The irony is probably lost on motorists who endure congestion on the 17.2km stretch of Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, the road named after one of Malaysia’s greatest footballers, who became known as Supermokh.
Magical Mokhtar, who died in 1991, gave the national and Selangor teams a vibrancy, and was worshipped by his fans for his bewitching talent.
There was always the sense that something was happening when Mokhtar had possession. Bums off the seats every time. It was rare, it was special.
To immortalise Mokhtar as one of the greatest sportsmen in Malaysian history, the highway, the national football academy and a public square are named after him.
The Mokhtar Dahari Football Academy is responsible for turning promising talents into professional players.
One of its most successful graduates is Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, a striker who plays for KV Kortrijk in Belgium’s top football league.
Last year, all 44 trainees from the academy were recruited by Malaysian Super League teams.
The Mokhtar Dahari Community Square in Kampung Pandan, where Mokhtar grew up, helps bring the local residents together, and promotes the love for sport among parents and children.
The field at the centre is often used by football players of all ages, reminiscent of the local hero who once played football barefoot in Kampung Pandan and went on to achieve international reknown.
Mohktar’s talent and his stories are an irresistible invitation to us to reimagine what Malaysian patriotism and unwavering passion for sport could mean.
Born on November 13, 1953 to a family of five siblings in Setapak, he came from humble beginnings, his father a lorry driver who often struggled to make ends meet, and his mother a housewife.
At the age of 10, he began playing badminton, table tennis, sepak takraw and football for his school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Kuantan.
His family relocated closer to town, moving to Kampung Pandan in 1964. A year later, Mokhtar went to secondary school at Victoria Institution where his passion for football began to flourish.
The striker’s dazzling displays eventually earned him Selangor colours at just 16 years old. He scored 177 goals in 375 games for the Red Giants, playing alongside other Selangor greats such as Jamaluddin Norbit and Reduan Abdullah.
Supermokh won 10 Malaysia Cup titles for Selangor, and shone for Malaysia after making his international debut in 1972 aged 19.
One of his most memorable goals in national colours was his second goal against Bertie Mee’s Arsenal in a friendly in 1975 at Stadium Merdeka.
A 30,000-strong crowd watched as goalkeeper R Arumugam launched a goal kick past the halfway line to Isa Bakar who found Mokhtar. In less than 20 seconds, Mokhtar dribbled the ball from the halfway line, played a one-two pass with Isa before firing home and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Such was his prowess that Mokhtar reportedly received interest from other clubs but when asked about these offers, he famously replied, “I live and die for Selangor”.
He scored 89 goals in 142 international appearances for Malaysia, helping the country win Sea Games gold twice among other international honours.
Mokhtar retired from the game at the age of 32, and several years later, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He battled the illness for three years until his death at age 37.