The unsung hero...

“We’re in a shock!!” says Jens Lehman after the Final. You could see their ‘unbelieving faces’ after the final whistle. You bet you are, Pak Leman. “Nahhh.. baru kamu tau!!”, “kotoh” et al.. and I stop short of using more extreme abusive language to the “Jolomon”.

Spana Jaya, you made my days, viva!!!

Right after the end of the EPL season 2007/08, my good friend Henry told me how boring it will be waiting for the new season to start. Of course, he is still celebrating the double winning season of his (I hate to mention this.. arrgggghhh). (Yea, yea, he’s a Mancs, allright). In club football, we are sworn-enemies, but both of us support the same national team, England. When Steven Gerrard and co. crashed out of Euro ’08, Henry spoke about the ‘b’ words. Well, I said, what to do lah… we have to live with it.

So, a couple of weeks prior to Euro ’08, I was ready face bleak months without footie. I said to myself, I don’t want to have anything to do with Euro ’08… I guess I was wrong. Totally wrong. A weird feeling tells me that I don’t have to live a miserable life during EPL’s off-season. As if some one spoke to my head saying “Why don’t support Spain? Torres, Pepe Reina, Arbeloa & Xabi Alonso is there. Or the Oranje for that matter since Dirk Kuyt & Ryan Babel is in the team?”. (well, Babel was out a few weeks before Euro due to injury).

I never liked the Dutch though (although I like Dutch Lady – not THE lady, but the ‘susu’.. no, not what you think it is ya!). So it was obvious I ‘adopted’ Espana – or Spana Jaya, as what I call them. And they didn’t disappoint me… hey, they won, didn’t they.

So here I was proclaiming my allegiance Spana Jaya throughout Euro’08. They started brilliantly by demolishing Russia and of course there was the Final. The crowning glory after they won it 40 years ago… hooorrayy to the Spaniards.

Of course, during the games I always want to look for Torres and the Liverpool contingents in each games. But of course there was David Villa, who is also rumored to be linked with Liverpool, including the nippy David Silva. But the player that really caught my eyes is Marcus Senna. He was the ‘Protector’ of the centre-backs. He played brilliantly throughout Euro’08. He was, in my opinion, one of the factor that won Spana Jaya the Cup. He was reliable and very strong, breaking up attacks from the opposing team. He reminds me of Javier Mascherano of Liverpool.

Initially I was angry at the Old Man Aragones because he didn’t play Xabi Alonso. But after the first game, I have forgotten about Xabi (I’m sorry Xabi!!). Senna is cool and composed throughout his games and I would say, he is the unsung hero. He didn’t get much publicity like Torres, Villa, Fabregas or Silva.. but he did caught the attention of many people, including me. Too bad he didn’t connect to Iniesta’s cross in the Final, otherwise he would have scored. Marcus Senna – you’re the man!!

Spana Jaya - you made my 'EPL holidays' great...

Fernando Torres - I told them that you would score in the Final

Marcus Senna - you're the man!!!

How to convert your spouse to love footie...

Here are five things you should do to convert your spouse to love football like you do:-

1. Ask her to watch a live football game on TV
(Well, I tried once but the ‘lovely’ response I got is “I better sleep or do something else than

watch 22 men chase after a ball around the field..)

2. Purposely put on the sports channel when a game of football is on, eventhough you are not watching it
(tried a dozen times and she says this “Tiada channel lain kah?” and with that I quickly change the channel to something else… huhu)

3. Shout loudly when your team scored a goal or won the game, just to influence her how fun the game you are watching
(total stupidity!!! got kicked from behind once when I was watching the Champions League final in 2005. Hence, I perfected the art of my ‘muted roar’ or ‘muted curse’ everytime I watch a football game until today)

4. Turn the TV volume loudly when a game is on, just to attract her from whatever she is doing and join you ‘watching 22 men chasing a ball’..
(another stupid thing to do… got scolded once and never done it again)

5. Buy her a jersey of your favourite football team or ask her to wear your own jersey
(simply.. she don’t want to. Either it’s too big or that she don’t like it)

Hmmm… I think I got the title wrong, maybe it should have been “Five things NOT to do..”.

