Suk Bahadur

Suk Bahadur Thapa (ဆွတ်ဗဟာဒူး) was a Burmese footballer who served as the major for 4th Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) of Myanmar Army. He was also a dominating tennis and field hockey player as well as the national 100-meter sprint champion which he held under 11 seconds. Bahadur is a Gurkha from the Shan State in Myanmar.

Early career
In 1952, Myanmar Football Federation launched inaugural States and Divisions Football Championship to draw out talented footballers from around the country. Along with many new faces, Bahadur was selected from title winning Shan state football team. Later he played for Army football team where he teamed up with future national teammates; Hla Maung, Ba Kyu, Maung Thaung, Hla Aye, Guan Shein, Ba Shwe, David Kyaw San.

Club career
Suk Bahadur began his footballing journey at a young age, honing his skills and developing his unique playing style. He was a natural on the pitch, possessing exceptional dribbling skills, lightning-fast footwork, and a keen eye for goal. His style of play was mesmerising and Bahadur had a way of captivating audiences with his flashy moves and incredible speed on the wings. It was no wonder that his talent would not go unnoticed for long, as he quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the best players in the country and a national icon.

Bahadur's career was full of impressive achievements and remarkable performances but it all started in 1952 when he first made his mark on the national stage, playing for the Shan state team. Dazzling spectators with his skills as a forward, it was due to his exploits on the field that Shan won the state-level championship that year. He was soon recruited to play for the Myanmar national team, where he played both as a right winger and a forward and helped his country to their first success in football when they won the bronze medal in the 1954 Asian Games.

Bahadur's journey as a footballer was not easy, and he faced many challenges along the way. But overcoming these obstacles strengthened his mentality. It also helped him become the leader of the pack, and he was soon appointed as the captain of the national football team.

As a captain, Suk Bahadur was known for his discipline, dedication, and passion for the game. He was a strict taskmaster who demanded the best from his teammates and led by example. Under Bahadur's captaincy, the Burmese football team achieved numerous accolades. The list of championships that they won under his leadership is impressive, to say the least.

Myanmar won the Asian Games Gold medal twice, in 1966 and 1970 and were the runners-up in the AFC Asian Cup in 1968. They won the Southeast Asian Games thrice, in 1965, 1967, and 1969 and triumphed in the Merdeka Cup twice, in 1964 and 1967, apart from emerging runners-up in the King's Cup in 1968.

Bahadur's impact on Burmese football was immense, and his legacy continues to inspire young footballers even today. However, his contribution to the country was not only limited to sports.

Bahadur also served as the major for the 4th Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) of the Myanmar Army.

Bahadur was equally successful in domestic football, playing for the Army team. He was a key player in the success of the team that comprised several national teammates of Bahadur such as Hla Maung, Ba Kyu, and Maung Thaung.

International career
Suk Bahadur played over 150 matches for Myanmar from 1952 to 1970 and scored more than 80 goals.

Personal life
Bahadur is married to Khin Than Myint.

Death and funeral
He died on 19 August 2001 at the age of 68.

Honours
The following is a list of championships achieved during his captaincy.

Burma
 * Asian Games Gold medal: 1966, 1970; Bronze medal: 1954
 * AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 1968
 * SEA Games: 1965, 1967, 1969
 * Merdeka Cup: 1964, 1967
 * King's Cup runner-up: 1968

Individual
 * Asian All Stars: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968