IFA Shield 1972 (Mokhtar Dahari 1st International Football Tournament)

IFA Shield derived from Indian Football Association Shield and has been held since 1893 in India region. In IFA Shield 1972, it consists of 36 local teams included Mohun Bagan A.C East Bengal F.C, Mohammedan Sporting Club and three foreign invitation teams such as Selangor (Malaysia), All Indonesia Football Federation (Indonesia) and Isfahan's Sepahan (Iran).

This was the first international football tournament for Mokhtar Dahari, Reduan Abdullah and R.Arumugam when they started to play for Selangor main team in 1972. Their first international friendly match with Selangor main team was in a match against Hitachi Club from Japan in 1972. Abdul Ghani Minhat was the coach and player for this IFA Shield 1972.

IFA Shield 1972 match book.

List of Selangor players and jersey numbers played in this IFA Shield 1972 were Abdul Ghani Minhat (17), V. Rajesparan (1), Dell Akhbar Khan (2), A.Retnasingam (3), Chow Kwai Lam (4), Joseph Liew (5), Mohd Shah Norbit (6), Mohsein Alias (7), Mokhtar Dahari (8), Yeap Eng Kok (9), Walter Biggs (10), Zulkifli Norbit (11), Jamaluddin Norbit (11), Reduan Abdullah (13), Ekhsan Ahmad (14), Kadir Buyong (15) and R.Arumugam (16).

Selangor players played for IFA Shield 1972. Mokhtar Dahari seated second from right. R.Arumugam standing second from right and Reduan Abdullah standing third from right.

Mokhtar Dahari heading the ball from the Mohammedan Sporting Club goalkeeper.

Selangor (bright jersey) vs Mohun Bagan (black jersey) group photo. Mokhtar Dahari standing eigth from left. Reduan Abdullah sitting second from left and Zulkifli Norbit seating eigth from left.

However Selangor did not managed to qualify to the final round. It was East Bengal F.C and Mohun Bagan A.C went into the final round. Mohun Bagan F.C lost to East Bengal F.C. Finally East Bengal F.C was the champion for IFA Shield 1972.