KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian football has lost one of its favourite sons, Datuk M. Kuppan, who died this evening at his home in Bandar Sri Damansara due to old age. He was 85 years old.
Always known as being soft-spoken and a disciplinarian, Kuppan coached players such as the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, the late Isa Bakar, Datuk James Wong, Datuk Namat Abdullah, and Datuk Soh Chin Ann, leading them to the 1976 Merdeka Pestabola and the 1977 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games title.
Bursting into the football scene in the 50s, Kuppan lifted the Malaysia Cup with Penang in his first season and earned a call-up to the national team and went on to win the Merdeka Cup.
Kuppan donned the national colours for eight years until 1965 and featured in 10 seasons for Penang, where he was born before injury forced him to retire in 1967. He then ventured into coaching.
As coach of Penang from 1972 to 1974, he led the islanders to their fourth Malaysia Cup title in 1974. This win remains the last time Penang won the cup.
Malaysian football great Datuk James Wong told The Vibes that it is sad to hear about the passing of the great icon, adding that Kuppan was nice and a soft-spoken man.
“He was a good coach. We lost a good man and a good coach. My condolences to his family,” said Wong.
Meanwhile, Datuk Soh Chin Ann said that Kuppan was a good friend of his and footballers back in the ’60s and ’70s are fond of him.
“We loved his sense of humour. I am greatly saddened by this news and my condolences to his family. Malaysian football has lost another great,” Chin Ann said.
Talking to The Vibes, Kuppan’s eldest son Sunther said that his father was admitted to the Selayang Hospital last week due to breathing difficulties and was discharged and brought home a few days ago.
“We will be taking him back to Butterworth at 9pm today as the funeral will be held there tomorrow. We have not confirmed the time yet, but it will be towards the afternoon,” he said. – The Vibes, December 30, 2021
