GEORGE TOWN: Former captain of the Penang football team, Abd Aziz Azizan, who was hospitalised after falling ill during a veteran friendly football match here on Sunday, passed away this afternoon.
This was confirmed by a spokesperson of Penang FA in a Facebook posting.
“He passed away about 5.10pm today.
“His remains will be taken to Bagan Lebai Tahir, Telur Air Tawar, Butterworth,” the spokesman said in the posting.
The 54-year-old suddenly felt weak during the match and almost fainted on Sunday evening.
He was taken to the Balik Pulau Hospital, where checks found that his blood pressure was alarmingly high.
Although conscious when admitted to the hospital, Aziz slipped into a coma on Monday morning.
He was then transferred to the Penang Hospital and was on life support before he passed away today.
Aziz was the captain for the Black Panthers in the 1950’s and also played for Selangor and Kedah while making appearance for the national squad too.
Previously another Penang veteran ace Ali Bakar died while playing in Singapore for the Sultan Gold Cup veterans match in August 2003.
The then 56-year-old, who was about to pass the ball to his teammate, collapsed after holding his chest in pain.