Football legend Dollah Don dies
JOHOR BARU: Former international footballer Dollah Don, 91, nicknamed ‘Harimau Malaya’ by the late Indonesia president Soekarno, passed away at the Puteri Specialist Hospital, Johor Baru at 4am today due to old age.
Soekarno had called him ‘Harimau Malaya’ after watching Dollah score a hat trick against Indonesian football giants Persija FC in Jakarta in 1953.
Born Abdullah Mohd Don on March 23, 1923 in Stulang Laut, Johor Baru but better known as Dollah Don, was buried at the Jalan Mahmoodiah Muslim Cemetery at noon.
Dollah’s son Ali, 55, said since his father’s health condition had deteriorated, he was sent to the Puteri Specialist Hospital yesterday.
“His health condition had deteriorated over the past two years,” said Ali when met at his house in Taman Datuk Onn, Larkin, here today.
Dollah leaves behind five children and 15 grandchildren while his wife Zaliha Mohd Yusof, had passed away four years ago.
Meanwhile, former Johor Football Association deputy president Datuk Suleiman Md Noor who described Dollah Don as a ‘legend’ said he was an outstanding player during his heydays in the 1940s and 1950s.
Apart from playing for Malaysia and Johor, Dollah Don had also featured for the Malayan Malays, Malayan Chinese, Singapore Malays, Singapore Chinese, Perak XI, Perak Chinese and Johor. --Bernama
