Abdul Ghani Minhat
Encyclopedia
Datuk Abdul Ghani Minhat (Jawi: ابدول غاني مينهات born on 23 December 1935) is a former football player who has represented the team Selangor FA
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

 in the 1950s until the late 1960s. He played as a striker and winger while representing Singapore and Malaysia. He was sent by FAM to undergo a training session at Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and other countries. He was known as the King of Soccer and is considered one of Malaysia's greatest football players. Ghani currently resides in Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....

.

Ghani currently holds the all time record in Malaysia with Ghani scoring 106 goals in only 15 games and scoring 11 goals in a 15-1 victory over the Philippines
Philippines national football team
The Philippines national football team is the national football team of the Philippines and represents the country in international football. The team is controlled by the Philippine Football Federation , the governing body of football in the Philippines....

.

Early life

Datuk Ghani Minhat was born in 23 December 1935 in Kampung Solok, Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....

. Ghani later attended Princess Road School (now Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Raja Muda) at the age of 10 in 1945. He represented the school football team and only played bare footed. Two years later, Ghani attended Sekolah St. John's Kuala Lumpur and continued to play for the school team. In 1951, his talent is was spotted by local police officers who later gave him his first ever football boots. In that time, only professional footballers can afford football boots as it was very expensive during the late 1950s

Career

At the age of 17, his talent was later spotted by police officers who later invited Ghani to play with the Police Depot Football Team in the Selangor League. He was asked to play in the left wing position, even though he was right footed. He used this opportunity to develop his left footed skill.

In 1955, Ghani was chosen to play with Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

 in their attempt to win the HMS Malaya Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

 for the first time in 6 years. Selangor faced Singapore
Singapore Lions
The Singapore Lions is the name given to a representative team of footballers representing the Football Association of Singapore in domestic competitions run by the Football Association of Malaysia...

 in the finals and Ghani help Selangor beat Singapore 2-1 with Ghani scoring one goal to give Selangor first cup in six years. His performance was praised by his team mates. Shorlty after the match, he was called up by national coach, Neoh Boon Hean to represent the Malaya national team
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...

 in a friendly against Cambodia
Cambodia national football team
The Cambodia national football team is the national team of Cambodia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Cambodia . It was known as the Khmer Republic national football team from 1970 to 1975. It finished fourth in the 1972 Asian Cup, but is currently one of the weakest teams in the...

.

Ghani continued to play for Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

 over the years and Selangor was considered the best club in Malaya with the name The Red Giants. Ghani, alongside M. Chandran, Stanley Gabrielle, Robert Choe and Arthur Koh, Selangor was a very powerful and feared team across Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

. In 1963, Ghani also achieved the all time record in Malaysia with Ghani scoring 106 goals in only 15 games, including Selangor thumping Terengganu
Terengganu FA
The Football Association of Terengganu The Football Association of Terengganu The Football Association of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Terengganu (PBSNT) enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Terengganu. The team is based in Kuala...

 18-0 and scoring four goals in a 6-2 victory over Penang in the 1963 HMS Malaya Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

. The previous record was held by Kelantan
Kelantan FA
The Kelantan Football Association enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. The team is based in the city of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. They are currently playing in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...

 when they beat Pahang
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...

 16-1 in 1962 through Mohamad Che Su scoring 8 goals. The record still remains unbeaten to this day.

He later received the title King of Football from Football Association of Selangor (FAS), a title later used by anyone to refer to him after his brilliant performance for Malaysia in early 1962.

One of his most invaluable experiences was being sent on attachments in order to gain experiences and undergo better training to several clubs in England (West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

, Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....

), Wales (Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...

) and Germany (Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...

) in 1962.

In 1967, Ghani help Selangor to qualify the first ever 1967 Asian Club Championship. They manage to go in the finals after beating Tungsten Mining FC
Daehan Tungsten FC
Daehan Tungsten Mining FC is defunct South Korean amateur football club baced Yeongwol, Gangwon.Daehan Tungsten is rated as predecessor of POSCO, and Daehan Tungsten FC is predecessor of POSCO Atoms, too.-Domestic:*Korean President's Cup...

 of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

 thanks to the goal that Ghani scored. The Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i club Hapoel Tel Aviv manage to overcome Selangor by beating Ghani side 2-1 in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

. However, Selangor was praised by the Football Association of Malaysia
Football Association of Malaysia
The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...

 by being the first team to qualify the finals in the Asian Club Championship
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...

.

Ghani officially retired football in 1968 with the 1968 Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

 finals being Ghani's last match in football. Ghani scored an incredible 8 goals in the 1968 Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

 finals against Pahang
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...

 with Selangor winning 8-1.

He ended his career as a player with an excellent record with scoring over 100 goals in national and state levels and scoring more than 300 goals for Selangor. He retired from football in 1968 after playing 13 years for Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

.

International career

In 1956, After Ghani made a brilliant performance for Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

, national coach, Neoh Boon Hean brought team to the national squad for the friendly against Cambodia
Cambodia national football team
The Cambodia national football team is the national team of Cambodia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Cambodia . It was known as the Khmer Republic national football team from 1970 to 1975. It finished fourth in the 1972 Asian Cup, but is currently one of the weakest teams in the...

. Ghani's first appearance with the national team was very impressive when Ghani scored an amazing seven goals to helping Malaysia beat Cambodia 9-2. This was Ghani's first time playing for Malaya.

