Abdul Kadir (Indonesian footballer)


Abdul Kadir was an Indonesian footballer, who played left wing in Indonesia's national team from 1965 to 1978.

Playing career

National team

When Abdul Kadir was part of the national team between 1965 and 1978, the team won the 1968 King's Cup, the 1969 Merdeka Tournament, and the 1972 Pesta Sukan Singapura. The team became second in the 1972 President's Cup Football Tournament. Kadir would become the national team captain until 1978.
Together with Soetjipto Soentoro, Max Timisela, Iswadi Idris, and Jacob Sihasale, he was elected as a player in the Asia All Stars in 1966-1970. They were a quartet of the fastest in Asia at that time.
After Santos FC won 3-2 in a friendly match in June 1972, TVRI invited Pelé to perform ball tricks together with Abdul Kadir. Due to his agility in manoeuvring the ball, Abdul Kadir got himself the nickname "The Deer". According to fellow contemporary, M Basri, Abdul Kadir has proven to the world of sports that stature is not a definitive measure of the ability of an outstanding athlete.

After the national team

Abdul Kadir coached the Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian team and helped them finish third in the 1986 Asian Club Championship. Together with Muhammad Basri and Iswadi Idris, he coached the national team for the 1990 World Cup qualifications, which turned out unsuccessful. During the latter part of his life, Abdul Kadir suffered from kidney failure and needed to undergo dialysis twice a week at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Kadir died in Jakarta on 4 April 2003, survived by his wife and four children as well as grandchildren.