IT was the Malaysia Cup Final 1968. Two arch-rivals during the 1960s, Selangor and Penang, were in the final, and in the end, Selangor triumphed.
However, what many of us forgot on that eventful day in 1968 was the scoring prowess of a young man who scored four goals in a Malaysia Cup final and that record has yet to be broken after 45 years!
That man is none other than national and Selangor football legend, Thanabalan Nadarajah or better known as N. Thanabalan .
Thanabalan first represented the country when he was 17 years old at the 1960 Asian Youth tournament and later graduated to the senior team from 1963 to 1971.
He had earned 107 caps playing for the country and was a nippy and skilful striker that put fear in opponents’ heart.
In the 1968 Merdeka tournament that Malaysia won 3–0 in the final against then Asian powerhouse Burma (now known as Myanmar), Thanabalan scored a total of eight goals in six matches.
Not many knew the extreme passion Thanabalan had for the game. He played the 1968 Medeka tournament final on the eve of his wedding day.
In fact, the next day at the wedding reception, Datuk Harun Idris, the manager of the victorious Malaysian team, had this to say to Thanabalan’s new bride, “take good care of our national property.”
As a national player, Thanabalan had represented Malaysia at the Merdeka Tournament, SEAP Games, Asian Games, Kings Cup in Thailand and Vietnam Cup.
He also represented Malaysia in friendly matches against Arsenal FC, Asian All Stars and the Western Australian team.
Thanabalan was certainly a national hero. He played alongside legends of that era such as Stanley Gabrielle, Chow Chee Keong, Wong Choon Wah, Abdullah Nordin, Wong Fook Yong, Sardar Khan, Ibrahim Mydin, Namat Abdullah, Shaharuddin Abdullah and M. Chandran.
In fact, the next generation of Malaysian football legends such as Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Santokh Singh, Datuk Shukor Saleh and the late Mokhtar Dahari and R. Arumugam were waiting in the wings while admiring the skills and prowess of Thanabalan.
Did we forget to acknowledge the contributions of Thanabalan? Yes we have!
For all his sacrifices for the country and the state of Selangor, he was awarded with an AMP from the Ruler of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, and more recently an AIS from the Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah, while many of his juniors have been awarded Datukship.
It is embarrassing and an insult for a legend of his status to be completely ignored!
After his playing days, Thanabalan continued to be involved in football with the youths and got himself involved with club sides such as Kilat Club, TPCA FC and Sentul Indian Rangers.
He was also one of the founding members of the Ex-State & Ex-National Footballers’ Association of Malaysia.
He currently holds the post of vice-president in the association that focusses on the welfare of its members who are mostly ex-state and ex-national football players.
He has been the livewire of the association and contributes his time and energy willingly for the benefit of its members.
Thanabalan is past 70 years old this year and it would be a most momentous day for the association if the services and sacrifices of this national football hero is acknowledged and awarded with a Datukship.
Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Letters/2013/09/25/Thanabalan-the-forgotten-hero.aspx
However, what many of us forgot on that eventful day in 1968 was the scoring prowess of a young man who scored four goals in a Malaysia Cup final and that record has yet to be broken after 45 years!
That man is none other than national and Selangor football legend, Thanabalan Nadarajah or better known as N. Thanabalan .
Thanabalan first represented the country when he was 17 years old at the 1960 Asian Youth tournament and later graduated to the senior team from 1963 to 1971.
He had earned 107 caps playing for the country and was a nippy and skilful striker that put fear in opponents’ heart.
In the 1968 Merdeka tournament that Malaysia won 3–0 in the final against then Asian powerhouse Burma (now known as Myanmar), Thanabalan scored a total of eight goals in six matches.
Not many knew the extreme passion Thanabalan had for the game. He played the 1968 Medeka tournament final on the eve of his wedding day.
In fact, the next day at the wedding reception, Datuk Harun Idris, the manager of the victorious Malaysian team, had this to say to Thanabalan’s new bride, “take good care of our national property.”
As a national player, Thanabalan had represented Malaysia at the Merdeka Tournament, SEAP Games, Asian Games, Kings Cup in Thailand and Vietnam Cup.
He also represented Malaysia in friendly matches against Arsenal FC, Asian All Stars and the Western Australian team.
Thanabalan was certainly a national hero. He played alongside legends of that era such as Stanley Gabrielle, Chow Chee Keong, Wong Choon Wah, Abdullah Nordin, Wong Fook Yong, Sardar Khan, Ibrahim Mydin, Namat Abdullah, Shaharuddin Abdullah and M. Chandran.
In fact, the next generation of Malaysian football legends such as Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Santokh Singh, Datuk Shukor Saleh and the late Mokhtar Dahari and R. Arumugam were waiting in the wings while admiring the skills and prowess of Thanabalan.
Did we forget to acknowledge the contributions of Thanabalan? Yes we have!
For all his sacrifices for the country and the state of Selangor, he was awarded with an AMP from the Ruler of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, and more recently an AIS from the Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah, while many of his juniors have been awarded Datukship.
It is embarrassing and an insult for a legend of his status to be completely ignored!
After his playing days, Thanabalan continued to be involved in football with the youths and got himself involved with club sides such as Kilat Club, TPCA FC and Sentul Indian Rangers.
He was also one of the founding members of the Ex-State & Ex-National Footballers’ Association of Malaysia.
He currently holds the post of vice-president in the association that focusses on the welfare of its members who are mostly ex-state and ex-national football players.
He has been the livewire of the association and contributes his time and energy willingly for the benefit of its members.
Thanabalan is past 70 years old this year and it would be a most momentous day for the association if the services and sacrifices of this national football hero is acknowledged and awarded with a Datukship.
Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Letters/2013/09/25/Thanabalan-the-forgotten-hero.aspx
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