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Sinar Daily
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Malaysian football "doesn't deserve JDT," says disappointed TMJ
He added that Malaysian football seems out of step with JDT's vision and standards and that the local football environment is not ready to embrace change fully. 27 May 2025 09:45am Tunku Mahkota Ismail KUALA LUMPUR – The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail has voiced his disappointment with certain groups in the local football scene who, he says, still fail to recognise Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) achievements over the past decade. In a post on his official Instagram account, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who is also known as TMJ, slammed what he described as a backward mentality that rejects the modern and professional approach JDT has introduced over the last 12 years. Since its founding, JDT has established itself as a powerhouse in Malaysian football, with world-class facilities like the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium and the JDT Academy in Iskandar Puteri. - File photo 'We're being held back by foolish people who can't tell the difference. Twelve years of breaking records and making history on and off the field. Yet they still don't get it,' the JDT owner said. He added that Malaysian football seems out of step with JDT's vision and standards and that the local football environment is not ready to embrace change fully. 'Malaysian football doesn't deserve JDT. They should go back to the 'local boy' mindset, where the Malaysia Cup is more important than the league and the AFC Cup is dismissed,' he said. TMJ's remarks appear aimed at certain fans and stakeholders who continue to prioritise traditional achievements over systematic club development, including investments in infrastructure, management and youth development. He also lamented the ongoing scepticism surrounding JDT despite the club's many accomplishments, including winning the 2015 AFC Cup — the only Malaysian team to have done so. 'We're way too fast and far ahead of them. Facts never lie,' he said. Since its founding, JDT has established itself as a powerhouse in Malaysian football, with world-class facilities like the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium and the JDT Academy in Iskandar Puteri. The academy plays a crucial role in developing young national talents. TMJ expressed hope that the local football scene would eventually evolve to become more modern and professional, keeping pace with developments in global football. - AWANI More Like This Newly appointed Real Madrid's coach Xabi Alonso gives a press conference during his official presentation at Real Madrid Sports City in Valdebebas, near Madrid, on May 26, 2025. Real Madrid announced in a statement on May 25, 2025, that Xabi Alonso has been appointed the new coach of Real Madrid with the 43-year-old Spaniard to take over from June 1, and lead the team at the Club World Cup. "Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025 until June 30, 2028,". (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
New Paper
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
ACL2 trophy is 'something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old with the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the midfielder, now 34, has the chance to scale the pinnacle of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: "Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. "With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal." With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. They include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup - the previous iteration of the ACL2 - with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends. He added: "Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. "I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. "We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans." The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high-stake matches. They include several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to "do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore". Lion City Sailors captain Hariss Harun and centre-back Bailey Wright at a training session on May 17. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: "We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. "We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and, if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time." Echoing those sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 17, Hariss said: "For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. "It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football." Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: "It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. "It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us." The ACL2 winners will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
ACL2 trophy is ‘something beautiful to fight for', says Lion City Sailors' Hariss Harun
