to be realistic about the situation. I will be 38 soon, and I have made the decision to go to the United States,” the former Arsenal man, who will celebrate his birthday in late September, told reporters at France’s base in Paderborn, in western Germany, on Friday.
“We know that to be called up to the France team you need to be playing in a major European league.
“There will be lots of nostalgia and memories but I am trying not to think too much about all that.
“The main objective is a collective one. Personal objectives come after that.”
European champions in 1984 and in 2000, France begin their campaign in Germany against Austria in Duesseldorf on Monday. They will also face Holland and Poland in Group D.
Giroud, who will team up with former France captain Hugo Lloris in Los Angeles, says he prefers to be seen as a “father” or a “big brother” by his younger teammates, rather than a “granddad”.
He hopes to pass on his vast experience to a France squad featuring 11 players aged 25 or under who could all have a significant role to play at the tournament.
“I try to talk a lot on the pitch and to be there for the younger players if they need me, to help put them at ease,” said Giroud, who played in the France team beaten by Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.
Giroud also said he had a good relationship with Thuram, the Inter Milan striker who has been his rival at club level over the season just finished and is now ahead of him in the pecking order for the national team.
“It is time to pass on the baton,” he admitted. — AFP | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | PADERBORN: Veteran France striker Olivier Giroud knows he is no longer a first choice for his country going into Euro 2024 and says he is ready to be a father figure for the emerging generation as Les Bleus aim to win the continental title for the first time in almost quarter of a century. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/papa-giroud-ready-to-passthe-baton | |
1,372,468 | Mitrovic plans a ‘Desert Storm’ | GELSENKIRCHEN: Aleksandar Mitrovic (pic) has been one of the Saudi Pro League’s most successful imports and the Serbian striker believes he can carry that form into Euro 2024 to shock England today.
Mitrovic spent eight years in England at Newcastle and Fulham before forcing through a move to the riches and sunnier climes of Saudi Arabia 12 months ago.
Amid a flurry of star names headed to the Gulf kingdom, including Al Hilal team-mate Neymar, Mitrovic’s move largely went under the radar.
But Neymar’s serious knee injury left the Serb to spearhead an unbeaten season as Al Hilal won the treble of league, Super Cup and King’s Cup - victory in the final of the latter leaving Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo in tears.
The 29-year-old has scored 40 goals in 43 games and far from winding down into retirement in the Middle East, thinks the move has conditioned him into the best shape of his life in time for the Euros.
“So far, I’ve felt the best I’ve felt in my life - physically and mentally,” he told The Times.
“I play a lot more games than I used to play at Fulham and here I play in the best team and I am scoring a lot of goals. I play almost every game. If you put that with a lot of winning then I can continue to play like that for my country.”
Already Serbia’s all-time top goalscorer by a distance, Mitrovic has netted 58 times in 91 caps.
His partnership with Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic will be key to how far Serbia can go in Germany in their first-ever European Championship as an independent nation.
England boss Gareth Southgate has admitted his side lack a dominant presence in the air in the absence of the injury Harry Maguire, a weakness that Mitrovic’s power looks ripe to exploit.
But based on Serbia’s performance in qualifying, there is little for the Three Lions to fear.
Dragan Stojkovic’s side won just four of their eight qualifiers, finishing a distant second to Hungary and just three points ahead of neighbours Montenegro. - AFP | Sport | Football | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Euro 2024 | GELSENKIRCHEN: Aleksandar Mitrovic (pic) has been one of the Saudi Pro League’s most successful imports and the Serbian striker believes he can carry that form into Euro 2024 to shock England today. | https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/06/16/mitrovic-plans-a-desert-storm | |
1,374,490 | New podcast show tackles issues affecting urban folks | LISTEN to the youngest female councillor in Selangor, 24-year-old Kusaaliny Mahendran talk about how she wants to drive progressive policymaking among youths.
She is the first guest of StarMetro’s new fortnightly podcast series “Life & the City”, available in the Metro section of www.thestar.com.my and on social media platforms (@thestaronline).
Life & the City is a podcast where hosts and StarMetro journalists Aida Ahmad and Farid Wahab discuss topics relevant to urban folk.
The conversations are peppered with lighthearted moments, making the struggles and triumphs of city-living relatable and entertaining.
On our debut episode, which drops today on The Star’s website, Kusaaliny also shares her insights on an internship programme at Petaling Jaya City Council. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Life & The City,podcast, | Listen to the youngest female councillor in Selangor, 24-year-old Kusaaliny Mahendran, talk about how she wants to drive progressive policymaking among youths on StarMetro’s new fortnightly podcast titled “Life & The City”. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/new-show-tackling-issues-affecting-urban-folks | |
1,374,266 | RM85,900 study incentive for SPM top scorers in Sibu | Top scorers in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 examinations in Sibu, Sarawak, received study incentives in recognition of their hard work.
A total of RM85,900 was set aside by Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng for 233 top scorers in his constituency.
“I have been giving out study incentives for three consecutive years since becoming the elected representative.
“For SPM 2023, I allocated RM85,900 from my RTP (Rural Transformation Plan) for 233 students from four schools who scored 5As and above,” said Chieng.
The four schools were SMK Methodist, SMK Sacred Heart, SMK Bukit Assek and Catholic High School.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony for 128 top scorers from SMK Methodist, Chieng said those who achieved 5As would receive RM100 each.
He added that RM50 would also be awarded for every A grade a student earned on top of the five.
“I hope that for SPM 2024, there will be more top scorers as I don’t mind allocating more study incentives,” he said.
SMK Methodist principal Phillip Ling said 376 students from the school sat for SPM 2023.
“Our school’s average grade (GPS) for 2023 was 3.63, with 94.3% of candidates having received their certificates.
“A total of 128 candidates (34%) scored 5As and above, and 41 candidates achieved all As.
“Six of the students were invited to receive special awards in Kuching,” said Ling. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | SPM 2023,incentive,Bukit Assek,Joseph Chieng | Top scorers in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 examinations in Sibu, Sarawak, received study incentives in recognition of their hard work. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/rm85900-study-incentive-for-spm-top-scorers-in-sibu | |
1,374,269 | Travel fair celebrates golden Malaysia-China friendship | HUNDREDS of visitors flocked to Pavilion Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur for the inaugural “Nihao! China” Travel Fair.
The event, held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, was held to promote two-way tourism between the countries.
The three-day fair was organised by the Malaysia-China Folklore Culture Tourism Association and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia as well as Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
With up to 37 booths offering tours to various parts of China, visitors to the fair could choose from travel packages and promotions presented by travel agencies and airlines.
To add to the liveliness of the occasion, a lion dance troupe strutted and escorted guests as the event kicked off.
A promoter offering titbits to Yasmin (second from right) with (from second left) Liao, Liu and Chang at the opening ceremony. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
This was followed by a dance performance by the Ningxia Performing Arts Group.
Ningxia, a province of around 6.8 million people in the north-central region of China, was the event’s host province.
There were interesting holographic displays featuring tourism attractions in Ningxia and various other destinations in China.
A mini petting zoo with animals such as goats, alpacas, snakes and parrots was also an attraction.
“We believe this travel fair will further promote tourism cooperation between Malaysia and China,” said Malaysia-China Folklore Culture Tourism Association president Penny Liao in her speech.
She added that the fair would help the people of both countries understand each other’s culture better.
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board chairman Yasmin Mahmood, representing Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, was the guest of honour.
In her speech, Yasmin noted that there had been a remarkable 231.9% growth of tourist arrivals from China from January to April 2024 compared to the corresponding period last year.
“By continuing to work closely together, we can ensure a prosperous future for our tourism industries and our nations as a whole,” Yasmin added.
The embassy’s cultural counsellor Chang Shan said the current visa-free policy played a significant role in aiding two-way tourism.
Chang said the travel fair was also significant owing to the upcoming official visit of China’s Premier Li Qiang to Malaysia.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Ningxia culture and tourism department deputy director-general Liu Zhibin, China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur director Zhang Jiexin, China Southern Airlines general manager (Malaysia) Eric Wang Xu, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (M) Bhd chief operating officer Xie Shaoxiong, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents honorary treasurer Kho Kwang Peow and Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd retail chief executive officer Datuk Joyce Yap. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | NiHao China,China,tourism,travel,travel fair,Pavilion | HUNDREDS of visitors flocked to Pavilion Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur for the inaugural “Nihao! China” Travel Fair. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/travel-fair-celebrates-golden-malaysia-china-friendship | |
1,374,264 | Johor fire dept: No major flood callouts this monsoon season | Johor Fire and Rescue Department has not been called into action to tackle emergencies, as there has not been changes in weather patterns.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department operations division assistant director Azmi Ab Rahim said all 33 fire stations statewide were fully equipped, but deployment of rescue assets or manpower to hotspot locations was not needed at the moment.
The El Nino heat wave had only affected the peninsula’s northern areas, he said.
“We are experiencing the southwest monsoon, and compared to the northeast monsoon, rainfall is scattered and usually does not last very long.
“Despite warnings from Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) of downpours and thunderstorms, rainfall is often for a short time.
“So far, there have been flash floods which recede quickly unlike during the northeast monsoon season,” he said when contacted by StarMetro.
“We will activate the regional forward base to better mobilise assets and rescue operations during the northeast monsoon.
“We are lucky to have rainfall in the evenings because there is less chance for large-scale open burnings to take place at night.
“Fire reports are mostly domestic cases that do not require much manpower or deployment of assets,” he said.
Azmi added that from May 16 until June 3, the department received 57 peat land fire and 1,309 open burning reports.
Johor Climate Change and State Disaster Management Select Committee chairman Anuar Abd Manap said all rescue agencies were ready to provide help in the event of floods.
“We are ready to open up temporary relief centres and move out necessary logistics when needed.
