Selamat Hari Lahir ke-73, Datuk Santokh Singh
Legasi Lagenda mengucapkan selamat hari lahir yang ke-73 kepada Datuk Santokh Singh! Pemain pertahanan legenda ini merupakan bintang bola sepak Malaysia pada era 1970-an dan 1980-an untuk pasukan kebangsaan dan Selangor.
Santokh telah menjuarai Piala Malaysia sebanyak sembilan kali sepanjang tempoh beliau bersama pasukan Red Giants. Pada 16 Januari 1972, beliau membuat penampilan sulung yang sukar untuk dilupakan bersama pasukan Merah Kuning.
Bermain di tengah padang pada masa itu, Santokh telah membawa kejayaan kepada pasukannya yang menewaskan Kedah 3–1 dengan menjaringkan gol kedua sebelum membantu Wong Choon Wah menjaringkan gol ketiga mereka. Selangor berjaya mempertahankan kejuaraan Piala Malaysia tahun itu setelah menewaskan Perak 3–0 pada perlawanan akhir.
Selama bermain untuk pasukan kebangsaan beliau telah menjalinkan persefahaman dengan Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann menjadi pasangan pertahanan yang kental. Bersama Harimau Malaya, Santokh membuat penampilan sulung antarabangsa di Kejohanan Ulang Tahun Jakarta 1972 dan menyertai skuad Malaysia ‘B’ bagi Pestabola Merdeka 1972.
Antara pencapaian karier beliau termasuk juara Pestabola Merdeka empat kali, memenangi gangsa di Sukan Asia 1974 (walaupun malangnya beliau cedera semasa di sana), mewakili Malaysia di Piala Asia 1976 serta layak ke edisi 1980, dan sudah tentunya kelayakan ke Sukan Olimpik 1980. Walau bagaimanapun, impiannya tidak kesampaian setelah kerajaan Malaysia membuat keputusan untuk memulaukan Sukan Olimpik kerana pencerobohan Rusia ke atas Afghanistan.
Semoga segala pengorbanan dan sumbangan Datuk Santokh Singh kepada sejarah bola sepak Malaysia sentiasa dikenang oleh generasi muda dan yang akan datang.
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Happy 73rd birthday, Santokh Singh!
Legasi Lagenda wishes a happy 73rd birthday to Datuk Santokh Singh! The legendary defender was a star in Malaysian football during the 1970s and 1980s for both the national team and Selangor FA.
Santokh has won the Malaysia Cup nine times during his tenure with the Red Giants. His first appearance with Selangor was on January 16, 1972, where he made a memorable debut.
Playing midfield at the time, he helped his team defeat Kedah 3–1 by scoring the second goal before assisting Wong Choon Wah to score their third. Selangor then went on to retain the Malaysia Cup after defeating Perak 3–0 in the final.
Over the years, he formed a strong partnership with Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann in playing defence. With Harimau Malaya, Santokh made his first international appearance at the 1972 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament before joining Malaysia ‘B’ at the 1972 Merdeka Tournament.
Highlights of his career include winning the Merdeka Tournament four times, winning bronze at the 1974 Asian Games (although he was unfortunately injured while there), representing Malaysia at the 1976 Asian Cup as well as qualifying for the 1980 edition, and of course qualifying for the 1980 Olympic Games. However, his dreams were dashed as the Malaysian government decided to boycott the Olympics due to Russia’s invasion in Afghanistan.
We hope that all of his sacrifices and contributions to Malaysian football should always be remembered by younger and future generations.
