IPOH, June 10 ― Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, who passed away yesterday at 60, did a lot for Perak football when he was team manager in 1989 until 2000.

No doubt about this.

He might have haters but he was the man responsible in Perak’s resurrection after being in the doldrums in the local football scene for a long time.

A hero in Perak football. A legend even to some.

When Raja Ahmad was first appointed as manager, some were skeptical about his abilities to lead the team.

But the outspoken but jovial former journalist took this as a challenge. He was confident and was prepared to work hard to came up with fresh ideas to see Perak improve their standard in both — performance and management.

Guess what?

Perak won the inaugural FA Cup in 1990 when they beat fancied Selangor 4-2 at Merdeka Stadium. The coach then was former local hero M. Karathu.

That success inspired Raja Ahmad.

It was in 1997 he decided to hire vastly experienced German Karl-Heinz Weigang, who led Malaysia to qualify for 1980 Moscow Olympics.

However, the Malaysians did not go to the Games because of a boycott due to Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

And Raja Ahmad requested Weigang to look out for quality foreign imports. And came in the likes of prolific striker Laszlo Repasi and defender Janos Krecska — both of Hungary.

Local stars among others were Khalid Jamlus, V. Saravanan, Indra Putra Mahayuddin.

Under Weigang, Perak instilled fear to opponents. Perak Stadium was always packed at home matches as fans going crazy.

All because of this dynamic duo of Raja Ahmad and Weigang. It will be hard to find a combination like this any more.

These two were not scared to criticise for the betterment of football in the country.

And in one instance, Raja Ahmad was banned for three years by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for just criticising referees.

Very harsh indeed for what he did ... perhaps never happened before elsewhere in the football world. Just to keep him quiet.

Raja Ahmad later became a FAM vice-president, ironically.

Anyway, Raja Ahmad and Weigang could talk about football with journalists until 4am or 5am after match days. Of course, with some humour added as both were good in cracking jokes.

In 1998, Perak won the Malaysia Cup after 28 years by beating Terengganu 5-3 on penalties at National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The teams were tied at 1-1 after extratime.

Weigang left the following year with Chow Kwai Lam taking over. But the German returned midway through the season.

And in 2000, Perak won the Malaysia Cup again by beating Negri Sembilan 2-0 at Shah Alam Stadium.

That was the last time Raja Ahmad and Weigang handled the team. Raja Ahmad had to leave to concentrate on politics where he was a member of parliament for Larut.

But still, recently some upset Perak fans suggested Raja Ahmad to be appointed as manager after the team struggle to make an impact this season.

Raja Ahmad’s passing is a big loss for Perak football.

Perak under Raja Ahmad

Malaysia Cup

― Champions — 1998

― Champions — 2000

FA Cup

― Champions —1990

― Runners-up — 1991

― Charity Shield

― Winners — 1999

What they say

FA of Malaysia general-secretary, Datuk Hamidin Amin:

― Former FAM vice-president Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar passed away is a great lost to the Malaysian football. His contribution as the deputy president with us, exco and the national’s team manager back then was a great achievement. Knowing him since 1995 and personally he was a ‘happy-go-lucky’ kind of person and loves football.”

Asean Football Federation (AFF) general-secretary, Datuk Seri Azzuddin Ahmad:

― We lost a great football figure. Known him since the 80’s and to me, he was a brave person and always voice out anything that he feels wrong especially in work related.”

Former Perak player (1996-2008) and national captain (2000), Ahmad Shahrul Azhar Sofian: 


― Malaysian football especially Perak mourns his passing. He was strict, very serious and disciplined in work especially related  to football. Not easy to get close to him ... but that is his style and concept — serious in job but he is kind. We shared a lot of good memories together and Perak will remember him forever.”

Raja Ahmad’s daughter Raja Nur Dzoriifah:

― He is the person who doesn’t fall in sick often and rarely goes to the hospital. We thought he would recover from the bacterial infection because he told us not worry as it not a serious sickness. When he was admitted at the hospital, his condition was stable, but at around 5pm on Thursday, he was unconscious and on the following day at around 2.30am doctors told us he was in a coma and his chance of survival was dim.”