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It was not a sign of disrespect—it was simply a request from veteran coach Irfan Bakti himself.
That was the explanation given by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) presenter Iffah Hazim after some viewers questioned why she addressed the veteran coach by his first name during the FIFA World Cup match between England and DR Congo in the early hours of this morning.
The issue was raised by football fans who felt it was inappropriate, considering Irfan is one of Malaysia’s most respected football figures and is now 75 years old.
For years, journalists and television presenters have commonly referred to him as “Coach Irfan” out of respect for his long-standing contributions to Malaysian football.
Seeking to clear the air, Iffah quickly addressed the matter on Threads.
She explained that addressing him by his first name was done at Irfan’s own request.
“If anyone felt uncomfortable that I addressed Coach Irfan by his name, I apologise. Coach himself requested that I call him that, and it is also part of our new SOP. The title is only used off-air,” Iffah wrote.
Irfan appeared as a guest alongside former national full back Mahali Jasuli to provide insights on the Round of 32 match earlier today.
He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced coaches in Malaysian football.
Throughout his coaching career, he has managed several of the country’s biggest clubs, including Terengganu, Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, while also spending a season in Indonesia with Persipura Jayapura.
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