Singapore Soccer Legends - Part 2
In 2008, I wrote an article on Singapore soccer. It was simply titled Kallang and the Malaysia Cup:
In 2011, I suddenly felt inspired to expand the topic and I wrote six more articles: The Kallang Roar parts 2,3,4, three other articles with the "Singapore Soccer Legends" garnering the most hits!
Recently, a big local media company even used materials from my blog to feature Singapore soccer in a documentary or something and I did not even know what was used nor did they have the courtesy to show me and worse - they took materials that did not belong to them, deemed it fit to use them without my permission and did not credit me after using it. I thought even our institute of learning made all students aware of seeking permission and to show credit when using others' material. I am contemplating what are my rights. What happens when you use their material? As a Singaporean, I am saddened and hugely disappointed by their behaviour.
I felt a little better recently when I met the rest of the lads over a meal at the House of Briyani at Owen Road. The legends who have read my blog on them would have appreciated the intimate details I knew about them during their playing days. I am talking soccer!
As you would have read from the papers, Syed Mutalib moved here close to where Uncle Choo Seng Quee used to own a sports shop nearby.
There was friendly banter going on throughout. Who among the Singapore soccer legends were present?
Andy Yeo was in the Singapore team together with other legends from the sixties - Wilfred Skinner, Majid Ariff and Quah Kim Swee. It was the only time and the only Singapore team that reached the semi-finals of the 5th Asian Games. Those were the days where Burma was an Asian soccer power house and the Asian games champions.
There was talk about that famous Merdeka Cup win over mighty Burma when Singapore caused an 1-0 upset win. Roy Krishnan was one of Singapore's finest left winger ever. Roy has searing pace and a great left foot. His cross was handled by a Burmese defender and Dollah Kassim converted the penalty. My memory of Roy Krishnan was when China played here for the first time in a "friendship first" friendly at Kallang which ended 1-1. Roy sprinted away to score our goal. Talking about giant-killing and left wingers, Wong Kwok Choy was also mentioned as he scored the goal that toppled mighty North Korea. I was there.
If you do not know S. Rajagopal then you should. Rajagopal was a banana kick specialist, hitting the ball with the outside of the foot bending it from right to left just like what a Brazilian does. He was also the master of the in-swinger bending it like Beckham before Beckham did. He never failed to excite with his overhead bicycle kicks too. They called him the "camel" as he would often gallop down the left flank like a camel. He was also the guy that Uncle Choo closed an eye to because Rajagopal needed his drinks in order to play well just like some golfers I know who do not play as well without their beer.
Even more amazing was that because Rajagopal was often described a one legged albeit having a most wonderful left foot, he has no qualms and easily overcame his shortcoming with his development of the "Rabona" kick way before Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated it. The Rabona kick is like a back kick, one where you can cross the ball from the outside by crossing your other foot behind. When Singapore played Hong Kong in a Pre-World Cup qualifier at Kallang it was one of our greatest matches I have seen. Hong Kong was a strong Asian team and took the lead. From a corner on the right, Raja's banana bender found Kim Song who found the net with a superb header. Hong Kong regained the lead with a controversial goal but Raja lobbed the ball with a spectacular back kick to Kim Song who nodded for Dollah to score. Because of this, I practised this kick too and did amazed quite a few people though not with the same accuracy and power of Raja. I was in the stand that night and witnessed one of the best matches I have seen at Kallang.
Here is what the Rabona Kick looks like:
S. Rajagopal with his trademark cowboy hat with the guru.
Syed Mutalib was a defensive kingpin in the Singapore team's back-line. He played in the Malaysia Cup and the Pre-World Cup of 1977. Built like a tank, he also crushed opponents also like a tank. Syed also played in the team that defeated North Korea 3-1, China 1-0, Sri Lanka 3-0 and India 1-0 but lost to Iran 0-3.
Here are (from left, front to back - Andy Yeo, Robert Sim, Ho Kwang Hock) and (from right front to back - Quah Kim Song and Lim Teng Sai) tucking in. Robert was a hard-tackling left full back for many years. I have previously written about my memories of Robert, Teng Sai and Kim Lye when we met and they were amazed with the details I gave about them.
