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Sinar Daily
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
[EXCLUSIVE] ‘Inilah Saya': Rajagobal's long-awaited autobiography captures golden era of Malaysian football
The book, published by Karangkraf, offered a heartfelt, unfiltered account of the man who brought glory back to Malaysian football. Former Harimau Malaya coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal, launched his book entitled "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal" at the Karangkraf Group sales booth during PBAKL 2025 on May 31, 2025. - Photo by ROSLI TALIB KUALA LUMPUR - After nearly a decade in the making, former Harimau Malaya coach Datuk K. Rajagobal launched his much-anticipated autobiography "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal." The book, published by Karangkraf, offered a heartfelt, unfiltered account of the man who brought glory back to Malaysian football. Rajagobal's name was etched in Malaysian football history as the one who ended decades-long drought by leading the national team to triumph at the 2009 Sea Games and the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. Now, the football icon has taken on a new challenge; documenting his journey in his own words. "After witnessing the launch, it is hard to put my feelings into words, but I am truly happy. After such a long journey writing this book, it is finally complete and published. I am especially glad that Malaysians can now buy it and read it. "Through this book, I wanted to share my experiences, my challenges, my struggles and most importantly, the lessons I have learned along the way. I hope it shows the younger generation the importance of perseverance. Life will present hurdles, but we must face them with determination and never give up easily. "My hope is that this book becomes a meaningful resource to inspire and motivate young Malaysians, helping them grow into individuals who are not only resilient but also deeply patriotic. "That is the heart of why I wrote this book, to share my journey in a way that can uplift others," he said during the book launch at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Former Harimau Malaya coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal (two, left) with Karangkraf Group co-advisor Datuk Muhammad Nasir Hamzah (left), former national goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (two, right) and FAM deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundram (right) during the launching of the book "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal" at the Karangkraf Group sales booth during PBAKL 2025 on May 31, 2025. - Photo by ROSLI TALIB The book, written in Malay, chronicled Rajagobal's rise from a young footballer in Setapak to becoming one of Malaysia's most successful coaches. He shared the field with legends like the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk R. Arumugam and Datuk Santokh Singh in the golden Selangor team of the 1980s. Rajagobal then reminisced about the moment he would never forget. "The moment which I cherish is in 1979 when I played for Selangor against Singapore in the Malaysia Cup final. That was my first Malaysia Cup final with Selangor, that is the moment which I think I cannot forget. "Selangor had legendary players, including Singapore and to win 2-0 was a special moment," he added. He said he never imagined becoming a coach, let alone leading Harimau Malaya, but a stint as assistant coach for Selangor during the Malaysia Games in Sarawak opened a new path for him. His coaching career, spanning clubs like PKNS, Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak and Brunei, peaked when he brought home the long-elusive Sea Games gold and Malaysia's first AFF Championship. "After 20 years, we won the Sea Games. That was the beginning. Definitely, it was a proud moment. It was a moment that the nation celebrated. Then came the AFF Suzuki Cup, that was another moment which gave me happiness, emotion and made the whole nation proud. "At that time, probably nobody believed that the national team would do well. So all of a sudden, the turning point and this gave hope for the football fraternity. And that was, I can say, the proudest moment, which I cherish. "Still, at times, it brings back memories; the situation and the atmosphere," he said. Former Harimau Malaya Coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal signing his book purchased by a fan at the launch of the "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal" book at the Karangkraf Group sales booth during PBAKL 2025 on May 31, 2025. - Photo by ROSLI TALIB When asked why he chose Karangkraf to publish his book, Rajagobal shared that it all began with a chance encounter during a Sinar Daily programme, which sparked the connection. He said attending Sinar Daily's Footy Forum programme gave him the opportunity to meet Karangkraf Group chairman who is also Grup Buku Karangkraf chief executive officer Firdaus Hussamuddin. That initial introduction was what truly set everything in motion, he added. "I was exploring which publisher to approach for my book. Then during the 2022 World Cup, I appeared as a pundit on Sinar Daily's Footy Forum. "It was there that I met someone from Sinar Daily and I mentioned my interest in writing a book. She suggested I speak to Firdaus Hussamuddin. I asked for her contact and said I will follow up. Around the same time, my son also encouraged me to go directly to Karangkraf, since I already had the connection. "So I arranged a meeting and from that very first conversation, everything felt promising. We agreed to explore the idea further. Things progressed naturally from there and I eventually chose to go with Karangkraf. "They are a well-established publisher with solid experience, particularly in Malay-language books. Looking back, I am confident it was the right call, I have no regrets," he shared. He said the book entitled "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal" has been nearly nine years in the making due to various coaching commitments. Ultimately, he said it was more than a book. It was a heartfelt tribute to Malaysian football and a motivational roadmap for anyone striving to rise above adversity, he added. "It is not only the story about me. It is the story about others to learn and to feel, going through all the stages and to be a better person in life; for their family, for the nation and to be a strong character in any challenges we want to face," he said.
