A true legend

LEGENDARY centre-forward Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat, affectionately known as "Raja Bola", died yesterday, leaving an indelible mark on Malaysian football.

Ghani underwent a triple bypass heart surgery on Thursday but succumbed to complications at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He was 76.

Ghani was laid to rest at the USJ 21 Muslim cemetery in Subang Jaya after Friday prayers. He leaves behind wife Puan Sri Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim and four children.

A centre-forward and occasional inside-left during his playing days from 1952 to 1968, Ghani bagged every domestic honour available as he won the Malaysia Cup seven times and the FAM Cup -- then the premier knockout tournament in the country -- six times with Selangor.

Ghani, who once scored 10 goals in an inter-state competitive match, carried his domestic form to international level with his goals leading Malaya to three Merdeka Tournament titles and the Asian Games bronze in 1962 while firing Selangor to the 1967 Asian Club Championship final.

FA of Malaysia deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah paid tribute to Ghani, who turned down a chance to play professionally with Cardiff City in 1962, by describing his demise as a great loss to the country.

"My condolences to the family of Tan Sri," said Tengku Abdullah. "Sadly, the nation has lost a football legend. May Allah bless his soul and put him among the righteous ones."

National coach Datuk K. Rajagobal, among many other Malaysian legends who played under Ghani when he coached Selangor from 1983 to 1985, said Ghani remained humble despite the many successes during his career.

"He was my coach during the 1980s and though I did not get to see him play, he was a legend. He was also very humble and he always encouraged me and gave me advice on how to improve as a player.

"I always looked up to him and this is a great loss to the nation," said Rajagobal.

Another former international, Reduan Abdullah, described Ghani as the best coach he ever had.

"To me, he was the best coach I ever worked with," said Reduan. "He was like a mentor to me. I am so thankful to him for what he has done for me. He brought the best out of every player and I will never forget the time when we (Selangor) won the Malaysia Cup in 1984."

Born in Rantau, Negri Sembilan, Ghani grew up in Kuala Lumpur and joined Police Depot in the Selangor League in 1952 in his first competitive outing before moving on to Selangor Rangers.

He was picked to play for the state team in 1953 and claimed his first national honour when Selangor shared the FAM Cup title with Kelantan after a 1-1 draw in the final the same year.

In 1954, Ghani made his Malaya Cup debut in Selangor's 1-0 defeat to Perak on April 24 before scoring the first of his over 100 goals for Selangor in a 5-0 win over Kedah on June 20.

In all, Ghani featured in eight Malaya Cup and Malaysia Cup finals, winning seven and scoring in four finals in 1959, 1961, 1963 and 1968.

A Straits Times preview of the 1956 final likened Ghani to free-scoring Singapore legend Awang Bakar and described the Selangor centre-forward as "a player, who with a couple of lightning thrusts and crashing shots, can be a match-winner."

"Ghani is what Awang Bakar was for Singapore, a player who lurks like a dark shadow behind every defender's mind, who draws them all to his compelling and darting presence and yet eludes them in a flash when his moment comes."

Ghani had his best year in 1963 when an all-conquering Selangor team won all 15 matches in the Malaya Cup with a record 106 goals with the forward accounting for 34 goals, including four in the 6-2 final rout of Penang.

Two years earlier, Ghani scored a remarkable 10 goals in Selangor's 19-0 FAM Cup semi-final rout of Kelantan which attracted the interest of Bill Jones, the manager of Cardiff City who were then just relegated from the English First Division.

Ghani, along with Singapore's Quah Kim Swee, were offered professional terms but both turned the Welsh club down.

In the European winter of 1962-63, Ghani and Malacca's Robert Choe embarked on a four-month trip to Germany, England and Spain to train with top European clubs.

After spending two months in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt, they left for England where they had planned to train with West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham.

But the extremely cold weather conditions in England only allowed the duo to train intermittently with the Hammers though they were able to watch several FA Cup ties before watching Real Madrid train in Spain.

Eintracht coach Dietmar Kremar said of Ghani: "Quite an excellent player. A match-winner in the best European manner."

Ghani first played for Malaya in a non-international friendly against Hong Kong league champions Kowloon Bus Company in 1954 but marked his full international debut in March 1956 by scoring seven goals in a 9-2 rout of Cambodia at the TPCA Stadium.

The 1968 Malaysia Cup final, which saw Selangor hammer Penang 8-1, marked Ghani's retirement from football.

