GERMAN Karl-Heinz Weigang, who steered Malaysia to the 1980 Olympics finals, was known a strict disciplinarian on the pitch but a perfect gentleman off it.
He died today in Germany.
Weigang, who was 81 at the time of his passing, was loved for his enthusiasm for the “beautiful game” and his willingness to share the knowledge he gained over a lifelong love affair with football.
Among the top players who played under him were Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Santokh Singh, Mokhtar Dahari, James Wong, Hassan Sani, R. Arumugam, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan, Shukor Salleh and Jamal Nasir.
Weigang coached the national team between 1979 and 1982.
He is best remembered for guiding the national team to qualification for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which Malaysia later boycotted.
Malaysia also won the gold medal in the 1979 Jakarta Sea Games and silver medal in the 1981 Manila edition under Weigang.
Wong said: “It was a pleasure to be coached by Weigang. He was strict and a no-nonsense coach but a colourful character.”
The character of Harry Mountain (played by Mark Williams), the football coach in the hugely successful film 2016 film Ola Bola, was loosely based on Weigang.