We didn't deserve this heavy defeat tonight - Bojan Hodak

"To be honest, we didn't deserve this heavy defeat tonight and we could have scored more than one goal but we failed to take any of the chances that we had,” said Hodak.

“The players were tired and affected by the long trip here which took
more than 30 hours. We also missed five key players who didn't travel with us to Arbil because of different reasons.”

“We will have some players back in the second leg and hopefully we can get a good result," he said.

"In football there is nothing that is impossible and we will try our best to win in the second leg next week. We will be looking to defeat Arbil even though I believe they are favourites to win the title this year."

Bojan Hodak, Kelantan FA Chief Coach

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For the record, the end result was Arbil 5 - 1 Kelantan
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We didn't deserve this heavy defeat tonight - Bojan Hodak

"To be honest, we didn't deserve this heavy defeat tonight and we could have scored more than one goal but we failed to take any of the chances that we had,” said Hodak.

“The players were tired and affected by the long trip here which took
more than 30 hours. We also missed five key players who didn't travel with us to Arbil because of different reasons.”

“We will have some players back in the second leg and hopefully we can get a good result," he said.

"In football there is nothing that is impossible and we will try our best to win in the second leg next week. We will be looking to defeat Arbil even though I believe they are favourites to win the title this year."

Bojan Hodak, Kelantan FA Chief Coach

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For the record, the end result was Arbil 5 - 1 Kelantan
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Arbil selesa selepas tewaskan Kelantan 5-1

Juara Liga Iraq, Arbil menewaskan Juara Liga Super Malaysia, Kelantan 5-1 dalam pertemuan suku akhir pertama Piala AFC 2012 di Stadium Franso Hariri lewat malam tadi.

Arbil mendominasi keseluruhan permainan tetapi kapten pasukan Kelantan Badri Radzi menyempurnakan sepakan penalti menyamakan kedudukan 1-1 setelah Arbil memperoleh gol pertama mereka melalui Halkard Mulla Mohammed.

Walau bagaimanapun, Arbil kembali mendahului di separuh masa kedua apabila Amjed Radhi menjaringkan gol mereka melalui sepakan penalti, diikuti jaringan-jaringan 1 gol oleh Luay Salah dan 2 gol oleh pemain gantian Salih Sadeer.

Peluang untuk Kelantan mara dilihat agak sukar kerana mereka memerlukan 4 jaringan tanpa balas apabila bertemu untuk perlawanan suku akhir kedua di Kota Bharu Selasa depan.

Permainan wakil tunggal Malaysia di separuh masa pertama ini lebih meyakinkan, sehinggalah gol pertama Arbil dijaringkan melalui sepakan kencang Halkard dari jarak 25 meter, menewaskan Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.

Pasukan pelawat kemudiannya menyamakan kedudukan 3 minit kemudian apabila Kelantan diberi sepakan penalti yang disempurnakan oleh Badri Radzi selepas Antwi dijatuhkan di dalam kotak penalti.

Arbil terlepas peluang menambah jaringan gol apabila sepakan Radhi di depan pintu gol yang terbuka tersasar. Khairul Fahmi juga berjaya menyelamatkan percubaan yang di buat oleh Saad Abdulameer.

Pengadil perlawanan kemudiannya menghukum kesilapan Daudsu yang mengangkat kaki terlalu tinggi di dalam kotak penalti, memberikan sepakan penalti kepada Arbil pada minit 51 yang berjaya menewaskan Khairul Fahmi untuk mengubah kedudukan kepada 2-1.

Khairul Fahmi bertindak baik menjaga gawang Kelantan. Walau bagaimanapun kesilapan beliau tidak menangkap kemas bola percubaan oleh Salah berjaya dirampas semula pemain berkenaan yang kemudiannya menjaringkan gol ke 3 Arbil pada minit ke 66.

Pemain gantian Arbil, Salih menjadikan kedudukan 4-1 pada minit ke 72 dengan satu lagi rembatan kencang dari jarak 20 meter menewaskan Khairul Fahmi.

Salih menambah jaringan dengan gol kedua peribadi beliau melalui sepakan percuma di masa tambahan separuh masa kedua, untuk gol ke 5 Arbil, menjadikan kedudukan penuh masa Arbil 5, Kelantan 1.

Oleh:

Amierul Hisham, TRW Bulletin

RakamanVideo Perlawanan oleh AFC

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The Star tidak betul, Mat Yo bukan "digugurkan"

Pengurus Pasukan Kelantan, Tuan Haji Azman Ibrahim yang berada di Doha untuk transit penerbangan k Erbil, memberi respon terhad laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh akhbar The Star bertarikh 16 September 2012.

Akhbar berkenaan dalam berita bertajuk "Kelantan drop off-form Norshahrul for AFC Cup quarter-final match" memberi gambaran pasukan mengenepikan pemain berkenaan kerana masalah prestasi.

Hj Azman berkata, laporan berkenaan tidak tepat sama sekali dan mengundang salah tanggapan pihak umum kepada pasukan dan kepada Norshahrul.

