Some of the players who shone at the JKR
fields in Cheras in a kickabout outside the building that occupies the grounds.
From left: M Pavalamani, K Kanagarajah, K Murugapillai, K Kanagasabai and A
Jayakanthan.
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of football grounds in the city that
have vanished over the past four decades is staggering.
They were once fertile fields for the development of young
talent and an active production line for some of the best players from the
1950s to the 1980s.
Many of the players, to whom the grounds were “second home”,
went on to gain national acclaim while some became household names.
Today, neighbourhoods are missing the football culture,
community spirit, and the flow of talented players as playing fields have given
way to concrete structures.
FMT picked out the more famous old grounds in Kuala Lumpur that
time has forgotten – landmarks that once helped shape Malaysian football.
Jalan Chan Ah Thong field, Brickfields
Then: A “dug-out” field that was popular among boys from the
government service staff at the “100 quarters” on Jalan Rozario and Jalan Chan
Ah Thong, and students from La Salle Brickfields, SMK Vivekananda and SK
Brickfields 1 and 2.
Notable players who rose from here were Selangor and national
players – midfielder Ng Mun Kai (50s), striker N Thanabalan, centreback T
Nagaratnam, leftback Clement Soosay and goalkeeper G Daniel (all 60s), defender
and national skipper, the late M Chandran (late 60s to mid-70s), defenders K
Gunalan and K Ramachandran (late 70s to mid-90s).
The field was first filled and turned into a track for the
‘Shell Traffic Safety Games’ in the mid-80s. In the past 10 years, it was also
used as a temporary food court for former occupants of the famous Pines
restaurants, opposite the La Salle Brickfields school field.
Now: MRCB condominium project in progress.
Brickfields Railway Recreation Club (RRC)
Then: Home ground of Hong Chin FC, a powerhouse from the 60s to
early 80s.
Hong Chin (which means “ever onwards” in Chinese) was started by
the late Charlie Tan and friends. The club now operates from a flat on Jalan
Padang Belia formerly Jalan Kandang Kerbau.
The big names who came through Hong Chin were the late
goalkeepers Chow Chee Keong and Ong Yu Tiang, Yip Chee Keong, R Subramaniam,
Peter Rajah, Reduan Yunus, John Engketesu, K Gunasegeran and Khalid Ali.
Now: The ground was closed 20 years ago when the land was sold
to YTL for development. Work began recently.
Sentul Railway and 3rd Mile Ipoh Road Railway grounds
Mark Ambrose cant field the believe that development has robbed the Sentul Railway ground which used to be his playground with the many Sentul footballers. Today stands the Sentul Boulevard
Then: Frequented mainly by children of Malayan Railways (KTM)
workers.
Among those who made the mark were Mark Ambrose, his brothers
Ronnie, Peter and Clement, ex-national goalkeeper Chinna Karuppan, centreback
Joe Soosay (Malaya 1957), midfielder Kassim Abdullah and former national coach
N Raju.
Now: Sentul Boulevard (blocks of shops and offices) stand on the
Sentul Railway ground while Sentul West occupies the Ipoh Road ground.
3rd Mile JKR grounds, Cheras
Then: These two fields were also the training grounds for the
Selangor and national squads as well as visiting teams to the Merdeka
tournament in the 70s.
Apart from children of City Hall staff whose quarters were close
by, youths from surrounding areas like Jalan Peel, Jalan Cochrane, Sungei Besi
and Pudu also made it their turf.
Notable players include goalkeepers Lim Fung Kee and M
Pavalamani, K Kanagarajah, Mokhtar Ahmad, A Jayakanthan, Azman Adnan, Mohd
Satar Aziz, Ho Tuck Keong and Wong Fook Keong.
They turned out for teams such as Pemuda Cheras FC, Cheras
United FC, JKR FC, Sukaramai FC, Harimau KL, Malay, Indian, Chinese and Others
(MICO) FC and FT Hindian FC.
Respected coaches like the late Jeswant Singh, PC Dorai, Chow
Kwai Lam and Chinna Karupan began their football journey here.