“All local leaders and volunteers have been trained on rescuing and moving out victims when an area is flooded.
“The best thing we can do now is to closely follow information posted by MetMalaysia on its social media site or in the mainstream media, especially on heavy rainfall warnings,” said Anuar. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | MetMalaysia,El Nino,Bomba,Climate Change | Johor Fire and Rescue Department has not been called into action to tackle emergencies, as there has not been changes in weather patterns. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/johor-fire-dept-no-major-flood-callouts-this-monsoon-season | |
1,374,263 | MBPG sets rescue plan for problematic strata homes | Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) has established a management committee to oversee 277 types of strata titles, totalling more than 16,000 units in the city.
Pasir Gudang mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman said the committee was set up under Section 86 of Strata Management Act 2013 for the maintenance and management of buildings and common properties associated with strata titles.
“Strata properties refer to property developments where the building or land is divided into parcels, and the accessory parcels and common property are managed under a management system.
“They include flats, apartments, condominiums, townhouses and houses in gated-and-guarded communities.
“Pasir Gudang has 227 strata titles managed by joint management bodies (JMB) and management corporations (MC). Asman Shah says MBPG is Johor’s first city council to carry out a strata rescue operation.
“Some of these properties are poorly maintained, resulting in numerous complaints.
“As the Commissioner of Buildings (COB), MBPG decided to set up a management committee on June 1 to address these concerns, ensuring all property owners’ issues are resolved,” he said when contacted.
Asman Shah claimed that MBPG was the first city council in Johor to carry out a “rescue operation” for property owners.
He also said that this year, the rescue operation would start with Flat Taman Air Biru, Flat Tasek 64 and Flat Taman Cendana, comprising a total of over 1,000 units.
“The committee will prioritise properties where the JMB has failed to collect maintenance fees or hold general meetings. It will act as the JMB or MC until the property can manage itself.
“For this year, we allocated RM100,000 to resolve any issues these three properties may have,” he said, adding that all strata properties were projects by private developers.
Asman Shah said MBPG planned to assist three other strata properties next year, with an additional RM100,000 to address issues faced by owners.
On another matter, Asman Shah said MBPG would carry out a review of its manifesto which was launched in March 2021, after being granted city status.
“We want to review how many projects have been accomplished since Pasir Gudang became a city, including the use of AI CCTV, tracking systems for heavy vehicles, family recreational parks, and provisions for petty traders,” he said. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Housing,Strata Property,MBPG,JMB,MC | Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) has established a management committee to oversee 277 types of strata titles, totalling more than 16,000 units in the city. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/mbpg-sets-rescue-plan-for-problematic-strata-homes | |
1,374,270 | Red ant infestation at Kepong park plagues residents | RESIDENTS of Laman Mawar Rimbunan, a gated community in Kepong, are unhappy about poor park maintenance by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which has led to a host of problems, including an infestation of red ants.
The lack of maintenance, residents say, has been an issue for 20 years.
Local activist Yee Poh Ping said he had submitted a letter on behalf of the residents’ association to DBKL Landscape Development and Recreation Department, detailing their complaints, on April 22.
Laman Mawar Rimbunan Residents Association secretary Steven Lim had initiated the complaint three months ago.
He said residents had marked 10 dead trees that needed removal.
“We had to hire someone to cut down a tree that was about to fall, which cost us RM500. Ants on a tree at Laman Mawar Rimbunan park.
“The day after our complaint was received, DBKL came and cut down some trees but the workers only trimmed those on the outer side.
“Many of the problematic trees we had identified were left untouched,” said Lim.
He said this partial action by the local authority exacerbated the current ant problem.
“Cutting down those trees just caused ants to move to other trees.
“We have even contacted the Fire and Rescue Department. We are still waiting for the authorities’ intervention,” he added.
Resident Eng Wah Kuat, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said, “The park is where we gather to chat and relax, but sometimes ants fall on us from the trees.
“We tried luring the ants down with chicken intestines and burning them but this didn’t solve the problem.”
The infestation has also affected the children’s playground, leading to frequent ant bites.
Lim said the ants sometimes invaded cars after the rain.
The park’s outdated facilities, including the playground and basketball courts, are another concern.
“After it rains, the park floods and it takes days for the ground to dry, making the jogging paths unusable,” said Lim.
Yee urged DBKL to upgrade the park facilities, add gym equipment for the elderly and address the ant problem promptly.
“We don’t want this space to go to waste as it is for the community to enjoy,” he said. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Laman Mawar Rimbunan,Kepong,Parks,Red ant infestation | RESIDENTS of Laman Mawar Rimbunan, a gated community in Kepong, are unhappy about poor park maintenance by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which has led to a host of problems, including an infestation of red ants. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/red-ant-infestation-at-kepong-park-plagues-residents | |
1,374,273 | PJ steps up efforts to combat dengue | PETALING Jaya presently has seven dengue hotspots and its city council (MBPJ) is stepping up efforts to combat the scourge.
The hotspots are Apartment Idaman Fasa 2 at PJU 10, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara in PJU 6A, SS21, SS4B, Kelana Puteri and Kelana Putera condominiums in SS7, and Apartment Medan Cahaya in PJS 2C.
Other areas with significant number of dengue cases are Saujana Damansara in PJU 10, Residensi Sunway Serene in Jalan SS8/2, Flat PKNS and Mentari Court in PJS8, PPR Lembah Subang 2 (Block A-E), The Arcuz in PJU 1, SS7, Flat Desa Mentari in PJS2 and Flat Taman Medan (Block A-E) in PJS 3.
“Combating dengue is a priority and we have to work together with stakeholders,” said Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon during a press conference to mark his 100 days in office.
“If the relevant agencies can provide 20 staff, I will provide 40 staff from MBPJ to work with the District Health Office to bring down dengue numbers.”
He said it was necessary for MBPJ to be stern with enforcement, stressing that the fine was up to RM500 for each spot found with mosquito larvae.
He attributed the spread of dengue to the breeding of mosquitoes in clear, stagnant water in gardens, abandoned vehicles, among uncollected waste and in clogged drains.
Separately, the mayor said MBPJ had provided spaces at Taman Aman park that could be accessed by people with disabilities, through the implementation of universal design.
For its Inclusive Park for People with Disabilities project, the city council was honoured with the Malaysia Landscape Architects Award under the government category.
Mohamad Zahri said MBPJ had also embarked on upgrading schools in the city in line with its Child-Friendly City policy.
A fund was created on Nov 1 for this purpose, he said.
“As of last April, 46 schools have been upgraded by MBPJ at a cost of RM8.3mil.
“Some RM4.7mil is yet to be allocated to 16 schools that are in dire need of help,” he added. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | mayor,Petaling Jaya mayor | PETALING Jaya presently has seven dengue hotspots and its city council (MBPJ) is stepping up efforts to combat the scourge. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/pj-steps-up-efforts-to-combat-dengue | |
1,374,261 | Discarding ewaste responsibly for planet’s survival | When electronic waste (ewaste) is disposed of responsibly, one is not only helping the environment but also contributing to a circular economy where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised.
In Penang, there are 72 centres that deal with ewaste, with some located in community centres, factories and business premises.
Penang Green Council general manager Josephine Tan Mei Ling said 36 were on the island – 11 in the southwest district and 25 in the northeast district.
ALSO READ: Used cooking oil recycling mandate
She added that the rest were on the mainland – five in south Seberang Perai, 24 in central Seberang Perai and seven in north Seberang Perai.
Looking ahead, she said PGC would continue to pave the way towards a more eco-conscious and resilient future for Penang and its people.
A worker separating electronic components at Techom Metal in Bukit Minyak. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Global concern
With the increasing production of electrical and electronic products, Tan said ewaste had emerged as a pressing global concern.
She said the volume of ewaste required proper disposal and management.
“When ewaste is discarded irresponsibly, such as being dumped into rivers, landfills, burned or sent to informal sectors, it poses significant risks to human life and health, as well as contributes to the degradation of environmental quality.
“If ewaste is not disposed of properly, toxic materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, bromine and beryllium can seep into the soil and water, endangering aquatic and human life,” she said.
She added that since ewaste was a combination of several materials, it could take years to decompose.
Once they break down, they release toxic chemicals into the soil, which then contaminates the plants and trees, said Tan.
She said this could result in air and water pollution.
“In most cases, ewaste often ends up in incinerators.
“It is composed of plastics, glass and metals, which can produce dangerous emissions when burnt.
“Uncontrolled burning could result in an increased rate of ozone depletion and greenhouse gases, leading to worsening global warming and climate change,” she pointed out.
Tan said apart from being sent to landfill and furnaces, ewaste could end up in the ocean.
She said as ewaste was non- biodegradable, it could be deadly to marine organisms, disturbing natural marine biodiversity and at some point, harm the ecosystem.
“In some serious situations, the presence of toxins can damage the ecosystem to a point where recovery seems impossible,” she added.
Raising public awareness
Valuable resources too, such as gold, copper, palladium and silver can be recovered through recycling. Dass sends his ewaste to recycling centres in Karpal Singh Drive.
Tan said it was important to recycle ewaste because it helped to conserve some of these valuable resources.
In raising public awareness, she said PGC had in 2013 introduced House-to-House Education Campaign, a monthly programme carried out via home visits by PGC team and Green Helper (volunteers).
“In 2016, the education campaign was renamed to Waste Segregation at Source Campaign in conjunction with the implementation of the Waste Segregation at Source Policy by Penang government.
“From 2017 to 2019, PGC collaborated with the private sector to integrate ewaste collection into the campaign, educating the public on the importance of safe e-waste disposal.
“During the campaign, flyers were given to the residents while Green Helper provided explanations in a more casual way,” she added.
Tan said campaign posters and information boards were used to inform residents about ewaste collection points and date of collection.
