GEORGE TOWN - Former Penang Panthers football coach Moey Yoke Ham recently passed away at 76 after suffering from a massive brain haemorrhage.
Moey, who never drove a car in his life, rode a motorcycle around the island to champion his love for football, with the Chinese Recreational Club (CRC) being his main playground to scout for talent.
Moey became Penang's head coach in 1996 to 2000 and transformed Penang from a mid-level team to a respectable force in the local football scene, which took many by surprise because his credentials were confined to social club football.
Under his leadership, Moey's team finished fifth in the league in 1996, and they went to the FA Cup Final in 1997 and 2000, although losing to Selangor and Terengganu on both occasions.
His greatest moment came in 1998 when he guided Penang to the Premier 1 league (now Liga Super) title despite pundits not giving them a chance.
His major achievement was discovering the Moroccan player Merzagua Abderrazak, who became a star forward in his side.
Merzagua was widely regarded as one of the best foreign players to grace the pitch in Malaysia.
"He was not only a coach for us he was a father, a brother and a friend. With him around, I always felt at home.
"He knew how to bring the best out of a player. It is sad to see that he is no more. He will be forever in our heart," Merzagua told The Vibes when contacted last night.
After leaving Penang, Moey went on to coach Home United in the Singapore League before retiring.
Former Penang Team Manager Datuk Gary Nair said that the players simply called him uncle.
"He talked, eat, dream and drank football. It was his life, period."
Moey who studied at the Penang Free School was working in the postal services before becoming a football coach with CRC before his debut for Penang in the 1990s - The Vibes, December 17, 2020.
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