Menurut Hj Azman, Norsharul diberi pelepasan daripada menyertai pasukan ke Iraq kerana isteri beliau tidak sihat. Soal prestasi yang menurun tidak timbul sama sekali kerana striker utama Kelantan tersebut diturunkan dalam semua perlawanan Liga dan juga diturunkan ketika bersama pasukan Kebangsaan.

Norshahrul yang membantu pasukan Kebangsaan dalam perlawanan persahabatan menentang Vietnam, juga turut beraksi untuk Kelantan selama 30 minit ketika Kelantan menewaskan Terengganu 6-1 baru-baru ini.

Hj Azman menegaskan, mengambilkira hal-hal yang berkenaan, wajar untuk pasukan memberi waktu rehat yang cukup kepada Norshahrul. Pemain tersebut akan turun bersama pasukan dalam perlawanan timbal balik Piala AFC menentang Arbil FC di Kota Bharu pada 25 September nanti.

Dalam hal yang sama, Bojan Hodak yang berada di Doha juga menghantar pesanan kepada saya, memperbetulkan fakta yang dilaporkan oleh akhbar The Star.

Bojan berkata laporan yang menyebut prestasi Norshahrul menurun (Norhahrul playing badly) menyebabkan beliau "digugurkan" adalah tidak betul sama sekali.

"He is our (Kelantan) best striker, I'm not sure why The Star make the story which is not true," ujar Bojan dalam pesanan ringkas kepada saya.

Amierul Hisham

TRW Bulletin

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Kelantan drop off-form Norshahrul for AFC Cup quarter-final match

By ERIC SAMUEL

PETALING JAYA: Depleted Kelantan have dropped a bombshell by leaving national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha behind for their AFC Cup quarter-final first-leg tie against Iraqi champions Arbil SC at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil on Tuesday. 

Team manager Azman Ibrahim said this was done “in the best interest of the national striker, who hasn’t scored for more than a month now”. 

“He (Norshahrul) is under tremendous pressure to score and the management committee felt that he needs a break from the game. We fear he may suffer from burnout. Although we need all our best men for the game against Arbil SC, we have no choice but to leave him out,” said Azman. 

Tremendous pressure: Kelantan have left national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (centre) 

out of the team for the AFC Cup match against Arbil SC.

Norshahrul, who won the best striker award for the last two seasons, is a pale shadow of himself these days – managing only six goals in the Super League. 

His poor form is worrying the Red Warriors, who are doing battle on two fronts – in the ongoing Malaysia Cup and the AFC Cup. 

The Red Warriors are gunning for a treble in the M-League after winning the Super League and FA Cup. 

But their hopes of doing well in the AFC Cup is in tatters after several of their key players were left behind due to injuries and suspension. 

Kelantan will also be without top striker Mohd Ghaddar Mahmoud of Lebanon as he is down with a thigh injury. The others ruled out are regular centrebacks S. Subramaniam (hamstring strain) and Nigeria’s Obinne Nwaneri (one-match suspension). The latest addition to the crock list is defender Rizal Fahmi Rosid, who injured his ankle during training. 

Azman hopes they won’t get a bashing from the stronger Iraqi club side. 

“To return home with a point will be good but that is easier said than done … especially when we don’t have our best men for the job,” said Azman, whose boys will leave for Iraq today.
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FAM tolak permohonan Kelantan

Kelantan dalam dilemma apabila kehilangan beberapa pemain tonggak untuk persiapan saingan Piala AFC menentang Arbil SC 18 September ini.

Mengikut laporan akhbar The Star, permintaan Kelantan untuk mengecualikan pemain-pemain mereka, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, S.Subramaniam, Shakir Shaari dan Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dari perlawanan persahabatan skuad Harimau Malaya dengan Vietnam telah ditolak oleh FAM.

Kelantan telah berharap untuk mendapatkan pemain-pemain itu bagi membuat persediaan menentang Arbil SC dalam suku akir Piala AFC 18 September ini.

Pasukan kebangsaan akan meninggalkan kem pada 12 September ini dan para pemain akan kembali ke pasukan mereka untuk perlawanan terakhir kumpulan Piala Malaysia pada 14 September ini.

Kelantan akan bertemu Terengganu di Kota Bharu pada 14 September dan akan berlepas ke Iraq sehari selepas itu tanpa berpeluang untuk menjalani latihan yang baik untuk Piala AFC.

Pengurus pasukan Kelantan, Azman Ibrahim memberitahu bahawa mereka telah menghantar permohonan secara bertulis kepada FAM untuk mengecualikan pemain mereka tetapi telah ditolak.

"Kami telah menghantar permohonan rasmi kepada FAM tetapi telah ditolak jadi kami tiada pilihan lain," kata Azman kepada The Star.

"Kami dalam situasi sukar sekarang dengan perlawanan terakhir peringkat kumpulan Piala Malaysia dan juga selepas itu Piala AFC di Iraq.

"Kami tidak mampu untuk mempunyai pemain yang cedera lagi dan keempat-empat mereka itu semestinya keletihan selepas beraksi dengan Vietnam.

