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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah bid farewell to one of its sport icons, Peter Rajah, yesterday.
Around 1,000 relatives, friendsand colleagues paid their last respects to the former state and national goalkeeper while some openly wept at a packed St. Michael Catholic Church in Penampang.
Peter, 63, passed away on November 14 after suffering a heart attack two days earlier in Sandakan, where he was the Sandakan Sports Complex manager.
He left behind wife Tracie Gom and three children Elaine, Amanda and Reuben.
In an eulogy to her beloved father, Elaine described him as a ‘good husband, a great father, friend and colleague’.
She however could not hold back her emotions as she broke down in tears when she uttered the words, “Papa, you will always be remembered”.
Sabah Football Association (Safa) vice president Datuk Jahid Jahim remembered Peter as a ‘very passionate and dedicated man, who was loved by many’.
“He was a multi-talented sportsman and an efficient sports administrator...he was very much into sport until his passing,” he said when met after thefuneral service that lasted for around two hours.
“The fact that so many turned up and paid their last respects today proved what a great and popular person he was.
“His former team-mates (with the national and state team), former and current State footballers were also here.
“I hope what Peter had achieved in football would inspire the younger generation to reach greater heights,” added Jahid.
Among others who attended were former state and national team-mates James Wong and Hassan Sani, as well as their juniors in the football arena, and the directors of the Sabah Sports Board led by chairman Datuk Louis Rampas.
Peter donned Sabah colours between 1972 to 1995 and helped Malaysia qualify for the Moscow Olympics Games in 1980, although the squad did not participate due to the US-led boycott which Malaysia joined.
Peter was laid to rest at Lampaki Private Cemetery in Kampung Inobong, just aboutone kilometre from his house.