KUALA LUMPUR: National football team head coach K Rajagobal and the late football legend R. Arumugam or better known as ‘Spiderman’ for his silky skills and brilliant saves, were awarded the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) which carries the title ‘Datuk’ in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday.
Arumugam and Rajagobal were among 67 recipients of the awards from Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Balairong Seri, Istana Negara yesterday.
Rajagobal guided the national team to achieve a historic feat by lifting the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time in 14 years, a prized gift for the Malaysian fans, deprived of football glory for many years.
Arumugam, the former national team goalkeeper was not only regarded as the best in the country but in Asia as well and also helped the country qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
He died in a road accident in 1988.
Former long distance ace and multiple SEA Games gold medallist M Ramachandran and FIFA referee Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh received the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN). — Bernama