Malaysia tanpa Mokhtar Dahari: “Saya lebih minat bermain untuk Man U”
Saingan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1978 – Pusingan 1 AFC & OFC yang berlangsung di Singapura pada 27 Februari hingga 12 Mac 1977 merupakan salah satu kejohanan penting yang Allahyarham Dato’ Mokhtar Dahari tidak dapat mengambil bahagian. Ini adalah kerana beliau belum pulih sepenuhnya daripada operasi lutut.
Namun, Mokhtar turut berada bersama pasukan negara di Kota Singa bagi memberi semangat kepada rakan-rakan seperjuangan.
Dalam satu temu bual ketika itu, Mokhtar berkata sekiranya kecederaan lututnya tidak pulih, mungkin menjadi jurulatih adalah langkah terbaik untuk beliau terus melibatkan diri dalam dunia bola sepak.
“Saya akan memperkenalkan cara permainan yang baharu. Taktik saya akan berbeza,” kata Mokhtar yang bercita-cita menjadi jurulatih skuad kebangsaan.
Beliau turut mendedahkan beliau telah mendapat tawaran daripada kelab dari negara juara Piala Asia 1976, Iran. Tetapi beliau menolak, mengatakan bahawa beliau cepat rindu kampung halaman.
“Saya lebih minat bermain untuk Manchester United,” Mokhtar berseloroh bersama wartawan.
Bagaimanakah perjalanan pasukan Malaysia tanpa penyerang hebat ini pada saingan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 1978? Nantikan siaran kami dalam masa terdekat.
Kredit foto asal: Dunia Sukan
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Malaysia without Mokhtar Dahari: “I would rather play for Man U”
Round one of the 1978 World Cup Qualifiers (AFC & OFC), which took place in Singapore from 27 February to 12 March 1977, was one of the more important tournaments that the late Dato’ Mokhtar Dahari was unable to participate in. At the time, he had not yet fully recovered from his knee operation after sustaining an injury earlier in 1976.
However, Mokhtar followed along with the national team to the Lion City to encourage his teammates.
In an interview during this time, Mokhtar said that if his knee injury did not heal, perhaps becoming a coach would be the best step for him so that he could continue to be involved in the world of football.
“I will introduce a new way of playing. My tactics will be different,” said Mokhtar, who aspired to coach the Malaysian national squad one day.
He also revealed that he had received a club offer from the home country of the 1976 Asian Cup champions, Iran. But he declined, stating that he would miss his hometown too much.
“I would rather play for Manchester United,” Mokhtar joked with reporters.
How did the Malaysian team fare without the great striker in the 1978 World Cup Qualifiers? Stay tuned for our post in the near future.