Hariss Harun will lead the Sailors in their quest for the ACL2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC on May 18. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – Bishan Stadium holds a special place in Hariss Harun's heart. It was here, as a 10-year-old representing the Home United youth team, that the Lion City Sailors skipper played in his first tournament. More than two decades later, the 34-year-old central midfielder has an opportunity to score the best moment of his career at the same venue. On May 18, Hariss will lead the Sailors in their quest for the AFC Champions League 2 title against the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. He said: 'Bishan is the first stadium I played in as a boy. So even in my wildest dreams, I would not have thought that this is where I would be playing for a continental title one day. With especially how it looks ahead of the final, it is surreal.' With the Sailors' home stadium at Jalan Besar for six ACL2 games deemed unsuitable for the final and the 55,000-seater National Stadium unavailable due to a concert, significant works have been done at Bishan ahead of the final. These include the installation of three new spectator stands to increase the capacity from around 3,000 to 10,000. A raucous atmosphere is expected as the newly crowned Singapore Premier League champions aim to notch another milestone in their campaign by becoming the first Singaporean club to win a continental title. For Hariss, this will not be his first rodeo in an AFC club competition final. A decade ago, the veteran player won the 2015 AFC Cup – the previous iteration of the ACL 2 – with Malaysian team Johor Darul Takzim, who secured a 1-0 win over Tajikistan side FC Istiklol in Dushanbe. A win with the Sailors will eclipse that 2015 moment as his career highlight, said Hariss. This time, he is playing with a Singapore club alongside long-time friends such as Izwan Mahbud, Hafiz Nor and Shawal Anuar, and it will also be in front of his family and friends at home. He added: 'Of course, that 2015 win was really special, because that meant that I was the first Singaporean to have won the tournament. Now 10 years on, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have made it to another final, let alone with a club from my home country. 'I am not downplaying 2015 because to win any title is special but this will be even sweeter as it is being played on home soil, in front of family and with some friends who I have been playing with almost the entirety of my career. 'We have something really beautiful, something really prestigious to fight for on Sunday, and we should do no less than we have done so far and give it our all in front of our fans.' The Sailors' journey to the final has been a roller-coaster ride. While they topped Group F ahead of 2023 Chinese Super League second runners-up Zhejiang Professional, Thai League 1's third-placed Port FC, and Indonesia Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung, they suffered group stage losses to Zhejiang and Persib after throwing a two-goal lead twice. There was a convincing aggregate win over Muangthong United in the round of 16 before lady luck shone on them, as they were able to turn a 6-1 quarter-final, first-leg loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima into a 3-0 win after the Japanese side fielded an ineligible player. In the semi-finals, the Sailors came through with a 2-1 aggregate win over Australia's Sydney FC. Sailors' Australian centre-back Bailey Wright, 32, has had his fair share of high stakes matches, including several League One play-off games when he was with England's Sunderland and Preston North End, as well as World Cup qualification play-offs with the Australian national team. He stressed that the final will be special as the Sailors have an opportunity to 'do something that no team has ever dreamt of doing in Singapore'. Wright, whose family and friends have flown in for the final, said: 'We're kind of the pioneers of this journey and we know what that can do for future generations. We've all grown up as kids and had our idols and if it's a local team, it's even more special. This is a chance to go down in the history books and be remembered for a long time.' Echoing these sentiments at the pre-match press conference on May 18, Hariss said: 'For the longest time, there have been ups and downs, more down than up (in Singapore football). This is a huge chance for us as a club side to show the way forward for Singapore football. 'It's definitely going to inspire those not just within our club... everyone else watching, that this is the way forward, and hopefully this will be a kind of launch pad for our football.' Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and captain Hariss Harun at the pre-match press conference on May 17. ST PHOTO: DEEPANRAJ GANESAN Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: 'It is going to be a 50-50 game. I don't see us as an underdog. I don't see them as the favourites, (just) as I don't see us as favourites. It's one match, it's a final, and we will see who wants it more and I hope it is going to be us.' The winner of the ACL Two will earn a play-off slot in the ACL Elite for 2025-26 and pocket US$2.5 million (S$3.2 million) in prize money. Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Syyaha
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Syyaha
How Did TECNO Achieve 1000% Growth in Saudi Arabia?
