Datuk Ahmad Basri Mohd Akil was the man credited with the rise of Kedah football.
And Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor has described the demise of his mentor, who had held the posts of vice-president of the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and deputy president of the Kedah FA, as a big loss to state and the nation.
“Datuk Basri was a person who devoted his entire life to football. I feel devastated over the loss as it was him who gave me the opportunity to lead the state team in 2004. His death has left a void in Kedah football ... we have lost a father figure,” said Azraai yesterday.
“As an advisor to the team, he still had unfulfilled ambitions for Kedah and had been waiting for the lifting of his suspension from holding official football positions.”
Basri's drive and outspoken ways to improve the state of Malaysian football had often landed him in hot water with the FAM. He was suspended for three years from holding any official football positions in 2006, forcing him to relinquish the post of Kedah manager.
Basri was credited with setting the groundwork for Kedah's rise to the top in Malaysian football twice – the first in the early 90s and the second wave four years ago, which culminated with the Canaries bagging the treble last year.
A minute of silence was observed before the start of Malaysia Cup match between Kedah and Sabah at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star last night as a mark of respect for a man who was very popular with the Kedah fans and regarded as the “father of Kedah football”.
News from The Star.
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