A Wrong Reproduction of Merdeka Cup 1958 Replica Trophy

     This Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy  was displayed in one of the exhibition programme held in National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Although it was a replica trophy, but its must be similar exactly like the genuine one. This is because this trophy was displayed to deliver correct informations about the history of that trophy and the unique designs or craftsmanship of that trophy. That's why it must in the accurate detailed. Not just perfunctory in producing this trophy. We did noticed a few incorrect informations that can be found on this trophy and it was ashamed that this thing can happen. This can tarnish the image of National Museum because it displayed an incorrect replica trophy. Further details can be seen below:-  

The Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy.

 

The genuine Merdeka Cup 1958 trophy.

Description about this Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy.

Front close up of Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy.

Below, the wrong informations about the Malaysia and Myanmar flag on the Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy..

Close up of Malaysia flag (left) and Myanmar flag (right).

     For our informations, in 1958, Malaysia was known as Malaya, but not Malaysia !!! Malaysia came into existance in 1963. Flag attached on this trophy was a Malaysia flag with 14 stripes, but not a Malaya flag with 11 stripes. Furthermore, in Merdeka Cup 1958, Myanmar did not participated. How come Myanmar flag was attached on this trophy ??? Participating countries in this Merdeka Cup 1958 were Malaya, South Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. This proof can be seen on the picture of  Merdeka Cup 1958 shield below:-

Merdeka Cup 1958 shield.

*photo credit man Olimpik

Merdeka Cup 1958 mini shield.

     Last but not least, this serious mistake should not be done on this Merdeka Cup 1958 replica trophy. Although it just a replica trophy, but in delivering 100% correct informations and accuracy of facts are most important because this is related to our football heritage and history pride. Any responsible organisation should take IMMEDIATE action to recall back this trophy and correct back all the mistakes that has been done !!!

*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

Merdeka Football Festival 1958 - The First Merdeka Football Festival Won By Malaysia.

In 1958, Malaysia known as Malaya and it was the year after it gained independence in 1957. Malaya held the 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival on 31st August 1958 in order to celebrate the first anniversary of its independence. This was the year that Malaya gained its first victory as a champion in the Merdeka Football Festival. Under the leadership of a legendary coach, Choo Seng Quee, Malaya team lead by Chan Tuck Choy won this tournament by beating the Hong Kong team. Malaya players consist of Lim Ah Lek, Boey Chong Lian, Zainal Abidin, Kwong Chong Yin, Woo Ah Wah, Choo Seng Quee, Yusof Bakar, M.Joseph, E.C. Dutton, Koay Ban Chuan, Wong Yuen Ching, Ahmad Nazari, Jalil Che Din, Rahim Omar, Chan Tuck Choy, Abdul Ghani Minhat, Lourdes, M.Govindasamy, Lim Kee Siong, Mok Wai Hong, Wong Kim Seng, Robert Choe and Ng Boon Bee. Participant countries for the 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival consist of Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Vietnam and Indonesia. Choo Seng Quee was a legendary coach and very well known in Malaysia and Singapore. Tunku Abdul Rahman as a President of Football Association Malaya/Malaysia put a great belief on him to bring Malaya/Malaysia team to its peak and he managed to do that with a great pride. One of the ex-player namely Koay Ban Chuan said that the Malaya 1958 team was the best team Malaysia has ever had.

Malaya team rise up the winning trophy of the 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival 1958.

The winning team of Malaya with the trophy.

Malaya 1958 team.

The 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival champion medal.

The 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival 1958 shield.

*photo credit to Man Olimpik

The 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival 1958 mini shield.

Back photo of the 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival 1958 mini shield. Made by Wing Sun & Co., a local company.

Choo Seng Quee.

Tunku Abdul Rahman

The 1st Merdeka Anniversary Football Festival 1958 trophy that was won by Malaya.

The Malaya 1958 team photo on an oversea match trip.

*photo credit to Koay Ban Chuan

The Malaya 1958 team photo on an oversea match trip.