- NST

'Raja bola M'sia' ditawar bermain di Liga EPL pada 1962

Mungkin ramai tidak tahu, 'Raja Bola' Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat yang meninggal dunia hari ini merupakan pemain Malaysia yang pertama ditawarkan beraksi di Liga Perdana Inggeris pada 1962.
  
Allahyarham dilamar kelab Cardiff City yang mahu beliau menjadi pemain profesionalnya, namun Allahyarham menolak. Sebaliknya, Abdul Ghani membuat keputusan menjelajah England dan Eropah selama empat bulan.
  
Allahyarham menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya pada 10.34 pagi ini di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) di sini, akibat komplikasi selepas menjalani pembedahan pintasan jantung pada hari Selasa.
  
Allahyarham, yang berusia 77 tahun, meninggalkan balu Puan Sri Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim dan empat anak iaitu dua lelaki dan dua perempuan.
  
Abdul Ghani yang dilahirkan pada 23 Disember 1935 di Rantau, Negeri Sembilan mula aktif dalam sukan bolasepak pada 1954 dengan menyertai pasukan Selangor Rangers dan Kelab Polis Depot.
  
Pada 1957, Allahyarham mula mewakili Malaysia dalam kejohanan Pestabola Merdeka.
  
Uniknya, perlawanan itu berlangsung di Stadium Merdeka pada malam 30 Ogos 1957 sebelum berlangsungnya upacara kemerdekaan negara pada keesokan hari.
  
Beraksi sebagai 'inside forward' yang licik dan lincah pada sekitar tahun 1960-an, permainan taktikalnya di depan gol sering menggerunkan pihak lawan.
  
Pada 1962, Allahyarham mengikuti kursus empat bulan di kelab Eintracht Frankfurt di Jerman dan West Ham United di England.
  
Allahyarham yang mempunyai sijil kejurulatihan dari Persekutuan Bolasepak Antarabangsa (FIFA) pada 1969, pernah menjadi jurulatih kebangsaan dari 1971 hingga 1976.
  
Selain membawa Malaysia menjuarai kejohanan Pestabola Merdeka dari 1958 hingga 1960, Allahyarham pernah mengetuai skuad kebangsaan meraih pingat emas pada Sukan SEAP (kini Sukan SEA) 1961 di Rangoon (kini Yangoon, Myanmar) dan pingat gangsa pada Sukan Asia 1962 di Jakarta, Indonesia.
  
Walaupun dilahirkan di Negeri Sembilan, namun Allahyarham lebih banyak terlibat dengan arena bola sepak di Selangor sebagai pemain dari 1953 sehingga 1968 sebelum menjadi jurulatih skuad Gergasi Merah dari 1970 hingga 1972.

Sebagai menghargai sumbangan beliau, Persatuan Bolasepak Selangor  (FAS)  menganugerahkan gelaran "Raja Bola' kepada Allahyarham pada 1959.
  
Sesuatu yang menarik, Allahyarham pernah menjaringkan 106 gol dalam 15 perlawanan sehingga dianugerahkan gelaran Pemain Bola Sepak Terbaik bagi tahun 1959 dan 1960.
  
Penglibatan aktifnya dalam dunia bola sepak berakhir pada 1993 dengan menjadi jurulatih kepada skuad Piala Emas Raja-Raja bagi pasukan Selangor.

Allahyarham kemudian menumpukan perhatian kepada perniagaan syarikat elektroniknya di Petaling Jaya.
  
Allahyarham dianugerahkan pingat Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) yang membawa gelaran Tan Sri pada Jun tahun ini. - Bernama

Perginya seorang lagenda bolasepak... Al-Fatihah

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Sept -- Raja bola, Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat meninggal dunia di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) pada Jumaat akibat komplikasi selepas menjalani pembedahan pintasan jantung di institut itu.

Allahyarham, 77, menjalani pembedahan itu pada Selasa lalu dan menghembuskan nafas terakhir pada 10.34 pagi ini, kata adik iparnya, Datuk Nik Kamaruddin Ismail kepada Bernama, di sini.
Nik Kamaruddin berkata jenazah Allahyarham akan disembahyangkan di masjid Kampung Baru, di sini sebelum dikebumikan selepas solat Jumaat di Tanah Perkuburan Islam USJ 21, Subang Jaya.

Allahyarham Abdul Ghani meninggalkan isteri Puan Sri Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim dan empat anak, dua lelaki dan wanita.

