Former Penang and national footballer Dzulkifli Ali, a key defender in the 1980s, died at 65 at Seberang Jaya Hospital after health complications.
FORMER Penang and national footballer Dzulkifli Ali, who was one of the state team’s defensive pillars in the 1980s, passed away today at Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ) here due to heart and intestinal complications.
The third child of the late footballer, Nor Amylia, 32, said her father, 65, passed away at around 12:30 pm after three days of receiving treatment at HSJ and having previously been in and out of the hospital several times due to a heart condition he had suffered from for about two years, alongside an intestinal problem he experienced over the past year.
She said her father was put into a medically induced coma at around 1:00 am last night after the family was given the opportunity to accompany him for about 30 minutes, during which the late Dzulkifli managed to shake hands, ask for forgiveness, and recite the Syahadah together with his wife and six of his children, while another child had passed away last year.
“Before being put to sleep, Abah was still conscious and in a normal state before the doctor informed us that he needed to be put into a coma because his oxygen levels dropped and he had to undergo surgery due to pus in his abdomen.”
“At that time, Abah was still conscious, so all of us had the chance to guide him in reciting the prayer and ask for forgiveness. Father also asked us to sit with him for a moment before he was put to sleep,” she said when met by reporters after her father’s burial at the Bagan Jermal Islamic Cemetery following the Asar prayers today.
Nor Amylia said that despite her late father’s deteriorating health, he always tried to show that he was healthy and did not want his children to worry too much.
She added that her father’s condition appeared stable beforehand, and doctors had even informed them that Dzulkifli’s health was in good shape before they were contacted at around 12:30 pm today informing them that her father was in a critical state.
“Indeed, even before entering the hospital this time, Abah had not been able to eat for three days and looked increasingly weak. We persuaded him to go to the hospital, but at first, he did not want to. Father said he wanted to go to the hospital on Wednesday (today), but we persisted in persuading him and finally brought him to the hospital early Sunday morning,” she said.
She noted that her father was very close to the family and loved spending time at their family-owned eatery in Bagan Jermal, which had been one of his favourite spots for a long time.
“The doctor who examined dad’s internal condition indeed said it was already severe, but he was a person of strong spirit. Sometimes, we ourselves did not expect his internal condition to be that severe because he did not want to tell us,” she said, adding that her father lived in Taman Nakhoda, Teluk Air Tawar here.
Nor Amylia said the loss of her father also brought back memories of the passing of their older brother, Muhammad Farid Esmith, 35, who died in an accident on June 30 last year, and the late Dzulkifli was buried right next to his second child’s grave.
Meanwhile, Penang State Malay Football Ex-Players Association Secretary Mahathir Mohd Jamal Mohd said Dzulkifli’s passing is a massive loss to his family, friends, and the entire Penang football community.
“As one of the association’s members, the late Dzulkifli was always part of the large family of former Penang football players. All his service, contributions, and memories in the football world will always be cherished and remembered,” he said.
Dzulkifli, also known as Zulkifli Ali, was among Penang’s key players in the 1980s before donning the jersey of the national squad, Harimau Malaya.
He was known as a tough and aggressive defender capable of playing as a right-back or central defender.
The deceased was also part of the national squad that faced several world football stars, including George Best and England legend Kevin Keegan, in 1984.
The 1980s are considered one of the golden eras of Malaysian football, with Dzulkifli being among the players who made a name with Penang and the national team and even after retiring from football, he remained active in the arena by participating in friendly matches and national veteran tournaments alongside his former teammates.