James Wong (footballer)

James Wong

Personal information
Full name	James Wong Chye Fook
Date of birth	26 June 1953
Place of birth	Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Forward, Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1972-1973	Tanjung Aru Youth	40	(52)
1974-1976	Sydney Hakoah	32	(20)
1976–1985	Sabah	180	(88)
National team
1971-1973	Malaysia U-20
1974–1982	Malaysia	33	(15)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

James Wong (born 26 June 1953) is a former Malaysian footballer who is a striker for Malaysia national football team and Sabah. He also played as a goalkeeper for Malaysia youth team in 1971 Asian Youth Championship. He was known as King James by the local fans.

Wong is the first Sabahan to represent Malaysia in 1971. He played professionally for Hakoah in Australia New South Wales Premier League for two years.^[1]

Wong is well known for his physical and finishing touch. His partnership with Hassan Sani produced many memorable goal for Sabah and Malaysia. The most memorable one was in the 1980 Olympic games qualification.

In the 1980 Olympic games qualification, Malaysia won the play-off against South Korea with a 2–1 score in the Merdeka Stadium. Wong himself scored the winning goal, thanks to the assist from Hassan Sani.

However, Malaysia did not go to the Olympics as it joined the US-led boycott against the Soviet Union for the invasion of Afghanistan.

Wong appeared for the Malaysia national football team in six qualifying matches for various FIFA World Cups.^[2]

Honours

• Asian Games

Bronze Medal: 1974

• SEA Games

Winners: 1977, 1979

• Pestabola Merdeka

Winners: 1976, 1979

References

1. Sabahan may be Mokhtar's replacement – The Straits Times, 2 December 1976.
2. James Wong Chye Fook – FIFA competition record