“Residents would bring their ewaste to these designated areas and sell them at market price,” she said.
To encourage Penang folk to recycle, she said PGC also introduced Trash Free Penang in 2022.
She said the community-building initiatives brought agencies and elected representatives together to actively promote and coordinate volunteerism in Penang and engage with the state’s population.
Last year, PGC also collaborated with Riiicycle Sdn Bhd to introduce an educational camp themed “Ewaste Warrior” for primary and secondary schools.
Tan said these immersive experiences were crafted to educate and instil students with a sense of environmental stewardship.
Through interactive sessions, students were taught proper ewaste disposal and gained insight into vital components within electronic waste.
According to the Environment Department, ewaste is defined as a broken, non-functioning or old/obsolete electronic appliance such as television, computer, air-conditioner, washing machine or refrigerator. Mobile phones are among thousands of items collected for recycling in Bukit Minyak.
In Malaysia, ewaste is categorised as Scheduled Wastes under Code SW110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005.
It is generally divided into two main types, according to its generation sources, which are industrial and household sectors.
Tan said that through collaboration with its partners under Trash Free Project, ewaste weighing 5,900kg had been collected at eight stations.
As of mid-April this year, 1,700kg have been collected.
Proper disposal
Retiree S. Thangaveloo, 63, who is selling second-hand electronic items in Lorong Kulit, said many people knew how to dispose of ewaste nowadays.
“In the past, I could easily get second-hand electronic items to sell at my stall.
“But now, with more people knowing how to properly dispose of ewaste, it is becoming rare to find these items,” he said.
Thangaveloo added that while he supported the environmental benefits of these practices, the lack of second-hand electronic items meant he needed to adapt and find new ways to sustain his livelihood.
Toy trader Simon Peter Dass Arul, 57, sends his ewaste to recycling centres in Karpal Singh Drive.
He said that through this method, he could also help the environment.
He added that everyone should know ewaste contained dangerous elements that could seep into the soil and waterways.
To check for the nearest ewaste recycling or buy-back centre in Penang, go to www.pgc.com.my/2020/zero-waste-network-zwn/ | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | ewaste recycling,buy-back centre, | When electronic waste (ewaste) is disposed of responsibly, one is not only helping the environment but also contributing to a circular economy where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/discarding-ewaste-responsibly-for-planets-survival | |
1,374,262 | Used cooking oil recycling mandate | Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will soon make it compulsory for food operators to collect used cooking oil to recycle at designated centres.
The island’s mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said presently, the city council found that used cooking oil was making its way into the sewerage system and eventually the rivers and sea, polluting the environment.
“We will make it easy for food operators to recycle their used cooking oil by setting up collection centres.
ALSO READ: Discarding ewaste responsibly for planet’s survival
“We are currently in talks with PETRONAS to work out the mechanics to sell the used cooking oil, which can be turned into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO).
“They can be used as a substitute for diesel.
A worker preparing prawn fritters at a stall in Weld Quay, Penang. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
“All profits from the sales will be reinvested into the community,” Rajendran elaborated.
Last November, a Virgin Atlantic passenger jet made history as the first aircraft to operate entirely on SAF, derived from used cooking oil and waste animal fats, for its journey from London in England to New York in USA.
For now, the public in Penang can help to protect the nation’s waterways by dropping off their used cooking oil at participating PETRONAS petrol kiosks.
This will help to promote a circular economy and at the same time, support the imminent production of biofuel in Malaysia.
PETRONAS is paying RM3 for each kilogramme of used cooking oil.
Those keen to know more can visit www.mymesra.com.my/for-consumer/used-cooking-oil.
Rajendran dropping off an old vacuum cleaner and phone at the Pulau Tikus recycling waste collection centre. With him are MBPP secretary Cheong Chee Hong (fifth from right), Koay (third from right) and MBPP councillor Rohaizat Hamid (right).
Rajendran also reminded the public to separate waste, as MBPP would be reintroducing its waste segregation-at-source policy starting July 1.
He said a town hall meeting was held with various joint management bodies of flats and condominiums as well as property management companies to ensure that this initiative would be a success.
“Launched in 2017, the initiative was actively promoted in residential areas but enforcement was halted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020,” he said.
Rajendran explained that MBPP prioritised education over enforcement action such as issuing fines during the period.
New recycling centre
A woman and her son recycling a cardboard box at the collection centre.
Penang’s denizens can also recycle plastic, paper, aluminium and steel cans in exchange for cash vouchers via a mobile phone app called Riiicycle.
Rajendran, who was speaking to reporters at the launch of a recycling collection centre at 1-Stop Midlands Park Centre, said the app was a platform to reward individuals for adopting eco-friendly practices, driving environmental change.
At the centre, a Riiicycle staff member is usually on hand to collect and weigh recyclables every Friday (5pm to 7pm) and Saturday (1pm to 3pm).
Rajendran said this recycling centre for Pulau Tikus residents and its surrounding area, marked a significant step towards Penang’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
“The state government has launched various initiatives to facilitate recycling.
A Riiicycle staff member weighing the recyclables to be exchanged for cash vouchers at the collection centre.
“Last year, Penang generated 412,817 metric tonnes of waste, with 172,492 (metric tonnes) of that amount being recycled.
“Despite a 41.78% recycling rate, a significant amount of recyclables still ends up in landfills.
“The new collection centre aims to address this issue by providing convenient recycling facilities for the public,” he said.
Rajendran commended the Sewerage Services Department staff for transforming the waste depot into a recycling facility.
They also painted a mural and decorated the space with recycled materials.
He emphasised the importance of public participation in maintaining cleanliness and preserving the environment.
“Everyone should embrace waste separation and recycling as collective responsibilities, and I commend the Penang Green Council (PGC) for their educational initiatives, such as the Green Camp for primary schoolchildren, which is aimed at fostering environmental awareness from a young age,” he said.
MBPP councillor Koay Gaik Kee, who led the recycling centre project, said in her speech that the increase in population and rise of food industries had led to a significant surge in waste generation.
“In 2023, Penang island residents produced an average of 700 metric tonnes of waste daily, comprising 35% recyclable materials.
“This alarming trend necessitates immediate action to improve solid waste management.
“The transformation of the waste depot into a recycling waste collection centre was inspired by the urgent need for efficient waste disposal solutions.
“This new recycling hub is designed to facilitate proper waste disposal for residents, ensuring that recyclable materials are not sent to the Pulau Burong waste disposal site, but are instead repurposed into raw materials for new products,” she said.
Koay also emphasised the importance of continuous education in fostering environmental responsibility within the community, particularly among the younger generation.
She expressed gratitude to PGC for its collaboration with MBPP in conducting Green Camps based on the “learn while playing” concept, aimed at engaging participants in activities that promoted critical thinking and environmental stewardship. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | used cooking oil,recycle, | Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will soon make it compulsory for food operators to collect used cooking oil to recycle at designated centres. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/used-cooking-oil-recycling-mandate | |
1,374,268 | Teacher for Orang Asli school wins RISE Educator Award 2024 | TAYLOR’S College and its student engagement arm, The Risers, crowned Shawn Stanly Anthony Dass as this year’s RISE Educator Award winner on June 8.
The dedicated educator who teaches in a remote village in Gerik, Perak, was awarded RM5,000 for his achievement and RM20,000 for his school, Sekolah Kebangsaan RPS Banun.
This year, 10 exceptional teachers were shortlisted for their inspiring stories and these teachers were featured on Taylor’s College social media pages for public voting.
Five inspiring teachers with the most votes were Dass, along with Anne Margarette Kho from SK Belipat, Sarawak; Muhammad Anas Murugan Abdullah from SK Seri Intan, Perak; Siti Ainulmursyida Shamsudin from SMK Orkid Desa, Kuala Lumpur; and Siti Intan Farahana Mhd Fauzy from SK Bandar Laguna Merbok, Kedah.
At the award ceremony, Taylor’s College campus director Josephine Tan emphasised the college’s commitment to equitable education for all children: “At Taylor’s College, we believe in ensuring every child has equal opportunities to learn, grow and thrive.
“Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we firmly believe that education is a powerful catalyst for transformation and social progress. Through initiatives like the RISE Educator Award, we aim to honour and support teachers who exemplify excellence and dedication in their profession.
“Beyond the RM20,000 awarded to the winning school, we remain committed to supporting their educational aspirations,” she added.
The award ceremony was also attended by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh and Teach For Malaysia fellowship interim head Sawittri Charun.
“It is a privilege to partner with Taylor’s College in honouring educators who go above and beyond to inspire and empower. We were deeply moved by their stories, as they reflect the transformative efforts of educators across Malaysia.
“Shawn’s inspiring commitment in enriching Orang Asli students’ learning, reminds us of our mission at Teach for Malaysia in combating education inequity,” remarked Charun.
Dass’ innovative teaching approaches have profoundly enriched student learning and engagement at SK RPS Banun, an all-Orang Asli school, where illiteracy and high dropout rates are issues plaguing the school.
With the prize money, Dass is looking to build a learning hub for his students.
“The hub won’t be limited to students, it will also be open to parents and the wider community to encourage it as a communal space,” he said, adding that a properly equipped classroom was essential for students’ conducive learning too.
“The reality for my students is that they may be behind on their 3Rs so I have to find a way to ‘fit’ into their way of learning. This led me to think of new ways to enable the learning process,” he said.
One of his notable projects includes the development of a flight simulator and a beach-themed marine conservation class, both of which have been instrumental in helping students grasp complex concepts through experiential learning.
“In my classroom, inclusion is key. My teaching methods have boosted student motivation and participation, leading to improved attendance and confidence. This has nurtured resilience and grit, encouraging students to embrace learning.
“While illiteracy isn’t completely solved, there has been progress since June 2022.
“By providing learning opportunities and empowering students, academic performance and extracurricular involvement have soared.
