Harimau Malaya ke Edisi Pertama Piala Raja Thai πΉπ
Menyaksikan kejayaan Pestabola Merdeka, negara-negara di Asia mula berminat untuk menyaingi pertandingan berprestij itu dengan kejohanan mereka sendiri. Pada tahun 1968, Thailand mengadakan kejohanan bola sepak antarabangsa jemputan pertama mereka, iaitu Piala Raja Thai.
Persatuan Bolasepak Thailand membuat keputusan untuk menganjurkan kejohanan tersebut sempena sambutan hari lahir Raja Thailand pada 5 Disember.
Edisi pertama Piala Raja Thai diadakan dari 20 November hingga 2 Disember 1968, bermula dengan peringkat pengagihan kumpulan antara enam negara yang menyertai kejohanan: Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Burma dan Singapura.
Pada 24 November, Malaysia beraksi di perlawanan kumpulan pertama menentang Laos selepas dimasukkan ke dalam Kumpulan A juga bersama tuan rumah Thailand.
Pasukan Harimau Malaya, yang baru dinobatkan sebagai juara Pestabola Merdeka ketika itu, menunjukkan persembahan menakjubkan pada perlawanan pembukaan menentang Laos. Sebelum separuh masa, mereka telah mendahului 2β0 menerusi gol daripada Wong Fook Yoong dan N. Thanabalan. Thanabalan berjaya menjaringkan gol sekali lagi pada separuh masa kedua sebelum Wong Choon Wah dan M. Chandran menambah jaringan untuk mencatatkan kemenangan besar 5β0.
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Harimau Malaya Heads to the First Thai King’s Cup πΉπ
Following the success of the Merdeka Tournament, countries in Asia became interested to rival the prestigious competition with their own. In 1968, Thailand held their first invitational international football tournament, the Kingβs Cup.
The Football Association of Thailand organised the tournament as part of the celebrations for the King of Thailandβs birthday on December 5.
The inaugural competition was held from November 20 to December 2, 1968 beginning with the group allocation stage between the six nations participating: Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Burma and Singapore.
On November 24, Malaysia played their first group match against Laos after being allocated into Group A along with hosts Thailand.
Harimau Malaya, recently crowned Merdeka Tournament champions at the time, showed a top form performance in their opening match against Laos. By half time, they were leading 2β0 through goals from Wong Fook Yoong and N. Thanabalan. In the second half, Thanabalan scored again before Wong Choon Wah and M. Chandran made the final score 5β0.