Well, at least my wife agreed for me to buy her a shirt with “Liverpool FC” and “Gerrard No. 8” written on it. Huhu… a small ‘victory’ there (muted ‘hooray’ with fist up in the air – don’t tell my wife..shhhh..)

Now.. I plan to buy a Liverpool jersey suitable enough for my son to wear (still looking though, hard to find one).. it’s the no. 6 strategy to influence my wife. Maybe 2 against 1 will do it. hehehehehe…(muted laugh)

Stupendous Spain

Yes yes yes… Spana Jaya is through to the Final of Euro ’08.. viva Espana!!

I was watching in ecstasy at 2.30am in the morning (though my son is fast asleep, tired maybe from outing in City Mall earlier, and unable to join me for the match..again). So, again when Espana scored the first goal by Xavi Hernandez, I raised my fist and roared a ‘muted’ hooray.. as I don’t want to annoy and face the warth of my sleeping wife and also the neighbours so early in the morning. But I am used to this ‘muted’ and ‘animated’ actions of pure joy when my team scores (Liverpool that is…). Nice goal from Xavi – a poke from his leg and through Akinfeev legs.. yes!!!... what a stupendous goal that is!!

The Russian was actually very threatening in the first half and solid in defense. They forced a couple of great saves off Iker Cassillas, but he is up to the job. Well done Cassillas!! There were a few but dangerous chances for Espana also eventhough the Russians are man-marking Torres and Villa. Not one but two the minimum when Torres, Villa or Silva gets the ball. In my point of view, Guus Hiddink’s boys strategy is maybe to unshackle the Spaniards by using hard and rough tactics, so that they won’t be able to play their usual game of slick passing. The very same tactic used by the Russian against England some time ago in the qualification. Credit to the referee who is able to control the game and its flow, although there are a lot of tackles, especially from the Russians flying around. That works for the first 50 minutes..

I believe that when Spain scored early in the second half that took off the Russians spirits as their game becomes dodgy after that. Gone are the dangerous attacks seen in the first half.. their passes gone wayward most of the time. They tried to come back I believe but the damaged is done.. Torres seems to be able to make many chances near the goal as the Russians defending become very dodgy.. OOhhh, how nice if Torres had scored, only to be taken out and replaced 20 minutes before time.

In my point of view, Torres is still unable to adapt to Spain’s (or rather the Old but Magnificent Aragones) style, because at Liverpool, he is used to the fast attacking works employed by Benitez. He gets fantastic support from Gerrard and co. As for Spain tactics, they like to play around with the ball to open up chances, I would say a ‘calm and pateint’ type of play, just like Aragones himself. You could see that when the team try to use a fast game, you would see Aragones in the sidelines saying (maybe) ‘calm down, calm down’. Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter as long as Espana wins. Though I would love Torres to score many goals in the tournament. I hope he do it in the Final against the Germans.

Spain was actually very patient throughout the game and that paid off. Credits to Guiza and Silve who scored the other two goals and Cesc Fabregas cool passing, but I believ the harm is done when they got the first goal. The Russians unable to come back and that helped themselves to kill off the game.. Well, we saw the last of Arshavin’s blue tongue in the Final, eh?

So, we wait for the Final and hope spana Jaya beat the Germans.. at least that is the hope of many Espana people, fans, myself including Lab Papa and Rin-chan… yeah!!

Unscrew the Germans Spana Jaya!!! Score goals Torres!!!

(pics courtesy of Euro08 official website)

The most expensive item in my wardrobe...

