Mokhtar dahari maradona biography

Setapak-born Mokhtar died on July 11 in 1991, aged 37, from motor-neuron disease, five years after he won his 10th and last Malaysia Cup for Selangor.
Footballers around the world honour the World Cup legend.
During the 1970s, Dahari was the Diego Maradona of Southeast Asia.

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Malaysia’s very own late and great football legend, Mokhtar Dahari was listed as the 3rd highest goal scorers in the history of the sport.

The Kuala Lumpur born football icon is credited with scoring a total of 89 goals for Malaysia in over 100 international matches throughout his 15-year career from 1972 to 1987 – just a few goals short from the world’s current number one international top scorer, Iranian footballer Ali Daei.

Datuk Mohd “Supermokh” Dahari was an indomitable figure in the country’s football scene during the golden 70s’, playing side by side with other notable football figures such as Santokh Singh, Soh Chin Aun, and others.

Sporting superior striking skills, Mokhtar was known to fans as the man with the “bullet-like kick”, with a kick so strong that he even broke three of legendary national goalkeeper, R.Arumugam’s fingers to score a goal.

In fact, Supermokh was even featured on the World Star Soccer magazine as one of Asia’s best strikers in 197

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Diego Maradona played against a Malaysian team in 1982. He was 21.

Diego Armando Maradona was just 5 feet 5 inches tall - a dwarf in comparison to the likes of European footballers - yet he struck fear in the hearts of his opponents.

Born on October 30,1960, Maradona is renowned for his flamboyant display of footballing skills, dribbling, and nutmegging his opponents at his peak. This made El Diego, as he was called, a living football legend.

His name is often mentioned in the same vein as George Best, Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, and Johan Cruyff.

But Diego Maradona was not a legend. He was an enigma.

As much as Maradona was adored and loved by his fans, he was equally controversial as well. The now iconic but infamous Hand of God incident, in which he scored a goal against England using his hand at the 1986 World Cup, made him one of the most hated football players as well.

I was born in the same year when Maradona lifted the World Cup. While he was already past his prime by the time I was old enough to recognize him, when the news of his passing broke, I felt deeply sad.

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Datuk Mokhtar Dahari: Footballer, Working Class Hero, Inspiration, Icon

30th of May, 1978. Malaysia’s most iconic footballer of all time is making one of 167 appearances for his country, and finds the ball at his feet just before the halfway line at Merdeka Stadium – his ‘second home’. With a deft swivel, he turns his marker and sets off on a surging run, the ball seemingly glued to his boot, roaring past opposition defenders. Leaving a trail of England players in his wake, he remains composed at speed and, with a final flick of a right foot, blasts a stunning strike into the top corner of the net past a helpless goalkeeper. The power of his own shot and momentum sends the star tumbling, but he immediately springs up in celebration, relishing the moment in front of 45,000 delirious fans.

They had witnessed not only a great goal, but a sequence that embodied the undeniable ability, determination and spirit of Datuk Mokhtar Dahari – just one of many memorable moments that would cement the legend of ‘SuperMokh’ as a true Malaysian hero, both on and off the field.

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