“As my students continue to excel, it showcases their potential and underscores the importance of providing opportunities and believing in their abilities.
“Winning this award underscores the immense potential of our students.
“I am deeply committed to providing them with the best learning experiences and opportunities to realise their full potential,” Dass further said.
SK RPS Banun headmaster Mohd Zamarol Ahmad expressed profound pride in Dass’ outstanding achievement in winning RM20,000 for the school, saying: “The grant will be instrumental in establishing a dedicated learning hub for our students.
“We are committed to supporting Shawn in his future endeavours and will always champion his efforts to provide exceptional education for our students.”
Each finalist of the RISE Educator Award 2024 also received RM1,000, with an additional RM10,000 allocated to their schools to enhance facilities or infrastructure to support a conducive environment for quality education.
The selection process for the winner and finalists was crafted to blend the voice of the public (25% weightage) with the evaluation of a distinguished panel.
This panel included Tan, Teach for Malaysia chief executive officer Chan Soon Seng and RISE Educator of the Year 2023 Kumaresan Muniandy, who assessed the nominees’ efforts and impacts (75% weightage) in their decision.
For more on the RISE Educator Award | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | Chow Zhi En | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Taylor's College,RISE Educator,award,Teach for Malaysia,Taylor's University,Sekolah Kebangsaan RPS Banun,Wong Kah Woh,Orang Asli, | TAYLOR’S College and its student engagement arm, The Risers, crowned Shawn Stanly Anthony Dass as this year’s RISE Educator Award winner on June 8. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/teacher-for-orang-asli-school-wins-rise-educator-award-2024 | |
1,374,267 | Ice bucket challenge to make big splash | IN A show of solidarity to increase public awareness, Persatuan Penyakit Motor Neuron Malaysia (MND Malaysia) is gearing up for the “Ok i love U” Ice Bucket Challenge.
MND Malaysia is organising this challenge with ATV News to coincide with its 10th anniversary as well as a decade since the global event kicked off.
The challenge, highlighting the impact of motor neurone disease, is set to take place from 9am to noon on June 29 at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya in Selangor.
The event will feature a star-studded online presence, with Chinese actress and event ambassador Fan Bing Bing lending her support.
It will also be attended by Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, with backing from the Petaling Jaya MP Service Centre.
MND is a devastating terminal illness characterised by the progressive loss of motor functions, leaving patients fully conscious but increasingly unable to move, speak, swallow or breathe independently.
Ultimately, only eye movements remain possible for the patient to communicate.
Event participants can also dip their hands in a pail of icy water.
Despite the disease having claimed 10 million lives, MND remains without a known cause or cure.
According to the World Health Organisation, MND affects one in every 100,000 people.
Patients have an average life expectancy of just two to five years post-diagnosis.
The late British physicist Stephen Hawking was among the most notable individuals who lived with MND.
University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) consultant neurologist Prof Dr Nortina Shahrizalia underscores the critical need for increased awareness and understanding of MND in Malaysia.
“While the ‘2014 global Ice Bucket Challenge’ raised substantial awareness, MND Malaysia did not experience the same surge in attention.
“Deeper public engagement and discussion are essential for driving support and research into this devastating disease,” said Prof Dr Nortina.
This year’s Malaysian challenge aims to amplify public awareness and celebrate the perseverance of those battling MND, to build a stronger support network for patients, their families and caregivers.
Limited-edition T-shirts will be given out to the first 500 people to register.
The event registration fee is RM20 per participant and registration closes at noon on June 28.
To encourage more people to join the event, this year’s participants are to dip their hands into icy water instead of pouring it over their heads.
To join the Ice Bucket Challenge, visit mndmalaysia.org/en_gb/icebucketchallenge2024 | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | 2014 Global Ice Bucket Challenge,Motor Neurone Disease,Persatuan Penyakit Motor Neuron Malaysia,Petaling Jaya MP Service Centre,Professor Dr. Nortina Shahrizalia Professor Dr. Nortina Shahrizalia | IN A show of solidarity to increase public awareness, Persatuan Penyakit Motor Neuron Malaysia (MND Malaysia) is gearing up for the “Ok i love U” Ice Bucket Challenge. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/19/ice-bucket-challenge-to-make-big-splash | |
1,373,466 | ‘Infrastructure for water deal will take a few years’ | IT WILL take five or six years to complete the infrastructure needed for Penang to start buying water from Perak.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the water deal was now a top priority to ensure that Penangites were assured of water security.
“This project is on the top of our list to carry out, not just for the state but also the country.
“Penang is a semi-conductor powerhouse and we need the water supply to cater to it.”
Chow says the water deal with Perak is a top priority for Penang.
Chow said Penang had contingency plans in the interim to keep the taps flowing.
“We have eight projects under the Penang Water Contingency Plan 2030.
“In September, a new module in Sungai Dua water treatment plant will be ready.
“This is our way of increasing water capacity,” he said during a press conference at a green energy handover ceremony at Mydin Bertam, Butterworth.
Akmal says the ministry is offering its full support towards finalising the Perak-Penang water deal.
Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, when launching the Bukit Panchor project in Nibong Tebal, said the ministry was offering its full support towards finalising the Perak-Penang water deal.
“When it comes to planning and development, it falls under the Economy Ministry but we welcome the recent positive development between both states.
“It has been something that was raised by Penang for years.
“This project does not involve just water resources and supply, it includes planning for the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park in Perak.
“We will work with them to make sure it goes on as planned,” said Akmal Nasrullah.
In May, it was reported that the Perak government had agreed to supply water to Seberang Prai in Penang, through the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was agreed upon by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and the state’s Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Penang,water,Chow Kon Yeow | IT WILL take five or six years to complete the infrastructure needed for Penang to start buying water from Perak. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/infrastructure-for-water-deal-will-take-a-few-years | |
1,373,464 | Diehard Scottish fans march in KL ahead of Euro 2024 game | A GROUP of about 30 Scottish fans showed their love for the Scotland football team with a parade in the centre of Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of Saturday.
This was in conjunction with the opening game of the European Championship (UEFA Euro) 2024, where Scotland went up against Germany, the host country.
Paterson: This is Scotland’s first major tournament outside the United Kingdom since 1998.Event co-organiser and “diehard Scottish fan” Andy Paterson said the parade was held to emulate the bustling football match day atmosphere in Munich, Germany.
“This is Scotland’s first major tournament outside the United Kingdom since 1998.
“About 200,000 Scottish fans have gone to Munich to show their love for the team.
“We wish to create a similar atmosphere here in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Co-organiser Alistair Sim said it was “absolutely buzzing” to march together with Scottish fans residing in Kuala Lumpur.
“If you can’t be in Germany, then where else is better to be with your fellow countrymen and women than Kuala Lumpur? As we say, ‘no Scotland, no party!’” added Sim.
The parade began at about 1am and covered a distance of about 500m from Jalan Raja Chulan to Changkat Bukit Bintang.
The group of Scottish fans marching from Jalan Raja Chulan to Changkat Bukit Bintang to show their support for the Scotland football team playing in the Euro 2024 opening match. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Leading the parade, local band St John Alumni’s Pipe Band played We’ll be Coming Down the Road, the iconic song of the Tartan Army which is a moniker to describe supporters of Scotland’s national football team.
Fans, many of whom wore kilts and football jerseys, walked behind them in high spirits.
The atmosphere at the restaurant of their destination was lively as fans cheered excitedly while watching a live screening of the game.
Unfortunately, the match ended with Scotland losing 1-5 to Germany. Scotland will face Switzerland on June 20.
Despite being disappointed by the result, Paterson still described the parade as “amazing”.
“We will still show our support to Scotland through events like this whenever the country participates in any major international tournaments in the future,” he added. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Scotland,Germany,European Championship 2024,football,soccer,parade,Kuala Lumpur,Tartan Army | A GROUP of about 30 Scottish fans showed their love for the Scotland football team with a parade in the centre of Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of Saturday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/diehard-scottish-fans-march-in-kl-ahead-of-euro-2024-game | |
1,373,463 | World No.1 heading up PJ tower | The PJ Tower Run will be held for the second consecutive year on June 30 at Menara MBPJ.
Organised by the Malaysia Towerrunning Association and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), the run is to commemorate MBPJ’s 18th anniversary.
It also aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and nurture new talents.
“This event is open to everyone and requires no special technique, just the determination to walk up the stairs of the whole tower,” said Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon during a press conference at PJ Smart Centre in Petaling Jaya.
Also present were MBPJ Deputy Secretary (Management) Mohd Fauzi Maarop and MBPJ Planning Development Department director Lee Lih Shyan.
World No.1 tower runner Soh Wai Ching was also at the event.
Fresh from his victory at the Taipei 101 tower running competition, Soh said he hoped to set a new record.
“There are three rounds in the competition.
“By the final round, only 10 participants will remain.
“Each round gets more exhausting, making it difficult to break my 1.58-minute world record but I will do my best,” he said.
Malaysia Towerrunning Association co-founder and president Ravinder Singh said the women’s world record, held by Michele Tan Bee Kiang, stood at 2.58 minutes. She is currently ranked sixth worldwide.
The competition will feature Open and Veteran categories for men and women and will start at 7am with two knockout rounds.
There are 25 levels and 552 steps at Menara MBPJ.
The 10 fastest participants in the second round will compete for cash prizes, with RM1,000 for the Open category winners (men’s and women’s) and RM800 for the Veteran category winners.
An additional RM200 cash prize will be awarded to runners who set record time.
To register, scan the QR code displayed on banners around Menara MBPJ or go to https://v2.checkpointspot.asia/registration/mbpj-towerrun-2024 | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ),Malaysia Towerrunning Association,PJ Tower Run | The PJ Tower Run will be held for the second consecutive year on June 30 at Menara MBPJ. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/world-no1-heading-up-pj-tower | |
1,373,465 | Sepang to have Chinese primary school at township’s education hub | A CHINESE primary school will be built at Bandar Sunsuria in Sepang, Selangor.
