23 OKT 1961: Malaya di Edisi Sulung Piala Kemerdekaan Vietnam Selatan

64 tahun lalu pada 23 Oktober, Malaya beraksi di perlawanan pertama mereka di Piala Kemerdekaan Vietnam Selatan 1961. Sebagai tuan rumah, Vietnam Selatan menjemput dua pasukan untuk edisi sulung kejohanan: Malaya dan Indonesia. Rombongan Malaya yang terdiri daripada 17 pemain dan tiga pegawai itu diketuai oleh Naib Presiden FAM Dato’ Zainal Abidin.

Pada zaman tersebut, pasukan negara dianggotai pemain-pemain hebat seperti Abdul Ghani Minhat, Arthur Koh, dan Stanley Gabrielle. Malangnya, ketiga-tiga mereka diserang kecederaan sebelum kejohanan. Walau bagaimanapun, Ghani masih menyertai pasukan ke Vietnam dengan harapan beliau akan cukup cergas untuk bermain di Saigon.. 

Menanti mereka pada perlawanan pertama ialah pasukan Indonesia. Dalam pertemuan terakhir mereka, Indonesia menang 2–1 atas Malaya untuk merangkul kejuaraan Pestabola Merdeka 1961. Kini kembali untuk membalas dendam, Malaya berjaya menewaskan lawan 3–1 menerusi jaringan M. Kupan, Mahat Ambu dan Abdul Rahman. Namun, Malaya kalah kepada tuan rumah Vietnam Selatan 1–0 pada perlawanan berikutnya. 

Malaya bertemu pasukan Vietnam Selatan sekali lagi pada perlawanan akhir setelah kedua-dua pasukan memperoleh jumlah mata yang sama. Malangnya untuk pasukan kebangsaan Malaya, perlawanan sebelumnya terulang apabila mereka tewas 0–1. Walaupun ia bukan keputusan yang diharapkan, pemain-pemain Malaya menerimanya keputusannya dengan semangat yang tinggi setelah permainan sengit tersebut.

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OCT 23, 1961: Malaya at the First South Vietnam Independence Cup

64 years ago on October 23rd, Malaya played their first match at the 1961 South Vietnam Independence Cup. As hosts, South Vietnam invited two teams for the inaugural tournament: Malaya and Indonesia. The Malayan team consisting of 17 players and three officials was led by FAM Vice President Dato’ Zainal Abidin. 

During this era, the national team was primed with formidable players of the time such as Abdul Ghani Minhat, Arthur Koh, Stanley Gabrielle. Unfortunately, the respective three goal-getters were struck with injury. Nevertheless, Ghani still joined the fleet in case he found himself fit enough to play whilst in Saigon. 

Malaya’s first match was against Indonesia. In their last meet, Indonesia won 2–1 to clinch the 1961 Merdeka Tournament title. Back for revenge, Malaya managed to defeat their opponents 3–1 through goals from Mahat Ambu, M. Kupan and Abdul Rahman. However, Malaya lost to South Vietnam 1–0 in their next match.

Malaya met the hosts in the final round after both teams secured an equal amount of points. Unfortunately for the national team, it was a repeat of the previous match as they lost 0–1 to South Vietnam yet again. While it was not the result they hoped for, the Malayan players took it in good spirit, knowing it was a hard-fought match.