KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian footballer Hairuddin Omar, popularly known as Hai-O among local football fans, opened up about his bittersweet experience during the 2008 Merdeka tournament.
Speaking to Scoop, the former striker, who won 54 caps and scored 13 goals throughout his international career, revealed that an ankle injury prevented him from taking the field in the final against Vietnam.
The 44-year-old said that this regret continues to haunt him today.
“It was devastating to miss the final. I had been training hard and felt confident in my form during the tournament.
“The injury came at the worst possible time, robbing me of the opportunity to play in the final.
“I believe that if I had played against Vietnam, the outcome of the game would have been different.
“My teammates played their hearts out, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I could have significantly contributed to Malaysia’s chances of becoming champions,” Hairuddin said.
Hai-O, who has scored a total of 76 goals in his time at Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, and Kelantan, added that he was in good form on the pitch prior to the Merdeka tournament, which led to his call-up to the Harimau Malaya squad that year.
“I was in the form of my life while playing for Pahang in the 2007/2008 season.
“I finished as the top scorer for the club, where we finished 8th in the league. I will forever be grateful to the late coach B. Sathianathan for trusting me and including me in the squad,” Hairuddin added.
The former president of the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) also fondly reminisced about the sweet moments of participating in such a prestigious and historical tournament.
“Playing in the Merdeka tournament was an absolute dream come true for me, and I will never forget the goal I scored with my left foot in our 6-0 demolition of Afghanistan in the group match.
“The tournament holds great significance in Malaysian football history, as it symbolises our nation’s unity and strength.
“It was a platform that allowed me to measure my skills against top talents and learn valuable lessons about the game.
“It pushed me to grow as a player and inspired me to continue to work hard to reach even greater heights in my football career. Every game I played, I carried the weight on my shoulders, it motivated me to give my absolute best on the field,” Hairuddin said.
The 40th Merdeka Tournament was played from October 15 to 25, 2008.
Vietnam became champions after defeating Malaysia 6-5 on penalties in the final.
Harimau Malaya scored 18 goals in the tournament, with former Selangor and Johor Darul Ta’zim striker Safee Sali winning the golden boot with 5 goals.
This year, the Pestabola Merdeka will feature Palestine, India, and Tajikistan, and the tournament is set to take place on October 13-17 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. — September 1, 2023