Bloxsara

We didn't put on the orange kit. Yes, we were the home team. However, since STAROBA requested, we used our silver kit instead. It was a day lined with silver, indeed, for the Muar FC. I said, earlier, like a week back,

It will be ironic if Muar were to win that game wearing our orange kit against STAROBA Orange.

Well, the irony part didn't materialize, since we didn't wear orange. The winning part did happen, though. Our first win of the season. Our first win in the league since winning against SHOBA - back in the first season (the dramatic, last minute, looping, winning goal). It's week 2 of the Liga-A 2004 season. Here's the coverage for the Muar vs STAROBA match, played at INSPEN in Bangi.

Muar, a team with a relatively young set of players (mainly students from UM, UPM, and UKM), have only won once in the league. A team with limited preparation for the league (this year) - we've only played together like 4 times during the pre-season, during which, we only won once. What the team lacked, in terms of training and league preparation, we make it up with sheer determination. Muar 2004, is a team determined to get good results in every game. A quality displayed in the two league matches they've played so far.

Muar started the game in offensive mode, eager to get an early goal. However, STAROBA, while being defensive in the early minutes, slowly got into gear and after 10 minutes, it became an even match. Although both teams were raring to have a go at goal, no clear cut chances were creted in the first 10 minutes. It was clearly a battle of the engine room (midfield).

Muar, having only one striker available, fielded 5 players in midfield with a 4-5-1 formation. The lone striker Fadli, finally broke the nil-nil scoreline in the 12th minute. A defence splitting pass from defence sent Muar's left winger, Hazrul through at midfield. The speedy winger had no problems going pass the defence line, before sending a low cross into the path of the on rushing Fadli to tap the ball into the net. Muar 1 - STAROBA 0.

It didn't take long for STAROBA Orange to equalize, though. Barely five minutes after the leading goal, Jimy equalized for STAROBA, making the scoreline Muar 1 - STAROBA 1. After the equalizer, STAROBA pretty much took control of the match. Numerous chances were created but none of them was converted. It stayed 1 - 1 until halftime.

10 minutes into the second half, after a pretty much well balanced start of the second half, Fadli once again slotted home a goal for Muar. Thanks to a miscommunication between STAROBA's last man and the goalkeeper. While trying to clear the ball, Jaws kicked the ball into the keeper at close range and the ball rebounded, once again, into the path of Fadli who was just rushing into the scene. Left with an open goal, Fadli trashed the ball into the gapping goal mouth without any trouble. Muar 2 - STAROBA 1.

Learning from the mistakes made in the first half, Muar tightened up the midfield after the leading goal. With Muar concentrating on defending the lead, STAROBA went on the offence. During the next 12 minutes, STAROBA missed a number of clear cut, and golden opportunity to equalize. An attempt in the face of an open goal, went balooning into the sky. Add to that two attempts hitting the woodwork with the Muar keeper well beaten, and no orange suit following up.

Muar, though playing in defensive mode, scored their go ahead goal in the 62nd minute. After assisting Fadli for the first goal, Hazrul took the liberty of scoring the third goal, with a scorching first timer from the edge of the penalty box. It was a gem of a goal. His shot left the keeper rooted at his spot, watching and gapping as the ball touches the back of the net. Muar 3 - STAROBA 1.

Two goals down. STAROBA did not let up. They maintained pressure and was more determined to get something out of the match. Their hard work and persistence produced a moral lifting goal in the 73rd minute. Jasman, from a scuffle inside the Muar penalty box, managed to slot in the ball between the legs and bodies of all the Muar players. Muar 3 - STAROBA 2.
Up till the end of the game, Muar continued to defend collectively, while STAROBA maintained their attacking mode for the elusive third goal and equalizer. The match ended with a scoreline of Muar 3 - STAROBA 2. A rather sweet victory for Muar, a bitter loss for STAROBA after their humbling defeat at the hands of SJAA, last week. Still, kudos to the STAROBA lot, for a well played game. They deserve a hand for not giving up until the very end.

Other first division results:

PDRM 1 - VIOBA 4, SJAA 1 - ASAS 2, SDARA ? - KT? (night match).

Next match.. Beseri (FA Cup). Venue: ILP. Kick off: 5.15PM. Player registration, 4.15pm.

Once again, the Muar team would like to thank the supporters/fan, for coming down,
supporting the Muar team. Come, join the the team and shout it out, come this wekend.