"Subra kini cedera dan kami hanya boleh berharap tiga pemain lain itu tidak cedera semasa perlawanan persahabatan itu nanti." jelasnya.

espnstar.my

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Obinna, Midja sertai pasukan uji T-Team

Kelantan akan turun dalam satu lagi perlawanan persahabatan pada 15 Ogos 2012, bertemu pasukan T-Team. Perlawanan kali ini akan turut disertai oleh Obinna dan Midja yang telah bersama pasukan semalam.

Manakala pemain Kelantan yang bersama skuad Kebangsaan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, S Subramaniam dan Shakir Shaari, dijadualkan akan bertolak dari Austria pulang ke tanah air pada 16 Ogos.

Mereka mungkin tidak akan berkesempatan untuk turut serta dalam latihan terakhir pada 17 Ogos, sebelum pegawai dan pemain pasukan diberi cuti Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2 hari (18 dan 19 Ogos).

Latihan pasukan akan disambung semula pada 20 Ogos (Hari Raya Ke 2) di SSM4 pada jam 6 petang.

Amierul Hisham

TRW Bulletin
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AFC : Kelantan bakal uji Tebuan dalam pertemuan persahabatan

Urusan pendaftaran pemain-pemain pasukan untuk AFC telah selesai. Pengumpulan biodata terkini pemain-pemain dan pegawai pasukan sedang dilakukan. Dokumentasi ITC di peringkat kelab selesai dan telah dimajukan kepada FIFA.

Daripada senarai pemain pasukan AFC Kelantan, saya boleh katakan, dengan atau tanpa Ghaddar, ia tetap satu kombinasi juara. Keita Mandjou dan Midja Dadic tersenarai dalam skuad AFC Kelantan, melengkapkan senarai pemain import yang turut menyenaraikan Ghaddar dan Obinna. 

Antwi, walaupun tidak akan beraksi bersama pasukan, baik di Piala Malaysia dan AFC, masih kekal sebagai pemain import Kelantan. 

Skuad AFC Kelantan menerima pelawaan untuk satu perlawanan persahabatan dengan pasukan Kebangsaan Brunei Darussalam yang sedang dalam rangka persiapan menyertai pusingan kelayakan Piala AFF Suzuki 2012. 

Perlawanan persahabatan menentang skuad Tebuan dijadualkan berlangsung pada 8 September 2012 di Kota Bharu.

Skuad AFC Kelantan akan bertolak ke Arbil September untuk perlawanan suku akhir pertama pada 18 September. Perlawanan timbal balik akan berlangsung di Kota Bharu pada 25 September.

Amierul Hisham

TRW Bulletin

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Projek serampang dua mata Bojan, AFC dan Piala Malaysia

Kekalahan 0-1 Kelantan kepada Felda United baru-baru ini tidak merunsingkan jurulatihnya, Bojan Hodak.

Sebagai seorang jurulatih yang berpengalaman, Bojan merancang pasukan mengikut misi yang ingin dicapai. Setelah berjaya menjulang dua kejuaraan musim ini, Juara FA dan Juara Liga Super, Bojan kini meletak misi untuk Kelantan menjadi pasukan yang unggul di saingan AFC.

Ia merupakan satu persediaan strategik pasukan. Menyediakan pasukan untuk kejohanan antarabangsa yang besar akan sekaligus akan menjamin kesediaan pasukan menyahut cabaran Piala Malaysia untuk membuat kejutan treble musim ini.

Bertemu Arbil FC yang merupakan pendahulu Liga Iraq di peringkat suku akhir Piala AFC 2012 bukan jalan yang mudah. Tetapi, jika Kelantan berjaya dengan cemerlang di arena antarabangsa, maka peluang untuk memburu kejuaraan Piala Malaysia 2012 amat cerah.

Amierul Hisham

TRWFM Bulletin

Nota : Terima kasih kepada AFC.COM yang menggunakan foto kami sebagai sebahagian daripada berita antarabangsa mereka.

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KELANTAN CHASING UNPRECEDENTED TREBLE

Malaysian double winners Kelantan’s 24-match unbeaten run ended on Tuesday as they succumbed to a 1-0 away defeat at the hands of Felda United in the Malaysian Super League.

A 37th minute winner from Felda’s French import Mickael Curier ended Kelantan’s unbeaten run at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.

Having wrapped up their second consecutive league title on Saturday with a whopping 6-0 win over Perak, Croatian coach Bojan Hodak had the luxury of resting several of his key players as the Malaysian champions are looking for an unprecedented treble in the season with their AFC Cup quarter-finals against Iraqi side Arbil coming in September.

“The players deserved rest and anyway we have already won the league so I gave chances to three young boys and also fielded our reserve goalkeeper,” Hodak told www.the-afc.com.

“It’s something we did not want (to end the 24-match unbeaten run) but at the same time to maintain the physical condition of my players was also a challenge,” the 41-year old said.

After winning the Malaysian FA Cup in May and ensuring a successful defence of the Malaysian Super League title, Hodak’s focus is now on the on upcoming ‘big’ tie against Arbil.

“Doing good in Asia will certainly raise the profile of our club in the continent and we would try our best to progress further in the AFC Cup,” the former Balestier Khalsa player added.

