Former Malaysian footballers honor late captain with new trophy

Former Malaysian international footballers and their Western Australian counterparts gathered in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, to compete for the inaugural Dato' M Chandran Challenge Trophy.

The event honored the memory of M Chandran, a former national captain who initiated the friendship between the two groups more than 20 years ago. Although the Malaysian side lost 2-0 to the Western Australian team, the participants focused on the enduring bond created by Chandran.

The trophy serves as a permanent tribute to Chandran, who died in 2019 at the age of 77. He originally envisioned a way for senior players from both countries to build friendships beyond their playing careers. His teammates and friends now maintain this tradition as an annual contest to preserve his legacy of sportsmanship and mutual respect. The reunion included several prominent figures from Malaysia's football history, such as Soh Chin Ann and Santokh Singh.

During the ceremony, Soh Chin Ann presented a souvenir to Chandran's wife, A Pushpalatha. She expressed gratitude for the recognition of her husband's lifelong sacrifices and contributions to the sport. The match was managed by N Thanabalan and coached by Santokh Singh. Frank Houston, the captain of the Western Australian seniors and a close friend of Chandran, stated that the trophy preserves the values of friendship and a shared love of football that Chandran established decades ago.