A slight change in the the Liga-A schedule for this weekend. The Muar vs STAROBA game will now be played at INSPEN in Bangi, instead of the stated field in RRI. Kick-off time remains at 5.00PM sharp. Players are to be registered 45 minutes prior to kick-off. So.. players.. be there before 4.15PM... please..

Fans of the team.. come on out.. STAROBA, although they were trashed by SJAA last week, is among the top team in Division 1. Let's bring the noise down to INSPEN come Sunday.

Ansara Cup draw was made last Tuesday night at MCOBA penthouse. Muar has been drawn against Beseri for the first round of the tournament. Should we get through to the second round, we're up against Jasin. While both opposing teams may not be from the first division, they are not to be taken lightly. The Ansara Cup presents all teams an opportunity to play in the first division next season. The champion get an automatic placement in the first division for the upcoming season.

What ever it is, I hope the Muar team have got it burned into our heads.. we want to stay in the First Division next season. This means, be in the top four, or become the champion of either the Ansara Cup or the Post Season Tournament.

The league is introducing Liga-A's Member's and Player's Card this season. The card will be officially requested for before a game, starting from game three of the league. Those without a card, will not be allowed to play. So, to the Muar players who have yet submitted their photo (passport sized), please pass it to Fadli before or during this weekend's game, along with any certificate from your secondary school - SPM cert, testimonial, school leaving cert, or whatever. Otherwise, you will cause the team to be disqualified from the league.

Hmmm.. I think I still have some original certs with me from last season's registration. Will bring it with me this weekend..

A different day, a different time, and a different venue. Similar opponent (different set of players, perhaps), similar end result. It was Muar 2 - ASAS 2, in 2003. It's ASAS 2 - Muar 2 in 2004.

The first game of the season. After a rescheduling of the First Division's first games - one week delay. Add to it another 3 hour delay, due to a blunder by the MSC facility personnel. The game was scheduled to kick-off at 5.00PM. However, the MSC people probably missed out the fact that a Malaysia Premiere League match is to be played at the same time at the main field. A fact that resulted in the delay of our match. Am I complaining? Well, beside the fact that we had to kill about 3 hours doing nothing, I'm not really complaining. Why? We get to play at night. Without having to pay more for the use of the field after dark - the field costs more for night games.

It was a fast paced game. Probably so, because the field is rather compact, although it conforms to FIFA's minimum field size. Attacks were in abundance, but both teams were unable to create and capitalize on any clear cut chances. Muar had the first clear cut chance to go one up. We were given a penalty kick after ASAS' defender held the ball in the penalty area, during a goalmouth scuffle.

The penalty was taken by Mail. He, however, failed to convert the penalty. The attempt went directly to the goalkeeper. A golden chance to take the lead, failed miserably. From then on, the fast paced action continued. Muar drew first blood. Lone striker, Cerrud, was put through by a defense splitting pass from midfield, which saw him facing a one on one situation with the ASAS goalkeeper. He side stepped the keeper and flicked the ball towards goal. The keeper somehow managed to recover in time to block the flick. However, for some strange reason, he was unable to maintain control of the ball, and he sort of juggled the ball into his own goal; ASAS 0 - Muar 1. It stayed one nill to Muar until half time.

Muar started of the second half rather jittery. As if still dazed by the magical leading goal, the team was in disarray from kick-off. ASAS took full advantage of the situation. As the Muar defense was still half asleep, their striker managed to steal the ball from the feet of Sanol, Muar's last man, as he was trying to make a clearance. With the last man beaten, he had only Rudi, the Muar goalkeeper to beat, which he did without any trouble for the equalizer. The equalizer came within two minutes of the second half kick-off. ASAS 1 - Muar 1.

From then on, ASAS put on more pressure, while Muar relied on counter attacks. They created a number of clear cut chances, but failed to score. They, however, took the lead from a rather bizzare attempt from midfield. The shot took place from a few inches after the middle line. A looping ball, which the keeper thought was going out, but somehow dropped right into the open goal (keeper was at the edge of the penalty box). ASAS 2 - Muar 1.

The goal, however, did not demoralize Muar. The one goal deficit, made the Muar players more determined to get more goals. Muar's equalizer, was scored by Wan. His first goal for the team, after more than a year since his last goal. The goal came from an attempt made by Ceruud, which was blocked. To Wan's surprise, the ball rebounded right in front of him, and he gleefully crashed the ball into the goal. ASAS 2 - Muar 2, and it remained the unchanged until the end.

