KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 – Well-known Malaysian football coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal had strong credentials and plus his vast experience to go with to be picked by Brunei Darussalam as the oil-rich Sultanate’s national football team coach on a two-year contract.
In the process, the 64-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born former international brushed aside candidates from Germany, Serbia, and a host of others from this region to be named to the ot-seat.
He is making a comeback after a one-year hiatus and his last team was PKNS FC – the place where his football career took off as a youth player before donning Selangor colors.
”Ít is a big challenge whenever you coach a team…Brunei is no exception. I love challenges and I am not only excited with the opportunity given to me but relish to be involved in the game I love most,” said Rajagobal.
The Malaysian football ‘king’ is tasked to rebuild Brunei football although the national team has played in the Malaysia Cup and also in the Singapore S-League with a fair amount of success.
Rajagobal hit the headlines in his coaching career when he guided Malaysia to the elusive SEA Games football gold in Laos in 2009 – defeating favorites Vietnam 1-0 in the final – ending a 20-year wait. In the semi-finals Malaysia ousted Thailand.
A year later Rajaobal was in the news again when Malaysia won the AFF Suzuki Cup with a 4-2 win on aggregate over Indonesia in the two-leg final. Malaysia won 3-0 in Bukit Jalil which was good enough for the silverware although Malaysia lost 1-2 in the return-leg in Jakarta.
On the local front, Rajagobal had coaching stints with Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak, Sabah and PKNS.
Brunei is a new battle for Rajagobal but he is ready to take the challenge and take the team to the group stages in the Asean championships. It will be a boost to the game in Brunei and also Rajagobal’s career.
Rajagobal is expected to take up his new job by early next month after sorting out some personal matters.
Pengiran Matusin Pengiran Matasan, President of the Brunei FA announced Rajagobal as the new national coach on Monday.
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