The following year, He scored his first goal in the first ever edition, inaugural 1957 Pestabola Merdeka from an amazing 40 meters rocket shot against Vietnam
Vietnam national football team
The Vietnam national football team is the national football team representing Vietnam and is managed by the Vietnam Football Federation.In the FIFA World Rankings, Vietnam's highest standing was in the first release of the figures, in September 1998, at 84th...

 in the tournament held at the Padang TPCA, Princess Road in 1957. But the Ghani was disappointed after failing to win the trophy for his country after Hong Kong
Hong Kong national football team
The Hong Kong national football team , represents Hong Kong in international association football events such as the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup and East Asian Football Championship. The team is represented by the Hong Kong Football Association....

 emerged as champions. Ghani manage to overcome his disappointment in 1958 when he helped the national squad won the 1958 Pestabola Merdeka after being the group champions above Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Ghani then helped the national team retained the title Pestabola Merdeka in 1959 after beating Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...

 2-1. He later received the title King of Football from Football Association of Selangor (FAS), a title later used by anyone to refer to him for his brilliant performance for Malaya.

He completed his hat-trick in the 1960 Pestabola Merdeka. Malaya eventually shared the title with Asian Giants, South Korea. During the years, Ghani managed to achieve several permanent records to this day such as scoring 34 goals in nine games for the national team. In 1961, Ghani help the national team's to win the gold medal in the 1961 SEAP Games (now SEA Games
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...

) in Rangoon, the Burmese (now Myanmar) after beating the Burma in the finals.

A year later, he scored 11 goals in a 15-1 victory over the Philippines
Philippines national football team
The Philippines national football team is the national football team of the Philippines and represents the country in international football. The team is controlled by the Philippine Football Federation , the governing body of football in the Philippines....

 in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The 15-1 victory is currently the record for the highest win for the national team and the record has never been broken ever since. Ghani helped the national team to won the 1962 Asian Games bronze
Football at the 1962 Asian Games
Football at the 1962 Asian Games was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 24 to September 4, 1962.- Group A :--------------------- Group B :...

 medalist after beating South Vietnam
South Vietnam national football team
The South Vietnam national football team was the national team of South Vietnam controlled by Vietnam Football Association between 1949 and 1975. It took part in the first two Asian Cups finals , finishing fourth both times...

 4-1 which Ghani scored all four goals.

Ghani officially retired internationally football after the 1963 Pestabola Merdeka which Malaya failed to win the cup.

Coaching career

After his retirement, He was sent to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 by the Football Association of Malaysia
Football Association of Malaysia
The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...

 to attend a FIFA Coaching School being the first ever Malaysian to have an official training from FIFA. After having 1 year of Coaching studies in Japan, He finally received his coaching license in 1969. He was appointed to be the coach the national team
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...

 replacing Peter Velappan
Peter Velappan
Dato' Peter Velappan is a Malaysian association football administrator who served as the General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation from 1978 to 2007.-Biography:...

 in 1969. His first duty for the national team was a unrecorded friendly match in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

. Ghani was in charged with the national team for the 1969 Merdeka Tournament, 1969 King's Cup
1969 King's Cup
The 1969 King's Cup finals were held from November 19 to November 28, 1969, in Bangkok. This was the second edition of the international football competition. Indonesia were set to defend the championship they won in 1968....

 and the 1969 SEAP Games. Ghani resigned as national coach after his marriage with Tengku Aishah Tengku Ibrahim.

After only coaching the national team for one year, He later coached his favorite team, Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

 in 1970. In 1971, he became the first player and coach to win the Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

 after being the team coach and also playing in the final and the semi finals. He again led Selangor Malaysia's Cup victory over Perak
Perak FA
The Football Association of Perak enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Perak. The team currently plays in the Malaysia Super League....

 3-1 in 1972. He then resigned as coach in 1973 because his main concentration was on business instead of coaching.

10 years later, Ghani returned as coach for Selangor
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...

 after replacing Chow Kwai Lam
Chow Kwai Lam
Chow Kwai Lam is a formal Malaysia national football coach. He represented Malaysia from 1965 to 1971 before becoming the coach in 1978. He coached Selangor FA from 1979 to 1983, before moving to coach Sarawak FA in 1984. He coached Kuala Lumpur FA in 1989, 1992, 1995, and 1996...

 in 1983. But his coaching career with Selangor only lasted three seasons after being sacked after failing to help the team win the Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...

 in 1985 despite the successful season leading Selangor to win the 1984 Malaysia Cup after a 3-1 victory over Pahang
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...

. After Ghani left as coach, he returned doing business.

In 2004, he returned to Selangor but this time as a Coaching Adviser for the Football Association of Selangor (FAS). He later resigned from the Football Association of Selangor and agreed moved to his birth place and became a Coaching Adviser for Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan FA
The Football Association of Negeri Sembilan enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Negri Sembilan. The team is based in Seremban. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...

. He resigned later in around 2007.

International

  • Pesta Bola Merdeka Champion 1958, 1959, 1960
  • Gold Medal 1961 SEAP Games
  • Bronze Medal 1962 Asian Games
  • Place the 2nd Asian Club Championship 1967

National

  • Champions Trophy Malaysia 8 times
  • The title of King of Football by the Football Association of Selangor

External links

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