Developer Sunsuria Bhd announced that SJK (C) Sunsuria was part of its education hub project within the township.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the school would be built on 6ha of land.
“Construction is expected to start this year and take three years to complete.
“The school is estimated to cost RM18mil and will be funded through donations led by the developer.
“There will be 24 classrooms to accommodate about 1,000 pupils,” he said.
Wong said the township was rapidly developing and in need of more schools.
“The school will be beneficial to residents in the township and its surroundings.
“It will also help in the ministry’s efforts to reduce overcrowding in schools,” he said at the school and education hub groundbreaking ceremony.
Also present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Sunsuria executive chairman Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap.
Ter said the vision was to provide a comprehensive educational experience that emphasised both academic excellence and co-curricular activities to fully realise each student’s potential.
“We aim to foster character-building and bring the best out of our future generation.
“To further this goal, we are fostering collaboration between schools in Bandar Sunsuria.
“By embracing diversity, inclusivity and tolerance, we will encourage cross ethnic learning and cultural integration, fostering unity and mutual trust.
“This initiative will serve as a catalyst for Malaysia’s social progress and economic growth.”
Ter said the school would have a football field as well as badminton and basketball courts, among other amenities.
“These amenities are designed to provide a conducive and inclusive learning environment to nurture well-rounded students.” | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Bandar Sunsuria,school,Chinese School,primary,education | A CHINESE primary school will be built at Bandar Sunsuria in Sepang, Selangor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/sepang-to-have-chinese-primary-school-at-townships-education-hub | |
1,373,472 | Local council building to be new Sibu landmark | THE development of the new RM70mil Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) building is in line with the realisation of the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project, says Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee.
The Sarawak Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister said proper planning was required due to the size of the building project.
“We are waiting for Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg’s masterplan for the Bukit Assek redevelopment.
“Everything will have to coordinate with the redevelopment master plan,” Tiang said to reporters at SMC’s Santai Raya celebration at the Islamic Complex.
The upcoming SMC building is expected to be a new landmark for the town.
It will be equipped with various facilities including lecture halls, meeting rooms and utility bill counters besides offices.
Separately, Tiang urged the local council to further promote Sibu once the Pan-Borneo highway is fully completed next year.
He said the town was poised to become the hub for logistics and road transportation in Sarawak.
“SMC needs to do more planning on this aspect so that Sibu can be the road transportation and logistics hub to serve Sarawak’s development,” he said.
Tiang also said it was important to prepare Sibu to accommodate the expected influx of tourists, especially with the introduction of flights from Singapore by Scoot this year.
He expressed hope that SMC would exert greater effort in formulating new policies and boosting promotional activities while collaborating closely with residents. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Sibu Municipal Council,new building,Michael Tiang | THE development of the new RM70mil Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) building is in line with the realisation of the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Project, says Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/local-council-building-to-be-new-sibu-landmark | |
1,373,471 | Rooftops need care too for a clean Kuala Lumpur | DURING breakfast recently at a hotel next to the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, I noticed that the view from the 30th floor was distressing.
The roofs of several shophouses, mid-size office buildings and hotels were algae stained or had shrubs growing in some corners. | Metro | Views | Metered | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | roofs,kuala lumpur,disrepair | LETTER FROM RAVINDRAN RAMAN KUTTY Kuala Lumpur | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/rooftops-need-care-too-for-a-clean-kuala-lumpur | |
1,373,460 | ‘Form committee for Indian traders’ | Johor Indian Petty Traders and Small Business Association has sent a proposal to the state government to create an Indian entrepreneur development committee within Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd (PUJB).
Association chairman D. Ravindran said the proposal was sent last month to the Johor Mentri Besar’s office.
The association, he said, also suggested that the committee consist of a manager and five officers from the Indian community.
“We hope this will translate into increasing the economic contribution of the Indian community in Johor,” he said when contacted.
Ravindran says a new Indian entrepreneur development committee should be set up.Ravindran said the association also wanted to meet Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
“We want a face-to-face meeting, to tell him the realities on the ground,” he elaborated.
He said PUJB had offered a lot of programmes and financial aid but those initiatives had not helped the Indian community to start businesses.
“The absence of Indian representation within PUJB is a key reason for this lack of support and understanding,” said Ravindran.
“The B40 group faces numerous challenges in starting a business, including learning business practices, securing financial resources and obtaining the necessary equipment,” he added.
Most business owners in Johor are financially stable and often from outside the state, limiting opportunities for local residents, Ravindran claimed.
“Foreigners and traders from other states dominate sectors like garland-making and barber shops, making it hard for locals to compete due to high costs and a lack of training.
“This is why we have proposed to establish the new committee under PUJB to address these issues.
“If accepted, this proposal could improve the economic status of Johor’s Indian community and ensure their concerns are addressed by the government,” said Ravindran, who is also the Johor MIC Entrepreneurs bureau chief. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Petty Traders,Proposal,PUJB,Association,Committee | Johor Indian Petty Traders and Small Business Association has sent a proposal to the state government to create an Indian entrepreneur development committee within Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd (PUJB). | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/form-committee-for-indian-traders | |
1,373,459 | Puchong residents oppose giving new development access to Jalan Intan 2/1 | RESIDENTS of Taman Puchong Intan Phase 2 in Puchong, Selangor, are against the plan to give a new apartment project in their neighbourhood direct access to Jalan Intan 2/1.
Residents claim that Jalan Intan 2/1, which connects to Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), is heavily used by motorists, especially during peak hours.
The three-block apartment project comprises over 1,000 units.
More traffic would contribute to congestion, and compromise the safety and security of the terrace-house residents, they said.
Resident S. Devavarman said more vehicles would use Jalan Intan 2/1 once residents moved into the apartments.
Devavarman says it may not be safe for children to use Jalan Intan 2/1 if the road is busy.“The terrace houses are not gated or guarded.
“Residents are vigilant when we see unfamiliar vehicles entering our neighbourhood, because there have been robberies in the past,” he said.
“If the road is going to be used by the apartment residents, we will not be able to identify outsiders,” he stressed.
He also said that many children frequented the field and playground on Jalan Intan 2/1.
“In the evenings, children use Jalan Intan 2/1 to get to the playground.
“It may not be safe for the children to use the road if it is constantly busy,” he said.
RK Ravindran said a complaint was lodged with Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and the police regarding the road being linked to the apartment project.
“The residents were never consulted on the matter,” he said.
“We objected to the apartment project too, citing reasons such as congestion and parking problems but these went unheard.
“If apartment residents are allowed access to Jalan Intan 2/1, we fear motorists will park their vehicles along the road,” he added.
Devavarman said the neighbourhood was already facing parking issues due to a change of access for the existing apartments in their area in 2022.
“Intan Apartment’s main access used to be on Jalan Intan 4, facing empty land,” he noted.
“The access was moved to Jalan Intan 2, which faces housing and commercial areas, when the management extended its carpark in 2022.
“Since then, many Intan Apartment residents have been parking their vehicles along Jalan Intan 2, at the commercial area (opposite their apartments) and near the terrace houses.
“There have been many altercations regarding parking.”
He said residents feared a similar situation could occur if the new apartment project’s direct access was onto Jalan Intan 2/1.
MBSJ had yet to comment at press time. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Taman Puchong Intan,parking,apartment | RESIDENTS of Taman Puchong Intan Phase 2 in Puchong, Selangor, are against the plan to give a new apartment project in their neighbourhood direct access to Jalan Intan 2/1. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/puchong-residents-oppose-giving-new-development-access-to-jalan-intan-21 | |
1,373,458 | Lifts replacement plan on hold | ATTEMPTS by the management committee (MC) of Venice Hill Resort Living in Cheras, Selangor, to replace faulty lifts are being hampered by some residents who are against the move.
Following a protest letter sent by a unit owner, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) ordered the MC to postpone the RM6mil lift replacement project until its investigations are done.
Proponents for the lifts’ replacement project fear a tragedy may happen if the matter dragged on.
Resident Sasikala Mathavan said some of the lifts, when in motion, would shake and the doors tend to open in between floors.
She said lift cabins were also known to suddenly plunge before slowing down at landings.
“Last November, a lift shot up and hit the roof. Luckily, no one was inside,” said Sasikala.
Resident Ganesh Saunda said they had been experiencing lift issues for the past 10 years but the problem worsened over the last year.
“Although a maintenance company looks after the lifts, the problem is with spare parts as the models are obsolete.
“We are experiencing frequent breakdowns, lasting up to four hours or longer, daily,” he said.
Following the volume of complaints, resident Bernard Beh said the MC called for a tender, from April 1 to 15, which attracted 13 companies.
“On April 21, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was held to approve the tender.
Sasikala (left) and Beh say the condominium’s lifts are in very poor condition.
“However, some residents felt the approval was done on short notice, and protested to MPKj and the Housing and Local Government Ministry on April 25,” he said.
The reason given for the protest was that the MC did not have funds for the project.
“This is not true. We collect RM430,000 in maintenance and sinking fund fees a month. We have RM3.3mil in our sinking fund,” said Beh.
“The MC found a company to change all 27 lifts in nine towers at a cost of RM6mil.
“The only parts which will remain are the counterweights, corner guides and landing doors.
“We are putting a downpayment of RM1.3mil, which will follow with the delivery of the first lift materials.
“The monthly instalments are RM86,000 for the next six years.
“The lifts come with a two-year warranty.
“As for claims regarding irregularities in the tender process, the tender committee comprised 23 residents,” said Beh, adding that notices on the process were also put up in all towers.
The protest letter also stated that unit owners with outstanding payments, some with less than RM100, were denied voting rights at the EGM.
