Rhinos eye win against UiTM Saturday
Sabah FC will not settle for anything less than three points when they take on UiTM FC at the Likas Stadium on Saturday, after being handed a footballing lesson in the 1-4 defeat to leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
KUALA LUMPUR: National 100 metres (m) record holder Khairul Hafiz Jantan has sent a letter of explanation to the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) about his intention to once again be under the tutelage of coach Mohd Poad Md Kassim.
Khairul Hafiz, 22, said he also stated the reasons that influenced his decision to return to training under Mohd Poad in the letter, but declined to disclose details.
He said ongoing discussions on the matter between him, MAF, the National Sports Council (MSN), the National Sports Institute (ISN), Mohd Poad and MAF technical director Dwayne Miller were going well.
“A letter to MAF has been sent and I do not want to issue any statement without any confirmation. What I can say is that everything is being done according to the right procedures and I hope the matter can be resolved in the near future,” he told Bernama yesterday.
Local media reported yesterday that the MAF was seeking an explanation from Khairul Hafiz dan SEA Games gold medalist Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi on their intentions to return their former coach Mohd Poad, this after seven months of training under Miller from August last year.
Meanwhile, Khairul Hafiz, popularly known as ‘Speedy Jantan’, said he had already expected the issue of him moving out of Bukit Jalil would receive a lot of attention, but added that he was not too stressed about it and also hoped the matter would not be blown out of proportion.
“No, I’m not stressed. This was a decision made without being influenced by other parties and one made based on my training experiences with two different coaches,” the 2017 SEA Games 100m gold medalist said.
On Monday, Bernama reported that Khairul Hafiz and Muhammad Haiqal had each voiced their intention to return under Mohd Poad’s guidance, citing compatibility as well as it being the best move for longterm improvement for their performances.
It also raised the question of whether MAF had made the right decision to place Khairul Hafiz and Muhammad Haiqal alongside all the national elite sprinters centrally under Miller at MSN, Bukit Jalil.
Hailing from the United States, Miller has more than 30 years of experience in coaching and once helped U.S. athlete LaShawn Merritt grab two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in the 400m and 4x400m events. - Bernama