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New Straits Times

'The Blessed One' tells his football story in new book [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: You hardly hear about local footballers, current or former internationals doing this, but the legendary Datuk K. Rajagobal is coming out with a book about him and Malaysia football. While a number of players turned to punditry on TV, radio or social media, Rajagobal is turning literary putting his thoughts into words. For years, his fans and friends have been urging him to write a book. His autobiography, titled "Inilah Saya K Rajagobal, which means "This is me, Rajagobal", will be launched at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur during the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, from 11am-1pm on May 31. The book, which is in Malay, not only chronicles Rajagobal's distinguished career — it offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the heart and mind of a man in his heroic journey through Malaysian football over three decades. A great player on the field, Rajagobal was profoundly influential as a coach, a mentor, and a symbol of national resurgence. During his time, he restored pride to Malaysian football after guiding the national team to numero uno status in Southeast Asia. Now, the man, affectionately known as "The Blessed One", is ready to share the full breadth of his story, the triumphs and the tribulations, in his much-anticipated autobiography. Rajagobal was one of the few players who had the rare opportunity to play alongside the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, the late Datuk R. Arumugam and Datuk Santokh Singh in the great Selangor team of the 1980s. Rajagobal's career was shaped by these three great stars, and he went on to become the dashing right winger in the magnificent Selangor team that dominated Malaysian football in those days. "Mokhtar had the attributes — you know, never say die. He's fearless, his work ethic. That taught me about hard work. Arumugam, too, he was good under pressure, he was cool. He taught me how to handle this type of situation in a stressful environment. "And then came Santokh, he was a rock in defence. He taught me how strong you must be mentally. These are the things I learned from them. We played together, we worked together in PKNS." Regarded as one of the country's wiliest coaches, Rajagobal has lit up Malaysian football, both on the field and in the dugout. "It's a legacy, to inspire, to share my experience, my journey. Not only a smooth journey — the hardship, the lows and the highs. What I can maybe give this younger generation, coaches or players, is that it's not just a journey, but you have to work hard. Hard work, discipline, resilience, strong character, maturity. This is what I want to share with the whole nation," said the 68-year-old. The book will trace Rajagobal's story from his days as a student at Setapak High School to his emergence as a budding striker with Cholan Youth in the Selangor Football League in 1975. After impressing with Cholan, he was employed by PKNS and eventually played for Selangor from 1978 to 1984 — a golden period that saw him line up alongside some of Malaysia's most iconic players. "The moment which I cherish is in 1979 when I played for Selangor against Singapore in the Malaysia Cup final," he recalled. "That was my first Malaysia Cup final with Selangor, that's the moment which I think I cannot forget. Selangor had legendary players, including Singapore, and to win 2-0 was a special moment." Rajagobal admitted he never imagined that he would one day be a coach, let alone handle Harimau Malaya. Rajagobal's coaching career spanned across teams like PKNS, Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak, and Brunei. But it was with the national sides — Harimau Muda, Malaysia Under-23, and the senior national team — that he left an indelible mark. "It was not easy as you go through the process of being a player. To be honest, I never thought of this, being a coach. But as it progressed, I was thinking... I was quite interested after I was given a chance to be the assistant coach for Selangor. The first one was the Malaysia Games in Sarawak. After that, I said, it is my responsibility to give back whatever experience we have learned." That decision would set him on a path that changed Malaysian football forever. He led Malaysia to a historic gold medal at the 2009 Laos Sea Games and followed that up with the country's first AFF Championship success in 2010 — a moment that remains etched in the nation's memory. "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." For Rajagobal, the achievements were never about personal glory. "It's not only me — the whole nation, the players' contribution. 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, the atmosphere." Now, through his autobiography, Rajagobal hopes to pass on those memories, and more importantly, the values he lived by. "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." Even a man of his accomplishments admits to moments of doubt and second-guessing. "There have been regrets. Why I didn't do this? Why I didn't do that? But regret is like when there are golden opportunities — probably I should have taken earlier," he said. "You know, that is probably one of the regrets when probably there have been offers here, offers there. I would have taken it. But at the end of the day, I think I made the right decision. At that time, probably I had regrets. Now looking back, no regrets." From being a young footballer growing up in Setapak, to winning the Asean crown — the AFF title in front of a nation in rapture, Rajagobal's story is not just one of sporting success, it is one of perseverance, humility, and an unshakeable belief in the power of football to unite and uplift. More than just a personal reflection, the book, which is in Malay, is a gift — a message to every aspiring coach, every young footballer, every child who dares to dream. As Rajagobal put it, "It's not just my story. It's a story for others to learn from, to be inspired by, and to believe that with hard work and faith, anything is possible."