Di zaman kegemilangannya di sekitar tahun 1960-an hingga 1970-an, Allahyarham yang bermain sebagai 'inside forward', merupakan pemain yang licik dan lincah dan sering menggerunkan pihak lawan.


Abd Ghani Minhat (The King of Football)

Born in 1935, Ghani Minhatwas put on the path of professional football by a pair of boots hereceived from Police Officers sometime in 1951. In those days, only professionals wore football bootsand Ghani saw thisas a calling for him to upgrade his skills.

By1952 he had earned a place in thePoliceDepotteam. Thisbecame hisstepping stoneto earning a place on the Selangor squad in theMalaysia (then Malaya)Cup series. The left-winger helped to bring in eight Malaya Cup wins and three Merdeka Football Tournament (“Pestabola Merdeka”) wins. He was also partof thevictorious team in the 1961 SEAP Games (now SEA Games) in Rangoon.

One of the finest forwards ofthe 60s, Ghani’ssuperb skills became evident when he fired a volley from 40 yardsto score a goal against Vietnam atthe inaugural Merdeka Tournament in 1957. Together with fellow team mates Robert Choe and Arthur Koh, hecreated a fearsome attack.

Until today,Ghani cherishes his manyexperiences during hisdaysas Malaysia’s top footballer. One ofhismost invaluable experiences was being sent on attachments to several clubs in England (West Ham United, Arsenal, Spurs) and Germany (Eintracht Frankfurt) in 1962. England’s Cardiff Cityalso offered him a chance to go pro, which he declined, choosing instead to go on a study tour ofEngland and Europe. After hestepped down as a player,the FAM senthim to Japan in 1969,to attend the first FIFA Coaching School for Asian Coaches, earning him hiscoaching license.

In those glory days ofMalaysian football, Ghani Minhat became a household name and displayed a wealth oftalent on the field. But equallyimportant, or perhapsmore so, was hisdetermination,grit and desire to win which really made Dato’ Ghani a shining football star.



ACHIEVEMENTS(HIGHLIGHTS):
As Athlete 1952 -Represented the Police Depot in the Selangor League
1955 -Represented Selangor in the Malaya Cup
1956 -Champions ofMalaya Cup (after 6 year draught)
1957 -Inaugural Merdeka Football Tournament [Champions (scored a goal from 40m)]
1959-60 - Merdeka Football Tournament [Champions]
1960 -Scored 34 goalsin 9 matches(record)
1961 -SEAP Games [Gold medal]
1962 -Attachment with clubsin England and Germany
1968 -Malaysia Cup [Champions]

Nicol dianugerah Mejar Kehormat TUDM

RATU skuasy negara dan pemain nombor satu dunia, Datuk Nicol Ann David dianugerah pangkat Mejar Kehormat Pasukan Simpanan Sukarela Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM), semalam.
Pemakaian pangkat itu dilakukan oleh Panglima TUDM Jeneral Tan Sri Rodzali Daud pada majlis di Wisma Pertahanan, Jalan Semarak.

Nicol tidak pernah menyangka akan dianugerah pangkat itu dan berharap anugerah itu menjadi pendorong mencatat lebih banyak kejayaan.
“Saya ingin merakam setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada Jeneral Tan Sri Rodzali dan TUDM kerana diberi penghormatan menerima anugerah ini dan berharap ia menjadi pendorong kepada saya untuk meraih lebih banyak gelaran tahun ini,” katanya.

Nicol akan meneruskan latihan di Amsterdam, Belanda di bawah bimbingan jurulatih dari Australia, Liz Irving.

“Musim kedua kejohanan skuasy baru saja bermula dan saya akan bertanding dalam beberapa kejohanan seperti Terbuka Carol Weymuller di New York, Terbuka China, Kejohanan Berpasukan Dunia di Perancis dan Terbuka Dunia di Cayman Island,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Rodzali berkata, Nicol menjadi atlet pertama dianugerah pangkat itu dan dia sememangnya layak menerimanya selepas melakar banyak kejayaan dalam kejohanan skuasy antarabangsa.

Nicol adalah atlet kedua dianugerah pangkat seperti itu selepas Datuk Lee Chong Wei yang dianugerah pangkat Leftenan Komander Kehormat oleh Pasukan Simpanan Sukarela Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, Julai lalu.

