Bersama Legenda – Soh Chin Ann, Rahim Abdullah, Wong Kuw Fou
Legasi Lagenda ke Melaka untuk bertemu dengan legenda bola sepak negara dan bekas ketua pasukan Harimau Malaya, Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann.
Bersama kami ke kediaman Chin Ann ialah rakan sepasukan beliau di Sukan Olimpik Munich’ 1972, Rahim Abdullah. Pemain sayap kanan ini juga pernah menjadi jurulatih pasukan kebangsaan yang menentang pasukan England pada tahun 1991 di mana pasukan negara tewas 2–4.
Banyak perkongsian antara mereka berdua semasa perjumpaan itu. Cerita pahit manis di dalam dan luar padang. Chin Ann masih lagi bermain bola sepak untuk pertandingan amal. “Saya jaga kecergasan dengan bersenam. Saya masih lari 30 minit atas mesin itu,” kata Chin Ann sambil menunjuk ‘treadmill’ yang berada di hujung ruangan.
Setelah lebih 3 jam berada di rumah Chin Ann, kami menuju ke restoran untuk makanan tengah hari. Semua itu diatur oleh seorang lagi bekas pemain kebangsaan, Wong Kuw Fou.
Memang rancak perbualan sambil menikmati juadah yang ditempah oleh Kuw Fou. Beliau pernah bersama Chin Ann dalam pasukan negara yang memenangi pingat gangsa di Sukan Asia Teheran 1974.
“Kuw Fou bukan sahaja fasih Bahasa Melayu, tapi pandai cakap Tamil,” kata Rahim Abdullah. Kuw Fou menjelaskan bahawa beliau dibesarkan di kawasan estet dan mempunyai ramai kawan berbangsa India.
Beliau juga rapat dengan Chin Ann dari zaman persekolahan lagi. “Saya sering ke rumah Chin Ann setelah pulang dari sekolah dan sebelah petang kami ke padang untuk bermain bola sepak,” kata beliau.
Jelas terbukti persahabatan antara ketiga-tiga mereka yang terjalin sejak lebih 50 tahun dahulu masih akrab hingga ke hari ini.
Kami ingin merakamkan ucapan ribuan terima kasih kepada mereka bertiga – Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann, Rahim Abdullah dan Wong Kuw Fou. Segala perkongsian mereka terpahat dalam #ArkibLegasiLagenda.
Terima kasih yang istimewa kepada Towkay yang membelanja kami makan.
#LegasiLagenda
#LegasiLegendaDikenangYangKiniDijulang
#SukanSatukanMalaysia
#MuziumSukanMalaysia
#MuziumHarimauMalaya
#harimaumalaya
Among Legends – Soh Chin Ann, Rahim Abdullah, Wong Kuw Fou
Legasi Lagenda headed to Melaka to meet up with national football legend and former Harimau Malaya captain, Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann.
Accompanying us to Chin Ann’s house was his teammate during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Rahim Abdullah. The right winger was also coach of the national team that played against England in 1991, losing 2–4 to the visitors.
Much was shared during our visit, including bittersweet stories of when they were on and off the field.
Chin Ann still plays football for charity matches. “I keep fit by exercising. I can still run for 30 minutes on that machine,” he said while pointing to the treadmill on the other side of the room.
After more than three hours at Chin Ann’s house, we all went out for lunch. It was arranged by another former national player, Wong Kuw Fou.
We had a lively conversation while enjoying the food ordered by Kuw Fou, who was with Chin Ann in the national team that won the bronze medal at the 1974 Tehran Asian Games.
“Kuw Fou is not only fluent in Malay, but he also speaks Tamil very well,” Rahim Abdullah told us. Kuw Fou explained that he grew up in an estate area and had many Indian friends. He was also close friends with Chin Ann since his school days.
“I often go to Chin Ann’s house after school and in the afternoon, we would go to the field and play football,” Kuw Fou shared some more.
It is still evident that the friendship established between the three of them more than 50 years ago remains strong to this day.
We would like to sincerely express our gratitude to the three of them – Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann, Rahim Abdullah and Wong Kuw Fou. Everything that was shared by them will be recorded into #ArkibLegasiLagenda.
Special thanks to Towkay for treating us to lunch.
