KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian football fraternity mourns the passing of former Selangor and national team coach Ken Worden earlier today.
Worden, 78, from Preston, England excelled in his career as a player and coach in Australia before moving to Malaysia in 1991.
He led Selangor to glory in the FA Cup and runners-up in the Malaysia Cup.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal told The Vibes that his passing is a great loss to the football fraternity and to him, personally.
“He was the coach for the Selangor President Cup team in 2003 and 2004 when I was the manager. He was good friend and a most dedicated, committed, and disciplined person I have ever seen in football.
“Even though he was a former coach for the national team and the Selangor senior team, Worden still accepted the job to coach the Red Giant’s President Cup team because he loved football and was committed to do well in whatever job undertook.
“He also wanted to make a difference,” said Subahan.
Sarawak United technical director B. Sathianathan said that Worden was a very passionate about football especially Selangor and it was the only thing they spoke when they met.
“He wanted to stay on forever in football. We had some good conversation about football, and I will miss all the conversation about the game with him. I extend my condolences to his family,” he said.
Meanwhile, FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundram said that it is sad to lose someone who had dedicated his life to football, particularly Malaysian football.
“He is a proven coach and a rare breed in the football industry,” he told The Vibes when contacted.
Worden was appointed as the national coach for two years, replacing Rahim Abdullah from January 1992 until the end of 1993.
During the time, he won the 1992 Vietnam Invitational Championship and Jakarta Cup as well as the 1993 Pestabola Merdeka.
After failing to win the SEA Games in Singapore and being knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers in 1993, Worden took up the Singapore national team coaching job before returning to Malaysia to continue his coaching career with Selangor.
He lifted the Malaysia Cup with Selangor in 1995 and 1996 before plying his trade in Sabah, Terengganu, and KL SPA (Public Services Commission Football Club).
In 2002, Worden returned to Selangor to help them lift the Malaysia Cup.
Among the players Worden coached during his time, included Mubin Mokhtar, Khairul Azman Mohamad, K. Gunalan, Azizol Abu Haniffah, Malek Rahman, Dollah Salleh and Azman Adnan. – The Vibes September 20, 2021
