Bar None

Malaysian football is on the brink of a new chapter in 2025, with sweeping changes across key leadership roles. A new head coach, a newly appointed CEO, and an incoming president signal what feels like a complete reset for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Leading the charge off the pitch is Rob Friend, the Canadian CEO whose expertise in football technology promises to modernize the organization. On the sidelines, Australian coach Peter Cklamovski, celebrated for his high-intensity, pressing tactics, is set to bring fresh energy to the team. Meanwhile, Nafuzi Zain takes on the vital role of U23 head coach, tasked with cultivating the nation’s next generation of football talent.

Equally significant is the upcoming FAM presidential election. After six years at the helm, Tan Sri Hamidin Amin is stepping down, paving the way for new leadership that could shape the future of Malaysian football for years to come.

Is this the long-awaited turning point for Malaysian football, or will it be another chapter of unrealized potential?

Photo Credit: Harian Metro

No doubt, streaming platforms have revolutionized the way we consume entertainment—whether it's movies or TV series. Now, these platforms are setting their sights on live sports broadcasting, investing heavily to claim a piece of this lucrative market which always has been traditional TV’s stronghold.

This shift traces back to the early 2010s, when platforms like YouTube and ESPN dabbled in live streaming. However, the real game-changer came with the rise of subscription-based giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. A recent example? Netflix's landmark deal to stream World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) content for a staggering $5 billion over the next decade.

So, why are streaming platforms pouring billions into live sports? Is this the natural evolution of sports broadcasting—or could it signal the death of cable and terrestrial TV as we know it?

Joining us this week is resident tech guru Matt Armitage, and we’re kicking off a deep dive into how streaming is reshaping the sports industry.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode we’re joined by Malaysia’s very own speed queen, Leona Chin — a trailblazing motorsports athlete and a name synonymous with adrenaline-fueled action. Late last year, Leona made waves by clinching the top spot at the 2024 China Circuit Sprint Challenge (CCSC) BMW M235i Cup, a triumph made even more special as she stood as the only female racer on the track. This hard-earned victory not only highlighted her talent but also marked a milestone in her career: her first-ever championship win in the fiercely competitive, high-octane series. Shortly after her groundbreaking victory, she also realized a lifelong dream by competing at the legendary Guia Circuit during the Macau Grand Prix — an event often dubbed the “World Cup of Motorsports.” Facing such elite contenders, Leona delivered an outstanding performance, securing an impressive 15th-place finish in the GT4 race.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a momentous year in Malaysian sports nears to a close, we look back at some of the biggest sporting stories that happened this year.

We revisit Sivasangari Subramaniam's historic win at the London Squash Classic that marked the first time a Malaysian had won a gold-level PSA tournament since Datuk Nicol David in 2015, the horrific attacks on footballers Faisal Halim and Akhyar Rashid that shook Malaysian football, Malaysia's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games that drew mixed reactions and heated debates, the thrilling bronze medal matches fought by national shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Lee Zii Jia at the Paris Olympics, and the performance report card of the Malaysian contingent at the world's biggest games.

Click to listen to the full podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of That's A Sport, we shine a spotlight on World Chase Tag, the first and only global league for competitive parkour tag- an exhilarating fusion of skill, strategy, and athleticism inspired by the game of cops and robbers. Drawing some of the world's best parkour athletes, the sport sees two teams battling it out in an obstacle-filled arena called The Quad in an intense game of speed and agility where athletes race against the clock with one goal in mind: Don't get caught!

We speak to one of the founding members of the sport, Christian Devaux, to discover how World Chase Tag has transformed one of the oldest games in the world into the fast-paced, high-octane viral worldwide phenomenon it is today.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sports from around the globe.

Photo credit: World Chase Tag

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're joined by young dance-sport athlete Cherry Yeo, who recently made history as Malaysia's first champion at the World DanceSport Federation’s World Cup Solo Latin. The 19 year old shares her inspiring journey as a hobbyist to competitive dancer, highlighting her recent victories in Serbia and Spain. She also breaks down the challenges she faces and her dedication to mentoring younger dancers in the future.

Photo Credit: Cherry Yeo on Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fast-growing global padel phenomenon has hit Malaysia in full force as the racket sport ramps up in the region. With a team headed by former national squash player Delia Arnold, team manager and Joy Divison Padel’s Rajay Singh and Maurice Noone have set their sights on a Malaysian team taking the sport by storm on the world stage as it's on track to be included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. We get a look behind the scenes into Malaysia's first competitive padel team – fresh off finishing fourth at their first outing at the inaugural Asia Pacific Padel Cup 2024 – to find out what it's taking to develop the sport locally, padel in the region, and where they hope to take the team in the future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The LPGA Maybank Championship is set to take place this week, running from October 24th to 27th at the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). Defending champion Celine Boutier, who triumphed in a thrilling nine-hole playoff last year, leads the field. She'll be joined by top contenders like Lilia Vu and Yin Ruoning, all vying for the $3 million purse.

One of the golfers representing Malaysia is 23-year-old Liyana Durisic, a newly-minted professional golfer eager to make her mark. After qualifying through the inaugural ASEAN Qualifier, this will be her second LPGA Tour appearance, following her debut as an amateur at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in 2017. Liyana joins us on the program this week as we dive into her journey from amateur to professional, and discuss her role in growing women’s golf in Malaysia and the region.

Photo Credit: Iowa State University Athletics

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dutch wingback Mats Deijl's eligibility for the Malaysian national football team sparked considerable excitement among local football authorities and fans, especially after the FAM president hinted at Go Ahead Eagles captain’s potential as the latest naturalised player. Despite FIFA’s strict and well-defined regulations, FAM pressed forward with their pursuit of Deijl, raising concerns about the association’s recruitment strategy and its impact on future player naturalisation efforts. In the end, their attempt fell short, leaving FAM facing criticism. We dissected the issue with T.Avinesh.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of That's A Sport, we dive into the world of Competitive Excel, where spreadsheet enthusiasts showcase their creativity, speed, and problem-solving skills through nail-biting timed challenges of complex data problems - all using the world's best puzzle-solving tool.

Today, the Microsoft Excel World Championships is quickly becoming the next big thing in esports, bringing together the world's foremost Excel experts to battle it out head-to-head in spectator-friendly showdowns in packed arenas and watched by millions online. Andrew Grigolyunovich, founder and CEO of the Financial Modelling World Cup, takes us behind the scenes of the spreadsheet spectacle.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe. 

Photo credit: Robert McMillan/The Wall Street Journal

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.