Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Former Pahang star Azam is dead

FORMER Pahang footballer Azam Bakar, who guided the state to their first Malaysia Cup title in 1983, lost his battle against cancer yesterday.

The 54-year-old defender died at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan about 12.30pm after fighting liver cancer for more than two months, which eventually left him bedridden.

Azam, from Kampung Seberang Guai, Temerloh, was a member of the victorious Pahang team that also featured Rosmaini Mohd Shah, Datuk Jamal Nasir and Tajuddin Nor, who edged Selangor 3-2 after extra-time at Merdeka Stadium.

After donning state colours between 1978 and 1984, the father of four chose to hang up his boots and turned to coaching.

He became assistant to former chief coach Mike Brown who led Pahang to their second Malaysia Cup title in 1992.

He also served as assistant to former Pahang coach Jorgen E. Larsen and Fuzzeimi Ibrahim before signing up as coach for the Pahang Agriculture Development Authority side that featured in the 1995 Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) League.

Azam leaves behind wife, Zainab Arifin, 52 and four children, Azrul Syaffiq, 26, Alia Syafiqa, 23, Amirul Syafiqq, 21 and Aidil Syafiq, 16.

Present at the Bukit Ubi Muslim burial ground yesterday were former teammates, including Tajuddin, Abdullah Din and Terengganu T-Team coach Yunus Aliff. -- T.N. ALAGESH

Read more: NST

No comments: