KUALA LUMPUR: Former national player V. Krishnasamy died on Sunday after a long battle with diabetes. He was 72.
Krishnasamy's biggest achievement was representing Malaysia at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In Munich, Malaysia played three matches: losing to West Germany 3-0 and Morocco 6-0, while beating the United States 3-0.
Midfielder Krishnasamy didn't see action in any of the two matches that Malaysia lost, but he played in the one that Malaysia won, against the USA.
His death was confirmed by the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) and family members on Sunday.
The sergeant major from the Prisons Department had been ill for a while. The toes on his left leg, which used to serve him so well as a footballer, were amputated due to diabetes about two years ago.
He was admitted to the Penang General Hospital on Friday as his condition deteriorated.
Krishnasamy played for the Penang Indian Association and Waterfall Rangers, before representing Penang in the Burnley Cup where he was spotted by Prisons Department coach Jalil Che Din.
It was while turning out for prisons in the Taiping League that he was selected for the Perak state team, and the national team from 1967.
He played for the national team from 1967 to 1976.
After his football career, Krishnasamy continued his contribution to sport as a technical official in the Penang Amateur Athletic Association for many years.
Krishnasamy will be cremated at the Batu Lanchang Hindu Crematorium in Penang at 1.30pm today.