Here's looking at you kid. (Left, front to back: Lim Teng Sai, Yours Truly, Quah Kim Song, S. Rajagopal), (Right, front to back: Ho Kwang Hock, Robert Sim, Andy Yeo). When Pele visited Singapore, he has special mention for Lim Teng Sai, a no nonsense rugged defender calling him the unpolished gem of Singapore soccer. Robert Sim was an ever present in the team. I have also asked about other players I knew - Lim Tien Jit aka Rocky who was very fit and dedicated and with long flowing hair. Zainal Abideen, midfield maestro supreme, M. Kumar and the stylish Mohamed Noh.
Finally, I am seen here with Adrian Chia (below), probably the second best player who never represented Singapore. Why? Because I am the best! Haha.
The last time I had great chat time with Kim Lye, Teng Sai and Robert. This time I was sandwiched between Kim Song and Rajagopal. I have some important questions for Kim Song who was often the Man of the Match in the glorious Malaysia Cup days.
Guru: Is the "Towkay" Soh Chin Aun (Selangor and Malaysia) really as good as they said he was?
Kim Song: Chin Aun is a freak. He is a great player who reads the game so well. You do not find a player of this quality in Asia. He's a one off.
Guru: Tell me about that Pre-World Cup match v Malaysia. Malaysia have played in the Olympics, beaten teams like South Korea in the Merdeka Cup. They have Spiderman R. Arumugam, Santokh Singh, Soh Chin Aun, Wong Choon Wah, Abdullah Ali, Isa and Ali Bakar, Yip Chee Keong, Mokhtar Dahari and James Wong. How did we do it?
Kim Song: Uncle Choo was a great strategist and tactician. He said that man for man and to play soccer against Malaysia, we could not beat them. Mokhtar Dahari was injured and did not play but they have others like Isa bakar who was so quick. Malaysia dominated for long periods. I was told by Uncle to try to get a penalty and Mohamed Noh was told to train his penalty kicks. That was exactly what happened. I got the penalty and Mat Noh scored.
Guru: You came from an illustrious soccer family. Kim Swee, Kim Siak, Kim Beng, Kim Lye and you. All very good players in different position and in different years. Who in your opinion was the best of them all?
Song: In my opinion, the best was Kim Swee. He is also a true gentleman and also media savvy.
Guru: One last question, considering your own mercurial prowess, who was your most difficult opponent?
Song: It has to be the "Towkay" Soh Chin Aun. He reads the game so well, you can hardly get a clean dribble past him! (For those who do not know Soh Chin Aun, think Franz Beckanbauer. Chin Aun often strolled with the ball at his feet and made timely interceptions as a libero. A great reader of the game. His style is calm and unfettered).
Guru: Okay, before we go, my friends and I like Sylvia Lim. We watched her at the elections, were impressed with her parliamentary speeches. So...
Song: .....
Haha, I am keeping this under wraps.
My head too. Why my hair looked so flat? I am going to ask Raja where he got his hat.
Syed Mutalib's restaurant has some interesting stuffs that adorn the walls. He is seen here in a photo with Lim Tang Boon and Fandi Ahmed.
And one with the Malaysia Cup Champions of 1977. I remember vividly the sky blue "Admiral" jerseys they donned with the black and white stripes down the right side. In those days, the Singapore team attire was blue (the FAS colour), not red.
(Back row L-R: Hasli Ibrahim, S. Rajagopal, Eric Paine, Quah Kim Song, Mohamed Noh, Syed Mutalib, Samad Alapitchay, Edmund Wee, Robert Sim, Nasir Jalil).
(Front row L-R: M. Kumar, Gulam Mohamed, Zainal Abideen, Dollah Kassim, Lim Teng Sai and Lim Tang Boon).
I was honoured to be in such esteemed company. They were my boyhood soccer heroes and they played the most wonderful soccer especially in that special year in 1977. They inspired and generated lots of interest in soccer and pulled a nation together every weekend in the Malaysia Cup.
I felt even more honoured when Robert on behalf of the legends presented me this wonderful book "50 Greatest Moments In Singapore Football".
The soccer legends were presented this book at the Istana by the President on 13 July 2012.
Not only that, they have all autographed the book for me! Priceless.
I would like to thank all the soccer legends for taking time out. Also special thanks to Adrian. I am now thinking of forming an Old Boys FC. What say you guys? Game on?
No, not football club. I mean foodie club.
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