This is about the very, most expensive item in my wardrobe – yes, it’s my beloved Liverpool FC’s top a.k.a jersey, season 1996/98, in which point of time that my favorite player, Robbie ‘God’ Fowler rules and scorched the goals of opposing teams… (though we never won the EPL title… many thanks to the mancs..). Until today, more than 10 years later, this very jersey is still, and (maybe) will always be the most expensive shirt I ever bought..

I bought it, if my memories don’t fail me, sometimes middle of 1997. at that time, we can get original branded jerseys at around RM150 only. Nowadays, it’s almost double that price!!! At that time, I was really in love with this famous football club... that I sacrificed my lunches; dinners and suppers, just to save the money to get my hands on this top. But it took me quite a some time to save because I was studying at that time and money is also needed to buy materials for assignments, reports, every day activities, visits etc… but I never stopped saving and finally did manage to buy it (a big thanks to my sisters and brothers who supported me all through my university days.. without them, I would have never survived. So I am sorry I used some part of the money you all sent me to buy this jersey..!!)

After making sure I got my budget correct, one afternoon, I went off alone to Jaya Shopping Centre (but we usually call it Jaya Supermarket though), section 14, PJ. I think the name of the Shop was Sportstation. Got into a bus from H.U. and I am on my way to buy my most ‘expensive shirt’. My heart is thumping hard, excited that at long last, I will get my hands (or body, rather) on this dream shirt.

When I arrive at Jaya Supermarket, I thought I was actually running and not walking because it felt like I arrive at the shop in no time. So here I was at the entrance of the said shop and what luck!! They’re on sale... so I got a 10% discount on my, yes ‘MY’ very first Liverpool top. I bought the home (red) jersey and purposely took the XL size though I am not that ‘big’. (Something in my head tells me that I will get ‘bigger’ in few years to come). So, yes, at that moment of time I looked like a ‘hip-hop’ guy with this big Liverpool jersey on me (and I don’t like hip-hop). But, I don’t mind that, because, my dream has come through.

Since then, I always wear this Liverpool jersey anywhere, anytime because not only that I love this shirt very much but for being proud to show that I am a Liverpool FC’s supporter. I think I wear it almost every time, to lectures, to activities, to shopping malls, etc. I believe this makes most of my friend remember me as the guy who always wear a Liverpool jersey anywhere, any time (even until today I still wear my Liverpool tops most of the time). But don’t get me wrong, if the shirt needs to go to the laundry, it needs to go to the laundry..hehe (I am never comfortable of unwashed clothings..).

Well, that’s my story of my most expensive shirt ever bought at RM150 more than 10 years ago. Nowadays, although I am working, I can’t afford to buy original Liverpool tops because it costs almost RM300!! Besides, I have other commitments like paying bills, family etc.. Therefore, I resort to buying ‘replica kits’ a.k.a ‘ciplak’, which many of us may call them. But I usually get the ‘Grade A’ ones, which is about 99% almost similar to the original thing. Last year, I bought all of Liverpool tops at RM50 apiece. Imagine that if I buy the original ones, I can only get half-a-shirt!!

At the same time, I also think that a shirt is only a shirt if the wearer only wears it as a shirt to cover the body.. For me, wearing Liverpool top is a proud thing and it also gives a testament of my utmost support to Liverpool.. through rain or shine. I am proud to say that ‘I live and breath’ Liverpool FC!!! The cost of the jersey doesn’t matter or whether it is original or not… the ‘soul of the wearer’ is… IMHO.

So, my Season 96/98 will be my most expensive shirt ever… (though if I can afford it some other time.. I will get my hands on the new kits..huhu)..

(will post hombidai’s most expensive shirt picture later…)

Dancing Portuguese...

No wonder they lost.. they only know how to dance. Just look at the picture, C. Ronaldo, the goalie and the defender are dancing in tandem... just what are they thinking?... 'Well, if you want to dance," Ballack said, "I just go an score some header!"....

Bye bye Scolari and C. Ronaldo... off you go and have a good holiday before you come back to the English Premier League...

