This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
THROUGH adversity and challenges in his era, Jahar Nor persevered in athletics, football, and hockey.
As a multi-talented sportsman, Jahar’s involvement spanned three sports—where he proudly represented Sarawak. The commitment he had for each discipline was not just about personal success but a deep love for the sport and his country.
Football was Jahar’s first love, and his journey began during his school days at Sekolah Menengah Bantuan (SMB) Merpati Jepang, where he quickly earned a reputation as a talented goalie. His skill in the position earned him a spot in the Burnley Cup, a highly competitive tournament that marked his introduction to high-level football. It was a turning point in his sporting career, signalling his potential to compete on a larger stage.
Jahar’s athletic ambitions flourished when he joined the Prisons Department. He found this to be the perfect environment for a budding athlete. The Department strongly encouraged its staff to pursue sports, fostering a culture of athletic excellence. Jahar recalls the camaraderie among athletes across various disciplines, including bodybuilding and weightlifting, where champions like William Yeo and Premjeit Singh stood out. This environment not only nurtured his talents but gave him the resources and support to succeed.
While football and hockey remained Jahar’s primary focus, his entry into athletics came in an unexpected but fortuitous way. One day, while jogging at the old Sarawak Turf Club racecourse, he was approached by Joe O’Connor, a United States (US) Peace Corps volunteer who noticed his potential.
O’Connor suggested that Jahar could excel as a middle-distance runner, an idea that had not crossed his mind until that moment. Inspired by the suggestion, Jahar embraced the challenge, and with O’Connor as his coach, he developed into a formidable 800m runner. His training paid off, leading him to compete for the Prisons Department and winning medals in the Borneo Games.
Jahar’s football career, however, took him to the highest levels. As a goalkeeper for Malaysia, he was part of the national team that secured a silver medal at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games. He had the privilege of playing during an era that boasted some of Malaysia’s finest goalkeepers, including Wong Kam Fook, Lim Fung Kee, and the iconic R. Arumugam, known as “Spiderman” for his acrobatic saves.
Jahar felt fortunate to have been part of such an esteemed company, recognising that goalkeepers hold a unique place in football, requiring both lightning-fast reflexes and a fearless approach to the game.
Despite his success in football, Jahar faced one of the greatest disappointments of his career in hockey.
He had been called up for the Olympic hockey squad and initially selected as the third goalkeeper, but was dropped from the team at the last minute. It was a bitter pill to swallow, as his tracksuits and jerseys had already been prepared, and he had been so close to becoming the first Sarawakian to participate in an Olympic team event.
Despite this setback, Jahar reflected on the experience without regret, choosing to focus on the joy and fulfilment the sport had brought him over the years.
Jahar was not just a goalkeeper; he also excelled as a winger in football, where he valued the blend of skill, speed, and stamina required for the position. After hanging up his boots, he transitioned seamlessly into coaching, taking the helm of the Sarawak youth football team and passing on his knowledge to the next generation of players.
Looking back on his career, Jahar took great pride in his achievements across football, hockey, and athletics. He credited the Prisons Department for giving him the platform and encouragement to stay active in sports, something he remained grateful for throughout his life. For Jahar, the true reward lay not in financial gain, but in the satisfaction of competing for the love of the game and for his nation.
As he once said with pride, “We played not for money but for the love of the sports and the nation.” These words encapsulate the essence of his sporting life — one defined by diligence and a lasting passion for the sport. –DayakDaily