Hodak’s concerns are about the timing of the AFC Cup quarter-final as the side will not have any competitive competition until late August and then there is a packed schedule with their AFC Cup quarter-finals being sandwiched in between Malaysia Cup matches.

“The Malaysia Cup is a highly prestigious and very competitive tournament in Malaysia but we have more important fixtures against Arbil so we would request to consider the run of fixtures to the Football Association of Malaysia, it’s a one-off situation,” he revealed.

“Arbil is one of the top teams remaining in this competition. I know they have been winning their matches on a regular basis and I am sure going there in Iraq and playing against Arbil will be a tough challenge for us but we will prepare our best and hopefully get into the semi-final,” Bojan, who also coached AFC President’s Cup aspirants Phnom Penh Crown FC, stressed.

The Red Warriors will face Iraq League’s leader Arbil away at Francouse Al Hareeri Stadium on 18th of September. The second of the double-header quarter-finals is slated for September 25 at the Sultan Mohammed IV Stadium, Kota Baru.

AFC.COM

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Kelantan mahu cipta sejarah di AFC

KELANTAN serius dalam meneruskan saingan mereka dalam Kejohanan Piala AFC 2012 dan akan kembali beraksi di peringkat suku akhir pada bulan September nanti dengan beberapa muka baru dalam pasukan.

Menurut Tan Sri Annuar Musa, pasukan akan diperkuatkan dengan kehadiran pemain baru dari luar dan liga tempatan menjelang pertemuan suku akhir pertama menentang Arbil FC di Iraq.

Seperti yang saya tulis sebelum ini, peraturan AFC membenarkan pasukan membuat pendaftaran pemain baru  yang akan diturunkan mulai bulan September nanti. Menyedari bahawa Arbil FC bukan calang-calang pasukan, Kelantan berharap ruang yang ada sebelum perlawanan berlangsung dapat digunakan untuk memperkemaskan pasukan.

Arbil FC merupakan bekas juara liga Iraq yang berada dalam kedudukan yang baik untuk menjuarai Liga tersebut musim ini. Mereka juga adalah pasukan yang telah melayakkan diri ke peringkat separuh akhir Piala AFC 2011.

Dalam perkembangan yang lain, Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan dikatakan masih belum menerima RM300,000 hasil daripada jualan tiket perlawanan akhir Piala FA baru-baru ini. Punca kelewatan pengagihan berkenaan tidak dijelaskan tapi sewajarnya di pandang serius oleh pengurusan FAM. 

Sebagai badan induk sukan bola sepak negara, kita berharap FAM akan menjelaskan hak-hak berkenaan kepada pasukan yang bertanding, Kelantan dan Sime Darby FC, dengan secepat mungkin. Jika FAM tidak "berkemampuan" untuk mengendalikan jumlah wang yang besar, wajarlah dilantik akauntan dan audit luar yang telus untuk menguruskannya.

Jangan sampai dikata orang, "belanja untuk sendiri mudah dilulus, tapi hak untuk badan gabungan puluh-puluh kali ditapis."

Amierul Hisham TRWFM Bulletin

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KELANTAN BURU IMPOT BARU

Oleh SINAR HARIAN

KOTA BHARU - Wakil tunggal negara dalam saingan Piala Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC), Kelantan bercadang untuk membawa masuk beberapa muka baru bagi memantapkan pasukan menjelang pertemuan dengan wakil Iraq, Arbil pada saingan suku akhir kejohanan 15 September ini.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa), Tan Sri Annuar Musa berkata, tindakan tersebut dibuat selaras dengan peraturan yang digubal oleh AFC dimana pasukan yang layak ke saingan suku akhir boleh mendaftarkan pemain baru sebelum bulan Ogos nanti.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya bercadang untuk mengambil beberapa pemain tempatan yang tidak terlibat dalam saingan Piala Malaysia dan pihaknya sedang mengenal pasti pemain itu.

“Sekarang ini, Keita Mandjou menjadi pemain import baharu The Red Warriors untuk saingan AFC dan beliau akan menjalani latihan bersama pasukan bermula 25 Jun ini serta akan beraksi menentang kelab Liga Perdana Inggeris Queen Park Rangers (QPR) nanti.

“Selain itu, saya meminta ketua jurulatih, Bojan Hodak untuk mencari seorang lagi pemain import dan tidak salah Kafa mengeluarkan sedikit belanja bagi memperkuatkan pasukan dalam mengharungi saingan AFC,” katanya.

Menurutnya, secara tidak langsung Kelantan dapat mengimbangi kekuatan wakil dari Iraq itu yang begitu berpengalaman dalam saingan berkenaan.

Mengulas mengenai peluang pasukannya pada pertandingan tersebut, Annuar memberitahu pihaknya meletakkan sasaran untuk meraih keputusan seri pada perlawanan pertama di Iraq dan menang di Kota Bharu.

“Ini peluang terbaik kita untuk mencipta sejarah dengan layak ke saingan separuh akhir dan ia perlu digunakan sebaik mungkin,” ujarnya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Annuar berkata sehingga hari ini, pihaknya masih belum menerima wang RM300,000 dari Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) hasil jualan tiket ketika perlawanan akhir Piala FA.