(Picture from Euro 2008 official website)

Learn 25 Kadazandusun Words in one go...

Here I go again, rambling about whatever that comes out of my head… So, today let us learn a couple of Kadazandusun’s words (of the Penampang dialect)…

The words I am going to list down are those which are not regularly spoken of or maybe not even heard by most Kadazan’s today (the younger generations la, but even the older generations prefer to use the Malay or English words) (sad to say lah…’kuroyon pon-doh’ as someone mention to me).. but maybe it’s because these words are also seldom used in everyday life because they’re all about insects and reptiles.. hehehe. Also nowadays, younger kids seldom see these unique creatures… either they don’t live in the ‘kampung’ or these creatures don’t ‘live’ in their ‘kampung’ anymore…

When I was young, I found most of these interesting creatures around my house, the surrounding area, in the paddy field or the sea… I may not be able to translate them all into the correct species or family or even the English word, but I will just try to explain as best as I can (and you will have to try to understand as best as you can too)…huhu..

If I am a teacher teaching Kadazan language, I will teach these words to the students. Any of you teaching the Ladazan Language in school? (Not in the syllabus?.. aisey).. hantam sajalah.. even if not in the syllabus kan.. to make the Language more interesting to learn… well, that’s my opinion if I am a teacher la, but sadly I am not…huhuhu

Enough the ramblings… here we go :-

1. tugalang – lizard, small type, usually dark in colour, bigger than a ‘bulitotok’

2. bulitotok – house lizard - it’s what I think the closest explanation to it..

3. tongkuzu’ – crab

4. tombozungus – same family with grasshopper, usually found in the paddy field. When I was very young, my elder brother and sister used to catch them and ‘grill’ it with fire… very crispy to eat. Those were the days though. Nowadays, paddy field are turned into housing areas, but all of a sudden rice price increased… I believe in a few years time, we will see the housing areas converted back to paddy field..hahaha. Maybe God is teaching us a lesson.. who knows kan?)

5. kuzung – aahh, this one is of the ‘dirty’ kind of beetle. They like to dig the soil wherever a ‘dung’ is present..

6. tongkungang – this is like a ‘lady bird’ but I’m not sure it is a lady or not.. but it is usually dark in color. So it must be a ‘man’ bird (oopps.. not what you think it is..hehe). Also, don’t mistake it as ‘tongkungon’, a ‘tongkungon’ is a musical instrument.

7. hingga’ung – aha.. a ‘butod’s’ dream is to become a ‘hingga’ung’ when it grows older..hehe.. it’s actually what a ‘butod’ becomes, similar like the butterfly.. Well, you do know what a ‘butod’ is.. is it?

8. hontugi – a millipede a.k.a gonggok..

9. tangkahama’ai – centipede

10. tompo’hu’u – scorpion.. not the band from Germany la.. hehe

11. tongkohivang – cacing @ sassing…worm (can be used for earth worm, tape worm, etc…)

12. tutumbakon – sea worm.. can be eaten (anybody wants?)

13. gizuk – I always believe that the ‘giuk’ comes from this Kadazan word… giuk=gizuk = ulat = maggot

14. toninipot – fire fly, seldom see these beautiful creature nowadays due to the worsening environment

15. tongkulibambang – ‘butter’ that ‘flies’…

16. togonok – mosquito

17. tamamangos – you can see these little ‘flies’ hovering rotten fruits

18. soputan – wasp

19. tompulingot – same family with ‘wasp’ I believe, but smaller in size, usually makes their nest in bushes.. they sting you before you know it..

20. suun – I believe this is also another type of wasp

21. tantadan – I believe this is in the same family of bees, only that it doesn’t sting; may we call them ‘friendly bees’?

