As a Malaysia Cup star in the 1970s, the goal poacher – known as Mat Noh – charmed Malaysian fans strung by the intense football rivalry between both the countries.
It takes something special for a supporter to applaud a great performance or piece of skill against their team: Mat Noh commanded that respect.
Mat Noh, who was a member of Singapore’s 1977 Malaysia Cup winning team, died at the age of 67.
He suffered a heart attack on Sunday and died in hospital yesterday.
Former national and Selangor great, defender Santokh Singh, described Mat Noh as a “troublemaker” to defences, saying: “He was a cool guy but a menace on the pitch.”
Santokh was in the national team who lost 1-0 to Singapore in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers in 1977, with Mat Noh firing home a penalty.
He said: “In the matches against Malaysia and Selangor, he often caused trouble for us in the centre and on the wing.
“Mat Noh was well-known in Malaysia for his coolness and nippy play.”
The FA of Singapore paid tribute to Mat Noh in a Facebook post, recalling how he entertained a generation of fans in the 70s with his dazzling dribbling prowess and body feints on the pitch.
The mid-70s was the era of the “Kallang Roar” when 60,000 fans packed the Singapore National Stadium for every match the Lions played.
Singapore football was at its prime and several players were household names both in the republic and Malaysia.
They included Mat Noh, S Rajagopal, Quah Kim Song, Dollah Kassim, Arshad Khamis, Samad Allapitchay, M Kumar, Hasli Ibrahim, Seak Poh Leong, Syed Mutalib, Edmund Wee and Eric Paine.
Veteran journalist Suresh Nair said: “Mat Noh was perhaps the most dashing football striker, with silky skills to match in the 1970s, at the height of the iconic Kallang Roar.
“He was revered as a sporting role model, who even earned the nickname as Singapore’s ‘Allan Clarke’ (England and Leeds goal-poacher supreme).”
Nair said Mat Noh’s good looks and fantastic football skills gained him fans in Singapore and across the causeway.
Mat Noh lived a stylish, yet quiet, life and maintained his charm and charisma, he said.
Nair recalled Mat Noh’s wedding more than 40 years ago to famous singer, Rahimah Rahim, was the talk of the town captivating both Singaporeans and Malaysians.
The celebrity couple, who often made media headlines, divorced in 1988.
“Since he hung up his boots three decades ago, he strangely led a reclusive life and distinctly kept away from the public eye.
“We salute his overwhelming contributions as a true-blue Lion,” said Nair who played upfront with Mat Noh in the 80s for Singapore Press Holdings in local and overseas tournaments.