PETALING JAYA: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) continued to show their commitment to supporting former athletes – this time by visiting the family of the late T. Gopinath Naidu in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
The visit, part of the foundation’s Visit & Treat – Skuad Yakeb Prihatin initiative, was led by Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and joined by members of the Yakeb management team and Kuala Lumpur football legend and former national player Datuk Subadron Aziz.
The programme is part of Yakeb’s ongoing efforts to reach out to former athletes or their families who are facing hardship, while also offering welfare assistance and death benefits as a mark of remembrance and appreciation for their contributions to the nation.
During the visit, Yakeb presented a death benefit contribution to the late Gopinath’s father, P. Samy @ Thambirajah, as the foundation’s final tribute to the family.
“He was touched by the gesture and described the visit as a sign that his son’s contributions have not been forgotten by the country and the sporting community,” Yakeb said in a statement.
Gopinath was a prolific striker who played for Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and the Malaysian national team.
His talent was evident from a young age, having first worn the Kuala Lumpur junior team jersey at 12, before going on to represent the national youth squad.
He was also given the opportunity to train abroad with English club Aston Villa and German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Known for his agility and clinical finishing in front of goal, Gopinath helped Kuala Lumpur lift the Malaysian FA Cup in 1993 and 1994.
He also featured in Malaysia’s campaign at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima and the qualifiers for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
However, a serious knee ligament injury forced him into early retirement from professional football.
He passed away on May 24 following a heart attack.
