KUALA LUMPUR – “I’m going to miss his calls and his constructive criticisms,” said Selangor FC head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, expressing his grief over the passing of legendary national football player Khalid Ali.
Khalid, who wore the iconic black and yellow jersey from 1977 to 1985, passed away at the age of 66 after battling lung cancer for nearly a year.
It was reported that Khalid was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer around April last year.
Speaking to Scoop, Cheng Hoe said that Khalid’s passing was a big loss for the football fraternity, citing his constructive criticism for the betterment of the national football landscape.
“I have known Khalid for a very long time, and he was a gem of a person who always thought about football 24 hours a day. The passing of Khalid is a big loss for Malaysian football, and he has contributed a lot during his playing days for the country.
“He was a very outspoken man who genuinely cared about the game more than anything else in his life. Throughout his life, he always wanted to see the glorious days of Malaysian football.
“I never had the chance to play with him in the national team, as we played in two different eras, but I played with him in several friendly matches organised by the Football Association of Malaysia in the past. Khalid was a player who was calm with the ball.
“He was always in conversation with me since the day I became a coach, especially with the national team (2018-2022), and he always provided me with useful insights about the game and aspects that I could improve as a coach. I’m going to miss his calls and his constructive criticisms. May his soul rest in peace,” said Tan.
Khalid, who was also a former right-back for Selangor FC, helped Harimau Malaya qualify for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He was well known for his versatility, playing both as a right-back and a defensive midfielder.
Khalid had two stints with Selangor, playing for them from 1976 to 1980 and then from 1983 to 1985. In between, he played for Kuala Lumpur FC (1981-1982).
Khalid won five major titles with Selangor FC (Malaysia Super League, 1984; Malaysia Cup, 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1984) and also won a gold medal for Malaysia in the 1979 SEA Games in Jakarta. – February 6, 2024