Robert Choe (1940 – 2025)
Legasi Lagenda mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga legenda bola sepak negara, Robert Choe, yang telah meninggal dunia awal pagi tadi di Hospital Melaka.
Kami baru mendapat berita sedih ini daripada isteri mendiang, Alice Choe.
Beliau dibawa ke hospital petang semalam oleh rakan legenda Wong Kuw Fou setelah mengadu lemah.
Perintis bola sepak Malaysia, Robert Choe ialah seorang daripada generasi pertama yang mewakili negara selepas kemerdekaan. Beliau yang telah mewakili Melaka dan Malaysia seawal zaman remajanya, merangkul banyak kejayaan sepanjang karier.
Pencapaian beliau termasuk menjuarai Pestabola Merdeka tiga tahun berturut-turut dari 1958-1960 dan memenangi pingat gangsa di Sukan Asia 1962. Robert juga telah bermain di Kejohanan Belia Asia yang julung kalinya diadakan pada tahun 1959, di mana Malaysia dinobatkan naib juara.
Beliau merupakan penyerang yang digeruni bersama Allahyarham Abdul Ghani Minhat. Mereka berdua diberi peluang menjelajah Eropah pada tahun 1962 dan menerima tawaran untuk bermain dengan kelab di sana.
Robert bersara daripada pentas antarabangsa pada 1966, setelah bermain di Sukan Asia terakhirnya sebagai kapten pasukan.
Kami berharap Robert Choe akan terus diingati serta menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi muda dan akan datang.
Semoga Alice dan keluarga tabah dan bersabar dalam menerima hakikat sebuah kehidupan yang pastinya akan berakhir.
#LegasiLegendaDikenangYangKiniDijulang
Legasi Lagenda wishes to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of national football legend Robert Choe, who passed away earlier this morning at Melaka General Hospital.
We received this sad news from his widow, Alice Choe.
He was brought to hospital yesterday evening by fellow legend Wong Kuw Fou after complaining of weakness.
A pioneer of Malaysian football, Robert Choe was part of the first generation to represent the country after independence. Representing his state Melaka and Malaysia as young as a teenager, he reaped many successes along the way.
His achievements include winning the Merdeka Tournament three years in a row from 1958-1960 and a bronze medal at the 1962 Asian Games. He also played at the inaugural Asian Youth Tournament in 1959, where Malaysia were runners-up.
An intimidating striker alongside Abdul Ghani Minhat, they were both given the opportunity to tour Europe in 1962 and received offers to play with clubs there.
Robert retired from international football in 1966, after playing at his final Asian Games as captain.
We hope that Robert Choe will continue to be remembered and inspire generations to come, and that Alice and family remain steadfast and patient in accepting this challenge.
