KUALA LUMPUR: The frown on the face of KL Plus coach Mat Zan Mat Aris and the tone of his voice reveal something is not right with the team.

Mat Zan believes his lads, including the latest signings, have not shown their true potential on the field and this is worrying.

KUALA LUMPUR: There was all round celebration over the announcement by Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the 11 sports axed from the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) calendar have been re-instated.

Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, said the ministry had allocated RM89 million for sports and co-curricular activities in schools which will also cover the 11 sports, namely bowling, squash, archery, table tennis, rugby, cricket, sailing, softball, handball, cross-country and chess.

JOHOR BARU: The 11 sport events axed from the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) calendar have been re-instated. Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced this morning that the ministry had agreed to allocate a fund of RM89 million for sporting and co-curriculum events in schools that will also cover the 11 events.

KUALA LUMPUR: Legendary billiard player Mike Russell has not ruled out the possibility of training young cue artists in this region. Russel, who coaches the Qatar national team, believes players in this region are on par with their European counterparts.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tennis fans wanting to watch Maria Kirilenko sweating it out at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort would be disappointed to learn that the Russian beauty may opt out from the WTA Malaysian Open scheduled Feb 23-28.

Mailsport learnt that Kirilenko, who turned 23 on Jan 25, has cited ‘busy schedule’ as the reason for not playing in the inaugural Malaysian tournament.

KUALA LUMPUR: Would you pay RM250 for a flower? Probably not, but nothing stopped the Education Ministry from doing so.

KUALA LUMPUR: National coach S. Selvarajoo is hoping that his players will be able to top Group 2 of the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone scheduled for Feb 1-7 at the National Tennis Centre at Jalan Duta.

"Let’s be realistic of our chances. If we can stay in Group 2 and finish at the top, that would be great. Anything beyond that will be an additional bonus,” said Selvarajoo.

“I’ve got my faith in the players and I know they would be able to give their best in the tournament.”

KUALA LUMPUR: There will not be any communication breakdown from now on as World No 1 Lee Chong Wei and coach Misbun Sidek signed a sponsorship deal with telecommunication giants Maxis for the year at a leading hotel in Bukit Bintang this morning.

SHAH ALAM: Losing 4-0 against Terengganu turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Selangor coach K. Devan. Devan insisted that the drubbing was a good wake-up call for the Red Giants as they entertain Johor at the Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow.

"In football you win some, you lose some. The players were not mentally prepared for the match. They were caught off guard on many occasions and they were just looking at the Terengganu players passing the ball around," said Devan this morning.

KUALA LUMPUR: Judging by the just concluded Malaysian Open, the local badminton scene is still struggling to find the right footing. There weren’t many surprises in this year’s edition which ended at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

World No 1 Lee Chong Wei lived up to expectations as he brushed aside Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana 21-13, 21-7. This was Chong Wei’s sixth Malaysian Open title and second Super Series win of the year after clinching the Korean Open a week earlier.

PETALING JAYA: Johor finally got their first point after four matches in the 1-1 draw against Penang and coach "Prof" Nasir Yusof is looking at better things to come.

Tomorrow’s bottom-of-the-table clash against T-Team at Larkin Stadium could turn Johor's fortunes after being anchored at the bottom of the table.

"We need a win to get out of the rut. This means we need nothing less than full points. It has been a harrowing to start for us in the Super League," said Nasir.

Defender Irfan Ghani, a former national defender netted Johor's goal.

KUALA LUMPUR: Utter rubbish! That was the response from Perak FA (Pafa) president Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin who dismissed allegations that six Pakatan Rakyat government officials who accompanied the team during their AFC Cup quarterfinal match against Safa Beirut on Sept 23, 2008 in Lebanon, went on a shopping spree.

KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is not shy in expressing his true self. Having spent much time with his shuttlers during training, it is only human for the Indonesian to get emotional as he watches his players in action from the sidelines.

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Azlan Iskandar’s wizardry on the courts could now be translated to catwalk. While Azlan is not trading his racquet to be a runway model anytime soon, Mailsport learnt that the Kuching-born is in the midst of designing his line of sports apparel.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak could be kicked out of the Super League next year if the State football association are found guilty of defying orders by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to pay their players on time.

Competitions committee chairman Datuk Che Mat Jusoh did not rule out the possibility of Perak being barred from competing in the 2011 Super League if the case of defender Chan Wing Hoong, who claimed he had not been paid four months' salaries by the Seladangs, was found to be true.

KUALA LUMPUR: If the claims are indeed true, then it's baffling how Perak are allowed to participate in the Super League this season despite owing their players wages for the past two years. Former Seladang player Chan Wing Hoong claimed he has yet to receive RM60,000 in wages for the 2008 season.

KUALA LUMPUR: The drama begins as 14 teams eye the Super League title this season. The absence of import players, yet again, will allow local footballers the opportunity to shine and impress national coach K. Rajagobal.

KUALA LUMPUR: There was something about Noraseela Khalid that made her stand out from the rest of the athletes at the National Sports Council cafeteria.

With her shoulder-length hair tucked behind her ears and looking rather relaxed in a pinkish sporty T-shirt and dark green pants, Noraseela was all smiles and chirpy.

PETALING JAYA: It’s truly going to be the “Year-of-the-Tiger” for the national Under- 23 team if talks with several teams in England to have an attachment programme materialise.