30 MEI 1978 – Mokhtar Dahari Menggegar England B

Pada 30 Mei 1978, pasukan pilihan bola sepak England bertandang ke bumi Malaysia untuk perlawanan persahabatan menentang bintang-bintang tuan rumah.

England B di bawah kendalian pengurus Ipswich ketika itu, Sir Bobby Robson, membawa seramai 16 pemain menjelajah Malaysia, Singapura serta New Zealand, dan kesemunya terdiri daripada pemain Divisyen 1 Liga Inggeris. Sebaik tiba di Malaysia, Robson menjanjikan “permainan gaya bola sepak British, iaitu lasak dan kompetitif.” Pada masa yang sama, beliau mengakui bahawa beliau kurang tahu tentang bola sepak Malaysia.

Bagi menghadapi perlawanan ini, ketua jurulatih Malaysia Chow Kwai Lam telah memulakan latihan intensif pada 21 Mei dan sekumpulan pemain yang terlibat dalam perlawanan Piala Malaysia menyertai latihan pada 28 Mei. Dengan semangat kesukanan yang tinggi, Malaysia menganggap perlawanan ini sebagai satu perlawanan sepenting perlawanan kompetitif. 

Setelah pasukan England B bermula baik terutamanya di bahagian serangan, Alan Kennedy menjaringkan gol pendahuluan pada minit ke-14. Namun, penyerang handalan Mokhtar Dahari mencuri perhatian dengan gol penyamaan 18 minit kemudian.

Mokhtar memecut dari tengah padang dengan satu keazaman iaitu menembusi pintu gol lawan. Setelah berjaya mengelak dua pemain, Alan Kennedy dan David Needham, Mokhtar berjaya melepaskan satu sepakan kencang ke sudut jaring yang menewaskan penjaga gol Joe Corrigan. Jaringan itu mengejutkan pasukan pelawat termasuk Robson, yang berkata gol tersebut merupakan antara yang terbaik beliau pernah saksikan.

Mokhtar, yang telah menjaringkan 15 gol dalam musim Piala Malaysia 1978, amat teruja dengan jaringan tersebut. Pada awalnya, beliau agak risau tidak dapat menjaringkan gol ke atas pasukan England. Namun, Mokhtar berasa lega apabila mengambil peluang dan menurut beliau sendiri, ia terbukti menjadi jaringan gol yang terbaik bagi beliau. 

Perlawanan itu malangnya tidak menyaksikan sebarang gol lagi dan berkesudahan seri 1–1.  Mokhtar dinobatkan sebagai ‘Man of the Match’ manakala Rashid Hassan, yang mendapat kepercayaan Kwai Lam berbanding R. Arumugam untuk mengawasi gawang, menerima kepujian atas aksi cemerlang beliau menafikan percubaan pihak lawan.

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May 30, 1978 – Mokhtar Dahari Shocks England B

On 30 May 1978, a selection of England’s football players were in Malaysia to play a friendly match against our national stars. 

England ‘B’ was under the guidance of Ipswich manager Bobby Robson, who brought a team of 16 on a tour of Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand, all comprising Division One players. Upon arrival, Robson promised “tough, competitive British-type football” while also acknowledging that he was not familiar with Malaysian football. 

As for Malaysia, head coach Chow Kwai Lam led an intensive training session starting on May 21 with more players arriving on May 28, as many were still occupied with Malaysia Cup matches. Deep in the competitive spirit themselves, Malaysia treated the match as important as any other. 

After a strong start from England’s attacking side, Alan Kennedy shot the opening goal to give England the lead in the 14th minute. However it was striker Mokhtar Dahari who stole the limelight with an equaliser 18 minutes later.

Mokhtar sped through the pitch with the ball from midfield, charging through Kennedy and David Needham with only the goalpost in mind. He then landed his shot inside the far corner of the net, defeating goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. It was a shot that bewildered their visitors, including Robson, who admitted that it was one of the best goals he had ever seen. 

Mokhtar, who had already scored 15 goals in the 1978 Malaysia Cup season, was over the moon. Initially worried that he would not be able to score at all against the Englishmen, Mokhtar was thrilled that he took the chance and ended up delivering his greatest goal yet, according to Mokhtar himself. 

The match unfortunately did not see any more goals from either team and ended 1–1. Undoubtedly, Mokhtar was awarded Man of the Match. Meanwhile, Malaysian goalkeeper Rashid Hassan, who was coach Kwai Lam’s pick over R. Arumugam for the match, was also commended for his impressive performance at denying their opponents’ attempts.