Four members of the Malaysian football team in 1980 recall the passion and commitment shown by the team that helped them top their group and qualify for the Moscow Olympics.
The football towkay
THEY don’t call him the boss (towkay) for nothing! Datuk Soh Chin Aun will go down in the record books as the only Malaysian player who qualified to play in two Olympic Games – 1972 Munich and 1980 Moscow (which Malaysia boycotted following Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan).
Many of his teammates could not hide their disappointment of not seeing action at the Moscow Olympics and Chin Aun could only feel sorry for them.
“I know what my teammates missed because I played at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Playing at the Olympics would have improved the national team. It would have made them more experienced players.
“For me playing in Munich was among one of my best moments. We won qualification in 1971 and that was our first time we won the ticket to the Olympics,” said Chin Aun.
After hanging up his boots, he tried his luck in coaching (Malacca) before being appointed manager of the national team.
He served the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in many areas, including an advisory role to the technical committee and chairman of the Referees Board.
Chin Aun is still active in football and plays in veteran tournaments and exhibition matches; both local and overseas.
PROFILE
SOH CHIN AUN
Age: 65
Date of birth: July 28, 1950
Place of birth: Alor Gajah
State: Selangor 1970-80, Malacca 1981-83
National: 1970-85
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