50 Tahun Lalu: Malaysia Bertarung di Hoki Piala Dunia 1975 (bhg. 2)
Pada perlawanan pembukaan Piala Dunia Hoki 1975, 40,000 penonton pulang kecewa setelah Malaysia tidak dapat memberikan penyokong tuan rumah kemenangan yang diharapkan dengan skor seri tanpa jaringan menentang New Zealand. Walaupun pasukan Malaysia mempunyai serangan yang kuat, mereka terlepas beberapa peluang untuk mencetak gol.
Usaha mereka menentang Sepanyol pada perlawanan seterusnya masih tidak membuahkan hasil setelah akhir 0–0. Dengan keputusan yang tidak memuaskan, Malaysia kini perlu memastikan kemenangan dalam perlawanan-perlawanan kumpulan yang lain untuk mara ke peringkat separuh akhir. Terdapat juga kebimbingan kerana mereka akan bertemu pasukan-pasukan hebat termasuk bekas johan, Pakistan dan Belanda.
Pasukan kebangsaan, yang diketuai oleh kapten N. Sri Shanmuganathan, menunjukkan keyakinan pada perlawanan berikutnya dan berjaya menewaskan Poland. A. Francis memberikan Malaysia gol pertama mereka pada minit ke-8 sebelum Poland menyamakan kedudukan pada minit ke-26. Namun, Malaysia berjaya menjaringkan dua lagi gol menerusi Sri Shanmuganathan (60’) dan M. Mahendran (64’).
Malaysia mengalami kekalahan pertama apabila bertemu pasukan Pakistan. Namun begitu, mereka dipuji atas usaha gigih mereka menentang juara sulung Piala Dunia itu. Poon Fook Loke menjaringkan gol tunggal mereka pada minit ke-65 tetapi ia tidak mencukupi untuk membalas dua gol Pakistan.
Perlawanan kumpulan terakhir pasukan kebangsaan yang diadakan di Kelab Kilat adalah bersama juara bertahan, Belanda. Fook Loke sekali lagi menyumbat gol pembukaan yang menakjubkan sebelum bintang Belanda, Ties Kruize, menyamakan kedudukan melalui aksi kepakaran beliau iaitu pukulan sudut penalti. Pada minit ke-69, gol kemenangan kapten Sri Shanmuganathan membawa Malaysia mara ke separuh akhir.
Keazaman Malaysia pada hari itu tidak akan dilupakan oleh 15,000 penyokong yang menyaksikan perlawanan awal pagi tersebut dan bergema laungan sorakan sambutan meriah mereka.
Foto menunjukkan aksi N. Sri Shanmuganathan dan pemain-pemain Malaysia meraikan jaringan gol Poon Fook Loke
Sumber foto asal: The Star
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50 YEARS AGO: Malaysia Battling at the 1975 Hockey World Cup
In the 1975 Hockey World Cup’s opening match, Malaysia unfortunately did not give the home crowd the win they were hoping for after a scoreless draw against New Zealand. 40,000 spectators went home as disappointed as the national team. While Malaysia had a strong attack, unlucky shots and missing penalty corner attempts left them fruitless.
There was still no goal scorer in sight after their next effort against Spain ended 0–0. Malaysia would now need to secure wins if they wished to make it to the semi-finals. There was growing concern since they were meeting heavy hitters next including former champions Pakistan and the Netherlands.
Luckily, the team led by captain N. Sri Shanmuganathan, showed confidence in their following match against Poland. It was A. Francis who gave Malaysia their first goal in the eighth minute. Poland managed to equalise in the 26th minute but Malaysia successfully delivered two more through Sri Shanmuganathan (60’) and M. Mahendran (64’).
Malaysia suffered their first defeat after meeting Pakistan. Nevertheless, they were commended for their valiant effort against the inaugural World Cup champions. Poon Fook Loke scored their sole goal in the 65th minute but it was not enough to beat Pakistan’s two.
The national team’s final group match was at Kilab Club against defending champions, the Netherlands. Fook Loke once again delivered a stunning opening goal before Dutch star Ties Kruize equalised with his penalty corner, a specialty of his. It was captain Sri Shanmuganathan’s crucial winning goal in the 69th minute that led Malaysia to advance into the semi-finals.
Malaysia’s determination that day will never be forgotten by the 15,000 supporters who witnessed the early morning match, echoing their joyous celebration.
Image shows N. Sri Shanmuganathan (left), and Malaysian players celebrating Poon Fook Loke’s goal.
Original photo source: The Star
