TAIPING: Malaysian football lost another star following the death of the legendary Shaharuddin Abdullah at the age of 75.
The Olympian passed away at the Taiping Hospital yesterday morning.
Shaharuddin was nicknamed the Black Cat and the Sharpshooter for his deadly finishing for the national team and Penang.
He starred for Malaysia in the 1972 Munich Olympics, playing in all three group games and scored in the 3-0 win against the United States.
Overall Shaharuddin made 70 appearances for Malaysia and scored 39 international goals from 1967 to 1974.
He also helped the national team to win a bronze medal at the 1974 Tehran Asian Games.
Datuk Santokh Singh, who played alongside Shaharuddin at the 1974 Tehran Asiad, said his former teammate was a jovial person on and off the pitch.
"He was one of the best headers of the ball I have ever seen. He was a good finisher who always played well for the national team," said Santokh.
"We played together in only two or three tournaments. I came into the national team when he was at the end of his career, so we didn't have much time together.
"He's always cheerful. I am sad to hear about his passing," said Santokh.
Meanwhile, Datuk Richard Scully, who played with Shaharuddin from 1979-1980 for Penang in the M-League, said the legend always encouraged him to play well, and both of them won the 1974 Malaysia Cup for Penang.
"I heard about his death early in the morning and I offer my condolences to his family," said Richard who was goalkeeper for Penang from 1979-1995.
"I was a teenager at that time and Penang had great seniors like Shaharuddin and his brother, Namat Abdullah, Ali Bakar and Mohammed Bakar. They were great players and they were always teaching and guiding the younger players.
"Shaharuddin was always joking to lighten the pressure on the younger players. He always encouraged me to play well and to earn the cheers from the Penang supporters at the City Stadium.
"He was a terrific player and his shots would sting your palms.
"I remember once I couldn't take his shots in training and gave up. He asked me to step up and learn, and when I gave up again, he put Peter Shilton's (England goalkeeper) picture on the post and said he would train with Peter Shilton,
"That's how free spirited he was, always joking and making things fun in training. It's a great loss for Malaysian and Penang football. I hope he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with other Penang greats at the City Stadium."