Sports Notes - Sorry Britney... OOP'S FAT DID IT AGAIN... HELD SACKED - March 2005

Sorry Britney... OOP's FAT did it again.

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Saturday March 12, 2005 - Updated Saturday March 19, 2005

SORRY BRITNEY - OOP'S… FAT DID IT AGAIN... HELD SACKED - Kiatisak Senamaung To Return? - Cambodia's Olympic Stadium To Be Replaced? - Michael Jordan vs Kobe Bryant & LeBron James - NCAA TOURNAMENT WOODEN'S WORLD - FIFA Supports Referees - Cambodian National Rugby

SORRY BRITNEY - OOP'S… FAT DID IT AGAIN!!!... HELD SACKED

With apologies to Britney Spears we can't let this get by. Oops… FAT (Football Association of Thailand) did it again. What's that? Fire another coach. The FAT is now working on its fifth coach in 17 months.

Within 24 hours after writing about Held's precarious job situation and the bleak history of foreign coaches being welcomed in Thailand, German coach Siegfried Held was relieved of his duties after just only five months on the job.

Out of respect, Held was one of the last to know. A reporter asked him his thoughts. He said he knew nothing about it. He soon found out.

His dismissal was termed by FAT that he would be taking a rest. HHHmmmmm!!! This is not a soap opera… this is real life!

During his tenure Held was criticized for trying to institute discipline on the squad. That followed by Thailand being knocked out in the first round of the Tiger Cup.

After the Tiger Cup departure the FAT assured Held that he would coach the squad in the upcoming SEA Games in September.

He then chose a squad not to the FAT's liking. Result…..EXIT HELD.

HELD'S contract was to expire at the end of March.

When you do the math Held was assured that he would coach the team at the SEA Games in September. His contract would have expired in March OR SIX MONTHS EARLIER. Where's the FISH?

Since the FAT relieved Englishman Peter Withe in September 2003 they have appointed four coaches. AT THIS POINT the squad has had FIVE including Withe within a 17-month period.

The body count includes Withe, Brazilian Carlos Roberto Carvalho, Thai Chatchai Paholpat, and now German Siegfried Held.

Thai Charnwit Polcheewin is the new addition to the list of candidates to be in the guillotine line of fire(d).

In the past Thai coaches that lack top flight football experience have been hired supposedly because they cost less, know how to better communicate to other Thai's and are more familiar with the players skills.

Say What!!!

Who said this? FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST THANK GOD I'M FREE AT LAST. (A) Peter With (B) Carlos Roberto Carvalho, (C) Siegfried Held (D) Martin Luther King

KIATISAK SENAMAUNG TO RETURN?

Thailand premiere football player Kiatisak Senamaung has expressed interest in returning to the national team.

In a rebuttal Senamaung was critical of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who criticized Thailand after a home 4-1 loss to North Korea in a World Cup Qualifier.

Senamaung has been having a successful career playing in Vietnam the past few years.

MICHAEL JORDAN vs KOBE & LeBRON JAMES

Who do you think would win in a one on one game if Michael Jordan was playing against Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?

Bryant and James are vying to be the heir apparent to Jordan's throne of being the best ever player in the game. Their style of play is largely attributed to Jordan's influence.

In a halftime interview of the Lakers Orlando Magic telecast on TNT/Star Sports March 18th Jordan voiced his views on the subject.

"Mentally I could do it," he said. Physically I can't."

WOODENS WORLD - NCAA TOURNAMENT

The NCAA Basketball tournament is the culmination of the NCAA basketball season. It's a knockout event until the 2005 champion is crowned the best team in college basketball.

Former UCLA coach John Wooden is the tournament's most successful championship coach with ten titles. UCLA lost only ten games during those ten championship seasons. Wooden's nearest rival Adolph Rupp won four titles at Kentucky University.

Known as the Wizard of Westwood Wooden coached and molded the talents of some of the NBA's greatest players including Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Walton and Gail Goodrich. Surprisingly he didn't consider them the most talented players he ever coached. Who was that? Read on….

FIFA NEWS

Full Support For German Football Association And Referees

In view of the current refereeing scandal in Germany, the FIFA Executive Committee underlined its total support for the German football association (DFB) and the German legal authorities.

The committee also voiced its entire satisfaction with the investigations being conducted by the DFB and the relevant judicial authorities, and expressed its full support for and trust in referees.

At its two-day meeting in Zurich under the chairmanship of President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA executive discussed this matter in detail and decided to await the final results of all investigations currently being conducted in Germany.

Furthermore, the FIFA Committee for Ethics and Fair Play, chaired by Senes Erzik of Turkey, was asked to look into the matter and related consequences and to draw up a list of steps that could be taken if necessary.

In this regard, the executive also unanimously confirmed that FIFA would never involve itself in betting in any form, as previously decided at the committee's meeting in Buenos Aires on 5 July 2001.

With regard to the fight against racism, the executive supported the President's proposed creation of a group of FIFA anti-racism ambassadors. This group will consist of leading players and coaches, both past and present, headed by Thierry Henry, who has already indicated that he would be willing and proud to accept such a role.

GO FIGURE - NEW CAMBODIA STADIUM?

After years of renovation and expense the Cambodian Daily reported that the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia might be replaced with a new facility in a remote location.

CAMBODIAN NATIONAL TEAM RUGBY

The Cambodian National Rugby team is scheduled to play a test match against Macao in Phnom Penh April 23rd. The venue is yet to be decided.

The team is also scheduled to play the Laos National team in Vientiane, Laos May 19th.

The squad consists of 40 players 30 Cambodians and 10 foreigners. Twenty-two players are selected to compete in the games.

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