The Forgotten Legend - Yusoff Bakar

     Yusoff Bakar was a very well known goalkeeper for Perak and Malaya from 1950's until 1960's. He was born in Penang on the 1st September 1935. During his glorious day, he was the best goalkeeper for Perak and among the best goalkeeper for Malaya apart from Sexton Lourdes. He was a civil servant who worked in the Prison Department since 1957 and his career developed since then. He retired from the civil service in 1990 as the Director of Alor Star Prison. During his time, every Perakian and Malayan knew him with a title of "Iron Gate" and always said his name as their favourite goalkeeper. In Perak, he was in the same team with other Perak legends such as Jalil Che Din, Mahat Ambu, Yee Seng Choy, Ahmad Nazari, Majid Ariff and many more. Then, when he played for Malaya, he was in the same team with other Malayan legends such as Sexton Lourdes, Koay Ban Chuan, E.C. Dutton, Abdul Ghani Minhat, Arthur Koh, Abdullah Nordin, Ahmad Nazari, Robert Choe, M. Kuppan, Rahim Omar and many more. He also being trained under the lagendary Malayan coach that was Coach Choo Seng Quee. He was born as a great goalkeeper during Malayan football was on its peak. His greatest achievement was winning the gold medal in Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games in 1961 held in Rangoon (Yangdon), Burma (Myanmar). He also involved in Merdeka Football Festival and many others friendly games with the foreign team such as Brazil, Peru, Japan, England and many more. His jersey number when he played for Malaya was number 16.

     However, when he retired and when Malaya changed its name from Malaya to Malaysia, he was forgotten and left behind. His contributions to the country were forgotten. He was the forgotten legend on his own motherland, that was Malaysia. Now, he is disable to walk and to move his body because of his illness and his aged. I still remember when he called me "Young Man" and for me he deserved to be recognised and appreciated by the Malaysian Government and Football Association of Malaysia because he was a Malaysian Living Football Legend. It is irrelevant for us to recognise and appreciate a legend when he already passed away. Why can't we do it when he still alive? Let all of us pray for his recovery and gain a healthy life. Yusoff Bakar, you are the legend !!

Yusoff Bakar when he was in service with Prison Department.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya Cup Final 1961 Perak vs Selangor. Perak lost 2-4 to Selangor.

Top left: Yusoff Bakar was in the Perak team as a goalkeeper in this Malaya Cup final 1961 match.

Merdeka Football Festival 1961. Malaya lost 1-2 to Indonesia in the final.

*photo credit to Zachary

 

Malaya team for Merdeka Football Festival 1961. Yusoff Bakar was a goalkeeper for Malaya team.

*photo credit to Zachary

Yusoff Bakar received a football gift from Tunku Abdul Rahman.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya football players received Rolex watches as the appreciation gifts from Tunku Abdul Rahman.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya football contingent parade in the international tournament.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya football officers and players together with Tunku Abdul Rahman.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Football gift received by Yusoff Bakar from Football Association of Malaya.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya vs England

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya vs Peru

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Malaya vs Japan

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Perak vs Japan

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

Yusoff Bakar in action catching the ball in one of the Perak football match.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

 

On the left was a figure of Yusoff Bakar in action catching the ball. On the right was the front cover of Malaya Cup Final 1961 match book which adopted the figure of Yusoff Bakar catching the ball.

Yusoff Bakar worn number 16 jersey, was trying to catch the ball shot by Brazil player in one of the Malaya football match in Merdeka Stadium.

*photo credit to Yusoff Bakar

This is Yusoff Bakar right now. He is disabled to walk and to move his body because of his illness and his aged. Let us pray for his recovery and gain a healthy life. You are Malaysian legend, Yusoff Bakar !!!