TECNO, the global leader in technology and artificial intelligence, has gone beyond being just a competitor in the Saudi market; it achieved a remarkable breakthrough with a growth rate exceeding 1000% within a short period. Through smart strategies combining sports sponsorships, adopting the latest technologies, and aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, TECNO has built an outstanding success story worth highlighting. What exactly did TECNO do? And how did it earn Saudi consumers' trust so powerfully? The numbers and details reveal the full story. How Did TECNO Fuel the Passion of Millions Through the AFC Champions League? As the official supporter of the AFC Champions League, TECNO leveraged sports as a bridge to connect with a wide audience. Through sponsorship of major tournaments, TECNO successfully enhanced the fans' experience by integrating cutting-edge AI technologies, making every match more interactive and exciting. How Does TECNO Support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030? Believing in the importance of empowering the next generation, TECNO launched impactful community initiatives, most notably the 'Legends of Tomorrow' U-12 Football Championship in Riyadh. The tournament featured 8 academy teams, with the champion awarded a SAR 10,000 cash prize, while other teams were honored with TECNO devices in recognition of their talent and passion. How Did TECNO Amaze the Audience During the AFC Cup? TECNO set out to make its presence at the AFC Cup unforgettable through several innovative activations, most notably a spectacular drone show. On a historic night celebrating Al-Ahli Club's triumph in the AFC Elite League, TECNO launched a stunning aerial performance featuring 900 drones that painted artistic visuals across Jeddah's skies. The show narrated an inspiring story of a young Saudi boy dreaming of becoming a football star, evolving into vibrant scenes showcasing Saudi national symbols like the emblem and traditional Bedouin tents, culminating with imagery representing the ambitions of Vision 2030. These moments were captured using the FlashSnap feature powered by AI from the CAMON 40 Pro 5G smartphone, symbolizing the fusion of Saudi heritage and global innovation. Through this celebration, TECNO reaffirmed its deep commitment to supporting Saudi sports, emphasizing that athletic success is an essential part of societal development—and that TECNO is a true partner in the Kingdom's journey toward a brighter future. What Sets the CAMON 40 Pro 5G Apart? The CAMON 40 Pro 5G was crafted to break traditional limits and deliver outstanding features, including: Ranked #1 globally by DXOMARK for smartphone photography under $600. Equipped with innovative AI-powered imaging capabilities. Designed to capture unforgettable moments efficiently and professionally, whether on the football field or in everyday life. What Do the Numbers Say About TECNO's Performance in Saudi Arabia? The numbers tell the story loud and clear: 1000% growth in sales compared to the previous generation. Complete sell-out of pre-order stock within the first five days. These results reflect that Saudi consumers did not just witness innovation with TECNO—they experienced quality, trust, and satisfaction firsthand. Conclusion: TECNO… Passion, Intelligence, and Boundless Achievements From supporting sports to empowering future generations, and from pioneering smart devices to achieving exceptional growth, TECNO proves that real success is built on commitment, passion, and visionary thinking. The future with TECNO promises even more inspiring innovations and milestones that will continue to empower and captivate the world. To learn more about TECNO's products and innovations, visit: Official website: Follow TECNO Saudi Arabia: Twitter: @TECNOMobileKSA Instagram: @tecnomobileksa TikTok: @tecnomobileksa
New Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
TMJ: It's not about the speed, this is not a sprint — it's a journey
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim believes that the Southern Tigers' extraordinary success over the past decade has come from self-discipline, motivation, and gratitude — but above all, from embracing the journey rather than rushing to the destination. In a recent conversation with New Zealand rugby great Sonny Bill Williams released on Instagram today, Tunku Mahkota Ismail reflected on JDT's meteoric rise from domestic hopefuls to a Southeast Asian powerhouse. "It's not about the speed, this is not a sprint, it's a journey. "When it comes to sports, when it comes to growth in every single factor, it's all about progress," said the Crown Prince of Johor. Since Tunku Mahkota Ismail took over the club in 2013, JDT have won an astounding 30 titles in just 12 years, 29 of which are domestic trophies, including 11 straight Super League titles, while their international achievement came in 2015 when they became the first Malaysian club to win the AFC Cup. Asked by Williams what it took to engineer such dominance, Tunku Mahkota Ismail credited three things: "First, obviously, self-discipline. Second, motivation. And then third, being grateful." He added that while not every goal is achieved exactly as planned, the key lies in appreciating any progress made. "If you have a target and we don't reach 100 per cent of what we want… to me, 50 per cent of something is better than 100 per cent of nothing," he said. But even with all the silverware, Tunku Mahkota Ismail's focus remains grounded. "Always enjoy the journey," he told Williams, reiterating a philosophy that has not only shaped JDT's success, but continues to inspire their evolution as he shared about family, his faith and beliefs.
