21 hours Ago By K. Rajan
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football suffered a significant loss following the demise of former FA of Malaysia (FAM) technical and development committee member K. Santhana Raju today (April 2).Born on August 9, 1962, Santhana Raju dedicated his life to football administration, serving FAM from 2010 to 2025 and the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) from 1993 to 2018.
He was also secretary-general of the Malaysian Indian Sports Council (MISC) and vice president of the Selangor Indian Association (SIA).A familiar face at both the Shah Alam Stadium and the National Stadium, Santhana Raju was often entrusted with handling ticketing operations for both Selangor and the national team.Former FAS president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal described Santhana Raju as his "backbone" during his tenure from 2017 to 2018.
"We kept in touch via text and he even wished me Hari Raya just days ago. It's shocking to lose a good friend like him," said Subahan, who also served as FAM deputy president."He was someone who focused on getting the job done without any fuss.
He had vast knowledge of football administration, especially in ticketing. I am deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend and a great servant of Malaysian football."Former FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad echoed similar sentiments, remembering Santhana Raju as a humble and reliable individual.
"Raju was in the ticketing committee during my tenure at FAM. He was a very humble man, focused solely on his responsibilities. No matter how difficult the task, he always delivered his best," said Azzuddin, who served FAM from 2007 to 2013.
FAM deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram, who worked closely with Santhana Raju across various organisations, also paid tribute."I worked alongside Santhana Raju for a very long time.
He was an excellent sports administrator who rose from the state level to the national stage," said Sivasundaram.A wake service is being held for Santhana Raju at the Sentul Hindu Crematorium Parlour today from 1pm onwards. The funeral service for Santhana Raju will be held tomorrow at 12pm.
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