Final result: ASAS 2 - Muar 2.

Results from around Liga-A:
SDARA 4 - VIOBA 0
STAROBA 0 - SJAA 5
PDRM - K.Trengganu (postponed)

A surprising first week results. Two big guns of Liga-A went down crashing by huge margins. A high scoring weekend - at least 4 goals per game. Not bad.. not bad.. Next up for Muar. Muar goes up against STAROBA. The game is scheduled to be played at PKNS Sports Complex in Kelana Jaya (just before Kelana SeaFood, from Motorola). Muar gets to wear our orange jersey kit, since we are the home team (the first team mentioned for a game in the schedule).

It will be ironic if Muar were to win that game wearing our orange kit against STAROBA Orange.

Oh yes, I and also the players, would like to say thank you to the fans that turned up for the game today. Your support is greatly appreciated. Hope to see you again next week!! What about the rest of the fans out there? You game for next week's match?

Liga-A league games have started. Teams in the second and third divisions have played out their first games last weekend. This coming weekend, teams in the first division will go up against each other in their first game of the season.

Muar is going up against ASAS this weekend. Let's see now, last season, we drew with them. We were up by 2 goals and we allowed them to make a comeback. How are we going to fare against them this year? I don't have a clue.. really. I've only seen the team played once this season, so far. Not very assuring.

What can I say? This year, I'm kinda short on funds. Can't manage a soccer team without funds. Fields, referees, drinks, transports, etc. They all need funds. No funds, no friendly / training matches. I can only hope that my boys keep their stamina up - train on their own.. or something.

So, its ASAS vs Muar this weekend (May 16th, 2004) at Matsushita B. How about it? Any Muar FC fans out there? Come join us and cheer for your team. It's been a while since I heard the cheer..

MRSM!!.. MRSM!!..
MRSM masuk padang.. MRSM masuk padang..

errr.. is that how the cheer went? Anyway.. if you don't know where the venue is.. here's the address:

Lot 4,Persiaran Tengku Ampuan,
Section 21, Shah Alam Industrial Site,
40300, Shah Alam,
Selangor

See y'all there!!!

The 2004 Liga-A season kicked off last month - April 24th, 2004. The opening match was between VI and SDARA - hmmm wonder who was victorious. I didn't get to watch the game as Muar FC was involved in a friendly match with MCOBA.

This season, Muar FC's preparation for the league has been very minimal. Due to the lack of funding, I am unable to arrange for training and friendly matches. We've only had two friendly matches so far, against Kuantan and MCOBA.

However, from what I can see during the two matches (we lost both of them), the spirits are high among the players. This season, we've managed to bring in a number of new faces into the team. The team's average age this year is like 24 - a very young team I'd say, with good potential, however.

For three seasons, Muar have somehow managed to stay in the First Division (sheer luck?). This season, the First Division teams are - VI, STAROBA, KT, SDARA, SJAA, PDRM, Muar and ASAS. SJAA and PDRM are the two new entries into the First Division. Looks to me, we're looking at an even tougher schedule than last season.

Last season, we started our schedule with games against the two favorite teams. This time around, the schedule see us playing the two favorites at the end of the league. This should give us time to get ourselves together and build the team's morale for the game against these favorites. My main target would be the games against VI and SJAA.. heheh.. Think we can pull a surprise result like we did in the first season against SHOBA? You never know..

The third season sees some changes in the tournament regulations. This year, only 18 players are allowed to be registered for a particular game, as compared to 25 in previous years. Not that it makes any difference anyway. I don't believe I've ever had to use all 25 registered players in a game before. Strict eligibility verification procedures will be in place this season. Players will have to surrender their IC for verification to the match official 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Once the Player's Card is made available to the players, the Player's Card will then be the main mode of identification and verification for teams. With this verification procedure in place, teams will have to arrive at the venue at least one hour prior to kick off. A good thing, as this should ensure that kickoff is as scheduled.

There are other changes in the regulations as well, which I will not cover here (read: I can't recall what they are.. hehe). Perhaps, if I can get my hands on a softcopy of the Regulations, then I could post it in here for download. It would be good if it is made available at the Liga-A web site.

The league schedule is out. However, it is still not up at the web site. Muar is going up against ASAS in our first match, which kicks off on May 16th. So guys, are we ready to kick some.. ?

Yes, one last thing.. Muar FC is still looking for sponsors.