Tahukah Anda? Kapten England dan Harimau Malaysia
Baru-baru ini, pada 1 Februari 2024, bintang bola sepak dan bekas ketua pasukan England, David Beckham bertandang ke Kuala Lumpur untuk melancarkan pameran Adidas, ‘Word of Predator’.
Tahukah anda seorang lagi legenda dan mantan kapten England pernah berkunjung ke Malaysia atas undangan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) pada tahun 1984?
Beliau merupakan Kevin Keegan yang pernah bermain untuk kelab-kelab Eropah termasuk Southampton, Newcastle, Liverpool dan Hamburger SC. Bersama kelab Hamburger SC inilah Keegan mendapat panggilan mesra “Mighty Mouse” daripada kartun superhero terkenal.
Keegan dibawa ke Malaysia oleh FAM untuk membimbing dan bermain bersama pasukan pelapis negara yang diberikan nama Harimau Malaysia. Beliau dikatakan dibayar sebanyak RM150,000. Ini adalah sebahagian daripada usaha FAM pada masa itu untuk mengembalikan kegemilangan Pestabola Merdeka dan menarik penonton ke stadium untuk menyokong pasukan kebangsaan khususnya pasukan muda negara, Harimau Malaysia.
Pada perlawanan pertama menentang Pakistan, Keegan berjaya menjaringkan kedua-dua gol. Keputusan yang dicapai oleh skuad muda negara bersama Keegan di Pestabola Merdeka 1984 adalah seperti berikut:
Harimau Malaysia 2–0 Pakistan
Harimau Malaysia 2–0 Algeria B-20
Harimau Malaysia 0–3 Korea Selatan B-23
Harimau Malaysia 1–1 Primera B XI
Harimau Malaysia 1–1 China B
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England’s captain and Harimau Malaysia
Recently, on February 1, football star and former England captain David Beckham visited Kuala Lumpur to launch the Adidas’ ‘World of Predator’ exhibition.
Did you know that another legend and former England captain has visited Malaysia at the invitation of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in 1984?
It was Kevin Keegan, who has played for European clubs including Southampton, Newcastle, Liverpool and Hamburger SC. It was with the Hamburger SC club that Keegan earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse” from the popular superhero cartoon.
Keegan was invited to Malaysia by FAM to mentor and play alongside the national second team, who were given the name Harimau Malaysia. He is said to have been paid RM150,000. This was part of FAM’s efforts to bring back the glory of the Merdeka Tournament and attract spectators to the stadium and support the national team, especially the developing team, Harimau Malaysia.
In the first match against Pakistan, Keegan managed to score both goals. The results achieved by the national youth squad at the 1984 Merdeka Tournament are as follows:
Harimau Malaysia 2–0 Pakistan
Harimau Malaysia 2–0 Algeria B-20
Harimau Malaysia 0–3 Korea Selatan B-23
Harimau Malaysia 1–1 Primera B XI
Harimau Malaysia 1–1 China B
