Farewell to AFC’s ‘Number One’
Wong Lian Koi, the first employee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has passed away at the age of 69. She is remembered for her 38 years of dedicated service and her role as a pioneer in the organization's growth.
Why it matters
The passing of a long-serving administrative figure highlights the 'behind-the-scenes' labor that sustains major international sporting institutions.
Recognition for a lifetime of quiet dedication. Wong Lian Koi receives the AFC Distinguished Service Award from then AFC president Sultan Ahmad Shah as Fifa president Joseph Blatter (right) and AFC general secretary Peter Vellapan (centre) look on. (Alex Soosay pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Football history remembers presidents, champions and famous goals.
Far less often does it remember the people who quietly help make those moments possible.
For almost four decades, Wong Lian Koi belonged to that rare group.
Former colleagues affectionately called her “Number One” because she was the first employee hired by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Wong died on Monday at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy defined not by public acclaim but by steadfast service to Asian football.
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