Nicol made honorary major of RMAF

KUALA LUMPUR: National squash queen and the world’s No. 1 player Datuk Nicol David was yesterday accorded a honorary major of the Royal Malaysian Air Forces (RMAF) Volunteer Reserve.
She received her insignia from RMAF chief Jen Tan Sri Rodzali Daud at Wisma Pertahanan in Jalan Semarak, here.

Nicol said she had never thought she would be receiving the prestigious award, and hoped it would spur her to achieve more success in the coming squash tournaments.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Jen Tan Sri Rodzali and the RMAF for honouring me with this prestigious award,” an elated Nicol told reporters after the function.
Nicol said she would continue her training under Australian Liz Irving in Amsterdam, Holland.
“The season has just started and I will compete in a few tournaments such as the Carol Weymuller Open in New York, China Open, World Team Championship in France and World Open in Cayman Islands,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rodzali, said Nicol was the first athlete to be conferred with such an award because she really deserved it as she had achieved numerous successes at international squash tournaments. “She (Nicol) represents our youths in our country today and she has inspired our youth and our workforce (RMAF) to be like her. She has shown great dedication and hard work, besides a never-say-die attitude to become world champion in squash,” he added.

Rodzali said RMAF hoped that the award would spur more youths in the country to join the air force, and also hoped that the future generation would emulate the hard work and dedication showed by Nicol in achieving success.

National men’s shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei was earlier awarded the honorary lieutenant commander rank by the Royal Malaysian Navy Volunteer Reserve last July. — Bernama

Yakeb Salur Bantuan Kepada Datuk M. Chandran Dan D. Nadarajan

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Sept (Bernama) -- Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) akan menanggung sepenuhnya kos rawatan dan rawatan susulan kepada bekas pemain bola sepak kebangsaan Datuk M Chandran yang baharu pulih daripada serangan angin ahmar.

Yakeb, dalam satu kenyataan Rabu, berkata Chandran yang diserang angin ahmar Julai lepas, masih dalam keadaan lemah serta memerlukan bantuan kerusi roda untuk bergerak dan kini menjalani rawatan fisioterapi seminggu sekali di Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur.

Beberapa bekas pemain bola sepak seperti Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat, Reduan Abdullah, Datuk Khaidir Buyong, Zulkifli Norbit dan Kamarulzaman Yussoff menziarah beliau di kediamannya di Ampang Jaya, semalam.

"Saya sebenarnya terkejut, ia satu perasaan yang tidak dapat saya gambarkan apabila menerima lawatan daripada rakan-rakan yang sudah lama tidak bertemu, gembira dan tersentuh apabila mendapat tahu bahawa mereka mengambil tahu tentang keadaan saya.

"Tan Sri (Ghani) seperti biasa suka bergurau dan kenakan saya. Zulkifli pernah main bersama saya, Khaidir pernah dilatih saya, kami berborak, bercerita tentang kisah-kisah lama, ia cukup menyeronokkan apabila dapat berjumpa seperti ini, mengembalikan nostalgia silam," kata Chandran.

Former Olympian Randir passes away

HOCKEY stalwart and former Olympian, Randir Singh, passed away on Sept 15, leaving behind memories of a disciplinarian for those who were coached by him.

Randir represented the country in the 1972 Munich Olympics, where Malaysia finished eighth from 16 teams. He was a midfielder, and the army man is fondly remembered by veteran coach C. Paramalingam.

"He played alongside the likes of Khairuddin Zainal, Takbir Ahmad, A. Belvantheran, N. Sri Shanmuganathan and Brian Sta Maria in the Munich Olympics.

"And he was also the assistant coach during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The thing I remember most about him is that he was a disciplinarian who, in his coaching days, was responsible for making the LA team physically at their best," said Paramalingam.

After Randir retired as a Warrant Officer I, he ventured into business in Klang.

"We used to meet occasionally after he retired from the army and talked about how he made the players run up the Sungai Besi hill (high gradient) where all the players would complain and struggle to finish.
"But later on, they thanked him for the physical training which made them better players," said Paramalingam.

Demise of Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH, OCM Honorary Life President & IOC Honorary Member in Malaysia

It is with deep regret that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) announces the demise of Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH, today at the age of 88.

Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH, who was once the Sports Minister of Malaysia had contributed greatly towards the Olympic Movement in Malaysia. 

He was the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1976 to 1998 and further served as the Honorary Life President from 1998 to 2012. He was elected as an IOC Member in 1978 before becoming an IOC Honorary Member in 2004. 

