Just in Case

I better not make fun of Idlan's brand new football boot. You never know that he might be just the talent Malaysia had been looking for all these years and would one day sign with Manchester United.

I would then be ridiculed for laughing at his tiny boots ....

But judging from his performance during kick-abouts, I got nothing to fear ....

He may got swag .... but at football .....

My Two Sen

I couldn't count how many times I had to restart my heart last night while watching the Thomas Cup Finals. So close, yet so far.

I had a couple of observations post-match.

Firstly, it was great fun and at the end of the match, one name stuck to my mind. And it wasn't Liew Daren.

Park Joo-Bong.

The great South Korean doubles specialist had been the Japanese Badminton head coach for a number of years and had revolutionised the game there, turning it into a super-power.

How Malaysia could do with somebody like him, plus the almost alien concept of political non-interference of course.

Don't get me wrong, we did well, and one thing we could take out of the loss was the fact we got some up and coming doubles players post Koo Kien Keat. The lack of singles player coming through the ranks was still a major headache. And it had been so for many years.

The second major observation I had was the unity sports brought to the nation. I wonder what ISMA's thoughts were when they saw throngs of Malays singing the name of Lee Chong Wei and Liee Daren during the match last night? How could we give so much face to these pendatangs? I meant the whole squad of it ....

Malaysians thrive in adversity and when it came to national event - the MH370 tragedy brought to mind - we glued together and rallied on as a family. Shame that it took these to unite the nation while certain parties kept using the racial card to gain political mileage. I bet they would be doing a police report against RTM for showing the match live after pleading the rights from ASTRO. Sigh!

How Could I Cope?

Just had dinner and was flipping through the channels on TV. Man Citeh playing Spurs. Right before United travel to Cardiff. And all this while Formula 1 was going on. The last ace for the season. Not much riding on the race but it would be he swan song for Mark Webber.

So, just plotting out about how I would cope tonight .....

LCW

He came up short again. This time his aching muscles gave way but he fought through to the end, and was stretchered out of the court.

Poor Dato' Lee Chong Wei again showed what he was made off and did the nation proud. It was a game of high quality and clearly he was irked and distracted at the beginning of the second set. Maybe it was gamesmanship from the organiser again we would never know.

A very tactical game, more like a chess match. Both players were tired but at the end his age took its toll. I don't think LCW would ever win the World Championship he was craving for. He would be too old for the Olympics on three years time one would think.

We need a new generation of shuttlers to carry the weight on his shoulders. But as it stood, the search would be a long one .....