ID :
156554
Mon, 01/10/2011 - 10:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/156554
The shortlink copeid
SPORTS HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Sports, particularly football has the
ability to bring people together, said Najib Tun Razak.
The Malaysian Prime Minister said he himself experienced this in December
last year while cheering with other Malaysians for the national team when they
played against Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup football tournament.
"The energy that night, while sitting among fellow Malaysians at Jalan Bukit
Bintang was palpable and one couldn’t help but be swept up in it," he said in a
posting on his 1Malaysia blog titled the "United Factor" Sunday.
He said the national team had already been complimented by a Manchester
United player and that they should take this as motivation to improve.
"I’m also looking forward to meeting our Malaysian football team this
Wednesday to congratulate them on their Cup win. These young players are the
future of national football and have the potential to revive the sport
domestically.
"Malaysia Cup, the longest-running football competition in Asia has a brand
new champion in Kelantan. It could be an exciting year for this much loved sport
in Malaysia," he said.
On the subject of sports, Najib said he tried his best to follow the
progress of his favourite sports teams.
"I enjoyed some personal time after Christmas to chill with my wife and
children (and the cats), go for my routine jogs and catch up on the English
Premier League football.
"Like any other fan of Manchester United, it thrills me to see the team at
the top of the league with a comfortable lead in points and two games in hand.
"My daughter doesn’t share my enthusiasm; she is a Liverpool fan, you see.
She consoles herself by saying Liverpool is ‘the team of the future’, but she
has also been saying this for over ten years," said Najib.
He added that it may be too soon to celebrate another title, but hoped that
Manchester United were able to maintain their lead in the Premiership while
staying sharp for other club competitions including the English FA Cup and the
UEFA Champions League.
-- BERNAMA
ability to bring people together, said Najib Tun Razak.
The Malaysian Prime Minister said he himself experienced this in December
last year while cheering with other Malaysians for the national team when they
played against Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup football tournament.
"The energy that night, while sitting among fellow Malaysians at Jalan Bukit
Bintang was palpable and one couldn’t help but be swept up in it," he said in a
posting on his 1Malaysia blog titled the "United Factor" Sunday.
He said the national team had already been complimented by a Manchester
United player and that they should take this as motivation to improve.
"I’m also looking forward to meeting our Malaysian football team this
Wednesday to congratulate them on their Cup win. These young players are the
future of national football and have the potential to revive the sport
domestically.
"Malaysia Cup, the longest-running football competition in Asia has a brand
new champion in Kelantan. It could be an exciting year for this much loved sport
in Malaysia," he said.
On the subject of sports, Najib said he tried his best to follow the
progress of his favourite sports teams.
"I enjoyed some personal time after Christmas to chill with my wife and
children (and the cats), go for my routine jogs and catch up on the English
Premier League football.
"Like any other fan of Manchester United, it thrills me to see the team at
the top of the league with a comfortable lead in points and two games in hand.
"My daughter doesn’t share my enthusiasm; she is a Liverpool fan, you see.
She consoles herself by saying Liverpool is ‘the team of the future’, but she
has also been saying this for over ten years," said Najib.
He added that it may be too soon to celebrate another title, but hoped that
Manchester United were able to maintain their lead in the Premiership while
staying sharp for other club competitions including the English FA Cup and the
UEFA Champions League.
-- BERNAMA
