Today, it’s been 18 years we lost him, the greatest footballer of all time that Malaysia ever had, Mokhtar Dahari or better known as SuperMokh. He was stricken by a related neuro-degenerative disease and tragically died in 1991 at the age of just 37.
After 18 years, none of our footballer ever comes close to him. Sometime last ten years, I am putting hope that Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli will emulate Mokhtar Dahari success. But after returning to Malaysia from his French stint, he was hit by series of injuries and now he just a normal player playing for Kuala Muda Naza. He have lost his pace, first touch and ala ‘Ronaldo’ 180 degree turn to score goal. Compare to Mokhtar Dahari, he still running, kicking and scoring goal at the age of 32 years old with Selangor when he won his last Malaysia Cup in 1986.
Mokhtar Dahari won 10 Malaysia Cup. A record that never been broke by any player after his era. He starts to play as early as 19 years old with Selangor and in his first season he got his first international cap against Sri Lanka in 1972. Since then, he keeps representing Malaysia and Stadium Merdeka is like his second home. He holds 167 caps and score 125 goals for Malaysia. At the moment I don’t think there is any player that scores more than 50 goals for Malaysia during their career.
A most notable goal in his two goals in the match against Arsenal. He was rumoured to have been offered a chance to play for the Gunners on the back of that performance, but chose to stay in Malaysia, where he later scored a fabulous goal against Bobby Robson’s England “B” in 1978, and took on Diego Maradona and Boca Juniors in 1982.
In 1970’s era, he was the best football player in Asia. Mokhtar Dahari is well known for his shot and national goalkeeper, late R. Arumugan broke three of his fingers while trying to stop his shot. Amazing fact that can easily scare any opponent to play against Mokhtar Dahari.
We are still missing him after 18 years; will Malaysia ever create another Mokhtar Dahari? Only time will tell. And I can’t imagine how sad Mokhtar Dahari to see our football standard if he still alive. And as Malaysian, please recite Al-Fatihah for him.
Al-Fatihah
Mungkin bolasepak zaman sekarang ni dah terlalu berorientasikan duit dan bisnes... Tak dinafikan, mmg perlukan duit utk memajukan lagi industri bolasepak tapi jgn sampai terlalu bergantung kpd duit...
Masalahnya, mcm mana nak dpt sponsor yg kuat dan sumber kewangan yang kukuh melalui kutipan penonton ke stadium dan jualan brg-brg souvenir jika tahap permainan terlalu mengecewakan..? Baik di tahap kelab-kelab, pasukan negeri, mahupun pasukan negara..
Segan tgk bolasepak di Malaysia ni apabila dibandingkan dengan negara-negara lain.. Jgnkan nak bertanding di Piala Dunia, Sukan SEA pun tak tentu lagi dapat masuk suku akhir...