2 Oktober 1971 – Malaysia Layak ke Sukan Olimpik
Di Kelayakan Olimpik 1972 (Rantau Asia), Malaysia berada dalam Kumpulan 1 bersama Korea Selatan, Jepun, Filipina dan China. Pada masa itu, pasukan Jepun dan Korea Selatan merupakan pasukan pilihan untuk mara ke Sukan Olimpik. Namun, tidak ramai yang menjangka apa yang seterusnya berlaku.
Pada perlawanan pertama, semua pemerhati bola sepak tersentak dengan kemenangan 3–0 Malaysia ke atas pemenang pingat gangsa Olimpik 1968, Japan. Terdapat pelbagai laporan yang mengatakan sama ada Looi Loon Teik menjaringkan gol kedua atau ia sebenarnya hat-trik daripada Syed Ahmad.
Menurut Looi Loon Teik, Syed Ahmad sememangnya yang menjaringkan ketiga-tiga gol untuk memastikan kemenangan mereka.
Malaysia mengejutkan penonton sekali lagi dengan kemenangan 1-0 atas pesaing lama mereka, Korea Selatan. Ini merupakan kali pertama Malaysia mengalahkan Korea Selatan di tanah Korea sendiri.
Gol tunggal semestinya datang daripada wira pasukan, Syed Ahmad, selepas hantaran cantik Looi Loon Teik dari sudut kanan. Pemain pertahanan Malaysia juga harus menerima pujian tinggi setelah berjaya mengawal pintu gol daripada dibolosi Korea Selatan sehingga wisel penamat dibunyikan.
Menurut penolong pengurus pasukan, P. Velappan, pasukan negara harus kekal yakin kerana Harimau Malaya telah menewaskan dua pasukan kuat dan akan berdepan dua pasukan yang lebih lemah.
Walaupun mereka hanya memerlukan satu lagi kemenangan, Malaysia terus meraih kejayaan besar dengan mengalahkan Republik China (3-0; Liu Chen Kuo 23’ [OG], Salleh Ibrahim 42’, Looi Loon Teik 45’) dan Filipina (5-0; Wong Choon Wah 20’, Looi Loon Teik 36’ 67’, Syed Ahmad 44’, Mohamad Bakar 80’).
Dianggap sebagai ‘kuda hitam’ kejohanan Pra-Olimpik, Malaysia sudah pastinya membuktikan bahawa mereka sememangnya layak untuk melakar nama di pentas Olimpik. Syed Ahmad mendahului senarai “Best Eleven” kejohanan, yang dipilih oleh akhbar Korea Selatan. Dua lagi pemain Malaysia juga dimasukan iaitu Wong Kam Fook dan M. Chandran.
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October 2, 1971 – Malaysia Qualifies for the Olympic Games
Malaysia was in Group 1 at the 1972 Olympic Asian Qualifiers with South Korea, Japan, Philippines and China. Early reports already placed Japan and South Korea as favourites to advance to the Games. No one predicted what happened next.
In the first match of the tournament, Malaysia delivered a big upset after defeating Olympic bronze medalists Japan, 3-0. There are many conflicting reports on whether Looi Loon Teik scored the second goal or that it was a hat-trick by Syed Ahmad. According to Loon Teik, Syed Ahmad indeed scored all three goals to ensure their victory.
Malaysia continued to shock spectators with a 1-0 victory over long-time rivals, South Korea. This was the first time Malaysia had defeated the Koreans on their own soil.
The sole goal came from the team’s hero Syed Ahmad, after a strategic pass from Looi Loon Teik from the right corner. Malaysia’s defence should also receive high praise for keeping South Korea away from the goalmouth until the final whistle blew.
According to assistant manager P. Velappan, the national team should remain confident as they have defeated two strong teams and now face two weaker teams. While only needing one more win, Malaysia settled for more as they took out Republic of China (3-0; Liu Chen Kuo 23’ [OG], Salleh Ibrahim 42’, Looi Loon Teik 45’) and the Philippines (5-0; Wong Choon Wah 20’, Looi Loon Teik 36’ 67’, Syed Ahmad 44’, Mohamad Bakar 80’).
Considered as the “dark horse” of the tournament, Malaysia certainly proved themselves worthy of the Olympic stage. Syed Ahmad topped the list of the tournament’s Best Eleven. Selected by the Korean press, two more Malaysian players were included – Wong Kam Fook and M. Chandran.