22. potizukan – this is the real bees…(aaaa yes… my blogspot address..ahaha)

23. tongkulalava - spider

24. hipos – cockroach

25. kau – not ‘you’ in Bahasa Malaysia, but the ‘chicken’s flea’…haha

There are many many more but that’s 25 words for you today…

Some people also may have used some of the words above for their nickname, e-mail address, etc… I think it’s great because they sound unique & exotic…

Well then, the Rambler if off again… until my next post (when my brain provide something interesting…)…

French 'fries' fried...

Out they go.. the the Spaghetti & Pizzas beats the French fries, not for their taste but their footie team.

Thierry Henry is a great player but I think he is pass his best.. that's why Arsenal let him go to Barcelona. But I have nothing against Henry though.. I like him and respected him.

As for the Italians, honestly, I wanted them to go out as I'm not in favour of them at all.. I would have like Romania to qualify though... but well, the Romanians lose it against the Orange team.. The 'Oranges' seems to be at their best currently and tipped as the favourites to win Euro 2008...

Well, I hope my Spana Jaya team makes it to the final...hahaha (and hopefully wins it)

(pic courtesy of Euro2008 official website)

Dear Teachers...

I read in the paper this morning (17/06/08) that a young teacher was killed in an accident with a bus along the Ranau-KK highway... My deepest sympathy to the family of the bereaved.

Here in Sabah, most of our Sabahan teachers are posted in the remote places of Sabah. I have a lot of friends who has taken the path to education in order to 'nurture' our young generations (well, if you don't take into account the millions of PTI's or 'Penduduk Tempatan Istimewa' into the equation). I salute them for their commitment although they are posted to these remote places like Paitan, Ulu Tongod, Tangkarason etc. Well, furthermore, they have decided that teaching will be their career for the rest of their life IMO..

During the course of my work also, I have the opportunity to to visit a few of the 'remotest' schools in Beluran District i.e. SK Tangkarason, SK Kebuloh, SK Tampat, SK Sualok, SK Obah among others. (I was doing site visits to these schools to gather informations for the proposed project of building Teacher's quarters).

During these visits, I also had an opportunity to chat with the teacher's there. What I respect most is that, although they're faced with hardship, they are committed in their works. The hardship can be in many forms like no piped-water (only gravity, rain or river water), no electricity or limited if they are using generator set and far away from town area. I remember that when we go in to these school, one of the teacher (from SK Tampat) who guides us to the school had to buy cooking gas all the way from Sandakan!! (He must have taken the chance to buy the gas since he is following us...)

And it is great pleasure to see their reaction when they found out that their school are selected for building new quarters for them. There is joy in their eyes, although they won't say it aloud.

I would also like to say that other than the hardship they encounter, they're also faced with many danger especially during bad weather conditions. I was told that at one time a school nearly submerged in water, which happened very fast, and that the teachers are forced to save teaching materials, equipments etc. quickly... imagine that!!

Coming back to the accident in the paper, I hope that our teachers, wherever they may be, especially those who are in the remote school areas, to take care. I know some of you are going back and forth from KK to Tambunan, Keningau, Ranau etc. during the weekends or school holidays to go back to your beloved hometown... drive carefully.

A flooded road to SK Tampat. We were unable to go through for 2 days!! (The man in the picture is the Education Officer in-charge of schools in the Beluran District..though, I have forgotten his name..sorry Cikgu)

SK Tangkarason - a school in the middle of an oil plantation

There's no direct road to SK Tampat. We had to park our car elsewhere & walk to reach it..

Flooded road to SK Obah.. SK Obah is still another 1-hour drive though. (The man wading the road is Mr Pang - our lead Engineer for our team)

Spana Jaya un'screw' the 'Screw'den

Villa scores again.. nope, not Aston Villa but David Villa, and wins it for Espana (or Spana Jaya as I may call them..). Villa scores a wonderful goal from a great pass and cool run. He sure is on fire and tops the most goal in Euro 2008 with 4 goals at the moment. Sorry to Lab Papa, but Spana Jaya have unscrewed the 'Screw'den (a bit of knowledge : according to Lab Papa, Sweden is the land of death metal... yea, correct me if i'm wrong, the death metal group with scary looking costume who won Eurovision, Lordi(?), are from Sweden)...

