BALIK PULAU — Former Penang goalkeeper Firos Mohamed, who died after collapsing during a veteran football tournament in Perak on Saturday night, had no known health issues, according to his family.
His wife, Fildaanis Mat, 51, said Firos had remained highly active in football and was currently serving as a goalkeeping coach with the Penang Football Academy.
“I, along with our children (three sons aged 18 to 29), went with him to the tournament because we wanted to watch him play,” she said. “Today, we were supposed to drop off our youngest son at Kolej Poly-Tech MARA in Bangi so he could begin his studies in sports management.”
She said her 53-year-old husband showed no signs of discomfort prior to the match and appeared full of energy during the game.
“He was playing like a young man, especially when we were trailing 0–1 against the EX-Kedah team in the last quarter. But with just two minutes left on the clock, he suddenly collapsed,” she told reporters after his burial at the Muslim Cemetery near Masjid Ridwaniah in Sungai Batu.
Firos’ body was bathed and shrouded at the Kampung Melayu surau in Air Itam before funeral prayers were performed. More than 100 people, including family, friends and former teammates, attended the burial, which concluded at around 4.30pm.
Fildaanis said the family, particularly their youngest son Mohamad Fairiel Danish, 18, was still coming to terms with the loss.
“He rushed to the field after seeing his father collapse and fainted when he realised his father was unconscious,” she said.
“He never complained of any pain or had any serious illnesses. I was struck by how he kept looking at me these past few days. The last time I saw him was on the bus ride from the hotel in Manjung to the stadium.”
Fairiel said although he was devastated, he was determined to continue his studies in sports education, inspired by his father’s lifelong passion for football.
“My father was thrilled when I told him I’d be studying sports. He always brought us to the field to watch him play,” he said.
ExPenang team manager Mohd Azmi Ali, 57, who had been close friends with Firos for two decades, described him as one of the finest goalkeepers Penang has produced.
“He was once selected as one of six state players to attend a Barcelona FC training programme in the 1980s and was also Malaysia’s national goalkeeper in the 1990s,” he said.
ExPenang coach Radzuan Putah, 60, said Firos had complained of chest pain during a training session last week but had dismissed it, saying he felt better and did not seek further examination.
“His passing is a great loss to Penang football and the country,” said Radzuan, who also heads the Penang Former Football Players Association.
Firos collapsed during a four-corner match for the Dr Zambry Abd Kadir Cup held at the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium. Several videos of the incident have circulated on social media.
Manjung District Police Chief ACP Hasbullah Abd Rahman later confirmed that Firos died of a heart attack. — July 6, 2025
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