#SiriPestabolaMerdeka 1978 & 1979 – Hadiah Wang Tunai Untuk Dimenangi
21 tahun selepas Piala Merdeka julung kali diadakan, kejohanan tertua Asia masih dianggap sebagai salah satu pertandingan bola sepak yang paling berprestij di rantau Asia. Sejak Piala Merdeka dipertandingkan, lebih banyak kejohanan bola sepak telah dianjurkan seperti Kejohanan Presiden Park (Korea Selatan), Piala Raja Thai dan Kejohanan Ulang Tahun Jakarta.
Pada tahun 1978, FAM memutuskan bahawa hadiah wang tunai akan diberikan buat kali pertamanya kepada pemenang edisi yang ke-22. Juara kejohanan akan menerima RM50,000 manakala pasukan naib juara akan menerima RM25,000.
Korea Selatan, johan bertahan dan musuh tradisi Harimau Malaya, menjadi pasukan popular untuk membawa pulang Piala Merdeka sekali lagi. Korea Selatan memberi persembahan yang tidak mengecewakan setelah berjaya menewaskan Iraq 2-0 pada perlawanan akhir. Kedua-dua pasukan juga telah bertembung pada perlawanan akhir 1977, di mana Iraq kalah 0-1.
Ketika itu, Malaysia sudah bertemu Korea Selatan empat kali untuk perlawanan akhir Piala Merdeka. Malaysia hanya pernah mengalahkan mereka sekali pada 1974 dan tewas dua kali pada 1972 dan 1975. Pada tahun 1960, pasukan Malaya dan Korea Selatan dinobatkan johan bersama.
Setelah kehilangan peluang ke perlawanan akhir pada tahun 1978, pasukan kebangsaan bertemu Korea Selatan dan sekali lagi dapat berjuang untuk merebut Piala Merdeka pada tahun 1979. Pada perlawanan peringkat kumpulan, Korea Selatan menewaskan Malaysia 4-1. Pastinya ini tidak menimbulkan keyakinan bagi peminat tuan rumah. Walau bagaimanapun, kedua-dua pasukan akhirnya berada di kedudukan tertinggi dalam peringkat kumpulan dan berpeluang bertarung sekali lagi untuk memenangi Piala Merdeka di perlawanan akhir.
Terbukti ia merupakan perlawanan yang sengit dan kedua-dua pasukan mengawal kubu pertahanan masing-masing dengan baik. Setelah 120 minit berlangsung (30 minit waktu tambahan), masih tiada sebarang gol dijaringkan. Justeru, Malaysia dan Korea Selatan diisytiharkan sebagai johan bersama dan Piala Merdeka serta hadiah wang tunai dikongsi. Selepas itu, Malaysia terpaksa menunggu lebih lama sebelum mereka dapat menewaskan pasukan lawan mereka sekali lagi.
Skuad penuh Malaysia ‘A’ di Piala Merdeka 1979: R. Arumugam, Hamid Ramli, Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Ann, Tony Wong, Bakri Ibni, Abdullah Ali, Kamaruddin Mohd Noor, Hassan Yahaya, Spawi Joll, Jamal Nasir, Hussein Muhd, Ramli Abdullah, Abdah Alif, Shukor Salleh, Wan Jamak, Razali Zinin, G. Torairaju
Jurulatih: Mohamad Bakar
Penolong Jurulatih: Hamid Ghani
(Kredit foto asal: AllSports)
Foto kiri menunjukkan Soh Chin Ann dan kapten pasukan Korea Selatan bersama-sama menjulang Piala Merdeka.
Foto kanan (atas): Bakri Ibni menghalang bola daripada dirampas oleh pemain pertahanan Korea Selatan
Foto kanan (bawah): Shukor Salleh dan Abdah Alif memerhati Soh Chin Ann menendang bola balik ke arah gawang Korea Selatan
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21 years after the inaugural tournament, Merdeka Tournament was still considered one of the most prestigious football competitions in Asia. Since its inception, more tournaments have been organised including the President Park Championship (South Korea), the Thai King’s Cup, and the Jakarta Anniversary Tournament among others.
For its 22nd edition in 1978, FAM decided that prize money would be awarded to the winners for the first time. The tournament champion would receive RM50,000 while the runner-up received RM25,000.
Defending champions and longtime rivals of Harimau Malaya, South Korea were the popular vote to claim the Cup again. They proved themselves worthy after defeating Iraq 2-0 in the final match, whom they also met at the 1977 final and defeated 1-0.
Malaysia had met South Korea four times for the Merdeka Tournament final by then. Malaysia only defeated them once 1974 and lost to them twice in 1972 and 1975. They were joint champions in 1960.
After narrowly missing a chance at the finals in 1978, it was time for the national team to meet South Korea to fight for the Cup again in 1979. In their group stage match, South Korea defeated Malaysia 4–1, which did not instill confidence in home fans. However, both teams topped the group and had another chance to battle it out to win the Merdeka Cup.
It was a grueling match as both teams held their defenses up strong. After 120 minutes of play and no goals scored, Malaysia and South Korea were declared joint champions. The Cup and the prize money were shared equally. Malaysia would have to wait a while longer before defeating their longtime rivals again.
Malaysia ‘A’ full lineup at the 1979 Merdeka Cup: R. Arumugam, Hamid Ramli, Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Ann, Tony Wong, Bakri Ibni, Abdullah Ali, Kamaruddin Mohd Noor, Hassan Yahaya, Spawi Joll, Jamal Nasir, Hussein Muhd, Ramli Abdullah, Abdah Alif, Shukor Salleh, Wan Jamak, Razali Zinin, G. Torairaju
Coach: Mohamad Bakar
Assistant coach: Hamid Ghani
(Original photo credit: AllSports)
Left photo shows Soh Chin Ann and the South Korean captain lifting the Merdeka Cup together
Top right photo: Bakri Ibni shielding the ball from South Korean defenders
Bottom right photo: Shukor Salleh and Abdah Alif looks on at Soh Chin Ann kicking the ball back towards South Korea’s goalmouth