In response, MC chairman Ravishanker V. Thambiah said it was a struggle to get defaulters to settle their bills.
He said the MC had improved living conditions over the years and installed radio frequency identification (RFID) access.
“Our first concern is safety. Although not all lifts are in critical condition, they are of the same age and will eventually break down, forcing the MC to fork out extra for maintenance costs.
“Hence the decision to change all of them,” he added.
To spruce up the 30-year-old condominium, the MC approved RM280,000 for broken fencing and RM280,000 to paint the buildings but these projects are now on hold until MPKj’s investigations are completed.
Resident Susan Cheah is hoping the council speeds up investigations because every time a lift breaks down, she has to take the stairs.
A resident, who did not want to be named, spoke of the plight faced by his neighbour who is in his 70s.
“He has no choice but to climb the stairs to his penthouse on the 17th floor,” said the resident.
When contacted, MPKj asked residents to be patient while investigations are being carried out based on the EGM minutes and MC’s financial accounts. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | lift,Venice Hill,replacement,protest,investigation,MPKj. | ATTEMPTS by the management committee (MC) of Venice Hill Resort Living in Cheras, Selangor, to replace faulty lifts are being hampered by some residents who are against the move. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/lifts-replacement-plan-on-hold | |
1,373,462 | Youths step up for local government | A first-of its-kind internship programme and new think tank to advocate progressive policies in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, are drawing young people into the world of local governance.
These initiatives are getting youths to experience first-hand the challenges that come with decision-making and policy implementation that directly impact their communities.
Leading the charge are two young councillors from Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) who are keen to show youths that getting involved in local government matters is anything but boring.
Local authority knowledge
Nalina is also MBPJ public health and safety sub-committee chairman. — Filepic
Two-term councillor Nalina Nair told StarMetro that the internship programme provided insight into how local government policies were made and gave interns a first-hand look into what councillors deal with on a daily basis.
Nalina announced the internship programme on her social media pages earlier this month, calling for youths interested to learn about local governance to apply.
There is no age limit but those below 18 will need parental consent.
Her post stated that interns would be part of a process to learn about research, policy-making, public service, and office administrative assistance.
“Seven potential interns have sent in their applications and the first one has interned for a month,” she said.
While there is no maximum limit placed on the internship duration, the minimum is one month.
“Some of the applicants have done impressive research on certain subjects and they know what I do as a councillor,” said Nalina.
“I feel I can relate to these young people and be someone they can look up to,” she added.
According to Nalina, two applicants are law students studying overseas, who were back on their summer break.
“Both are young Indian women; I do think there is a lack of Indian women in politics now,” she said.
Although this is the first internship programme of its kind among local councils, she said Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei was instrumental in driving youth empowerment within local government.
“Lim saw that I wanted to help with this initiative and improve policy-making at local council level in Petaling Jaya,” explained Nalina at the Kampung Tunku assemblyman’s service centre.
She said getting young interns on board would help councillors tremendously, especially in handling complaints from the community.
“Councillors are really bogged down every day handling complaints because the public prefers to call us rather than use the city council’s public complaint management system (Sispaa).
“They see us as a ‘complaint centre’ but we don’t have time to handle all of them,” she said.
She added that the interns would receive a monthly allowance of up to RM800.
“I feel that the public do not see councillors as ‘important people’ because we do not have local council elections,” she said, noting that councillors were not considered in a significant light like an assemblyman or MP.
“But our job affects people’s daily lives. The interns who join us will help with improving certain aspects,” said Nalina, who also chairs the MBPJ public health and safety subcommittee.
“We want the interns to look into these issues and also give ideas on how to improve food waste management at food-and-beverage outlets in the city,” she added.
Thinking outside the box
Kusaaliny taking her oath as a MBPJ councillor in January this year. — Filepic
Before becoming the youngest female councillor in Selangor in January this year, Kusaaliny Mahendran, 24, acquired some experience as Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran’s political secretary.
More recently, she launched the Social Democracy Malaysia (SocDem) think tank in the city.
SocDem is a platform for fact-based policy solutions and advocacy on three key issues – climate action, democracy and governance, as well as urban planning and housing.
“This is where youths can collaborate and engage in ideas as well as join forums and focus groups organised by SocDem.
“We are not limiting our target audience to age groups, but youths have a platform where they can come and explore what they want for the city with our guidance, through policy tools that already exist.
“For example, if youths want a beautiful park like Hyde Park in London, how do we make that happen and how do we implement that in Petaling Jaya in the next 25 years? Who do we need to lobby?
“We will teach them these things as we also have platforms such as Selangor Young Assemblyman (Adun Muda).”
Kusaaliny highlighted that SocDem was the only think tank where half of the participants were youths.
“About 80% of our team are 30 years old and under,” she said.
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong (third from left) and Rajiv (fourth from right) at the launch of the Social Democracy Malaysia think tank in Petaling Jaya. With them are interns at the organisation.
Rajiv, who is SocDem chairman, said youths could join and advocate their ideas based on the platform’s three focus areas.
“They can learn how to advocate for these issues to the right people in government to change policies in these three areas of focus, towards meaningful changes in society,” he said.
He added that the youths could also focus on other pertinent issues, like healthcare.
Fresh perspectives
Matthew says the internship offers opportunity to see how theories he learned are put into practice.StarMetro spoke to several youths who took part in the internship programme to find out about their experience working in local government.
For Brian Matthew, 23, a finance graduate from a local university, the programme gave him an opportunity to see how the theories he learnt were put into practice.
“I saw first-hand how taxpayers’ monies are funnelled into city services and maintaining public facilities,” he said.
The eldest of two children from Puchong, Selangor, was given a handful of duties under the guidance of Kusaaliny.
Among them, he recalled, was doing research on how to improve bus services in Petaling Jaya.
Matthew said the project gave him a chance to liaise with MBPJ personnel and also gave him an insight into how they worked.
“As someone from the younger generation, I have certain viewpoints on how to solve issues.
“However, the officials have to juggle many competing priorities, so we have to find a middle ground.
Ng says the internship gives her transferable skills, which will be useful for future jobs.“I see this as a positive experience and an opportunity to learn,” he said.
After finishing her A-Levels in Singapore, Esther Ng Yu Xuan, 20, wanted to learn more about public policy.
She was slated to further her studies in the United Kingdom in September and had been applying for an internship position in the meantime to gain experience.
“However, my applications kept getting rejected because I did not have a related degree,” said Ng, who will be doing a degree in linguistics.
She considers herself lucky to be accepted into the internship programme under Kusaaliny, as this experience will give her transferable skills.
“I had the chance to be involved in community work,” she added.
Similarly, Leong Hoy Kit, 20, who is flying to the UK in September to study philosophy and economics, said the internship offered insights into politics, which was related to his field of study.
Leong says the internship offers him insights into politics, which is related to his field of study.He was prompted to apply for the internship after being accepted into the degree programme.
“I found that many of my university coursemates have experience in research and community work, which I didn’t.
“During the internship, I learned how to conduct research and analyse data, while also dealing with the local community.”
The Subang Jaya resident, who has a younger sibling, said his knowledge of local politics also improved as a result.
Unlike her peers who joined to enhance their resume, Wai Yixin, 18, said her father had signed her up for the programme.
“He said I was too pampered and wanted me to know about issues affecting my community.”
Yixin is inspired by her father, who regularly communicates with MBPJ on neighbourhood issues.The internship had given Yixin newfound appreciation for the things she learned in secondary school.
“I used to think a lot of things in the history textbook were just for exams, but I now realise they are actually important,” she said.
Yixin is inspired by her father, whom she said regularly communicated with MBPJ on various issues in their neighbourhood.
“He likes to submit complaints to the local councillor, but he also gives suggestions for improvements.
“He says it is important that we don’t simply complain, but must also offer a solution,” she added.
Another intern, Dhanyasri Nair, 19, who is a second-year law student in the UK, is currently back in the country on summer break.
She applied after encouragement from her father, who said she could benefit from the experience of working in local government.
Growing up in the Middle East most of her life, she also saw it as a chance to improve her command of the Malay language.
Before attending MBPJ meetings, Dhanyasri would do her research to ensure she was up to date on issues.
“Within days, I saw how councillors approached problems, dealt with people from all backgrounds and planned community events,” added the intern who reports to Nalina. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Youths,Petaling Jaya City Council,MBPJ,Nalina Nair,Kusaaliny Mahendran,internship programme,Social Democracy Malaysia,think-tank | A first-of its-kind internship programme and new think tank to advocate progressive policies in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, are drawing young people into the world of local governance. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/youths-step-up-for-local-government | |
1,373,457 | Club gives out packed meals to needy in JB | OVER 5,000 packed meals were given to more than 4,000 needy people around Johor Baru in conjunction with World Hunger Day.
Lions Club of Johor Jaya president Helen Chong said the group collaborated with several partners to distribute the meals and bring some relief to the less fortunate.
“The initiative, which aimed to raised awareness about hunger and support the vulnerable, was a success thanks to the collective effort of volunteers and partner organisations.
“We held the event at Aeon Mall Bandar Dato’ Onn in Johor Baru, which saw an impressive turnout of volunteers,” she added.
Chong said the programme benefitted 4,070 people.
She said the food distribution was organised by Lions Club of Johor Jaya jointly with other non-government organisations and private bodies.
She also thanked the community for their response to the initiative.
“We are overwhelmed by the support and dedication shown by our members, volunteers and partners.
“This event highlights the strength of our community and our shared commitment to making a positive impact,” she added.
Chong said the hunger relief project was part of Lions Club of Johor Jaya’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity as well as to support those in need.
“The club continues to plan and execute various community projects, reinforcing its mission to serve and uplift the community.
