Former Malaysian striker Isa Bakar (left) in action during a World Cup qualifying match against Thailand at the Singapore National Stadium in 1978.
FOOTBALL fans in Penang can look forward to yet another trip down memory lane tomorrow.
Former greats will take centre stage again when they meet for the annual North-South showdown.
Ex-National and Ex-State Players Association president Lee Soon Huat, whose love and passion for football has kept him in close contact with the former greats for the last 22 years, has again brought them together for what promises to be another mouthwatering clash.
The clash brings back familiar faces like former national maestro Shukor Salleh, Namat Abdullah, notorious hitman Isa Bakar and Wong Choon Wah.
Former Malaysian skippers Datuk M. Chandran and Datuk Soh Chin Aun, the ‘ towkay ’, will also be playing in the match.
Match co-ordinator Robert Toong confirmed that fans in Penang would get even more than they had bargained for when the annual match kicks off at the Chinese Recreation Club ground on Sunday.
“ Many of the renowned players, who struggled in the past to make it to our annual do, have also confirmed their attendance, ” Toong said.
They include former national goalkeepers Chow Chee Keong and Wong Hee Kok.
“ I am confident that with such a strong field of players, this year’s clash will be a big treat for fans both old and young, ” he said.
The clash has also lured Penang’s other greats like Soo Toh Kim Poh, Koet King Heyong, Looi Loon Teik, Lim Fung Kee, Syed Ahmad and Mat Zan Mat Aris.
Namat will double up as the team manager for the North.
Choon Wah will be the manager of the South team.
The teams :
North : K. Gunasegaran, Looi Loon Teik, Ng Chew Beng, Koet King Heyong (Kedah), Namat Abdullah, Shukor Salleh, S. Muraliraj, Isa Bakar, A. Rukkumaran, Teoh Choon Kheng, Soo Toh Kim Poh (Penang) and Wong Hee Kok (Perak).
South : Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Wong Choon Wah, K. Gunalan, Reduan Abdullah, K. Gunasegaran, Kassim Abdul-lah, Kamarul Zaman, Lim Fung Kee (Selangor), Chow Siew Yai, Mat Zan Mat Aris, Razip Ismail, Chow Chee Keong, Tan Cheng Lee, Syed Ahmad and Tan Cheng Lee (Kuala Lumpur).
MUMTAZ (kiri) bersama Ghani Minhat (tengah) ketika melakukan kunjungan ke rumah bekas pemain bola sepak negara, Yusoff Bakar di Alor Setar, Kedah semalam.
DUA bekas atlet kebangsaan, petinju sekitar tahun 70-an, Sharif Ali, 67, dan pemain bola sepak, Yusoff Bakar, 75, dikunjungi pegawai-pegawai Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) diketuai Pengerusi Eksekutifnya, Datuk Dr. Mumtaz Jaffar malam kelmarin.
" Kami datang melawat mereka untuk memberi suntikan semangat dan sumbangan kepada yang sedang sakit. Saya lihat mereka ceria menerima kunjungan kami, " kata Mumtaz ketika ditemui di rumah Yusoff di Taman Syed Mohamed di Alor Setar.
Turut hadir ialah Raja Bola, Datuk Abdul Ghani Minhat; bekas pemain negara, Khalid Ali ; bekas pelari pecut, Datuk M. Rajamani ; bekas jaguh bina badan, Datuk Malek Noor dan bekas pemain badminton, Rashid Sidek.
Mumtaz juga meminta atlet-atlet supaya mendaftar dengan Yakeb supaya kebajikan mereka terjaga dan bagi memudahkan bantuan disalurkan.
Katanya, Yakeb sukar membantu bekas atlet yang tidak mendaftar apabila mereka memohon bantuan.
Yusoff pula melahirkan rasa terharu dengan kunjungan rakan-rakan atlet untuk melihat keadaan beliau yang menghidap penyakit gout.
" Saya anggap ini penghargaan bermakna kerana selepas bersara daripada bola sepak, masih berpeluang bertemu rakan-rakan lama, " katanya.
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Post time 19-7-2010 06:28 PM
