Datuk James Wong Chye Fook (born 26 June 1953) is a Malaysian former footballer who is a striker for Malaysian national football team and Sabah. He also played as a goalkeeper for the Malaysia youth team in the 1971 AFC Youth Championship. He was known as King James by the local fans.
Career overview Wong was the first Sabahan to represent Malaysia in 1971. In 1974, He went Down Under to join Hakoah Sydney, the Australian club, at the invitation of former Malaysian head coach, Dave MacLaren. He played professionally for the club in New South Wales Premier League for two years. Wong is well-known for his physical and finishing touch. His partnership with Hassan Sani produced many memorable goals for Sabah and Malaysia. The most memorable one was in the 1980 Olympic games qualification. In the qualification, Malaysia won the play-off against South Korea with a 2–1 score at the Merdeka Stadium. Wong himself scored the winning goal off a pass from Hassan. Unfortunately, Malaysia did not participate after joining the US-led boycott against the Soviet Union for its role in supporting the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen. Wong also appeared for Malaysia in six qualifying matches of the FIFA World Cup.
Further career In 2015, he together with Hassan was appointed as one of the members for the management team of Sabah FA.
Career statistics International goals Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first. # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 5 June 1972 Jakarta, Indonesia 3–0 1972 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament2Bangkok, Thailand6-01976 King's Cup345Singapore6-41978 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)6789Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia7-01977 SEA Games10Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia9-11977 SEA Games11 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia6-01978 Merdeka Tournament121314 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2-01978 Merdeka Tournament15Bangkok, Thailand3-11980 AFC Asian Cup qualification16Bangkok, Thailand4-11980 AFC Asian Cup qualification17Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-1Friendly Match18Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-01980 Summer Olympics - Asian Qualifiers19Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-11980 Summer Olympics - Asian Qualifiers2021Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1-11980 Summer Olympics - Asian Qualifiers22Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2-11980 Summer Olympics - Asian Qualifiers23Kuwait City1-21982 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)
Honours
Club Sabah Youth Burnley Cup: 1969
Sabah Malaysian League Tournament runner-up: 1979
Borneo Cup: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
International SEA Games: 1977, 1979
King's Cup: 1976
Individual Borneo Cup top scorer: 1970, 1972, 1977, 1980
National Day Award - Outstanding achievement of all time: 2012
Goal.com The best Malaysia XI of all time: 2020
Orders
Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2016)
References