“Jadi wang tersebut belum diagihkan kepada pemain, bagaimanapun, bonus berjumlah RM200,00 yang dijanjikan dalam bentuk pelancongan itu akan diberikan pada 20 November ini.

“Kesemua pemain akan dibawa melancong ke Eropah sebagai tanda penghargaan di atas kejayaan tersebut,” katanya.

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Suku akhir Piala AFC: Laluan Kelantan getir

Kenyataan TEKS dan VIDEO Pengurus Pasukan Kelantan, Tuan Haji Azman Ibrahim, selepas selesai proses undian Piala AFC 2012, di AFC House Bukit Jalil 14 Jun lalu.

Amierul Hisham
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KELANTAN bakal berdepan dengan laluan getir dalam saingan suku akhir Piala AFC apabila diundi bertemu kelab dari Iraq, Arbil.

Saingan suku akhir bermula September ini.

Wakil tunggal negara itu akan memulakan aksi saingan suku akhir pertama di tempat lawan pada 18 September sebelum beraksi di gelanggang sendiri untuk aksi timbal balik pada 25 September.

Pengurus pasukan Kelantan, Azman Ibrahim berkata, beraksi dalam saingan suku akhir AFC satu pengalaman berharga dan pendedahan kepada barisan pemain Kelantan.

"Kita menyedari kehebatan pasukan lawan, yang sememangnya hebat dan berpengalaman.

"Namun semua itu bukanlah penghalang kepada Kelantan untuk meneruskan saingan sekiranya pemain memberikan komitmen sepenuhnya," katanya.

Pada masa yang sama, meskipun beraksi di tempat lawan dalam saingan suku akhir pertama merupakan satu kelebihan kepada Kelantan, namun itu tidak membuatkan The Red Warriors menarik nafas lega.

"Bagi pasukan yang berkualiti dan hebat, soal beraksi di tempat lawan atau sebaliknya bukan menjadi ukuran kejayaan sesebuah pasukan.

"Namun, bagi Kelantan sudah tentu kita menyasarkan keputusan seri dengan jaringan di tempat lawan untuk bekalan dalam saingan timbal balik di Kota Bharu," kata beliau yang ditemui pada Majlis Undian AFC di Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur petang ini.

Selain Kelantan dan Arbil yang akan beraksi dalam saingan suku akhir, enam lagi pasukan akan turut mempamerkan kehebatan masing-masing.

Kelab dari Kuwait, Kuwait SC bakal bertemu Al Wehdat (Jordan) manakala wakil Indonesia, Arema Indonesia berhadapan Al Ettifaq (Arab Saudi).

Wakil Thailand, Chomburi pula menjadi tuan rumah untuk aksi pertama menentang kelab dari Syria, Al Shorta.

Saingan separuh akhir pertama dijadualkan pada 2 Oktober diikuti aksi timbal balik pada 23 Oktober dan final 3 November.

NOOR HAFIZA CHE ABDULLAH

SINAR HARIAN
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Mandjou ganti Onyekachi

KELANTAN mula membuat persediaan awal untuk menghadapi saingan suku akhir Piala Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) apabila mendapatkan seorang lagi pemain import, Keita Mandjou bagi menggantikan pemain dari Nigeria, Nwoha Onyekachi yang tamat kontrak.

Pengambilan pemain import terbaru itu nyata menunjukkan kesungguhan The Red Warriors untuk berdepan saingan di peringkat antarabangsa dan mencipta kejayaan besar musim ini.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa), Tan Sri Annuar Musa dalam laman facebooknya menyatakan persetujuan sudah dicapai dengan Mandjou akan menyertai mereka untuk saingan AFC bermula Jun ini dengan pemain dari Guinea itu dijangka tiba di Kota Bharu minggu depan.

Selain itu, Annuar turut menyatakan Mandjou akan beraksi dalam perlawanan persahabatan menentang Angkatan Tentera Malaysia di Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV, Kota Bharu, 8 Jun ini.

Mohd Nor Asri Yaacob

sukan@hmetro.com.my

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Keita Mandjou sertai Kelantan

KEITA Mandjou telah bersetuju menyertai Skuad AFC Kelantan bermula bulan Jun ini. Beliau dijangka tiba di Kota Bharu pada minggu depan dan akan beraksi dalam perlawanan persahabatan menentang ATM FA di SSM4 Kota Bharu pada 8 Jun akan datang.

Berita kemasukan pemain ini disahkan oleh Presiden KAFA, Tan Sri Annuar Musa sebentar tadi.

Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (KAFA) mengucapkan SELAMAT DATANG kepada Keita Mandjou!

Facts:

At 6’1″, Keita Mandjou is not enormous but he can certainly get the ball on net.

A legend in Malaysia after playing there from 2004 to 2006, Keita averaged almost a goal a game. After trials in France and a season in Singapore, the .

There’s a versatility aspect to Mandjou as well as he has spent time at attacking midfield. He’s good in the air, confident, in-shape (currently on loan playing for Pune FC in India), and a proven scorer at the USL-1 level.

