Kok Hong Was Like My Brother - Merzagua
BUTTERWORTH, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Former Penang striker Merzagua Abderrazak has hailed former teammate and ex-international Moey Kok Hong, who died of heart complications early yesterday morning, as a footballing legend.
Kok Hong was 56.
Merzagua, who is the Penang FC technical director, said they were not just teammates as he always considered Moey, who is one year younger than him, as his brother.
"I was sad when I heard about his death. He was not only a friend but had become family to me. That's how close we were.
"I can't forget the time we combined to beat the strongest team back then, Selangor FC 2-1 in a match at Bukit Jalil in 1998.
"He (Kok Hong) scored the equaliser while I netted the winner that allowed us to clinch the Premier League 1 title,” said Merzagua, 57, when contacted by Bernama.
Kok Hong, who had also donned national colours, leaves behind wife Ang Chooi Choon, 54, three daughters and four grandchildren.
Kok Hong, who hails from Butterworth, had represented Malaysia in the 1998 Tiger Cup and played in the first match against Singapore in Hanoi, Vietnam. He also featured in the Malaysian Selection in the friendly against Arsenal at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in 1999.
He represented Penang from 1987 until 1992 before joining the Armed Forces, Negeri Sembilan and Perak. He returned to don Penang colours from 1996 until 2002.
Meanwhile, his second child, Moey Shih Ying, 27, said her father had not been feeling well for the past few days after suffering from a heart ailment five years ago and had also undergone a coronary angioplasty procedure.
"Yesterday morning, he suddenly lost consciousness at home and we tried to resuscitate him. However, he was confirmed dead at about 5 am upon arrival at the Seberang Jaya Hospital,” she said when met at a funeral parlour in Mak Mandin here.
She said that her father would spend most of his time at home after his heart ailment, adding that lately, he looked forlorn.
She said the whole family was also sad as he passed away just three days before the Chinese New Year celebration.
She added that many of his friends, including former Penang teammates, came to pay their respects last night.
Shih Ying said her father's body will be cremated at the Berapit Crematorium in Bukit Mertajam at 10 am tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA
