Agong dedicates prestigious 2019 Diamond of Asia award to late father

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has dedicated to his late father Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah the prestigious 2019 Diamond of Asia award.

The award was bestowed to him by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in recognition of His Majesty's contributions spanning more than three decades to football in the continent.The award was presented in advance to His Majesty by AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in a special ceremony at Istana Negara here on Nov 7.

In his pre-recorded acceptance speech, broadcasted for the audience at the AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday night, Al-Sultan Abdullah said he was grateful to be able to honour his father's legacy, as he had contributed immensely to football in Malaysia and Asia.

"He is my source of inspiration and it is to him that I dedicate this award," said Al-Sultan Abdullah.

Sultan Abdullah is the 15th recipient of the award, and joins his late father Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah, the 2011 recipient, as the only father and son duo to be bestowed the highest individual accolade in the Asian football history.

In his speech, His Majesty also said football had been in his blood since he was a child and he was honoured to be part of a distinguished list of recipients that include some of the greatest personalities and legends in Asian football.

"We have made enormous strides in recent years and I'm confident that the AFC will continue to spread the joy of the game, unite and rally diverse communities and build on its strong foundations to usher greater success in the years to come," Al-Sultan Abdullah said.