The jack of all trades

Wan Jamak (right) was coach of the Malaysian football team for the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta.

HE MAY not have played that memorable night when the Malaysian soccer team beat South Korea to qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but Wan Jamak Wan Hassan certainly was a utility player the squad could not do without.

“I could play in a few positions in defence as centreback or leftback but there was no chance for me in the first team.

“The slots were always taken up by Soh Chin Aun, Santokh Singh, Kamaruddin Abdullah and Jamal Nasir.

“These senior players were so consistent in their game that the only way for me to come in was when they picked up an injury.

“It was frustrating but that was how competitive the fight for places in the national team was back then.” says Wan Jamak who was the only member of the 1980 Moscow Olympic squad to become national coach.

He warmed the bench on the historic night when Malaysia beat South Korea 2-1 at Merdeka Stadium to qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

But he has no regrets!

“Yes, I envied them during my playing days because I could not break into the first team.

“But it was no shame because I came out a better person learning from these seniors the great values of the game, which money could not buy today – team spirit, respect and pride for the nation.

“I have great respect for these legends.

“And it did not matter even if I had to wash their clothes in camp.

(From Left) Hassan Sani, Soh, Wong and Santokh Singh at an event in 2010. 

“We always looked up to them even after having to toe the line and taking the back seat in whatever we do but it made us stronger.”

“I played in a couple of matches only (from six games) and that too because of tactical reasons.

“I was fielded by the coach (Karl Weigang) to play against lesser opponents (8-0 win of Philippines and 6-1 win of Indonesia).

“But it was still an honour to fill in their shoes.

“I did try to inject the same values when I became national coach in the 1990s but things have changed and are totally different now.”

Wan Jamak is doing development work with the Under-21 players in Johor currently.

PROFILE

WAN JAMAK WAN HASSAN

Age: 58

Date of birth: Nov 22, 1957

Place of birth: Johor

State: Johor 1969-80

National: 1975-80