“Together, we have made a significant difference in the lives of many individuals and families,” she noted. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | hunger,food,Lions Club of Johor Jaya,less unfortunates | OVER 5,000 packed meals were given to more than 4,000 needy people around Johor Baru in conjunction with World Hunger Day. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/18/club-gives-out-packed-meals-to-needy-in-jb | |
1,372,873 | Shah Alam library hosts foreign film festival | MALAYSIANS had the chance to learn about Tatar culture and their Islamic heritage at the Russian Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan in Russia.
The three-day event took place at the Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam, Selangor.
It was jointly organised by Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) and International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS).
The festival, which was free to the public, featured five films, including an animation and two documentaries.
It was held to recognise and showcase films that promote human, spiritual and moral values.
The festival also aimed to challenge stereotypes and foster a more inclusive society.
Present at the event were Tatarstan Culture Minister Irada Ayupova Khafizyanovna, Russian ambassador Naiyl Latypov, Selangor women, family empowerment, welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari, IAIS chairman Dr Maszlee Malik and PPAS director Datin Paduka Mastura Muhamad.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Maszlee said the idea of the festival came about during a conversation with Latypov.
“In addition to strengthening cultural diplomacy between Malaysia and Russia, we hope that this will serve as a bridge to develop tourism opportunities between the two countries,” he said.
Anfaal hoped for an exchange of ideas and concepts during the event.
“Through this festival, our local film producers can meet Russian filmmakers and vice-versa.
Ismagilova (right) explaining her work to Anfaal (second from right) and Khafizyanovna (left).
“Other than being an engine for the economy, the film industry can also showcase values of tolerance, diversity and creativity,” she said.
In addition to film screenings, there was an exhibition featuring calligraphy, architecture and traditional Tatar costumes.
One of the artists was Gulnaz Ismagilova, whose work has been exhibited in Turkiye, Algeria and India.
A fashion show also took place at the opening ceremony, with staff from the Russian Embassy also modelling Tatar costumes.
One of the male models was Kazan Museum of Islamic Culture head Ilnur Nizamiew who complemented his outfit with a walking stick.
After the speeches, guests were shown to the library auditorium to watch a documentary directed by Ainaz Mukhametzyanov titled Ibn Fadlan, depicting the life of an Arabian diplomat. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Russian Kazan International Muslim Film Festival,Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) | MALAYSIANS had the chance to learn about Tatar culture and their Islamic heritage at the Russian Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan in Russia.The three-day event took place at the Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam, Selangor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/shah-alam-library-hosts-foreign-film-festival | |
1,372,876 | Rekindling the ‘kampung’ spirit | Selangor government’s Jalinan Mesra Rewang Sekampung programme at PPR Kampung Baru Hicom, Shah Alam, was a celebration of all things Malaysian.
The programme organised at the people’s housing project (PPR) sought to foster the spirit of mutual cooperation.
Residents of all ages participated in a series of activities designed to build community bonds and educate the younger generation about their cultural roots.
The event kicked off with a traditional cooking demonstration, where the older residents shared recipes and techniques for classic Malay dishes such as dalca and spiced fried chicken.
There was also a futsal tournament, mobile library and staircase fun walk.
Children taking turns to play hopscotch, one of several games during the event.
The programme also featured traditional games like congkak, marbles and hopscotch.
These games, once a staple of kampung life, provided a fun and educational way to bridge generational gaps and revive pastimes that had nearly faded from memory.
There was also a bouncing castle, which was popular with the young ones.
Young participants taking part in a game of futsal.
A highlight of the event was the clean-up activity where residents came together to tidy up common areas, plant trees and beautify their surroundings.
This collaborative effort not only improved their living environment but also strengthened the community spirit. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Rewang Sekampung’,Selangor State Public Housing Program,Sustainable Development Goals,Borhan Aman Shah,Juhari Ahmad | Selangor government’s Jalinan Mesra Rewang Sekampung programme at PPR Kampung Baru Hicom, Shah Alam, was a celebration of all things Malaysian. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/rekindling-the-kampung-spirit | |
1,372,868 | LED panel screen at volleyball stadium touted as first in country | THE Rejang Park Volleyball Stadium in Sibu will be the first in the country to be equipped with an LED panel screen.
“The screen, which is 6.4m wide and 3.538m high, can broadcast matches live.
“This screen will provide a better experience for spectators,” said Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.
“It will be the first volleyball stadium in Malaysia equipped with such facilities, and I hope residents of Sibu will support our Sarawak team not only in volleyball but also in badminton and football,” Chieng said.
He said the cost for the screen, at RM50,000, would be drawn from his minor rural project (MRP) grant.
According to Chieng, the installation of the screen will be done before the Malaysia Games (Sukma), which Sarawak is playing host to from Aug 17 to 24.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting the funds for the project.
Chieng said that the Sarawak men’s and women’s volleyball teams for Sukma have been training hard and are targeting to win the gold medal.
“The teams are not only training in Malaysia but also abroad in countries such as Taiwan and Thailand.”
Sibu Volleyball Association chairman Datuk Moh Wung Ming said that the state team will compete in two more tournaments to fine-tune their preparations. ― By ANDY CHUA | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Volleyball stadium,LED panel screen,Joseph Chieng | THE Rejang Park Volleyball Stadium in Sibu will be the first in the country to be equipped with an LED panel screen. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/led-panel-screen-at-volleyball-stadium-touted-as-first-in-country | |
1,372,869 | Senior esports team formed | OFTEN associated with youth and lightning reflexes, a group of older individuals are shattering stereotypes by becoming the first senior esports team in Malaysia.
The group, known as Team eMas, was formed through the Boomers2Gamers campaign by milk brand Goodday Charge, which kicked off in February.
A total of 298 senior applicants aged over 50 and without prior gaming experience, participated to compete for a spot in the team.
The list was shortlisted to 10 finalists who were given training over several weeks, focusing on strategy, skills, teamwork and communication.
Six out of the 10 were then picked to form the first official senior esports team in Malaysia.
The team’s formation was launched by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and supported by the Malaysian Esports Federation at an esports club in a Kuala Lumpur mall.
The top 10 finalists received a total pool prize of RM22,000.
Yeoh said she took a greater interest in esports when Malaysia won silver and bronze for the category during the Asian Games last year.
“Esports is often perceived as the domain of the young, focused solely on entertainment,” she said.
“However, through initiatives like Boomers2Gamers, we demonstrate that esports is also focused on strategic thinking, mental agility and community – qualities that resonate with traditional sports.
“Esports requires the same discipline and demand of any other sport.”
The ministry, said Yeoh, had expanded the list of recognised sports from 51 to 103, including esports, as of March last year.
Etika Sdn Bhd marketing vice-president Amy Gan said esports is a mentally-challenging sport, much like chess and snooker.
“Esports help players to improve cognitive and motor skills, hand-eye coordination and most importantly, communication.
“Contests such as Boomers2Gamers make esports more inclusive by creating a better understanding and greater acceptance which will bridge the generational gap.
“Goodday Charge is dedicated to championing the belief that esports is a legitimate sport, requiring discipline, skills and fitness for optimal performance.
“From supporting the National eSport Development Guideline with the Youth and Sports Ministry to sponsoring the 2024 Malaysian Esports Awards, our aim is to change negative stereotypes and misconceptions of esports in Malaysia,” she said.
The six members of Team eMas are Trish Lim as team leader, Nahar Ludhfi as entry fragger, Ahmad Zamzuri also known as Tom as second entry fragger, Johan Arifin and John Yap as support and Linda Tee as the substitute.
Each was handpicked by former professional esports athletes with a combined experience of over 20 years, Mohd Syazwan ‘Wanr0’ and Mohammed Reza ‘Rexa’ based on several criteria.
“The game is fast-paced. We need to know the commands with proper teamwork and good communication.
“The team members understood their roles while playing the game.
“This competition has opened so many doors and opportunities for us and above all, it transcends age,” said Lim.
As a finale for the Boomers2Gamers campaign, Team eMAS competed in four matches against Malaysian professional Counter-Strike team, HXG to be eligible for recognition as the first senior esports team.
Their feat was recognised by the Malaysian Electronic Sports Federation and Malaysia Book of Records. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | E-sports,esports,senior,Malaysia Book of Records,Ministry of youth and sports,Counter Strike 2. | OFTEN associated with youth and lightning reflexes, a group of older individuals are shattering stereotypes by becoming the first senior esports team in Malaysia. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/senior-esports-team-formed | |
1,372,857 | Harvest festival a unifying factor | The month-long Kaamatan celebration is observed by 35 ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic groups in Sabah.
Each Sabahan ethnic group has its own harvest festival, with Kaamatan having first been observed by the Kadazandusun.
However, according to Dusun elder Erbi Ganang from Ranau, the festival has come to be celebrated by all Sabahans.
“For the Kadazandusun, the story of Kaamatan started with a great drought that caused famine and serious diseases.
“It is said that this situation deeply moved their deity Kinoingan, his wife Suminundu and their daughter Huminodun.
“Unable to bear seeing their people’s suffering, Huminodun decided to sacrifice herself to end the disaster.
“Kinoingan and his wife were reluctant but Huminodun was determined to help her people.
“After Huminodun sacrificed herself, her body was buried.
“From the ground where she was laid to rest, padi started to grow, becoming a source of food that ended the famine,” related Erbi.
According to this hunter and seller of forest produce, the Kadazandusun community went on to mark the rice harvesting season to honour Huminodun.
The Kaamatan celebration was held at the KDCA Unity Hall.
Erbi said the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant held during Kaamatan shared this symbolism.
“Over time, people from other Sabahan ethnic groups inhabited the same areas as the Kadazandusun and harvested their produce together.
“Even though each ethnic group has its own legends, we celebrate Kaamatan together,” he told Bernama.
He added that the word Kaamatan means “harvesting”.