With 11 goals and 7 assists in 2009, the Guinean was an integral part of the impressive Portland unbeaten run that lasted 24 games. Would provide vital competition with the younger strikers on the team.

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Kelantan bakal didenda

MESKIPUN mencipta sejarah layak ke peringkat suku akhir saingan Piala Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) selepas menewaskan Terengganu 3-2, di Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV, Kota Bharu, kelmarin, Kelantan menerima khabar duka apabila berdepan kemungkinan dikenakan denda gara-gara tindakan segelintir penyokong yang membaling objek dan mercun ke padang.

Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Bola Sepak Kelantan (Kafa), Azman Ibrahim berkata, Kafa dimaklumkan komisioner perlawanan, Munem Fakhroury bahawa tindakan segelintir penyokong itu akan dilaporkan ke peringkat atasan AFC.

Katanya, Kafa sedia maklum kesalahan seperti itu akan dikenakan tindakan denda berjumlah AS$5,000 (RM15,773) untuk setiap kesalahan, namun pihaknya belum menerima keputusan rasmi daripada AFC.

“Kami terkilan kerana kejayaan layak ke suku akhir saingan AFC dicemari tindakan segelintir penyokong yang tidak berdisiplin. Kita bangga kerana mempunyai ramai penyokong namun apabila segelintir penyokong tidak berdisiplin, ia memberi masalah kepada pasukan dan kita harap segelintir peminat itu boleh mengubah sikap dan lebih profesional sesuai dengan pencapaian pasukan sekarang,” katanya, semalam.

Oleh Mohd Nor Asri Yaacob
sukan@hmetro.com

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AFC CUP : Kelantan 3-2 Terengganu

Norfarhan Muhammad scored twice in the first half to help Kelantan edge Malaysian east coast rivals Terengganu 3-2 to advance to the AFC Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The Red Warriors adapted better to the soggy conditions at the Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium in the opening half and stormed into a 3-0 lead at the interval thanks to Norfarhan’s brace and a stunning free-kick by Rizal Fahmi Abdul Rosid on the stroke of half-time.

However, Terengganu battled back in the second half and Ismail Faruqi cut the deficit before Francis Doe netted a penalty five minutes from time to set up a tense finale against a Kelantan side reduced to 10 players following the dismissal of Nwaneri Obinna.

“I was concerned about how my team would appreciate this game especially given the emotion that they displayed after winning the FA Cup last Saturday,” said Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak.

“I was unhappy with our second half display because it looked like some of our players thought the game had already been won and they lost their focus.

“However, Terengganu gave us some motivation by saying they would win the match before it was played.”

A torrential downpour delayed the start of the match for half an hour and left the playing surface in a heavy condition with pockets of standing water all over the pitch.

The soggy conditions played a big part in Kelantan’s opening goal in the third minute as a long ball by Nwoha Onyekachi was slowed down by a puddle on the right of box which allowed Denny Antwi to latch on to it and send a low ball across the face of the Terengganu goal.

And once again, the ball slowed down in the wet conditions and Norfarhan charged in to poke it home from six yards out.

The home side increased their advantage in the 19th minute with another Norfarhan goal as the midfielder met Nurul Azwan Roya’s corner with a firm header that was saved well by goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee but rebounded nicely for Norharfan to fire the ball in at the second attempt.

The match seemed to be over as a contest when Rizal Fahmi made it 3-0 in stoppage time at the end of the first half as his free-kick gave Sharbinee no chance.

To their credit, Terengganu continued to battle for what seemed like a lost cause in the second half and the Turtles were rewarded when Faruqi pulled a goal back in the 59th minute.

Faruqi’s corner from the left was half-cleared by the Kelantan defence and the ball came right back to him on the flank. He took some time to measure the shot before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top left corner of the Kelantan net.

Despite that setback, Kelantan appeared to have done enough to seal their passage into the quarter-finals until a clumsy challenge by Nwaneri on Abdul Hadi Yahya five minutes from time saw the Nigerian sent off and Kelantan reduced to 10 men in the remaining minutes.

Doe converted the spot kick to cut the deficit to one but Terengganu were unable to capitalise on the extra man in the remaining minutes as they bowed out of the competition.

“I wasn’t happy with the goals conceded in the first half but I was pleased with the character shown by the players in battling back from three goals down,” said Terengganu coach Peter Butler.

“Kelantan adapted better to the wet conditions yesterday which was why they made such a strong start. But I thought that Terengganu played the better football overall."

By AFC

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AFC CUP : Kelantan 3-2 Terengganu: 10-men Kelantan advance to the quarter-final of the AFC Cup

Mohd Norfarhan strikes a brace to give Kelantan a thrilling 3-2 win over neighbors Terengganu in a rain soaked encounter

The game was postponed for 45 minutes due to heavy rain but the home crowd refused to leave their seats, eager to witness another Kelantan win. Truly enough, the Red Warriors came out all guns blazing and took the lead as early as the second minute when Dennis Antwe slid in a cross for the on-rushing Norfarhan to slide home the opening goal. 

Kelantan built on their early lead and Nwoha tested Sharbinee with a 20-yard effort which the keeper did well to palm away. But he was at fault minutes later, spilling a Norfarhan header which the midfielder stabbed home at the second attempt to notch his brace and give Kelantan a 2-0 advantage.

