The late Awang, who had backbone problems and stage four cancer, was admitted to the hospital on Jan 19.

Awang, who used to be the mainstay of the Kelantan team back in the 1960s and represented the national team in 1969, was also popularly known as ‘Abe Mat’.

According to his youngest daughter, Aisya Fatihah Awang, who is also a journalist with Malay daily Sinar Harian here, Awang was supposed to celebrate his birthday tomorrow (Feb 26) and even reminded them (his children) to buy cakes for the doctors and nurses treating him.

“The funeral prayers were held at Masjid Telipot and more than 200 people turned up to pay their last respects,” she said when met at her home in Kampung Telipot here today.

He leaves behind a wife and four children and was buried at the Kampung Banggol Muslim Cemetery after the Zohor prayer.