Gritty Bala keeps up the struggle (The Malay Mail)

STYLISH midfielder S. Balachandran has struggled for recognition all his
life.
 Balachandran, who turns 31 on Feb 26, returns to don Kuala Lumpur
colours in the M-League after three seasons.
 He was with Sabah in 1993 and 1994 and last year he played in the
Amatuer League for City Hall SC.
 Indeed, Balachandran has been struggling since he first donned national
colours as a 15-year-old in Lion City tournament (for the Under-16) in
Singapore.
 He shone at the schools level and was transferred from the Methodist
Boys School in Sentul to Victoria Institution (a Soccer School of
Excellence) but had to wait an agonising five years before gaining
national recognition again.
 Coincidentally, it was Chow Kwai Lam - KL's current coach - who
recruited him for Cheq Point, a KL Dunhill League team in 1985.
 Balachandran went on to play for the KL President's Cup team and
eventually earned the national Tigers squad stripes.
 But he had to wait another two years before making the KL senior team
for the Malaysia Cup competition.
 It was a dream debut for him as KL won the Malaysia Cup for the first
time in 1987 under Kwai Lam. They went on to win it for three consecutive
years.
 But Balachandran was plagued by injury in the third year with the most
serious being a slipped disc in 1991.
 He finally made the national squad in 1991 for the Merdeka tournament
but that's where he suffered the slipped disc.
 Things then slowed down for him and Balachandran decided he needed a
change and moved to Sabah in 1993.
 He did well the first season but was plagued by injury in the second and
his contract was not renewed.
 After missing the M-league last season, Balachandran will be KL's oldest
and most experienced player when the M-League starts next month.
 Ironically, it was Kwai Lam who turned Balachandran down after trials
last season.
 Kwai Lam said he was concerned about Balachandran being injury prone.
 But this season, Kwai Lam has watched Balachandran working hard to get
back to the mainstream.
 Kwai Lam was impressed with Balachandran's performance against the
Japanese Olmpic squad on Thursday (the teams drew 2-2).
 "It was Bala's best game in a long time and if he continues to play like
that, I will have no worries," said Kwai Lam after the match.
 "He has really worked hard to get back and that underlines his
determination."
 Balachandran is determined to end his career on a bright note.
 "Soccer is my life. All the hard times I have gone through only make me
love the game more," said Balachandran who is likely to skipper KL.
 "KL have put their faith in me and now it is payback time. I will use my
experience to guide the youngsters who form the core of the team for the
new season," said Balachandran.
 Balachandran is happy with his pre-League progress but only expects to
get into top gear later in the season.
 Balachandran enjoys playing alongside the KL youngsters but he says at
times it can get frustrating, especially when they do not use him enough.
 He said Kwai Lam has been working on this area and the youngsters are
responding quite well.
 There is no saying if Balachandran's struggles will end this season but
the fans can surely expect some good performances from him.
                               (END)