Terengganu were struggling to create chances on a soggy pitch as Kelantan were all over the Turtles by now. Forkey Doe was then yellow carded by the referee for lashing out at Rizal Fahmi as the visitors begin to show frustration for not having enough possession.

Kelantan went 3-0 ahead on the stroke of half-time as Rizal Fahmi blasted home an unstoppable 25 yard free-kick beyond the despairing dive of Sharbinee as the Red Warriors looked to have all but seal the game.

The Turtles emerged a different side in the second half and immediately tested Kahirul Fahmi through Joseph Kallang Tie’s free-kick which the keeper did just enough to claw away.

Terengganu’s pressure paid off moments later as Ismail Faruqi bent a beautiful curling effort past Khairul Fahmi to reduce the deficit.

The Turtles were given real hope in the 84th minute when Obinna conceded a penalty after hacking down Abdul Hadi Yahya. The defender also received a red card for his offense as he was the last man. Forkey Doe stepped up and converted with ease as Kelantan were forced to defend their slender lead with ten men in the closing stages.

Terengganu threw bodies forward to seek an equalizer and force the match into extra-time but Kelantan hung on desperately to claim yet another priceless victory.

The win sees Kelantan advance to the quarter-final of the AFC Cup tournament as Terengganu were left to ponder a toothless first-half performance which cost them dear.

By Nicolas Anil, GOAL.COM

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Kelantan claim FA Cup crown

Kelantan enjoyed a massive boost ahead of their AFC Cup 2012 Round of 16 clash with Malaysian rivals Terengganu as the Red Warriors edged second division Sime Darby 1-0 to win the Malaysian FA Cup.

Mohamad Ghaddar, who has scored seven times so far as Kelantan finished top of AFC Cup Group H six points clear of second-placed Arema Indonesia, netted the only goal of Saturday's final at the Bukit Jalil Stadium when the Lebanon striker successfully converted a 57th minute penalty.

The triumph marked the first time Kelantan have lifted the Malaysian FA Cup having lost in the 2009 final to Selangor before coming up short again two years later when they were defeated 2-1 by Terengganu, who they will host in the one-off Round of 16 meeting on Wednesday.

By AFC

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AFC CUP : The last-16 beckons

The AFC Cup 2012 has entered the last-16 stage with the end of the first round of matches on Tuesday and Wednesday and promises exciting encounters including two national derbies, in Kuwait and Malaysia.

Group A leaders Al Qadsia will clash with fellow Kuwaitis Kuwait SC, who are the Group C runners-up, while Malaysia’s east coast side Kelantan, whose team logo shows a leaping mouse-deer, will lock horns with next-door neighbours Terengganu, the Malaysia FA Cup 2011 winners.

Below are the Round of 16 clashes, pending the formal adoption of fixtures and stadiums:

May 22

Qadsia (Kuwait) vs Kuwait SC (Kuwait)

Al Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) vs Al Suwaiq (Oman)

Al Shorta (Syria) vs Home United (Singapore)

Chonburi FC (Thailand) vs Al Zawra’a (Iraq)

May 23

Arbil (Iraq) vs Neftchi (Uzbekistan)

Al Wehdat (Jordan) vs Kazma (Kuwait)

Kitchee (Hong Kong) vs Arema Indonesia (Indonesia)

Kelantan (Malaysia) vs Terengganu (Malaysia)

By AFC

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AFC CUP : Terengganu Sandar Harapan Besar Pada Butler Untuk Ke Suku Akhir Piala AFC

KUALA TERENGGANU, 16 Mei (Bernama) -- Terengganu menyandarkan harapan tinggi kepada jurulatih baharu Peter James Butler untuk membawa pasukan itu ke peringkat suku akhir Kejohanan Piala Konfederasi Bolasepak Asia (AFC).

Butler, yang menggantikan ketua jurulatih Mat Zan Mat Aris, bakal menjalani ujian pertama apabila berdepan dengan bekas pasukan bimbingannya, Kelantan pada pusingan kedua Piala AFC.

Kedua-dua pasukan Pantai Timur itu akan bertemu pada perlawanan timbal balik pusingan kedua Piala AFC di Stadium Sultan Mohammed ke-IV di Kota Bharu pada 23 Mei ini.

Penolong pengurus pasukan Sheikh Tajuddin Sheikh Yusof yakin impian skuad Penyu itu akan tercapai di bawah bimbangan Butler yang pernah melatih Kelantan pada 2009 sebelum melatih kelab Persiba dari Indonesia.

"Kita harap beliau (Butler) boleh melakukan sesuatu yang ajaib dalam menghadapi Kelantan nanti," katanya kepada Bernama.

Oleh BERNAMA

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AFC CUP : Home United with a daunting away trip and a Malaysian derby in the AFC Cup Round of 16

Kelantan will host Terengganu while Singapore's Home United have the unenviable task of facing Syrian opposition

Home United's defeat to Chonburi at Bishan Stadium meant the Protectors finished as runners-up in Group G, setting up an away tie with a middle-eastern team.

