PETALING JAYA: He saw success as a player and then hit the pinnacle as the first Malaysian coach to win the domestic treble twice in a row, but Azraai Khor Abdullah was always a humble and friendly man.
He was not only charismatic and a winner, but also honest with his views.
The former national player passed away at the age of 71 yesterday due to a stroke, with the news was confirmed by his son Firdaus Zainuddin.
Azraai was born Khor Sek Leng and played from 1969 to 1986, representing Malaysia from 1975 to 1978.
But it was his coaching career that got him the highest recognition, especially his stint with Kedah.
Azraai won the double treble – winning the league, FA cup and Malaysia Cup, in successive seasons (2006/2007 and 2007/2008) with the Canaries. It was a feat that was only equalled by the all-conquering Johor Darul Ta’zim last year.
He also helped Negri Sembilan win the Malaysia Cup in 2011. He had also managed sides like Perak, Kelantan and Harimau Muda.
After his coaching career, he was known to be media-friendly and gave frank assessments of the Malaysian game, calling a spade a spade.
What made him special was that he was fluent in several languages, being able to speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil and Bahasa Melayu.
He also helped establish academies in Kedah, thanks to his vast knowledge of the game.
His colleague Steve Darby said the Malaysian game has lost a huge figure.
“A lovely bloke. Such sad news. He has gone too early,” said the Englishman, who used to coach Perak and Johor.
“We had many great battles on the pitch, which he usually won. But we were always mates off it. We never treated each other as foreign or local. Just coaches Most of all, he was a good man.”
Azraai’s good friend and football agent Valdir Sousa said it was he who opened the pathway for top Brazilian players like Paulo Rangel and Leandro Dos Santos to make a mark in the Malaysian League.
“He was the best coach I have met in my life. He is honest and loyal, with wide knowledge,” said the Brazilian.
“He is a good friend. I brought him to Brazil three times. It’s a sad day.”
Former Kedah player and the state’s youth and sports committee chairman Mohd Radhi Mat Din, also a former national player, expressed sadness over the news.
“Was informed about the sad news that Malaysian and Kedah legendary footballer and my comrade coach Azraai Khor Abdullah has passed away.
“My condolences to the family of Allahyarham Azraai Khor Abdullah. May his soul be placed with the righteous. Al-Fatihah,” he wrote on Facebook.