He had held several important portfolios regionally such as Honorary Life President of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (1977-2012), Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1986), Vice President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (1982-1988), Vice President of the Islamic Solidarity Sport Federation (1985-1994) and Vice President of the General Association of the Asian Sports Federation (1988-1998).

As a great Football enthusiast, Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH also played a key role in promoting Football in Malaysia and internationally. 

He was President of the Football Association of Malaysia (1976-1983), President of the Asian Football Confederation (1978-1994), Vice President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (1982-1990) and Honorary Executive Member of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (1990-2012). Besides that, he also served as President of the Malaysian Cricket Association (1969-1990) and President of the Malaysia Taekwondo Association (1987-1999).

Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH’s demise leaves a void in the Olympic Movement and a great loss to the sporting world.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia expresses its deepest condolences to Tan Sri Hamzah ABU SAMAH’s family and may his soul rest in peace. Al-Fatihah.



- Biography
- Hall of Fame
- IOC Member
- Arkib Negara
- Bernama (ENG)
- Bernama (BM)

Hamzah's Demise A Big Loss For Malaysia - Zolkples

LONDON, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has lost a sports icon following the death Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, said National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.

"His passing is a huge loss for Malaysian sports. During his lifetime, Tan Sri Hamzah was an influential figure in the sports world.

"He was also highly respected locally and worldwide. His loss is also very sentimental for the NSC because it was through him that the NSC was created," he told Bernama here.

According to Zolkples, the NSC was the brainchild of Hamzah when the latter held the post of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1971 till 1973.

Hamzah, a National sports icon and Olympic Council of Malaysia's Honorary Life President, passed away at 3.30pm today at his house in Staffield Country Resort, Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, due to old age.

Tan Sri Hamzah – the face of Malaysian sports

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the country’s iconic sports leader Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah passed away yesterday but he will be distinctively remembered for laying the foundations for Malaysia’s sporting excellence.

The soft-spoken Hamzah passed away at 3.30pm due to old age. He was 88.
His demise was met with sadness as the Malaysian sports fraternity reminisced about his great leadership qualities, popularity and friendly nature during his time as a remarkable sports administrator over the past six decades.

Fatherly figure: Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah (left) congratulating Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar after the OCM elections in 1998. Tunku Imran beat Hamzah for the presidency.

 

He had held every important position in sports, from Sports Minister to the president of five major sports bodies – the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Asian Football Federation (AFC), Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) and Malaysia Taekwondo Association (MTA).

He was also the vice-president of FIFA and an honorary Inter-national Olympic Committee (IOC) member.
OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar described the late Hamzah as “the face of Malaysian sports”.

“He was one of the high profile people in sports and also very popular at the international level. Even now, members of the IOC will be asking about him ... he surely made an impression,” said Tunku Imran, who is also the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

“He was the one who brought me into the OCM and supported me. He gave me a position of responsibility. I was his deputy in the cricket association. He was almost like a father figure to me.
“My father and the late Tan Sri Hamzah were good friends and studied at the Malay College. They used to play squash, tennis and football – a very athletic man he was.”

Another sports icon, Tan Sri Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, said that Malaysian sports enjoyed one of its best years under Hamzah’s leadership as OCM president.

“Under him, both football and hockey qualified for the Olympic Games in 1970s,” said former top Asian sprinter Jegathesan.

“He was clearly a sports leader and was very passionate about football and cricket. His long record in leading different sports organisations is commendable. He gave a lot of focus on development and we are now enjoying the foundation that was laid under his stewardship.”

Jegathesan said he would be always indebted to Hamzah too.

Hamzah was the man behind Jegathesan’s involvement in sports administration when the former athlete was considering devoting full attention to his career in medicine.

“The late Tan Sri played a pivotal role in encouraging me to go into sports administration and led me to hold a position in the doping committee after my retirement. He came looking for me when I was a doctor at the general hospital. The rest was history,” said Jegathesan, who then accompanied Hamzah to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich as the team doctor.

Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) secretary Chan Foong Keong recalled an incident when Hamzah helped him out of a predicament.

“It was in 1972 and he was the Sports Minister then. We were hosting the first ever non-Chinese table tennis championships in Malaysia but we could not find a venue to cater for 300 participants,” said Foong Keong.

“But Tan Sri Hamzah was kind and friendly. He did not turn me down when I approached him. He allowed us to use Stadium Negara for a meagre fee of RM100 per day. He was an understanding leader, indeed.”