Sarawak football mourns loss of a favourite son

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A file photo of the 1992 Bujang Senang cup winning side in their away kit. Sazali is squatting third from right while Abdul Jalil squats second from left.

Sazali Mohd. Ramli

KUCHING: The sudden death of Sazali Mohd Ramli the player who scored the winning goal against Kuala Lumpur in Sarawak’s only triumph in the FA Cup in 1992 last Sunday has cast a gloom over the state’s football fraternity.

He was found lifeless in his jogging suit at Millienium Park Tanjung Kidurong apparently due to heart attack while jogging.

His body will be flown here today to be buried at the Samarriang Muslim cemetery today.

Sazali was among the first players recruited by Alan Vest when he took over Sarawak in 1991.

Initially he played as left winger before Vest converted him into left back.

That team captained by Abdul Jalil Ramblee was a more refined progression of the rough and tumble Ngap Sayot mob under maverick coach Awang Mahyan which took Malaysian football by storm in the late 1980’s.

Under Vest Sarwak shed their somewhat outlandish Ngap Sayot sobriquet in favour of more recognizable alter ego, Bujang Senang, the mythical crocodile.

Sazali was vital cog in that team with his no nonsense tackles and speedy overlapping runs from the back.

The crosses delivered with his left foot provided fodder for the hulking Australian imported striker John Hunter.

Sazali who hailed from Kampung Surabaya here quit the state team to move to Bintulu in 1997 to work as an auxiliary police for Petronas citing the need to “opt for the security of his job instead of the lucrative but relatively short career of professional football”.

Several Bujang Senang fans who remembered him fondly called The Borneo Post to express their disbelief and sorrow over the loss of the player who etched his name in Sarawak’s football folklore with that winning goal he scored in the 1992 FA Cup final.

Among the first to express sorrow over Sazali’s death was Sarawak Football Fans Club (SFFC) president Peter Moni who said, “It was a sad day for Sarawak football. We are talking about a man who played a vital role in the success of Sarawak football here.”

Peter believed Sazali was “the best left back” ever to don the state’s colours.

Abdul Jalil when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday remembered Sazali as a popular character and an excellent footballer.

“I recall that he was a jovial character and a friend to everyone during our time playing for Sarawak. He was well-liked and got along with everyone.”

Jalil vividly remembered that goal scored by Sazali in the cup final, without that effort Sarawak’s trophy shelf would still be without any national silverware he mused.