Sinar Daily
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Naturalised players a short-term fix for Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR – The debate surrounding the inclusion of naturalised and heritage players in Malaysia's national football team continues and former head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal has offered a clear and balanced perspective. He shared his insights during the launch of his autobiography, 'Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal,' at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) on Satuday. Former Harimau Malaya coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal, launched his book titled 'Inilah Saya K Rajagobal' at the Karangkraf Group sales booth during PBAKL 2025 on Saturday. Photo: Rosli Talib/Sinar 'Honestly, there's been a lot of discussion about using naturalised and heritage players in our national team setup. "In my view, they are necessary for now, but only as a short-term solution. 'What truly matters is our long-term vision. We must not lose sight of grassroots and youth development," he said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily after his book launch. Rajagobal, who famously led Harimau Malaya to victory in the 2009 SEA Games and the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, stressed the importance of balance and mentorship in integrating naturalised players. He described that while these players can serve a purpose in the current squad, the team needs to find a healthy balance moving forward. 'Just a few, not many, should be integrated alongside homegrown talents. This way, our local players can learn and grow by playing alongside experienced, high-quality naturalised players who can also act as mentors. 'It's important that any naturalised player we bring in has the quality and experience to elevate the team. "In the short term, yes, they have a role to play. But for the long term, the only path forward is a clear development plan, one that builds toward a national team with its own strong, local identity," he said. Assessing Harimau Malaya's Current Direction Rajagobal also offered a measured assessment of Harimau Malaya's current direction under new head coach Peter Cklamovski, who recently oversaw matches against Nepal and Cape Verde. 'Honestly, Harimau Malaya has only played two matches under the new head coach, Peter Cklamovski. "If I'm not mistaken, the first was against Nepal, and the second, just a few days ago, was against Cape Verde. 'There has definitely been progress, but at the end of the day, the coach is the best person to evaluate the team's performance. "He understands what needs to be done before the crucial match against Vietnam. As for me, I think it's still too early to draw any firm conclusions. We need to see the team play more matches. That said, the early signs are promising and I hope the team continues to build on this momentum and deliver even stronger performances in the games to come," he added. A Coach's Memoir and Life Lessons Rajagobal's remarks were made during the launch of his autobiography, 'Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal,' at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), where he was celebrated as a symbol of Malaysian football's golden era. The book, published by Karangkraf, took nearly nine years to complete and offers a deeply personal look into his life and career as both a player and coach. The autobiography recounts his early years in Setapak, his playing days with Selangor during the 1980s and his journey into coaching after initially serving as an assistant at the Malaysia Games in Sarawak. It covers key moments such as the 1979 Malaysia Cup final and Malaysia's return to glory at the 2009 SEA Games and 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. More than a football memoir, the book was written to impart life lessons. 'This isn't just about football. It's about perseverance, about facing challenges with resilience. I hope young Malaysians will read it and be inspired,' he said. The book also came about through an unexpected collaboration with Karangkraf, which began after a chance meeting at a Sinar Daily event during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Encouraged by his son and impressed by Karangkraf's publishing expertise, Rajagobal expressed 'no regrets' about entrusting his story to them.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Malaysian footballer, coach K. Rajagobal's ‘Inilah Saya' book a nine-year project in the making
Datuk K. Rajagobal was standing at the cashier of an eatery in Publika, Kuala Lumpur, waiting to pay for his meal, when he was approached by a gentleman who recognised the legendary sports figure. Others in the shop had their eyes on him, knowing very well who he was. That is the power of 'King Raja'. Despite having played for Selangor and Malaysia some four decades ago, and later gaining national fame as coach from 2009 to 2013, Rajagobal continues to attract attention wherever he goes. Much has been written and said about Rajagobal, but he is best remembered as the man behind the euphoria that swept the nation when his squad won the 2009 SEA Games gold medal and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup in 2010. Malaysians proudly wore the national jersey again, and many believed that more glory was on the horizon. Unfortunately, Malaysia has not won either tournament since. Fresh from recording a Julang podcast episode with seasoned journalist Rizal Hashim and Twentytwo13 editor Haresh Deol on May 29, Rajagobal sat down with the duo to talk about his book Inilah Saya (This is Me), which will be showcased at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair at the World Trade Centre tomorrow. In his trademark white shirt, adorned with a sewn-on Jalur Gemilang on the left, Rajagobal spoke over teh tarik (tea) and roti bakar (toast). 'After winning the AFF Cup in 2010, many told me to write a book about my journey and success. But it wasn't the right time,' he said. 'When I left the FA of Malaysia (FAM) in 2013, I thought it might finally be the right time. My eldest son, Kanason, told me, 'Appa, why don't you write a book?' I was still busy coaching, but when I returned from Sarawak in 2016, that's when I decided to start working on it.' 'It's been a nine-year project because of several delays. I was coaching PKNS FC between 2018 and 2019, so things stalled then. But once that ended, I got back to working on the book.' Asked why he decided to write it, Rajagobal said: 'I want to share my journey – the challenges I faced, my struggles, my hardships. I also want the younger generation to realise that anything can be achieved if we are mentally strong. Just focus on hard work, and you won't be easily defeated. You'll fall many times, but you'll get up.' 'I also hope this book inspires, motivates, and encourages Malaysians to be patriotic. The younger generation is our future.' 'I would love to see other legends and future players from various sports document their journeys and achievements. It allows others to learn from different experiences and become better individuals.' Priced at RM49, Inilah Saya is available at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair. Rajagobal will hold a meet-and-greet session at the fair tomorrow (May 29) from 11am to 1.30pm. The book is also available online at Karangkraf Mall.