I hope Espana go all the way to win Euro 2008..haha.. (the Dutch 'Lady' may think otherwise..huhu)..

Another hope is for David Villa playing with Fernando Torres on a regular basis.. no, not with Espana but with Liverpool....

Donate Rice.. Help the World Hunger..

I know, rice price has gone up as was with the car fuel.. we may go back and eat tapioca (quoted from most of the people i met)... so, how can we donate rice in our current circumstances..??

Well, you can. Please visit this website freerice.com and you will be able to donate rice to those in need (i mean those who really, really need it), through the UN Food Program.

How?.. just play the word games and every correct answer, you will donate 20 grains of rice. The site's sponsor's will pay for the donated rice.

When i visisted the website, it shows 109,323,460 grains of rice donated yesterday, so let's play and donate free rice to those in need...

There's also a vidoe report of rice being distributed.

When you visit the site also, please read the WARNING notes at the bottom of the 'HOW TO PLAY' bar (right hand side)... they also have some humor there..hahaha

Please spread the word around... while we are having fun (playing the word games), we are feeding those who are hungry...

http://www.freerice.com/

Life's a treat with Shaun The Sheep

This is what i watched with my son during halftime of the EURO 2008 game where the Dutch 'fries' the French. It's 4 - 1 to the Dutch... hooray for the Oranje!!!!

I use to watch footie games alone, but nowadays I have my son to accompany me, even early morning games e.g. 2am in the morning. Maybe he is attracted to the 22 players running around on the pitch (he's just over 1-year old) chasing one small ball, i'm not so sure, or maybe he will become like Steven Gerrard one day...hahahaha.

I named him after Steven Gerrard, well not really 'Steven Gerrard', because I am scared he may not like football when he grows up OR (touch wood) he ends up supporting Liverpool's arch-enemy, the Manures (MU lah...)..hahahaha (touch wood, again)...

Well, here's Shaun the Sheep, at his best, for you:-



Since it's EURO 2008, here's Shaun with the flock playing footie, with Bitzer as the referee...


Shaun The Sheep - Funny blooper videos are here

I've always look for Shaun's show in Astro whenever i have the time because not only he is cute but the storyline are soo funny, you would roll on the floor laughing...

Life's a treat with Shaun the Sheep...

Euro 2008 - 'Kotoh' Germany

'Kotoh' - i've never use this word until my friend Lab Papa mentioned it in his blog. Never use it since my high school days.

Well done Croatia, 'kotoh' to you Germany..


The Germans and whoever supports them will be mad at me... but I am sorry, I just can't help it. I was like over the moon when the Croats scored 2 goals and won the game hands-down... a deserved win for them.


Now, I hope the Dutch will kill off the French 'fries' hopes in the tournament...go Dutch!!!

Game on... hantam-dess!!!

My very best friend, Lab Papa, who is currently studying in Japan, started a blog... all of a sudden he infected me with the 'disease'... (similar to how the Oppositions infected the Government Wakil Rakyat's to start their own blogs..haha)...

So i was thinking what kind of blog i want to do, as i was not creative enough like Lab Papa and usually those people who blog are people who 'has the time in the world'.. i was thinking and thinking...like 'mat jenin' under the coconut tree..but still no idea. Lot's of question in my mind.. do i have the time? will i be creative enough? who will visit my blog? will i be a laughing stock?..

Who would have thought that in the midst of a my 'busy-ness' (not business ya..) (i am busy with work as i am in the construction industry; the project now is under the critical period - if u refer at the 's-curve') that i got an idea what to blog, or rather 'ramble'... and about the questions & doubts in my mind?... what the heck lah kan... i mean 'hantam' saja lah kan...

so here goes nothing...

hantam-dess!!!!