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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.
The Star
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Ex-chief coach Rajagobal says early to judge Cklamovski after book launch
All smiles: Datuk K. Rajagobal (left) during the launching ceremony of his book 'Inilah Saya Rajagobal' at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival yesterday. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Former national football team head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal feels that it is still too early to evaluate current coach Peter Cklamovski's impact on Harimau Malaya. Rajagobal, however, believes that the team showed an improved performance in their 1-1 draw in the friendly against Cape Verde at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras on Thursday. Although he was quick to point out that the Harimau Malaya squad still need to work hard to continue to improve, he also expressed confidence in Cklamovski, saying 'he (Cklamovski) knows what he is doing'. 'Every coach has his plans. We can see from his second game in charge (against Cape Verde), there is improvement, although they still have room to be better. 'Cklamovski knows which team they will be facing and the players he will field against Vietnam.' They will face Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium on June 10. 'I can't give an evaluation now. Usually, it will take about 10 matches before one can assess if there has been an improvement or not,' he said during the media conference to launch his book titled 'Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal' (This is me, K. Rajagobal) at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival yesterday. In the friendly, world No. 131 Malaysia needed a 79th-minute Paulo Josue equaliser to hold world No. 72 Cape Verde to a 1-1 draw. The national team will take on Cape Verde a second time, in a closed-door friendly, at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. The friendlies against Cape Verde are part of Malaysia's preparations for the crucial games against Vietnam in their second Group F match of the Asian qualifiers. Meanwhile, Rajagobal, who guided Malaysia to the gold medal in the 2009 Laos SEA Games and the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup triumph, described his book as an effort to inspire the younger generation and serve as a medium for him to share his coaching experiences with future generations. 'The inspiration for writing this book came from my eldest son. Many legends never wrote or documented their life journeys for reference ... not just my own story, but those of other legends as well. This is my opportunity to share that struggle with the younger generation. 'I have stories about how I faced challenges and hardships that I want to share not only with sports fans but with all Malaysians. 'I felt that I had to write this to contribute something meaningful to the sports arena in the country,' said Rajagobal, who also used to coach Brunei. — Bernama
New Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'King Gobal' kicks off his new book
KUALA LUMPUR: Football legend Datuk K. Rajagobal officially launched his own autobiography titled "Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal" today. The memoir, which chronicles Rajagobal's chequered footballing life — its triumphs and tribulations — was launched at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair at the World Trade Centre. The 68-year-old's epic three-decade journey through Malaysian football — both as a flamboyant winger for Selangor and successful national coach — offers inspiration to future generations of Malaysian footballers. At the launch of his much-anticipated autobiography (written in Bahasa Malaysia), Rajagobal expressed his heartfelt gratitude to those in attendance, including Kumpulan Karangkraf co-adviser Datuk Nasir Hamzah, FA of Malaysia deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundram, and former national players Datuk Reduan Abdullah, Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, K. Gurusamy and Razman Roslan. "This book is not just about me as a coach, it's about sharing my experiences, my struggles — falling down and rising again. That's what I want to give to all Malaysians," said Rajagobal at the launch. "I don't want to just highlight my achievements. I want to tell the younger generation that anyone — regardless of whether they're in sports — can succeed if they work hard, stay disciplined, and hold on to their dreams." Affectionately called "The Blessed One" by his fans, Rajagobal hopes the book will motivate readers to persevere through life's challenges. "Our journey is not always easy. There will be hardships and setbacks, but what matters is how we respond. Every time I fell, I got back up. I want to share that spirit. I hope this book becomes a source of inspiration, a reflection of the Malaysian soul," he said. Rajagobal's coaching journey included stints with PKNS, Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak and Brunei, but it was with the national teams — Harimau Muda, Malaysia Under-23s, and the senior side — that he cemented his legacy. He guided the national team to a historic gold medal at the 2009 Laos Sea Games before delivering Malaysia's maiden AFF Championship title a year later — a landmark moment in the country's football history. Rajagobal closed his speech with a humble acknowledgment of the collective effort behind his achievements. "Without the players, I cannot succeed. Without the officials, I cannot succeed. That's why I want to thank everyone who has supported me," he said.
