PENANG lost one of its most esteemed footballers when former state and national goalkeeper Rahim Mohamed passed away today. He was 66.
According to Rahim’s younger sister, Zainab, Rahim died at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, succumbing to complications arising from a heart problem this afternoon.
“I know he had a heart problem for a few years. I rushed to Penang after being told that he wanted to see all his brothers and sisters.
“I managed to see him before he passed away this afternoon. His eyes were still open when I arrived, but his life was ebbing away,” said Zainab, 62, who now lives in Kajang, told Buletin Mutiara.
She added that Rahim would be laid to rest at the Masjid Sebarang Jaya cemetery tonight. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
Rahim represented Penang from 1974 to 1981, playing alongside greats such as Namat Abdullah, Isa Bakar and Ali Bakar, and Shukor Salleh. He was employed by Mayank for several years.
He was a member of the victorious Malaysia team, represented by Penang, in the Agar Khan Cup in Bangladesh in 1975.
In 1978, he was selected for the Malaysia ‘B’ team, granting him the opportunity to sharpen his skills during a month-long training stint in Germany.
In 1974, Rahim was a reserve goalkeeper to Desmond David, the father of squash legend Nicol David, when Penang clinched the Malaysia Cup with a 2-1 victory over Perak at the City Stadium.
In 1977, Rahim was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Penang team when it played against Singapore in the Malaysia Cup final.
It was an incredible and action-packed match, captivating the 40,000 fans at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. It went into extra time and eventually, Singapore emerged champions by a 3-2 score. It was one of Rahim’s most outstanding performances, with his string of brilliant saves.
Former state player Lim Bok Khoon, who had the privilege of playing alongside Rahim for both the state and Maybank, expressed his sadness in missing a ‘dear friend and warm colleague.’
“To me, he was the finest goalkeeper Penang has ever produced. He was a master of aerial balls. He was as cool as ice, a great ball stopper. What I like most about Rahim is that he was a very humble person and a great gentleman,” Bok Khoon said.
“I remember Rahim was roped into the Waterfall Rangers team for the Penang football league when Arumugam was then scouting for someone to take over the goalkeeper’s job in the absence of Veeran.
“Rahim went on to represent Penang in the Burnley Cup in 1975, and Malaysia in the Asian Schools tournament the same year.
“After his competitive days, Rahim set up the first football academy in Butterworth under the name of RM Academy (Rahim Mohamed Academy) and produced a few young talents for the state team.
“He was also actively involved with the TFC (The Friendship Circle) group inter-state programmes.”
Chang Chuen Bin, 63, also paid tribute to Rahim, highlighting his warm and friendly nature. Both of them were schoolmates at SMK Westlands.
“I am sad to hear of his passing away. He was an affable man. His nickname Chokodok tells you all.
“He was my senior by three years in school. I remember seeing him in action when Westlands battled against St Xavier’s Private in the MSSPP (Penang schools) Under-18 football final at the City Stadium in 1974.
“The game went into extra time and he was switched from an outfield player to be the goalkeeper in the dying minutes of the game. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Westlands came out top! The tactical switch made all the difference,” Chuen Bin said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of interviewees