KUALA LUMPUR – Petaling Jaya City FC (PJ City) right-back Rajes Perumal died in a road accident at Batu Caves earlier this morning. He was 37.
According to PJ City head coach P. Maniam, Rajes passed away due to injuries suffered following the motorcycle accident, but details of the crash were still uncertain.
“He died of head injuries from the accident. The body is now in Selayang Hospital, and we are waiting for the autopsy reports.
“We are also waiting for the details of the accident,” said Maniam.
An experienced defender, Rajes moved to PJ City in 2018, and played a vital role for the team.
Maniam said the late defender was a leader in the locker room.
“Rajes always advised the other players, and they respected him for that.
“Even at 37-years-old, he was fit and was looking to continue playing next year,” he told The Vibes.
The coach added that Rajes’ demise was a great loss to the club.
“He was a highly disciplined player who was fully committed.
“He was the second captain, of course K. Gurusamy is there and so is Mahalli Jasuli, but Rajes was considered the next-in-command.
“I would sometimes discuss the line-up and strategies with him and the captain as well,” he added.
Maniam added that the loss was devastating to Rajes’ family, as the late player leaves behind a wife and three kids, with the youngest being 8-months-old.
Rajes previously played for the now-defunct PKNS FC from 2011 to 2013, with the team winning the Premier League in his first year there.
He then moved to Selangor FC and Kedah Darul Aman FC – followed by a return to PKNS – before his current stint at PJ City.
PJ City, along with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Johor Darul Ta’zim FC also shared their condolences to Rajes’ family. – The Vibes, October 17, 2022
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