Football legend M. Chandran dies at age 77

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 -- Datuk M. Chandran, regarded as Malaysian most treasured player during the golden age of Malaysian football in the 1960s and 1970s, passed away peacefully due to a motor neuron disease at his house in Ampang Jaya here, at about 7.30 am today.

He was 77.

He leaves behind wife Datin A. Pushpalatha, and two sons aged 36 and 38.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) exco member, Christopher Raj when contacted by Bernama said the late M. Chandran was pronounced dead by the doctor who came to check on him this morning, adding that the latter would be cremated at the Sentul Cremation Ground about 5 pm.

Meanwhile, the Ex-State and Ex-National Footballers Association of Malaysia in the statement issued today said they were deeply saddened with the passing of the late M. Chandran, who was also the past president of the association, as he had made an immense contribution to the Malaysian football in particular,  and in the Asian region in general.

Meanwhile, the current president of the association, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, who played alongside Chandran in the 1960s and 1970s, revealed that the latter had excellent leadership qualities and respected by his teammate and the football fraternity.

“He was a great role model as a player and an administrator who led by example. He was also a strict disciplinarian. He led the association with distinction as the president and it was a responsibility I felt very hard to fill when I took over the presidentship in 2014,” added Soh.

Sharing similar sentiments was Datuk N. Thanabalan, the deputy president of the association and a national football legend, who regarded Chandran’s death as a great loss to him and the country.

“He was my best friend. We played together in the national team for seven years, with him as the great defender and I, who would try to sneak the goals in. Our friendship extends beyond the football field as we were close family friends too,” he said.

Vice-president of the association Datuk Santokh Singh, on the other hand, praised the various traits held by Chandran who had the highest level of discipline, commitment and dedication to the football industry.

“He was always there to provide moral support when the odds were against us. He will be greatly missed,” Santokh quipped.

Chandran, the son of a train driver with the then, Malayan Railways, was born in Sungai Siput, Perak in 1942. After moving to Selangor, he started playing football for the Selangor Indian Association (SIA).

In 1971, the late Chandran guided the Malaysian football team to qualify to the 1972 Munich Olympics, which still remained Malaysia’s best performance in the world football stage.

In 1974, Chandran announced his retirement from the national team and the following year from Selangor.

During his 15-years playing career with Selangor, he helped the team to clinch various trophies, including the Malaysia Cup.

The late Chandran was awarded the Datukship by the fifth Sultan of Pahang, the late Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah in 2000 for his immense contribution to the Malaysian football.

-- BERNAMA