Selangor In The 1st Asian Champion Teams Tournament 1967

     The 1st Asian Champion Teams Tournament was held from 6 May until 19 December 1967. It was founded by Asia Football Confederation (AFC). In this first tournament, the participated clubs were divided into two groups. Group A consists of Selangor FA (Malaysia), South China (Peaople's Republic of China), Korea Tungsten Company (South Korea) and Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel). Then, in Group B consists of Vietnam Customs (South Vietnam) and Bangkok Bank FC (Thailand). However, representative club from India and Iran withdrew from this championship. Korea Tungsten Company automatically qualified to the semi final. Hapoel Tel Aviv automatically qualify to the final. Selangor FA main players were Abdullah Yeop Noordin (captain), Chinna Karuppan, Abdul Ghani Minhat, M. Chandran, Sardar Khan, Hyder Khan, Zulkifli Norbit, Chow Kwai Lam, N. Thanabalan, Ibrahim Mydin, Foo Fook Chuan and Wong Fook Yong. The reserved players of Selangor FA were Agus Salim, Teh Cheng Lee, Chan Yong Cheong, Ong Kim Leng, Rozaini Nasrom, R. Gunaratnam, Singha Namasivayam and Azizi Mahmud. The coach for Selangor FA was E.C. Dutton. On 6 May 1967, Selangor FA draw with Vietnam Customs. Later on 3 June 1967 Selangor FA won 2-1 against Vietnam Customs. On the other match, on 18 May 1967, South China won against Bangkok Bank FC with a score 1-0. Then, on 27 May 1967, Bangkok Bank FC won against South China with the score 2-0. 

Asia Football Confederation emblem.

     Selangor FA and Bangkok Bank FC qualified to the second round based on aggregate. In the second round, Selangor FA qualified to the semi final round after won against Bangkok Bank FC based on aggregate of 1-0 after won 1-0 in the first match and draw 0-0 in the second match.

Selangor FA vs Vietnam Customs

Selangor FA team in one of the 1st Asian Club Championship match.

     In the semi final, Selangor FA won against Korea Tungsten Company with the aggregate of 1-0 after draw 0-0 in the first semi final and won 1-0 in the second semi final. Selangor FA qualified to the final round against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The final game was held in Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok in Thailand. Abdul Ghani Minhat scored the leading goal for Selangor FA. Later on, Danny Borsuk from Hapoel Tel Aviv scored an equalizer in the 70th minutes. Then, because of handball from Chow Kwai Lam of Selangor FA, Hapoel Tel Aviv scored a penalty through Yaakov Rachminovich. E.C. Dutton also has to replace Chow Kwai Lam with Singha Namasivayam after Abdullah Yeop Noordin as a captain got angered with Chow Kwai Lam mistakes on the field. Hapoel Tel Aviv lead by 2-1 scores until the final whistle and Selangor did not managed to lift the the Asian Champion Teams Tournament trophy in this 1st Asian Champion Teams Tournament 1967. 

Selangor FA coat of arms in the 1967.

Hapoel Tel Aviv coat of arms in 1967.

     Apart from winning the runners up medal by the Selangor FA players, the Hapoel Tel Aviv also gave to the Selangor FA players the Globus silver 925 ballpoint pen as a commemorative souvenir. In addition, Hapoel Tel Aviv also invited Selangor FA to play a friendly match in Israel. However, it did not happened because Malaysia did not has a diplomatic tie with Israel. This 1st Asian Champion Teams Tournament 1967 was the most memorable and best moment for Selangor FA in their international match achievement. We as the Selangor FA fans won't never forget this great match and the legend players behind the Selangor FA great team.  

Runners up medal won by Selangor FA.

 Runners up medal won by Selangor FA.

 Globus silver 925 ballpoint pen as a commemorative souvenir for Selangor FA.

 Globus silver 925 ballpoint pen as a commemorative souvenir for Selangor FA.

*Reminder: Anyone who wants to contribute their sources/artifacts to be review in this blog, do not hesitate to contact Aizusan the curator at this e-mail address: faiz_mapy07@yahoo.com