Part Two: The Emergence of Chud and Cikgu Ishak Taib boys

By Badrulhisham Othman

Football fans who thronged the Padang Besar began to realise there were some differences in Pahang games. Those hard tackles and long balls had changed to more of a passing game, possession football and everybody fell back to help the defence.

There were also many youngsters who graduated from the Burnley Cup (under-19 tournament) in the team. These were players under Cikgu Ishak Taib who was coaching them since their school days and among them later became great players like Jamal Nasir, D Devandran, Rosmaini Mohamed Shah and goalie, Redzuan Shamsuddin.

 Without having a PA system to introduce the names of players in those days, the inclusion of Rosmaini who’s nickname is Chud who appeared more like a basketball player amused the fan, and people started cheering him as “panjang” every time he went for a challenge or dribbling.

 So, for a while, fans called Chud, who stood at 6 feet 1 inch as “panjang” or lanky. At the beginning, he was given a free role. He played a bit deep and ran all over the field chasing the ball and connected to teammates very well.

 But fans could see this lean with shoulder-length hair guy had a pair of long and strong legs and it seems as if the ball was glued to them. He progressively scored and took the load off other forwards. The young team kept improving with each game. That brought hope to fans who waited so long to see Pahang forwards that could get even with their counterparts from Kelantan and Terengganu.

The face of Pahang football changed so much by the time the Stadium Darulmakmur was completed. The fans have the comfy proper terrace seating and enjoy the game under the cool breeze of the night, brighten up by new floodlights. They were also introduced to new members of the squad, the midfielder duo from the Prisons Department and former international players Wan Zawawi Wan Yusof and Hamzah Hussein who played in Munich Olympic 1972.

With a ton of experience, they guided players who are 6 or 7 years younger than they are. And most important is the release of Rosmaini’s potential to his fullest.  Chud once told me: “They (Wan Zawawi and Hamzah) told me to just run towards the opponent area and they will find me anyhow. True enough the delivery of the ball from them was superb.’’ But Chud still needs to do a lot of things like skilfully sidestep his marker outside and blasted the ball or chip it beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.

 Chud was more focused as a central striker and used the advantage of his height to score more goals by heading the long crosses or from the corner kick.

Later ini 1976, Chud had a very reliable sidekick that is Hamidon Abdullah, a national rugby player with body of steel ready to ‘bulldoze’ all the obstacles in front of him. The involvement of Hamidon who was the wing forward for Malaysian rugby team was somehow very amusing.

 “Pahang was defeated badly by Negeri Sembilan in Seremban and the team was looking for a quick fix. Although I am more of a rugger player, I also play football during past time for a club in Kuantan league at Padang Besar.

 “Chud was already a regular in the state team but we form the combination very fast and Chud’s habit to discuss with me before and after a game helps a lot. I knew where he is going to run and vice versa. If I go for a challenge, Chud will be somewhere ready go for the loose ball or my passes,” said Hamidon, Chud’s room mates whenever Pahang play away.  Hamidon had the ability of striking with both legs and was proven to be a very effective forward.

 Reports about Pahang and its young stars started appearing in newspapers. Jamal, Devandran, Hamidon and Rosmaini started getting the national call-up. This brought a sense of pride to young people of Pahang, and every training session at the stadium was watched by hundreds or perhaps thousands of people.

Unfortunately for Chud, in his own words, he said: “Only a mad coach will split the partnership of Mokhtar Dahari and Isa Bakar at that time.” Chud and Hamidon form a replica of the Mokhtar-Isa partnership in Malaysia B, which played successfully in the tournaments in South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

“Chud had issues with the national trainings where it was always dominated by players from certain states,” said Hamidon.

Pahang or Kuantan FA, which Chud played, had won almost everything from FA Cup, FAM Cup, and Piala Emas, and he himself had finished as the top scorer a few times. Despite that, the only trophy that eluded him was Malaysia Cup, which was halted by Singapore in the semi-finals.

 Likewise Selangor in the 70s and 80s, Singapore was blessed with superstars in the calibre of Samad Allapitchay, Quah Kim Song, David Lee, Dollah Kassim, Syed Mutalib, Malek Awab and Fandi Ahmad. To Pahang fans, Singapore came to Kuantan with all the tricks to intimidate Pahang’s young players so they will lose focus on the game.

 In one instance, Samad lobbed a long ball to Kim Song who then made a solo run on the left flank and took down one by one Pahang players. This angered other Pahang players, who were tracking Kim Song’s runs, and in a split second of madness Kim Song was sent crashing to the ground and all hell broke loose.

From 1977 until 1981, Pahang couldn’t get the better of Singapore, and according to Chud’s brother Faisal, 61, Chud started showing his frustration of not winning the Malaysia Cup and believed the team could have done better.

And in 1981, he was contemplating quitting the team but stayed on after being asked to do so by the Sultan.

The arrival of Yunus Aliff and Zainal Abidin Hassan signified the new era of Pahang and the duo partnered Hamidon, who scored the winning goal in the Malaysia Cup final against Selangor in 1983.

Chud in his ‘semi-retirement’ mode was still listed among 18 players line up for the final but was not fielded in that intense game which Pahang won 3-2. Anyway, in the honour lap, Chud was given the honour to hoist the Pahang flag around the Merdeka Stadium. A run of his life. He then officially retired from the state team, which he represented since the early 70s.

It has been two years, Rosmaini Mohamed Shah has left us. Al-Fatihah.

 NEXT: Part 3: Chud left behind a big shoe to fill