*photo credit to Koay Ban Chuan

*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

Pesta Bola Merdeka Yang Pertama Tahun 1957

    Buat julung kalinya, Tuanku Abdul Rahman selaku Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaya yang berjiwa sukan telah menganjurkan suatu pertandingan bola sepak berprestij yang dinamakan Pesta Bola Merdeka sempena menyambut kemerdekaan Malaya pada tanggal 31 Ogos 1957 di Stadium Merdeka. Ini adalah pertandingan Pesta Bola Merdeka yang pertama di dalam sejarah Malaysia. Pertandingan ini merangkumi beberapa buah negara serta tanah jajahan British di Asia seperti Malaya, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapura, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam Selatan dan Hong Kong. Pesta Bola Merdeka ini diadakan pada 31 Ogos 1957 sehinggalah pada 7 September 1957 bertempat di Stadium Merdeka. Pasukan Malaya memulakan latihan pada 25 Ogos 1957 dan para pemainnya terdiri daripada pemain pasukan Selangor (Ng Mun Keai, Edwin Dutton, Abdul Ghani Minhat, S.Lourdes, Joe Soosay, Govindarajoo, Narayanasamy, Tang Cheok Foo), pemain pasukan Negeri Sembilan (Mok Wai Kin, Mok Wai Hong, Rahim Omar), pemain pasukan Perak (Wong Kong Leong, Liew Fee Yuen), pemain pasukan Johor (Ong Kim Hock, Yip Chong Yin, Voon Shin), pemain pasukan Melaka (Tan Ban Chuan) dan pemain pasukan Pulau Pinang (Pang Siang Hock, Aziz Ahmad, Chua Poh Aun). Arthur Manuel dilantik sebagai pengurus pasukan Malaya dan Neoh Boon Hean pula sebagai jurulatih pasukan Malaya.

Pesta Bola Merdeka 1957

Pasukan Malaya

    Perasmian Pesta Bola Merdeka ini dirasmikan oleh Tuanku Abdul Rahman pada jam 5:30 petang pada 31 Ogos 1957 disertai dengan perbarisan masuk lapan pasukan yang bertanding di pertandingan Pesta Bola Merdeka ini. Piala kemenangan bagi juara Pesta Bola Merdeka ini dinamakan sebagai Piala Perdana Menteri dan pembuatannya menelan belanja Dollar Malaya 1,400.00. 

Piala Perdana Menteri

    Pada pusingan pertama, pasukan Malaya berjaya mengalahkan Burma dengan jaringan 5-2. Pasukan Malaya mara ke pusingan kedua. Di pusingan kedua, pasukan Malaya dikalahkan oleh pasukan Vietnam Selatan dengan jaringan 1-4. Kemudian pasukan Malaya bertemu dengan pasukan Hong Kong dan terikat dengan jaringan 3-3. Akhirnya pasukan Malaya mara ke pusingan penentuan tempat ketiga. Dukacitanya, pasukan Malaya kalah kepada pasukan Indonesia dengan jaringan 2-4. Pasukan Indonesia berjaya mendapat tempat ketiga. Manakala di pusingan akhir, pasukan Hong Kong muncul juara bagi Pesta Bola Merdeka 1957 dengan kemenangan mengalahkan pasukan Vietnam Selatan dengan jaringan 3-1. 

Pasukan Malaya bertemu pasukan Burma.

    Namun demikian, kemenangan pasukan Hong Kong sebagai juara Pesta Bola Merdeka 1957 adalah suatu tamparan hebat buat Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaya dan juga kesemua pasukan kebangsaan yang bertanding di Pesta Bola Merdeka 1957 kerana pasukan Hong Kong yang menjuarai Pesta Bola Merdeka ini adalah bukan daripada pasukan bola sepak kebangsaan Hong Kong, tetapi adalah daripada pasukan Kelab Bola Sepak Eastern Athletic Association di Hong Kong. Punca utama Persatuan Bola Sepak Hong Kong menghantar pasukan bola sepaknya yang bertaraf kelab ke Pesta Bola Merdeka ini adalah kerana Persatuan Bola Sepak Hong Kong menganggap Pesta Bola Merdeka ini adalah kejohanan bola sepak yang tidak rasmi di rantau Asia Tenggara. Ini adalah suatu cabaran hebat buat Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaya untuk mengangkat Pesta Bola Merdeka sebagai suatu kejohanan bola sepak yang rasmi dan berprestij di rantau Asia Tenggara. Kemudian, usaha Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaya berjaya membuahkan hasil apabila Pesta Bola Merdeka ini bukan sahaja menjadi suatu kejohanan bola sepak yang rasmi dan berprestij di rantau Asia Tenggara, tetapi ianya juga menjadi tumpuan utama pasukan bola sepak dari rantau lain seperti Jepun serta Korea Selatan untuk bertanding dan meningkatkan mutu bola sepak negara masing-masing. Walau bagaimanapun, kini Pesta Bola Merdeka sudah tidak semeriah dahulu kerana telah kehilangan taringnya yang suatu ketika dahulu sentiasa digegarkan oleh pasukan Harimau Malaya. Suatu usaha yang padu perlu dibuat oleh Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia untuk mengembalikan zaman kegemilangan Pesta Bola Merdeka yang penuh bersejarah ini.