6 APRIL 1980 –45 Tahun Sejak Harimau Malaya Layak ke Sukan Olimpik
Baru-baru ini, kami telah mengimbas kembali perlawanan pembukaan Malaysia di Kejohanan Pra-Olimpik Kumpulan Dua Asia, di mana pasukan kebangsaan menewaskan Indonesia 6–1.
Setelah itu, Malaysia berjaya mengalahkan Korea Selatan (3-0), Brunei (3-1) dan Filipina (8-0), serta seri dengan Jepun (1-1).
Foto menunjukkan but dan “shinpad” dipakai oleh legenda dari Melaka, Remeli Junit, yang kini berada dalam arkib Legasi Lagenda. Dengan but itulah beliau menghasilkan dua gol untuk Malaysia dalam perlawanan kumpulan terakhir mereka menentang pasukan Filipina. Skuad Olimpik 1980 juga telah dihadiahkan pewter untuk pencapaian mereka. Kain ela yang dipamerkan pula merupakan kain yang digunakan untuk membuat pakaian rasmi kejohanan Pra-Olimpik.
Harimau Malaya layak ke Sukan Olimpik 1980 pada 6 April 1980 di hadapan 40,000 penonton di Stadium Merdeka. Pada tahun 1971, Malaysia telah memusnahkan harapan tuan rumah Korea Selatan selepas menang 1-0 dalam perjalanan mereka ke Sukan Olimpik 1972. Hampir sedekad kemudian, pasukan Korea Selatan dikecewakan sekali lagi setelah tewas kepada Malaysia 2–1.
Malaysia mendahului perlawanan dengan jaringan awal daripada Bakri Ibni yang memecut dari tengah padang untuk menjamin gol pertama pada minit ke-13. Namun, Korea Selatan mengukuhkan serangan mereka dan membalas dengan gol penyamaan pada minit ke-59 melalui Kim Kang Nam.
Tiga minit sebelum wisel penamat dibunyikan, James Wong berjaya memberikan Malaysia gol kemenangan menerusi hantaran daripada rakan senegeri Sabah, Hassan Sani. Dengan persembahannya yang mengagumkan, memang tepatlah James diberikan nama jolokan “King James” oleh para peminat.
Malangnya, walaupun sudah layak ke Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980, Malaysia membuat keputusan untuk memulau kejohanan akibat pencerobohan Rusia ke atas Afghanistan. Sebagai imbuhan, FAM membawa skuad Olimpik membuat “World Tour”, di mana mereka mengadakan beberapa perlawanan persahabatan sambil melancong ke London, New York dan Brazil untuk dua minggu sebelum terbang ke Zurich dan Jerman Barat.
APRIL 6, 1980
45 Years Since Harimau Malaysia Qualified for the Olympic Games
In our previous posting, we covered the opening match of the Asia Group Two Pre-Olympic Tournament, where Malaysia managed to defeat Indonesia 6–1.
From then, they went on to take down South Korea (3–0), Brunei (3–1), as well as the Philippines (8-0), and drew with Japan (1–1).
The boots and shin guard shown were originally worn by Melaka legend Remeli Junit and are now in our archive. It was in those shoes that he scored two goals when Malaysia was up against the Philippines in their last group match. The 1980 Olympic squad was also gifted a pewter for their achievements. Meanwhile, the shirt fabric was used to make official formalwear for the tournament.
Harimau Malaya qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games on April 6, 1980 in front of 40,000 spectators at Merdeka Stadium. In 1971, Malaysia had dashed South Korea’s hopes after winning 1-0 on their road to the 1972 Olympic Games. Almost a decade later, the Koreans were left disappointed yet again after losing to Malaysia 2–1.
Malaysia took an early lead after Bakri Ibni sprinted from midfield and landed the first goal in the 13th minute. However, South Korea strengthened their attack with Kim Kang Nam scoring the equaliser in the 59th.
Three minutes before the final whistle blew, James Wong succeeded in giving Malaysia their winning goal through a pass from fellow Sabahan, Hassan Sani. James was deemed “King James” by fans because of his impressive performance throughout the tournament.
Unfortunately, despite qualifying for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Malaysia made the decision to boycott the Games as a protest against Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. FAM instead rewarded the Olympic squad with a “World Tour”, where they spent two weeks in London, New York and Brazil before flying to Zurich and West Germany to play more friendly matches and explore the region.
