PENANG football lost one of its more endearing characters when former state coach Moey Yoke Ham succumbed to a sudden illness today.
He was 74.
His daughter, Mi Lin, 45, said her father collapsed at his Batu Lancang residence yesterday and was rushed to Penang Hospital. It was discovered that there was bleeding in his brain.
Fondly known as Uncle Moey among fans and players, he carved a niche in the annals of Penang football by guiding the state team to the Premier League 1 (now Super League) in 1998.
Under his guidance, the Penang team also reached the FA Cup final in 1997 against Selangor at the Ipoh Stadium. Selangor, then spearheaded by striker Azman Adnan and former English striker Tony Cottee, won 1-0. Azman scored the solitary goal from outside the 18-yard box.
Although he played for the state and country for a spell as a left back, Moey was more noted for his coaching success. He was a Postal employee.
The Football Association of Penang (FAP) president Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah, who is also the deputy State Speaker, said Moey was a great coach who brought glory to the state.
“He was a good player and later was a very committed coach. I heard he had a fall and later passed away. It’s a great loss to the football fraternity.
“Moey was a motivator. When Penang won this year’s Premier League to gain promotion to Super League next year, Moey often came to the stadium to watch the matches.
“There were many players he had coached, like the present Penang coach Manzoor Azwira Abdul Wahid, Moey Kok Hong and Merzagua (Abderrazak).”
Architect Laurence Loh, a former FAP Council member for many years and state assistant team manager, said Moey’s death came as a shock to him because he looked well.
“I miss a dear friend, whom I have been very close to for many years, especially in the game of football.
“We had worked together for a long time, nurturing young talents at the Chinese Recreation Club. In fact, he was the one who encouraged me to come into the football family and subsequently, the state team.
“I’m very proud of him and of the team for bringing back the glory to Penang in the 90s. The League title was one of his many achievements. We then had many talented local players as well as exciting foreign players like Merzagua, Fabio and Bala Conte.
“Moey was one-of-a-kind, dedicated, upright and highly principled. He was ever ready to serve at any time. Whenever anyone needed help, he would gladly do so. His death is a big loss to the state.”
Former veteran football official Ng Aik Lum, who managed Kelab Gelombang (RTM) football team and later Leong Sports Club in the 80s and 90s, only has kind words to say about Moey.
“He was a very nice guy. He seldom raised his voice. He was a gentleman.
“He asked me to work with Tan Sri Ong Gim Huat and manage the Under-14 and Under-19 state teams. I agreed because Moey was a man who loved football very much. I am sad that he had passed away.
“The Chinese Recreation Club was like his second home. It was there he spent a lot of time coaching players.”
Yong Woon Seang, who represented Penang from 1981 to 2004 and was the captain of the state team in 1997, said Moey was a very good person.
“He was straightforward and hardworking. And he expected all players to train and play hard. He valued teamwork more than anything else.”
Another player who came under the wings of Moey is Tan Cheng Hoe, the current national coach who hails from Kedah.
“I featured for Penang team for one season under Moey. He always encouraged players to boost their confidence. He was a knowledgeable coach and wanted us to become more professional.
“Most important of all is that he was approachable. We could discuss with him any problems we had on and off the field.”
Malaysia’s legendary skipper Datuk Soh Chin Aun, 70, played for Melaka in the inter-state matches but knows Moey fairly well.
“He was a nice and humble person. I have high respect for him. We’d been together when the Malaysian Chinese team went to play friendlies in South Korea and Bangkok, and also the annual games against Hong Kong.”
The death of Moey also saddened former state player Nordin Kamis.
“I knew Uncle Moey from 1997. At that time, I was playing for Teluk Bahang in the second division. We had a friendly match against Chinese Recreation Club at the CRC field.
“He liked the way I played and after the match, he told my manager Pak Din that he wanted me to join the state team for training. He was then the Penang state chief coach.
“It so happened that when I joined the state team for training, it was during the fasting month. At that time, I was 21 years old and I played for the Under-21 President’s Cup team under coach Gopal Krishnan.
“After one year, I was promoted to play in the Premier League in 1998 under coach Moey. We became the champion that year.
“He gave me a break when imported player Fabio was injured in the last game of the first round against Kedah. We lost 1-0. In the next round, I played in the return leg against Kedah. We lost 2-0. But Uncle Moey kept me in the first eleven because he had faith in me as a central midfielder.
“Uncle Moey was not just a coach to me. He was like a father figure. It was not just about football that he taught us. Until now, I follow his advice.”
Moey leaves behind wife Lee Siew Khoon, daughter Mi Lin, son Khai Boon and daughter-in-law Lee Yi Qian and grandson Jun Jay. The cortege will leave Batu Gantong parlour for cremation at the nearby Batu Gantong Crematorium on Dec 20 (Sunday) at 11am.
Story by K.H. Ong and Edmund Lee