Salam Takziah – Shaharuddin Abdullah (1948-2023)
Malaysia kehilangan seorang legenda bola sepak pada hari ini. Allahyarham Shaharuddin Abdullah telah menghembus nafas terakhir beliau awal pagi tadi. Legasi Lagenda ingin mengucapkan salam takziah kepada keluarga Allahyarham.
Shaharuddin Abdullah telah banyak berkorban demi mengharumkan nama negara Malaysia di persada dunia. Bersama abangnya Allahyarham Dato’ Namat Abdullah, beliau pernah mewakili Malaysia di Sukan Olimpik Munich 1972.
Shaharuddin merupakan penjaring gol sulung bagi Malaysia di pentas Olimpik apabila menentang Amerika Syarikat. Dua lagi gol Malaysia disumbangkan oleh Salleh Ibrahim dan Wan Zawawi untuk kemenangan 3–0.
Kerjaya bola sepak Shaharuddin Abdullah bermula pada 1965 apabila beliau dipilih untuk menyertai pasukan belia Pulau Pinang di Piala Burnley. Beliau juga menganggotai skuad belia Malaysia dan bermain di Kejohanan Belia Asia 1965, di mana mereka menduduki tempat ketiga. Setelah diserapkan ke dalam pasukan senior Pulau Pinang, beliau berjaya menjulang trofi Piala Malaysia pada tahun 1974.
Diberi gelaran seperti “The Black Cat” dan “Sharpshooter”, Shaharuddin mula bermain untuk pasukan kebangsaan pada 1967. Pada tahun berikutnya, beliau membantu Malaysia memenangi Pestabola Merdeka 1968 – kemenangan pertama mereka dalam lapan tahun – dengan menghasilkan sebiji gol di perlawanan akhir. Beliau juga menjuarai Pestabola Merdeka dua tahun berturut-turut pada tahun 1973 dan 1974.
Kami berharap segala kejayaan and pengorbanan beliau akan sentiasa diingati dan menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi akan datang. Semoga roh Allahyarham dicucuri rahmat Allah SWT dan ditempatkan bersama orang yang beriman.
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Malaysia has lost a national football legend today. The late Shaharuddin Abdullah took his last breath early this morning. Legasi Lagenda wishes to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Allahyarham Shaharuddin Abdullah has sacrificed immensely to bring our nation’s name onto the world stage. Along with his brother, Allahyarham Dato’ Namat Abdullah, he has represented Malaysia at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
He became Malaysia’s first goalscorer at the Olympics when against the USA national team. Two more of Malaysia’s goals were scored by Salleh Ibrahim and Wan Zawawi to secure their 3–0 win.
Shaharuddin Abdullah’s football career began in 1965 when he was selected to join the Penang Youth team for the Burnley Cup. He was also part of Malaysia’s youth team in 1965 and played at the Asian Youth Football Tournament, where they placed 3rd. His accomplishments with the Penang senior team includes lifting the Malaysia Cup trophy in 1974.
Nicknamed “The Black Cat” and “Sharpshooter”, Shaharuddin joined the national team in 1967. The following year, he helped Malaysia win the 1968 Merdeka Tournament – their first win in eight years – by scoring a goal in the final match. He won the Merdeka Tournament twice more with Malaysia in 1973 and 1974.
We hope that all of his sacrifices and successes will always be remembered and become an inspiration for generations ahead. Let us all pray that his soul is showered with Allah SWT’s blessings and for him to be placed among the believers.
