50 Tahun Lalu – Harimau Malaya di Kelayakan Sukan Olimpik 1976
50 tahun lalu, pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan Malaysia kembali bersaing di Kejohanan Kelayakan Olimpik dengan harapan untuk sekali lagi mara ke pentas utama selepas mencipta sejarah pada tahun 1972.
Jurulatih kebangsaan Abdul Ghani Minhat menganggapnya sebagai tugasan paling penting ketika itu setelah membimbing pasukan Malaysia ke kelayakan Piala Dunia 1975. Dengan hanya tiga minggu latihan berpusat sebelum kejohanan bermula pada 15 Februari, perjuangan mereka untuk mengulangi kejayaan Malaysia lima tahun yang lalu dikatakan sebagai satu cabaran besar.
Malaysia diletakkan dalam Kumpulan 2 bersama Singapura, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea dan Korea Utara. Menurut Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), Malaysia mempunyai peluang yang baik untuk layak walaupun Indonesia dan Korea Utara akan menjadi halangan terbesar mereka. Hasil kejohanan terbukti begitu.
Malaysia memulakan pertandingan dengan penuh keyakinan dan kekuatan setelah berjaya mengalahkan Papua New Guinea 10-1, di mana sebahagian besar gol dijaringkan oleh Isa Bakar. Namun, mereka tewas 0-2 kepada Korea Utara dalam perlawanan seterusnya. Malaysia bangkit semula dengan kemenangan 6-0 menentang Singapura sebelum perlawanan penentuan.
Perlawanan terakhir Kumpulan 2 terakhir menyaksikan Indonesia menentang Malaysia untuk menentukan pasukan yang akan menyertai Korea Utara dalam pusingan akhir dan merebut tempat ke Sukan Olimpik 1976. Kedua-dua pasukan memberikan perlawanan sengit. Indonesia menjaringkan gol pertama pada minit ke-23 tetapi Malaysia hanya memerlukan empat minit untuk menyamakan kedudukan melalui Isa Bakar. Walau bagaimanapun, tandukan gol daripada Indonesia pada minit ke-58 memastikan kemenangan mereka.
Akhirnya, Korea Utara layak ke Sukan Olimpik 1976 apabila mereka menewaskan Indonesia 5-4 melalui penentuan penalti selepas seri tanpa jaringan.
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50 Years Ago – Harimau Malaya at the 1976 Olympic Games Qualifiers
50 years ago, the Malaysian national football team was back at the Olympic Qualifiers in hopes to once again advance to the main stage after making history in 1972.
As national coach, Abdul Ghani Minhat’s considered it his most important assignment yet after coaching the Malaysian team at the 1975 World Cup qualifiers. With only three weeks of centralised training before the tournament started on February 15, it was considered an uphill battle for Malaysia to emulate their previous success.
Malaysia was placed in Group 2 of the Men’s Asian Qualifiers with Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and North Korea. According to FAM, Malaysia had a good chance of qualifying although Indonesia and North Korea would be their biggest obstacles. And the scores proved rightfully so.
Malaysia began the tournament with confidence and power after defeating Papua New Guinea 10-1, where the majority of goals were scored by Isa Bakar. However, they fell 0-2 to North Korea in their next match. Malaysia managed to bounce back with a 6-0 triumph against Singapore before it came down to their next match.
The last Group 2 match between Indonesia and Malaysia decided which team would join North Korea in the final round for a place at the 1976 Olympic Games. Both teams put up a tough fight. Indonesia scored first in the 23rd minute but it only took Malaysia four minutes to equalise through Isa Bakar. However, a header from Indonesia in the 58th minute secured their win.
North Korea qualified for the 1976 Olympic Games as they defeated Indonesia 5-4 through a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.
