Manjung: Former Penang football goalkeeper, Firos Mohamed, passed away last night after reportedly collapsing during a football match at the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium in Perak. Firos, 53, had no prior health issues, including heart-related conditions, according to his wife, Fildaanis Mat.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fildaanis, 51, shared that her husband was very active in football and was currently serving as a goalkeeping coach for the Penang Football Academy. The family, including their three sons aged 18 to 29, had accompanied Firos to the tournament to watch him play. The family had planned to drop off their youngest son, Mohamad Fairiel Danish, at Kolej Poli-tech MARA (KPTM) in Bangi, Selangor, to continue his studies in sports management.
“Yesterday, before the match, he didn’t show any signs of discomfort; he just looked very enthusiastic,” Fildaanis recounted. “Two minutes before the end of the match, he suddenly collapsed,” she added after Firos’ burial at the Ridwaniah Mosque Muslim Cemetery in Sungai Batu.
The funeral, attended by over 100 people, was held at the Kampung Melayu Surau in Air Itam. The family remains in shock, especially Mohamad Fairiel Danish, who fainted upon seeing his father collapse. Despite the tragedy, Mohamad Fairiel expressed his determination to pursue his studies in sports education, inspired by his father’s passion for the sport.
ExPenang team manager Mohd Azmi Ali, who had known Firos for 20 years, praised him as one of the best goalkeepers in Penang. Firos had once been selected for a Barcelona Football Club training program in the 80s and served as Malaysia’s goalkeeper in the 90s.
ExPenang team coach Radzuan Putah revealed that Firos had complained of chest pain during training last week but did not seek further medical examination. Radzuan lamented the loss as significant to the football industry in Penang and the country.
Videos of Firos collapsing during the match went viral on social media, with Manjung District Police Chief ACP Hasbullah Abd Rahman confirming the cause of death as a heart attack.