Soon Mustafa

Soon Mustafa bin Karim, yang dilahirkan pada 22 Mei 1963, merupakan anak bongsu daripada tiga adik-beradik. Beliau mula menceburi dunia hoki dari usia remaja dan terpilih untuk menyertai Kem Bakat pada usia 15 tahun.

Pertama kali beliau mewakili Malaysia adalah di Piala Dunia Remaja 1982, yang diadakan di Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia menduduki tempat ke-4 dalam kejohanan tersebut selepas tewas 0–10 dalam perlawanan terakhir menentang Pakistan. Soon Mustafa menjaringkan satu gol semasa perlawanan peringkat kumpulan menentang Pakistan, sebelum ia berakhir 2–2.

Soon Mustafa dipanggil untuk menyertai setiap kejohanan sejak itu, termasuk Piala Asia 1982 di Karachi, di mana Malaysia menduduki tempat ke-4 dan Sukan Asia 1982. Malaysia berjaya membawa pulang pingat gangsa. Malangnya, beliau tidak diturunkan untuk dua perlawanan Sukan SEA Singapura 1983 akibat demam kuning. Namun begitu, beliau tidak pernah menjadi pemain gantian.

Soon Mustafa turut membantu Malaysia layak ke Piala Dunia Remaja ke-3 di Kanada. Walau bagaimanapun, beliau tidak dapat bermain di pusingan akhir pada tahun 1985 kerana telah melebihi had umur.

Anak Kuala Lumpur ini mula melakar nama atas pentas dunia yang lebih besar. Pada tahun 1984, pasukan hoki negara Malaysia layak ke Sukan Olimpik Los Angeles. Malaysia terletak dalam Kumpulan A bersama Australia, Jerman Barat, India, Sepanyol dan tuan rumah Amerika Syarikat dan menduduki tempat ke-11 keseluruhan.

Sebelum berlepas ke Sukan Asia 1990 di Beijing, Malaysia di bawah bimbingan Terry Walsh, jurulatih yang baru dilantik dari Australia. Di sana, Soon Mustafa membantu pasukan membawa pulang pingat gangsa. Kejayaan tersebut meningkatkan keyakinan mereka membuat persiapan untuk Sukan Olimpik Barcelona 1992.

Setelah Malaysia menduduki tempat ke-4 di Kelayakan Olimpik Asia di New Zealand, Soon Mustafa dalam perjalanan ke Sukan Olimpik keduanya. Malaysia layak dengan memenangi empat perlawanan berturut-turut dalam kumpulan mereka. Di Barcelona pula, ​​Malaysia menduduki tempat ke-9, dua anak tangga lebih tinggi daripada percubaan mereka sebelum ini.

Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1993 merupakan kejohanan utama terakhir untuk Soon Mustafa sebelum beliau bersara daripada sukan hoki. Malangnya, Malaysia tidak mara ke acara utama di Sydney setelah menduduki tempat ke-8, dengan hanya enam pasukan yang boleh layak.

Soon Mustafa merupakan seorang pemain yang gigih dalam sukan yang digemarinya sejak kecil. Bakat dan usaha beliau membawa pencapaian yang terbaik sepanjang karier. Semoga kejayaan dan pengorbanan beliau menjadi inspirasi kepada semua. 

(Kredit foto: Dunia Sukan)

#LegasiLagenda
#LegasiLegendaDikenangYangKiniDijulang
#SukanSatukanMalaysia
#MuziumSukanMalaysia
#MuziumHarimauMalaya

//

Born on May 22, 1963, Soon Mustafa bin Karim is the youngest of three siblings. He jumped into the world of hockey as a teenager and was selected to join the National Hockey Talent Camp at the age of 15. 

He made his first international appearance for Malaysia at the 1982 Junior World Cup, held in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia placed 4th in the championship after a grueling last match with Pakistan, where they lost 0–10. In an earlier match against Pakistan, Soon Mustafa scored one of the goals before it ended 2–2. 

Soon Mustafa was called up for every tournament from then on, including the 1982 Asia Cup in Karachi, where Malaysia placed 4th and the 1982 Asian Games, where Malaysia brought home the bronze medal. His streak of uninterrupted international appearances continued until he unfortunately had to miss two matches at the 1983 Singapore SEA Games due to yellow fever. Nevertheless, he was always in the starting line-up and was never a substitute. 

Soon Mustafa also helped Malaysia qualify for the 3rd Junior World Cup in Canada. However, he could not play in the final round in 1985 as he exceeded the age limit for the tournament. 

The boy from Kuala Lumpur was a part of something bigger now. In 1984, Malaysia’s national hockey team qualified for the LA Olympic Games. Malaysia was in Group A with Australia, West Germany, India, Spain and hosts USA and placed 11th overall. 

Malaysia was under the tutelage of Terry Walsh – a newly-appointed coach from Australia – before they left for the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. Soon Mustafa helped the team bag the bronze medal, boosting their confidence as they started preparing for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. 

Finishing fourth at the Asian qualifiers in New Zealand, Soon Mustafa was on his way to his second Olympic Games. Malaysia qualified by winning four games straight within their group. In Barcelona, Malaysia placed 9th, two spots higher than their previous attempt. 

The 1993 World Cup qualifiers was the last major tournament for Soon Mustafa before he retired from the sport. Unfortunately, Malaysia did not advance to the main event in Sydney as they placed 8th, with only six teams qualifying. 

Soon Mustafa was a passionate player in a sport he had loved since a young age. His talent and drive led him to accomplish only the best in his career. We hope that his successes and sacrifices become an inspiration to all. 

(Photo credit: Dunia Sukan)