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'Raja Bola' Ghani Minhat Dies

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Football legend Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Minhat, nicknamed "Raja Bola" or "King of the Ball" died Friday. He was 77.

Abdul Ghani passed away at 10.34 am at the National Heart Institute (IJN) as a result of complications following a heart by-pass operation, his brother-in-law Datuk Nik Kamaruddin Ismail told Bernama.

He said Abdul Ghani would be buried at the USJ 21 Muslim cemetery in Subang Jaya after prayers were conducted at the Kampung Baru Mosque.

Abdul Ghani leaves behind wife Puan Sri Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim and four children, two boys and two girls.

During his heyday, in the 1960s and 1970s, Abdul Ghani played in the position of inside forward and was a crafty and agile player dreaded by opponents.


Tan Abdul Sri Ghani Minhat (The King of Football)

Born in 1935, Ghani Minhatwas put on the path of professional football by a pair of boots hereceived from Police Officers sometime in 1951. In those days, only professionals wore football bootsand Ghani saw thisas a calling for him to upgrade his skills.

By1952 he had earned a place in thePoliceDepotteam. Thisbecame hisstepping stoneto earning a place on the Selangor squad in theMalaysia (then Malaya)Cup series. The left-winger helped to bring in eight Malaya Cup wins and three Merdeka Football Tournament (“Pestabola Merdeka”) wins. He was also partof thevictorious team in the 1961 SEAP Games (now SEA Games) in Rangoon.

One of the finest forwards ofthe 60s, Ghani’ssuperb skills became evident when he fired a volley from 40 yardsto score a goal against Vietnam atthe inaugural Merdeka Tournament in 1957. Together with fellow team mates Robert Choe and Arthur Koh, hecreated a fearsome attack.

Until today,Ghani cherishes his manyexperiences during hisdaysas Malaysia’s top footballer. One ofhismost invaluable experiences was being sent on attachments to several clubs in England (West Ham United, Arsenal, Spurs) and Germany (Eintracht Frankfurt) in 1962. England’s Cardiff Cityalso offered him a chance to go pro, which he declined, choosing instead to go on a study tour ofEngland and Europe. After hestepped down as a player,the FAM senthim to Japan in 1969,to attend the first FIFA Coaching School for Asian Coaches, earning him hiscoaching license.

In those glory days ofMalaysian football, Ghani Minhat became a household name and displayed a wealth oftalent on the field. But equallyimportant, or perhapsmore so, was hisdetermination,grit and desire to win which really made Dato’ Ghani a shining football star.


ACHIEVEMENTS(HIGHLIGHTS):

As Athlete 1952 -Represented the Police Depot in the Selangor League
1955 -Represented Selangor in the Malaya Cup
1956 -Champions ofMalaya Cup (after 6 year draught)
1957 -Inaugural Merdeka Football Tournament [Champions (scored a goal from 40m)]
1959-60 - Merdeka Football Tournament [Champions]
1960 -Scored 34 goalsin 9 matches(record)
1961 -SEAP Games [Gold medal]
1962 -Attachment with clubsin England and Germany
1968 -Malaysia Cup [Champions]




-- BERNAMA

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