Kisah R.Arumugam Bakal Dibukukan

SHAH ALAM: Kisah bekas penjaga gol kebangsaan mendiang Datuk R. Arumugam bakal dibukukan peminatnya dalam usaha mengetengahkan kegemilangan bola sepak negara pada era 70-an hingga 80-an kepada orang ramai, khususnya belia.

Datuk Sheikh Rajesh Sheikh Ahmad berkata antara lain, pihaknya berusaha mendapatkan maklumat mengenai Arumugam menerusi Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia dan rakan mendiang untuk dimuatkan dalam buku yang bertemakan "Semangat Bola Sepak Malaysia" itu.

"Saya mengharapkan penerbitan buku ini akan dijadikan sebagai bahan bacaan dan rujukan oleh golongan belia mengenai kegemilangan sukan bola sepak tanah air sekitar tahun 1970-an dan 80-an," katanya kepada pemberita pada sidang akhbar di sini Selasa.

Sheikh Rajesh, yang juga penganjur Kempen 'Saya Benci Rasuah Bola Sepak' Selangor, berkata buku itu akan diterbitkan selewat-lewatnya penghujung tahun ini.

"Selain diedarkan ke sekolah dan Institut Pengajian Tinggi, hasil jualan buku ini akan diserahkan kepada keluarga mendiang bagi mengurangkan beban mereka," katanya.

Sepanjang hayatnya, mendiang yang turut dikenali sebagai "Spiderman" kerana ketangkasan menjaga gawang gol, pernah membantu skuad negara merangkul pingat gangsa pada Sukan Asia 1974 di Tehran, Iran.

Arumugam, yang meninggal dunia pada 1988 ketika berusia 35 tahun akibat kemalangan jalan raya, merupakan anggota skuad kebangsaan yang layak ke Sukan Olimpik 1980 di Moscow, Rusia namun Malaysia tidak menyertainya kerana membuat bantahan serangan Soviet Union ke atas Afghanistan ketika itu.

Mengulas penganjuran kempen itu di Klang Ahad ini, Sheikh Rajesh, yang juga pengerusi sebuah kelab bola sepak swasta, berkata beberapa aktiviti dirancang bagi memeriahkannya.
"Antara aktiviti yang bakal dijalankan ialah Jelajah Fiesta bola sepak tujuh sebelah, persembahan artis dan juga gerai jualan.

"Selain itu, kita turut menyediakan kain rentang bersaiz besar bagi mengumpul sebanyak mungkin tandatangan daripada para belia yang hadir pada hari itu untuk menyatakan sokongan mereka terhadap kempen yang kita jalankan," katanya.

Kempen itu dilancarkan Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan Datuk Razali Ibrahim di Muar, Johor pada 1 April lepas dan ia bertujuan menghapuskan rasuah dalam sukan bola sepak.  

Book On 'Spiderman' Arumugam's Life Story To Be Published

SHAH ALAM, April 10 (Bernama) -- A book, describing the life story and achievements of the late Datuk R. Arumugam or better known as 'Spiderman' will be published soon.

Arumugam, born on Jan 31, 1953 in Port Klang with exceptionally long arms and brilliant saves, earned him the nickname "Spiderman".

Datuk Sheikh Rajesh Sheikh Ahmad who initiated the move to publish the book said to ensure the book was published, he would gather material and pictures from Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia as well as collect pictures and paper cuttings from friends and those who knew him.

"I hope the published book can be used as a reading material and reference for youths to relive the glory days of Malaysian football during the Golden Era of the 70s and 80s," he told reporters here Tuesday.

Mat Boeing — the speed legend

KELANA JAYA: The passing of former international M. Viatilingam has shocked many, especially Negri Sembilan coach Azraai Khor Abdullah.

The Kedahan died at around 5am yesterday in George Town after battling brain cancer for almost two months. He was 60.

Viatilingam and Azraai go a long way back as they were childhood friends who grew up playing football in Alor Semagom — a small village in Alor Star.

“In fact, Viatilingam and I were neighbours. We lived just one kilometre away from Darulaman Stadium,” recalled Azraai.

“We started playing football at the same time, when we were nine or 10-years-old and we went on to play for our kampung. Our team was known as the Hospital Rangers.”

Both lads went on to represent the state youth team in the Burnley Cup in 1968.

“The first Burnley Cup we played in 1968 was in Malacca followed by the 1969 (Negri Sembilan) and 1970 (Sarawak) editions. Both of us were promoted to the senior squad a year later and we both also joined LLM (now known as TNB) in 1972.”

However, Viatilingam first represented the country at the 1975 Bangkok Sea Games but joined Azraai in the King’s Cup tournament held at the Thai capital two weeks after the regional Games.

“We did many things together but he represented the country before I did. But we played alongside each other in the King’s Cup.”

Viatilingam’s final national cap was at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok while the defender last donned Kedah’s Hijau Kuning colours in 1982.
He retired from TNB in 2008.

“It’s really sad as his wife passed away months ago and he now leaves behind a son,” Azraai added.
Former internationals Reduan Abdullah, Datuk Soh Chin Aun and Datuk Santokh Singh also had fond memories of Viatilingam.

“We called him Mat Boeing as he was a very speedy player, just like the Boeing airplane,” said Reduan.
“It’s really sad to hear of his passing. He was a good player.”

Chin Aun was shocked when told of the news.
“I’m sad, really sad. I didn’t know about it,” said Chin Aun.

Santokh said he was informed of Viatilingam’s death yesterday, adding that the latter was a hard tackler but a nice man off the pitch.

“It’s a sad day for all of us,” Santokh added.