Formidable force
Football legends from the team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics sign up for #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk 2017.
SHAH ALAM: On the field back in the 70s and 80s, they formed a potent partnership that remains unrivalled to this day.
Not many can forget the exploits of former national football captain Datuk Soh Chin Aun and his co-centreback Datuk Santokh Singh, who together with the twin strikers James Wong and Hassan Sani helped Malaysia qualify for the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
That remains easily the highest point of Malaysian soccer, with the team edging South Korea 2-1 in a thrilling match.
The towering Wong scored the winner with just four minutes remaining of the match at Stadium Merdeka, with Hassan providing the crucial pass.
In defence, Soh and Santokh worked their socks off to keep the marauding Koreans at bay.
Last year’s hit movie Ola Bola was largely based on the team in which the “dynamic four” fared prominently.
Later this month, they will set aside time to take part in an event which they are immensely proud of – the third edition of the #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk.
Making their debut in the walk will be Wong and Hassan, who are coming all the way from Sabah.
Wong said he grew up in a Malay village in Kota Kinabalu where people “cared and shared”.
“There was no problem with the food we chose to enjoy ... the choice was ours,” he recalled.
“Look at the four of us; you have a Punjabi, a Chinese and two Sabahans of mixed races. We are different but we are one,” he said.
As national footballers, Wong said he and his teammates shared a dormitory and lived and trained as “one family”.
That family included players like “Spiderman” R. Arumugam, striker Isa Bakar and the legendary Mokhtar Dahari, among others.
Wong said national integration had been talked about for long but added it would remain a distant dream if people did not change their mindset.
Encouraging more people to be a part of the unity walk, Wong said the event provided a perfect platform for Malaysians to show their love for the country.
Hassan, who lives in Labuan, said he was blessed to be a Sabahan.
“Life is simple and people are friendly.
“There are people of many races there but we do not have problems and people go about their own lives,” he said.
Soh, known as the “Towkay” for his commanding performances on the field, echoed the views of his ex-colleagues, saying the event was important to help promote national unity.
“People need to break stereotypes to live in harmony,’’ he added.
Santokh paid tribute to Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman who he said gave Malaysians a headstart in living together as one race.
“We need to show respect and have a generous regard for the rights and feelings of each other,’’ he added.
He said that back in the old days, there were no barriers between Malaysians.
Santokh took part in the event last year and said he was pleasantly surprised to see a diverse group of Malaysians walking together.
“I saw someone on a wheelchair who was being pushed by a person of a different race. It was heartening to see that,’’ he added.
The #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk 2017 will be held at Dataran Kemerdekaan, Shah Alam, on Aug 27.
The registration fee is RM80 for a family (two adults plus two children), RM40 for an adult and RM15 for a child (12 years and below).
Registration for this year’s walk can be done at http://sites.thestar.com.my/aamwalk/
# AnakAnakMalaysia Walk is organised by Star Media Group in partnership with Eco World Development Group Bhd.
Other sponsors for the event include Proton (car sponsor) and Panasonic (silver sponsor).