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The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Berbatov urges more Asian players to get on board to play abroad
the Liga 7X7 Zurich matches. Dimitar Berbatov. 19 JULY 2025 —CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov has encouraged Asian footballers to dream bigger and push themselves to compete in top-tier European leagues - including the Premier League - as he reflected on his admiration for Asian football culture and his own experiences in global football. Berbatov, speaking before the start of the Liga 7x7 All-Stars tournament at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday, praised the enthusiasm for the game in the region and called on young players to embrace the challenge of playing abroad. "I used to play with Park Ji-sung at Manchester United, and he's like a god in this part of the world," said the Bulgarian legend. "I wish more players from here would go abroad and play in the big European clubs. It's good for them, it's good for their country, and it helps raise the reputation of Asian football globally." Berbatov emphasised that technical ability and mental strength are crucial qualities for young players looking to break through at the highest levels. "To become a good player, you need ambition, focus, and yes - a bit of stubbornness - especially when things get tough. It's not easy, but that's what separates the great from the good.' Berbatov also took time to praise the rising popularity of small-sided football formats, such as five-a-side and seven-a-side tournaments that are growing rapidly around the world, including across Asia. "I always love coming back here. This is already my second time this year. When it's about football - and when you love football - even if we are a bit older now, we still want to play. It's a great idea, and we're here to entertain and have fun." He noted that small-sided football has always been popular in Bulgaria, where he grew up playing in tight spaces that helped him develop the famed technical skill that defined his career. "Formats like this help promote technical ability. The game is quicker, the spaces are tighter - it's great for developing control and vision. Maybe some of the rules today are a bit extreme,' he joked. "But I'll get to experience them myself." When asked about who he believes will win the Premier League title this coming season, Berbatov remained diplomatic but admitted the competition will be intense. "I want to say Manchester United, of course. And Tottenham - I used to play for both. But it will be difficult. "Liverpool are always contenders. Manchester City - for sure. There are a lot of strong teams that will fight for it. But honestly, I don't know who will win. We'll see." As one of the Premier League's most elegant forwards of his generation, Berbatov now uses his platform to promote football globally - and he believes the next big star could easily emerge from Asia, if players here are willing to take the leap. "If you have the talent, go abroad. Test yourself. That's how you grow and that's how the world sees what you can do."
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Chelsea legend Terry backs small-side football
the Liga 7X7 Zurich matches. John Terry. 19 JULY 2025 —CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: Chelsea legend John Terry has thrown his support behind the rising wave of five-a-side and seven-a-side football tournaments that blend social media influencers, streamers, and former professionals, calling it a refreshing evolution in the global football landscape. Speaking before the start of the Liga 7x7 All-Stars tournament at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday, Terry praised the growing trend that has gripped fans and players alike around the world. "First of all, it's a great concept. We're doing something very similar back home, called the Ballers League,' said the former England international. "Speaking to Adam (founder of the league Adam Azman) and the guys here organising it, the format works. Hopefully, this is the start of something we can come back to annually and keep building on. It's a great idea." With small pitches and modified rules, the format caters not just to up-and-coming talent but also to former players like Terry, who still relish the competitive edge without the physical toll of the 11-a-side game. "The pitch is quite small, which is nice for us older players,' he joked. "So yeah, I'm looking forward to it." Beyond the appeal to retired professionals, Terry was particularly enthusiastic about how the inclusion of digital creators has transformed how fans engage with the sport. "This format and this style of football are very exciting. The game's changed over the last 10 years - it's slower than when we played - but the eyes we can get on it now with streamers, YouTubers, and social media influencers is massive. "A mix of ex-footballers and influencers works. The events are getting big followings and that helps to grow the game differently." Turning his attention to his beloved Chelsea, Terry expressed optimism about the club's direction heading into the 2025-2026 season, especially after the team's triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. "Well, I think it's exciting. The club have a lot of players at the moment and I'm sure there's going to be some movement in the market still,' he noted. "But listen, it's good to go and win the Club World Cup over in America. That bodes well for the season." Terry, who captained Chelsea through one of their most successful eras, emphasised the importance of regrouping ahead of the Premier League restart. "Hopefully the players can get some rest now and come back ready to go again. As a Chelsea ex-player and a Chelsea fan, it's an exciting time to be a Chelsea supporter."
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Unshakable trust and belief in each other the key to Pearly-Thinaah's run into final
National women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah posing after beating Indonesia's Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi in the quarter-final match of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil on Friday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have attributed their strong run in the Japan Open to their unshakable trust and belief in each other. Yesterday, Pearly-Thinaah pulled off a sensational 21-13, 21-11 upset win over home favourites and bogey pair Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to storm into the final. The world No. 3 pair have a poor record against the world No. 2 duo, only winning once in their past 13 meetings but this time, they overturned the script by delivering arguably their best performance this year to send their rivals packing in just 36 minutes and silence the home crowd. Pearly-Thinaah played with confidence and aggression throughout and did not allow Matsuyama-Shida much room to dictate play. The stunning win propelled Pearly-Thinaah to their fourth final of the year after capturing the Thailand Open and finishing runners-up in the Indonesian Open and Masters. "We communicated a lot and this really helped us in our game play and we really trust, believe in each other and support each other. I think that's more important than everything," said Pearly, in a post match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). "Both of us were more patient today (yesterday) and just focused on our game. "We didn't want to rush to get points and this helped us a lot to win." The win has given the Malaysians a huge confidence boost as they seek to crown their fine run with the title today. Pearly-Thinaah though face a formidable challenge against China's world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning in the final. Shengshu-Tan Ning are also in top form and swept aside teammates and world No. 9 Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian 21-7, 21-16 to book their spot in the title match. Pearly-Thinaah will be seeking revenge against the Chinese duo after losing narrowly to them in the Indonesian Open final last month. Overall, Shengshu-Tan Ning hold the advantage over Pearly-Thinaah after beating them eight times in their past 11 meetings. Pearly-Thinaah's last win over the combo pair came in the Hong Kong Open final last September. Pearly-Thinaah will not be lacking in confidence though, after ending their long losing streak against Matsuyama-Shida. Their last and only win before this over the Japanese duo also came in a World Tour Super 750 tournament - the French Open in 2022. Then, Pearly-Thinaah took down Matsuyama-Shida in the last eight and went on to win the crown. Can they repeat that feat in Japan? The pair have a chance to create history by becoming the first Malaysians in the women's doubles to lift the Japan Open title. Thinaah hopes to raise her game once more with Pearly and deliver a memorable finish in the tourney. "We just want to rest well, prepare well and discuss with each other and also our coaches on how best to approach the final," said Thinaah. "We just hope to give our best tomorrow (today)."
