Kogileswaran Raj

In this Indian name, the name Mohana Raj is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kogileswaran Raj. The abbreviation "a/l" (anak lelaki) or "a/p" (anak perempuan), if used, means "son of" or "daughter of" in Malay respectively.

Kogileswaran Raj a/l Mohana Raj (born 21 September 1998), also known by his nickname as Kogi, is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking-midfielder. He has also been the member of the Malaysia national team.^[2][3][4][5]

Kogileswaran Raj

Personal information
Full name	Kogileswaran Raj a/l Mohana Raj[1]
Date of birth	(1998-09-21) 21 September 1998 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s)	Winger, attacking-midfielder
Youth career
2012	Frenz United
2013–2014	Malaysia Pahang Sports School
2015	Harimau Muda C
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Sri Pahang	27	(13)
2020–2022	Petaling Jaya City	46	(8)
2023	Chungbuk Cheongju
2023–2024	Penang	6	(0)
2024–2025	Bunga Raya Damansara	24	(12)
International career
2013–2014	Malaysia U16	10	(2)
2015–2016	Malaysia U19	5	(0)
2017–2019	Malaysia U23	6	(0)
2018–	Malaysia	8	(2)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Malaysia AFF U-16 Youth Championship Winner 2013 Myanmar
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Sri Pahang

On 1 January 2016, Kogileswaran signed for a Malaysia Super League side Sri Pahang FC from Harimau Muda C on a free transfer. Under the management of Dollah Salleh, he made 27 appearances for the club and scored 13 goals for Sri Pahang from 2016 until 2019.

Petaling Jaya City

On 1 January 2020, Kogileswaran joined a fellow Malaysia Super League side Petaling Jaya City. From 2020 until 2022 season, he made 46 appearances for the club and scored 8 goals for Petaling Jaya City.

Chungbuk Cheongju

On 10 January 2023, Kogileswaran signed a one-year contract with K League 2 side Chungbuk Cheongju and became first Malaysian to play in Korean League.^[6] On 29 March 2023, he made his debut in the second round of the 2023 Korean FA Cup in the starting lineup against K4 League side Seoul Jungnang.

Penang

On 21 July 2023, Kogileswaran returned to Malaysia to join Penang.

International career

Youth

In August 2013, Kogi was enlisted in Malaysia U-16 squad for the 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship. He made 6 appearances and scored 2 goals for Malaysia U16. Both of the goals scored against Philippines U16. Malaysia ended up being the champion of 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship.

From 2013 until 2014, Kogileswaran played for Malaysia U16 squad. Under the management of S. Balachandran, He made 10 appearances and scored 2 goals for Malaysia U16.

From 2015 until 2016, Kogileswaran played for Malaysia U19 squad. Under the management of Frank Bernhardt, he got selected for the squad. In those years, he made 5 appearances and didn't scored any goal for Malaysia U19.

On 23 November 2017, Kogileswaran was enlisted in Malaysia U22's 30-man provisional squad for the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.^[7] On 10 January 2018, he made his first appearance for the Malaysia U23, coming from the bench in the 72nd minute in a 1–4 defeat to Iraq at Changshu Stadium.^[8]

In November 2020, Kogileswaran was enlisted in Malaysia U-23 squad for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. He made 4 appearances and scored 2 goals for Malaysia U23. One is against Singapore and one against Indonesia. Malaysia U23 ended their campaign on 4th placed in the group stage.

Senior

On 27 March 2018, Kogi made his first Malaysia senior team debut against Lebanon in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification after being subbed on in the 89th minute. He scored his first international goal in the 1–3 win against Cambodia in 2020 AFF Championship group stage. He also scored in the 1–4 loss against Indonesia.

Personal life

He is also the cousin of Titus James Palani, who was a famous football sensation in Malaysia during the early 2000.^[9][10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 November 2022^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition.

Club performance			League		FA Cup		Malaysia Cup		Continental[nb 1]		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2016	Sri Pahang	Malaysia Super League	5	0	0	0	5	0	–		10	0
2017			4	1	0	0	3	0	–		7	1
2018			13	1	2	0	2	0	–		17	1
2019			5	1	1	0	1	0	–		7	1
Total			27	3	3	0	11	0	0	0	41	3
2020	Petaling Jaya City	Malaysia Super League	8	4	–						8	4
2021			19	2	–		0	0	–		19	2
2022			19	2	–		0	0	–		19	2
Total			46	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	46	8
2023	Chungbuk Cheongju	K League 2	1	-3	–						1	-3
Total			1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
Career total			74	14	3	0	11	0	0	0	88	14

Notes

1. Includes cup competitions such as the AFC Champions League, and AFC Cup

International

As of match played 23 October 2022^[12]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malaysia	2018	2	0
	2021	2	2
	2022	4	0
Total		8	2

International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 December 2021	Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore	Cambodia	3–0	3–1	2020 AFF Championship
2	19 December 2021	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	Indonesia	1–0	1–4

Honours

Sri Pahang

• Malaysia FA Cup: 2018

Malaysia U-16

• AFF U-16 Youth Championship: 2013