There are also other legends related to harvest festivals.
Kudat Rungus craftswoman Limna Doradong told of the legend of a childless couple who helped a stray dog that came to their home.
“Feeling sorry for the animal, the couple took care of it and in return, the dog brought rice, corn, watermelon and cucumber seeds for them to grow.
“The couple planted the seeds and when they saw how these bore a good harvest, they shared the seeds with their community.
“They then celebrated the harvest by observing the Magahau festival.
“Over time, the Rungus shared the seeds with other ethnic groups,” related Limna.
She said over the years, the Rungus began to consider the Kaamatan as part of their own Magahau festival, which is also celebrated in May.
“The origins of our stories may be different but the ending is the same – enjoying our harvests together,” she added.
Kaamatan grew into an event for unity after it was officially recognised in 1960, thanks to state leaders such as the late Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, who was Sabah’s first chief minister.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech at the closing of Kaamatan last year emphasised that the harvest festival should be celebrated by all Malaysians as a unifying tool.
He had stated, “My presence here symbolises that any festival celebrated in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak is a shared celebration that must be respected.”
Two of the Unduk Ngadau contestants in Kota Kinabalu. The pageant has contestants from diverse communities in Sabah.
This message underscores the importance of unity and mutual respect among Malaysians, regardless of their cultural and regional differences.Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that regardless of Kaamatan’s origins and the beliefs of each ethnic group, “the lesson learned is for us all to strive harder together to achieve the same goals”.
He said this year’s theme is “Kaamatan Beyond Food Security”.
Hajiji agrees that Kaamatan promotes social cohesion nationwide.
Sabah Kaamatan Festival organising chairman Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister 1, said the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) had organised celebrations in Labuan, Sarawak, Klang Valley, Johor, Melaka, Putrajaya and Penang.
Kitingan, who is KDCA deputy president, said Kaamatan has become a national festival that he hopes will be celebrated and spark economic cooperation.
“The uniqueness of our cultural heritage attracts global interest, thereby driving the development of Sabah’s tourism sector,” he added.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah academic Assoc Prof Dr Romzi Ationg said migration and intermarriages led to Kaamatan being observed across different ethnicities.
He said the migration of Sabahans also saw the introduction of their traditions to other communities.
“In recent times, we have seen Kaamatan evolve into a nationwide celebration like Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year and Deepavali.
“It is hoped that Kaamatan will continue to be a catalyst for unity,” said Romzi.
The Kaamatan celebrations at the KDCA Hongkod Koisaan (Unity) Hall was officiated by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Sabah,Kaamatan festival,unity,heritage | The month-long Kaamatan celebration is observed by 35 ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic groups in Sabah. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/harvest-festival-a-unifying-factor | |
1,372,858 | Developer’s charity arm transforms Kajang primary school with RM18,000 | Desks, two murals and the repainting of a block of classrooms – these were some of the additions and upgrades at SJK (C) Yu Hua, courtesy of Eco World Foundation.
In enhancing the learning environments of the school in Kajang, Selangor, the foundation was able to carry out the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of its parent company, Eco World Development Group Bhd.
During the CSR project handing-over ceremony, foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye emphasised its strong belief that education is a crucial investment for the country’s future.
“A quality education has the transformative power to change someone’s life for the better.
“This is the reason why we are driven in providing help to schools in need,” said Lee.
Also present at the event were the group’s president and CEO Datuk Chang Khim Wah, its divisional general manager Evon Yap, SJK (C) Yu Hua headmaster Wong See Lee and representatives from the school’s board of governors.
In 2019, the foundation donated 150 sets of desks and chairs worth RM16,500 to the primary school.
This was followed by another 150 sets of desks and chairs a few months later, bringing the total contribution to RM33,000.
This year, the foundation donated another 50 desks worth RM6,000 to the school.
Another RM12,000 was spent on paint supplies and tools for the one-day mural and painting project which involved 44 volunteers from Team EcoWorld. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | Desks, two murals and the repainting of a block of classrooms – these were some of the additions and upgrades at SJK (C) Yu Hua, courtesy of Eco World Foundation. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/developers-charity-arm-transforms-kajang-primary-school-with-rm18000 | |
1,372,870 | Ensuring accessibility for everyone | IMAGINE being in a wheelchair, on crutches or using a cane and needing to get somewhere quickly.
Unfortunately, numerous barriers and obstructions often make this nearly impossible.
To make matters worse, the infrastructure meant to assist you often falls short.
This is the reality for many persons with disabilities (PwDs), where daily life is filled with all sorts of obstacles and challenges.
While there are guidelines, known as MS1184, to ensure that buildings and facilities are designed and constructed to be accessible and usable by everyone, including individuals with various types of disabilities, there are still many venues and buildings that do not comply.
Finding the ones that do can be tricky as there is no database available.
One woman plans to change this through a website called IncluCity, a crowdsourced mapping platform dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusion, especially for people with disabilities.
“IncluCity will also act as a resource portal where venues can sync with service providers to help them become more accessible,” said IncluCity founder Armani Shahrin.
“We believe that accessibility is not just a legal requirement but a fundamental human right,” she said.
“We are empowering PwDs and anyone who needs it, so that everyone can thrive without barriers.”
While Armani aims to develop a full-fledged app, the platform is currently accessible via the website inclucity.my
“People can access it and input data on places that are accessible, as well as the places they want to visit and hope to make accessible,” Armani said.
“The website is currently online, and people can see the first few venues submitted by the public as potential places to hang out.”
Armani added that apart from collecting data, they also hope to reach out to companies to help make their venues friendly to everyone, not just PwDs but also senior citizens as well as mothers with strollers.
“We will keep updating the website. As we go along, people can make informed decisions on where they want to go, and IncluCity will also aim to provide information about the accessibility features of various locations,” she said.
At an event to launch IncluCity, Armani said she has been working with her mother, Zuraini Anuar, who founded the We and I Art Festival to celebrate the diverse talents of PwD.
“My mother also created ‘We and I Art’, a platform selling artworks by PwD artists, including my sister Izzati Shahrin, who is an artist with autism and Down Syndrome. I was very inspired by this,” she said.
During the Covid-19 movement control order, Armani created NakSeni, a social enterprise aimed at selling artworks created by people with disabilities online.
“After the MCO was lifted, I realised that it was challenging to organise events or cater to individuals with all sorts of disabilities within one venue.
“We had to look for disabled-friendly venues and work with them to see if they could instal ramps and other necessary modifications, and that’s how the idea for the IncluCity platform came about,” she said.
Armani was able to push forward with her idea when she won a grant in the Creative Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme, a project under Think City, to address urban challenges faced in Kuala Lumpur.
“With the funding I received from the grant, I was able to develop the website,” added Armani. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | DBKL,MS1184,accessible,inclusive,barrier free,kl,disabled,PwD, | IMAGINE being in a wheelchair, on crutches or using a cane and needing to get somewhere quickly. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/ensuring-accessibility-for-everyone | |
1,372,872 | Japan earthquake victims receive RM500,000 | AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd, in collaboration with Aeon Co (M) Bhd and the Malaysian Aeon Foundation, has donated RM500,000 to the victims of the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Suzu on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, on Jan 1, 2024.
A mock cheque was presented to Japan’s ambassador to Malaysia, Takahashi Katsuhiko, at a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
The contribution comprised RM175,000 each from Aeon Credit and Aeon Co and funds that were collected by the foundation during its public donation drive in January, amounting to RM150,000.
Aeon Credit chairman Ng Eng Kiat, Malaysian Aeon Foundation president Datuk Iskandar Sarudin, Aeon Co managing director Naoya Okada, Aeon Credit chief corporate officer Lee Kit Seong and several foundation committee members were at the cheque presentation ceremony.
Ng said: “Our ongoing commitment to support people in need, both locally and internationally, is rooted in Aeon Credit’s commitment to community welfare.
“And today, as the Aeon Group of Companies in Malaysia, we stand together in pursuit of these objectives.
“Over the years, the foundation has donated more than RM20mil, extending a helping hand to those in need of the basics like education, shelter and medical support.
“This sustained effort enables individuals to rediscover the simple joys of everyday life,” Ng said.
“And it repreents Aeon’s commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those affected by adversity.” | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | earthquake. donation,victims | AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd, in collaboration with Aeon Co (M) Bhd and the Malaysian Aeon Foundation, has donated RM500,000 to the victims of the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Suzu on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, on Jan 1, 2024. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/japan-earthquakevictims-receive-rm500000 | |
1,372,871 | RM10mil to fix 12 high-risk slopes | MAINTENANCE work is being carried out at 12 high-risk slopes in Penang at a cost of RM10mil, says state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
He said the main components included soil investigation, early site cleaning works and repairs of landslide-hit areas.
Of the 12 slopes, five are in the north-east district (RM3.86mil allocated), while the rest are in the south-west district (RM6.13mil).
The appointed contractor is Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd (PUSB).
According to Buletin Mutiara, Zairil said no roads were closed during the maintenance period.
“Road users are advised to plan their trips accordingly when passing the affected areas,” he said during a site inspection in Tanjung Bungah.
Zairil said the high-risk slopes were identified by state Public Works Department (JKR), with allocation approved by the Works Ministry in February.
He added that the state government had earlier appealed to the ministry to expedite maintenance works at high-risk slopes involving federal and state roads.
Zairal said he was grateful to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi for approving the funds.
Also present were JKR north-east district engineer Mohd Khairul Nizam Mohd Fuzi, south-west district engineer Wan Eika Tansukasih Che Daud and civil engineer (roads) Rohaizi Hashim. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | slopes,Penang,Zairil Khir Johari,Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi | MAINTENANCE work is being carried out at 12 high-risk slopes in Penang at a cost of RM10mil, says state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/rm10mil-to-fix-12-high-risk-slopes |