Liga Super Malaysia side Petaling Jaya City FC are mourning the death of experienced right-back Rajes Perumal, who was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday night. The news came as a massive shock for the Malaysian football fraternity, especially considering that Perumal had played in PJ City’s last league match of the season only the day before, coming off the bench as he helped the Phoenixes to a 1-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City FC.
According to authorities at the Gombak District in Selangor, Perumal was driving his motorcycle within the Batu Caves region when he lost control of the vehicle, veering onto the left shoulder of the road before striking a tree head-on.
The accident left Perumal with severe head injuries that killed him on impact, and he was declared dead on the scene by attending paramedics, who then took his body to the Selayang Hospital’s forensics department.
PJ City head coach P. Maniam described Perumal’s death as a huge loss for the Phoenixes, as the right-back was one of the club’s more experienced players who acted as a mentor for the younger crop of talent.
“He was disciplined and committed as a player, and was a role model for the team,” said Maniam, as quoted from Free Malaysia Today.
Perumal’s teammates Kogeliswaran Raj, Shivan Pillay, and club captain K. Gurusamy were deeply shocked by the 37-year old’s death. Both Kogeliswaran and Shivan had looked up to Perumal as an older brother figure within the team, addressing him as Anneh, a Tamil term for big brother.
“Rajes, my Anneh, you left us too early. We are shattered, and we need you here. You are more than a brother to me. I can’t imagine you are no more here,” Kogeliswaran wrote in his social media channels, “We miss you so much. You’re my biggest role model. Thank you so much for always guiding me in whatever I do. Please guide me from up there.”
“I will never forget the first time I met you in PKNS and then this year, we finally got to play together,” wrote Shivan, who first met Perumal at the now-defunct PKNS FC back in 2011 when he was just 11 years old, “Thank you for all the guidance you have given me in training and during matches. You will always be remembered as a great leader and role model to all of us.”
Gurusamy, a close friend of Perumal’s, had this to say, “It breaks my heart that he was taken away so unexpectedly. Our memories with him will never leave us and he will live on in our hearts.”
Perumal started his career in 2011 at PKNS, staying there until 2013 before moving to the Fire Ants’ local rivals Selangor FA in 2014. He only stayed at the Red Giants for a year, before moving to Kedah FA in 2015 and returning to PKNS in 2016. Perumal then joined MISC-MIFA in 2018, staying there as the club was rebranded into Petaling Jaya City in 2019.
Helping PJ City to a 9th place finish in this season’s Liga Super, Perumal played 15 times in all competitions, most of which off the bench, while one of his highlights this season was scoring the winning goal as PJ City edged out Kelantan FC 2-1 in the Malaysia FA Cup first round back in April.
Rest in Peace, Rajes Perumal. You’ll never be forgotten.