Former national goalkeeper Khairuddin Zainal not only carved a name as an outstanding custodian but also has the proud honour of managing the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium at Jalan Duta, where the first astroturf in the country was laid for the 2nd Junior World Cup in 1982 which Malaysia hosted.
Khairuddin, an outspoken and no-nonsense personality, who celebrated his 77th birthday on November 21, in the company of his wife and two grown-up daughters at their Batang Kali, Ulu Selangor home, when visited, spoke with fond memories of his stint at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium.
“My eldest daughter surprised me with a phone call that morning and wished me a Happy Birthday. She also bought a cake. Only then did I realise that I had turned 77 years old! Time moves very fast,” chuckled Khairuddin as he sipped from a cup of coffee.
Khairuddin, a member of the 4th-placed Malaysian World Cup team that finished fourth in the 1975 tournament held in Malaysia, started his working career as an apprentice with the Malaysian Railways (KTM) in the early 1970s before joining the National Sports Council.
He was then seconded to the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium, which was officially opened on 4 August 1982.
Khairuddin was assigned to oversee the day-to-day management of the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium, with its brand new synthetic turf. The stadium had a 5,000-seating capacity.
“The Tun Razak Hockey Stadium was the first artificial turf pitch in the country. I was not only involved in the maintenance of the pitch but also played on it. The artificial turf was imported from the United States.” said Khairuddin, a former student of St John Institution in Kuala Lumpur.
The artificial turf was laid for RM 1.7 million.
“When Malaysia was given the job of hosting the Junior World Cup in 1982, the artificial turf was still in the progress of being completed,” recalled Khairuddin.
“To get the national juniors accustomed to the artificial turf (first time the tournament was playedon artifical turn after the inaugural tournament in France in 1979 where it was played on grass), the Malaysian Hockey Federation (then) arranged for a three-week playing tour of Europe and Pakistan in late May.
“Managing the stadium with it’s new turf was a learning process because it was new to us.
“We had the experts who laid the turf guiding us through the process.
“We were indeed glad and rejoiced when the Junior World Cup ended without any problems with the turf.
“I am glad that I was given an opportunity to be involved in the history-making event held for the first time on artificial turf.”
Khairuddin retired from the civil service in 1997, after serving more than 20 years. However, when Malaysia hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games, he was absorbed by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (SUKOM) and appointed as the logistics manager at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
“Another milestone appointment in my career, and to still be involved in the game which I love so much with passion and pride.”
When told that Malaysia will host the 13th edition of the Junior World Cup at the same venue from Dec 5-16, Khairuddin’s eyes sparkled. His conversation quickly turned intense.
“I have some advice for our goalkeepers. If you want to be a good goalkeeper, you must run with your pads on two times around the pitch. Get used to your pads. Don’t always change your pads. Play with the one that you are most comfortable wearing. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, our pads were made of rattan and were very heavy, but we got used to them,” he added.
“It’s only a Junior World Cup. Don’t be nervous and don’t think too much about your opponents. Always stay calm. Discipline is very important as a goalkeeper. Remain focused and watch the movement of every opponent player near you.”
The younger generation may be oblivious to his sporting excellence.
The former national hockey icon was a member of the country’s most successful teams that qualified for the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympics, not forgetting a glorious past in the Amsterdam (1973) and Kuala Lumpur (1975) World Cup.
The semi-final match between Malaysia and India in the 1975 World Cup was played on 13 March. It was called off due to rain nine minutes into the game and was rescheduled for the following day. India went on to win 3-2. However, in the playoff for the bronze medal, Germany defeated the host 4-0.
Khairuddin was also the captain of the national team at the Tehran Asiad in 1974 and returned home with a bronze medal.
“Sometimes when we get together at some functions, we revisit the glorious chapter we had written some 48 years ago at the World Cup played at Merdeka Stadium. We finished fourth, but for me, those were beautiful days. There were tough competitions in hockey then,” he quipped.
“People don’t know us by our face these days. We have grown old, time has changed many things, but our memories of the good old days remain intact,” he said with nostalgia gripping his voice.
During the hour-long interview, he spoke passionately about the game.
He concluded the interview with words of encouragement to the Young Tigers. “I wish I could come and support the team. But I know you will play a good game. Stay confident. Otherwise, you won’t be in the World Cup.”