Dalam Kenangan – D. Davendran

Sempena hari kelahiran beliau yang ke-71 seandainya beliau masih bersama kita, kami mengenang jasa legenda bola sepak negara D. Davendran (Hanis Davendran Abdullah), yang telah meninggal dunia hampir 11 tahun lalu pada 14 September 2014.

Davendran yang merupakan peminat bola sepak sejak kecil lagi, bermula dengan bermain di sekolah dan dalam liga remaja di tempat asalnya, Kuantan. Beliau memang menunjukkan komitmen terhadap bola sepak dan akan berlatih berjam-jam untuk meningkatkan prestasinya. Keazaman itulah yang membuat keluarganya sedar bahawa beliau akan pergi jauh dalam bidang sukan.

Setelah bakatnya terserlah dalam kancah bola sepak remaja, beliau dapat menyertai pemilihan pasukan belia Pahang untuk Piala Burnley 1971 sebelum menyertai pasukan senior tidak lama kemudian. Dalam tahun terakhir karier bola sepaknya, Davendran berjaya mencipta sejarah bersama Pahang dengan kejuaraan Piala Malaysia pertama pada 1983, setelah menewaskan Selangor 3-2 pada perlawanan akhir. 

Davendran mewakili Malaysia buat kali pertama sebagai anggota pasukan remaja untuk Kejohanan Belia Asia 1973. Beberapa tahun kemudian, beliau diserapkan ke dalam pasukan senior untuk Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1978 serta Piala Raja Thai 1977, di mana Malaysia dinobatkan johan bersama Korea Selatan.

Kemuncak karier Devendran sudah pastinya kejayaan pasukan kebangsaan layak ke Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980. Namun, detik bersejarah itu bertukar kehampaan kepada pasukan apabila kerajaan Malaysia mengambil keputusan untuk memulau temasya sukan tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, semangat juang yang tinggi dan kecekalan serta kehebatan para pemain telah berjaya meletakkan paras yang tinggi buat bola sepak tanah air.

Sumbangan jasa Devendran terhadap  bola sepak Malaysia harus diingati selalu. Kami berharap ketabahan dan pengorbanan beliau menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi akan datang. Marilah kita sama-sama mendoakan agar roh Devendran dirahmati Allah SWT dan ditempatkan bersama orang yang beriman. 

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Remembering D. Davendran

Today on what would have been his 71st birthday, we remember legendary footballer D. Davendran (Hanis Davendran Abdullah), who passed away almost 11 years ago on September 14, 2014.

Davendran was a fan of football from a young age, playing in school and with the youth league in Kuantan. He developed commitment for the sport and was training several hours in a day. That was when his family realised he would go far one day. 

Showing talent in the local scene, he made the selection for Pahang’s youth team for the 1971 Burnley Cup before joining their senior team. During the final year of his football career, he made history with Pahang in securing their first Malaysia Cup win in 1983 after defeating Selangor 3–2 in the final. 

Davendran first represented Malaysia as part of the youth squad for the 1973 Asian Youth Tournament. Selected for the senior team a few years later, he was called up for the 1978 World Cup Qualifiers and then the 1977 King’s Cup, where Malaysia were joined champions with South Korea.

A career highlight for Davendran would certainly be qualifying for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. While it was a momentous occasion for the team, Malaysia then made the decision to boycott the Games. While dreams were dashed, the team held their mentality strong and was proud to have played their hearts out for the country, regardless of any reward. 

Davendran’s contributions to Malaysian football should always be remembered. We hope that his tenacity and sacrifices become an inspiration for generations to come. Let us all pray that Davendran is showered with Allah SWT’s blessings and that his soul remains peaceful among the believers.