1 DISEMBER 1968 – PIALA RAJA THAI 🇹🇭

Hari ini dalam sejarah, pada 1 Disember 1968, pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan Malaysia beraksi pada perlawanan pingat gangsa edisi pertama Piala Raja Thai. Bertentangan mereka ialah tuan rumah sendiri, Thailand.

Malaysia telah bertemu Thailand pada peringkat kumpulan kejohanan, di mana mereka malangnya tewas 0-3. Sebelum itu, mereka memperoleh kemenangan besar ke atas Laos dalam perlawanan pertama, 5-0, dengan gol daripada Wong Fook Yoong, N. Thanabalan, Wong Choon Wah dan M. Chandran.

Setelah menduduki tempat kedua dalam Kumpulan 1, Malaysia mara ke peringkat separuh akhir, di mana mereka bertemu rakan jiran Indonesia. Namun, Malaysia mengalami kekalahan teruk 6–1. Legenda sayap kanan, Zulkifli Norbit, berjaya menjaringkan gol tunggal.

Harimau Malaya dijinakkan sekali lagi oleh pasukan lawan setelah tewas kepada Thailand 0-6. Indonesia akhirnya muncul sebagai juara Piala Raja Thai yang pertama apabila menewaskan Burma 1-0 pada perlawanan akhir.

Malaysia sememangnya dikritik setelah menunjukkan persembahan yang tidak memuaskan dengan hanya mencatatkan satu kemenangan, terutamanya kerana mereka baru saja dinobatkan sebagai juara Pestabola Merdeka beberapa bulan sebelumnya. Memandangkan Piala Raja Thai kejohanan terakhir bagi tahun tersebut, kita lihat sama ada Harimau Malaya meningkatkan prestasi mereka pada 1969.

Foto menunjukkan Zulkifli Norbit dalam aksi perlawanan serta pingat komemoratif Piala Raja Thai 1969 dan gambaran trofi daripada program kejohanan.

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Today in history, on December 1st, 1968, the Malaysian national football team played in the bronze medal match of the first ever King’s Cup. Their opponents were no other than the hosts, Thailand.

Malaysia had met Thailand previously in the tournament during the group stage, where they lost 0-3. This was after they secured a huge 5-0 win over Laos in their first match, with goals from Wong Fook Yoong, N. Thanabalan, Wong Choon Wah and M. Chandran.

Placing second in Group 1, they advanced to the semi-finals, where they met fellow neighbours Indonesia. Unfortunately, Malaysia suffered a 6–1 loss. Legendary right-winger Zulkifli Norbit scored the sole goal for the national team.

However, Harimau Malaya was once again tamed by their opponents after losing to Thailand 0-6. Indonesia emerged as champions of the inaugural King’s Cup as they defeated Burma 1-0 in the finals.

Malaysia was heavily criticised for their poor performance at the time, with only one win under their belt, especially as they were recently crowned Merdeka Tournament champions a few months earlier. As it was the last tournament of the year, we would have to see if Harimau Malaya fared better in 1969.

Photo shows Zulkifli Norbit in action along with the 1968 King’s Cup commemorative medal and a picture of the trophy from the tournament programme.