Lee Lim Saeng's men will have to take on Al Shorta of Syria who finished top of Group E.

The Syrian Premier League side notched up five wins and just one defeat and will have the advantage of playing the single-leg knockout fixture at home.

Home United's only reprieve will be that the match could likely be played at a neutral venue in United Arab Emirates or Jordan, given the instability in Syria.

The fixture will take place on May 22, the same day that Group G winners Chonburi FC host Al Zawra’a of Iraq.

Kelantan who qualified easily from a tough group that had three teams tied on the same points, will host Terengganu a day later in a Malaysia derby match.

A 1-0 win on Tuesday night against Ayeyawady in Kota Bahru ensured the Red Warriors finished top of their group. Terengganu meanwhile failed to get past Hong Kong side Kitchee away from home in their last match, drawing 2-2 to finish as runners-up.

The last time both teams met was on February 11 in a league tie that Kelantan won 2-1 with goals from Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Mohd Badri bin Mohd Radzi.

Full fixtures:

May 22
Qadsia (Kuwait) vs Kuwait SC (Kuwait)
Al Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) vs Al Suwaiq (Oman)
Al Shorta (Syria) vs Home United (Singapore)
Chonburi FC (Thailand) vs Al Zawra’a (Iraq)

May 23
Arbil (Iraq) vs Neftchi (Uzbekistan)
Al Wehdat (Jordan) vs Kazma (Kuwait)
Kitchee (Hong Kong) vs Arema Indonesia (Indonesia)
Kelantan (Malaysia) vs Terengganu (Malaysia)

By GOAL.COM

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AFC CUP : Kelantan 1-0 Ayeyawady: Solitary Nwoha strike seals top spot for Kelantan

Nwoha Onyekachi's second half strike was enough for all three points for in-form Kelantan to clinch top spot in Group F of the AFC Cup

Nwoha Onyekachi scored early in the second half as Kelantan sealed top spot in Group F and sent Ayeyawady United crashing out of the AFC Cup after a 1-0 victory over the Myanmar side on Tuesday.

The Nigerian struck two minutes after the interval when his shot from just inside the box nicked off a defender and looped past goalkeeper Thiha Si Thu.

The home side squandered several opportunities to extend their advantage before the visitors launched a late rally with U Min Min Thu hitting the crossbar and Sithu Than forcing goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat to tip over.

But Ayeyawady were unable to find an equaliser which would have sent them through the Round of 16 as group runners-up. They finished level on seven points with Arema Indonesia and Vietnam’s Navibank Saigon although it was the Indonesian side that progressed to the knockout rounds on the basis of head-to-head results between the three teams.

Despite securing first place and a possible clash with Malaysian east coast rivals Terengganu in the last 16, Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak was unhappy with his side’s wastefulness in front of goal.

“Both teams did not play well but we were lucky to score in the second half,” said the Croatian. “We really should have scored more goals but our players were not focussed. They tried to play too much as individuals and to score themselves.

“I am satisfied with the three points but not the score of the game. We got the result that we needed, we are top of the group and we host a match in the next round.”

With Arema thrashing Navibank 6-2 earlier in the day, Kelantan went into their game safe in the knowledge that they were through to the last 16 whatever their result against Ayeyawady.

But they were the better side throughout the game and they had the best chance of the first half in the 20th minute when a free-kick by Indra Putra Mahayuddin came back off the right post.

The score remained deadlocked at half-time but Kelantan stormed ahead just two minutes after the break. Myo Zaw Oo attempted to clear the ball but it deflected off Mohamed Ghaddar into the path of Onyekachi, whose attempt took another deflection off a defender before it looped agonisingly past Thiha.

Ayeyawady could have levelled the score shortly afterwards when a weak clearance fell to Nanda Lin Kyaw Chit on the left flank. His shot from 20 metres was parried by Khairul Fahmi, who then recovered quickly to palm the ball away as a lurking Yves Jupite Ngangue attempted to force the ball home.

Ghaddar should have extended Kelantan’s advantage in the 56th minute when he surged clear of the Ayeyawady defence after a neat pass by Onyekachi but slid his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Zairul Fitree Ishak hit the left post with a stinging shot from 20 metres and Thiha did well to stop an effort by Indra Putra as the hosts piled on the pressure. But the Ayeyawady goalkeeper was fortunate when he fumbled a shot by Zairul Fitree but saw the ball roll just wide of his post.

Ayeyawady looked a spent force but they nearly got an unlikely equaliser in the 87th minute when U Min Min Thu’s casual effort from distance nearly caught out Khairul Fahmi, who could only watch as the ball came back off the crossbar.

Nanda then shot over from just outside the box before an effort from similar distance by Sithu had to be tipped over by the Kelantan keeper.

It was ultimately a case of so near, yet so far for the Myanmar side, who narrowly missed out on the knockout rounds on their debut in the AFC Cup.

“I’m upset that we lost because we only needed a draw to qualify,” said coach Jozek Herel.

“We put in more effort towards the end of the second half but we just couldn’t score. Now we have to focus on our local league and try to qualify for the AFC Cup again next year.

By: GOAL.COM

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