Now: The grounds made way for development in 2005 and today the
imposing Convention Centre of the Construction Industry Development Board
stands tall.
Selangor Chinese Recreation Club (SCRC) ground, Pudu
Then: The club was a breeding ground for Chinese players,
administrative officials, referees and coaches.
SCRC’s most illustrious player was the late midfield maestro
Wong Choon Wah.
Choon Wah was the first player to venture into professional
football in Hong Kong with South China Athletics Association from 1972 to 1974
before Lim Fung Kee, Chow Chee Keong and Yip Chee Keong followed suit.
Other players who came through from SCRC included Ho Hon Seong,
Chow Siew Yai, Wong Fook Choon, Chan Choong Yoon, Ong Chee Keong and See Kim
Seng.
The club’s treasurer, the late Goh Ah Chai went on to serve the
FA of Malaysia (FAM), and Selangor and Kuala Lumpur FAs while the late Koh Guan
Kiat was a Fifa referee.
Now: The club has been without a field after being relocated to
Jalan Damai, Ampang, in the late 80s to make way for the now-abandoned Plaza
Rakyat project (next to Pudu Raya).
Other famous clubs associated with community football were:
·
Selangor Indians Association (SIA) at the Kampong Attap ground:
Now, a flyover near the old Istana.
·
Umno and Sultan Sulaiman Club at Kampong Baru: Still existing
but under threat from the Kampong Baru redevelopment plan.
·
Tamilian Physical Culture Association (TPCA), Raja Muda Stadium,
Kampung Baru: Taken over by National Sports Council for a sports complex.
·
Royal Selangor Club ground (also known as Selangor Padang): Now
Dataran Merdeka.
BLOG VERSION
Disappearance of playing fields in the city in the name of development
Former international N. Thanbalan cant believe what was his playing ground at Chan Ah Thong ground in Brickfields now has made way for development
Tony Mariadass
Standfirst: The factory of top footballer players for the nation from playing grounds around the city has been demolished.
KUALA LUMPUR: With all the main playing fields around the city converted to concrete structures in the last 30 years, the flow of talented players has also come to an abrupt halt.
Fields like Jalan Chan Ah Thong and Railway ground in Brickfields, Railway grounds at Jalan Ipoh and Sentul, two JKR fields at 3rd mile Jalan Cheras and Selangor Chinese Recreation Club (SCRC) field at Jalan Pudu, are all memories now.
Playing fields have now been replaced with futsal courts mushrooming around the city and sports complexes.
The community spirit and neighborhood ground concept has all been buried, where players could go the fields anytime of the day to kick a ball and for free.
Football players who have surfaced from around the city fields from the late 50s to 80s and were household names but today these fields have become a death knell.
Among the other famous fields and associated with community football and clubs, include the Selangor Indians Association (SIA) using the Kampong Attap ground (now a flyover near the Old Istana), UMNO and Sultan Sulaiman Club at Sultan Sulaiman Club at Kampong Baru(still exist but under threat under the Kampong Baru development plan), Tamilian Physical Culture Association (TPCA), using the Raja Muda Stadium Stadium at Kampung Baru (now taken over by National Sports Council to be sports complex) and Royal Selangor Club ground (now Dataran Merdeka).
Jalan Chan Ah Thong field at Brickfields:
|
This field which was a small-sized field in a dug-out, but it produced
several state and national players from the 50s. It was first filled up and turned into a track for “Shell Traffic
Safety Games” in the mid-80s and in the late 90s closed, as the land was
acquired for development. But work to build a condominium project only began a few years ago and
work is still in progress under MRCB. For most of the boys who stayed around the area in Brickfields, especially
at the ‘100 quarters’ on Jalan Rozario, and Jalan Chan Ah Thong, it was their
playground. The ‘100 quarters’ comprise ten blocks of ten houses for Government
Service staff. It was also a playing ground for students from schools in the vicinity
- La Salle Brickfields, SMK Vivekananda and SK Brickfields 1 and 2. Among the notable players who rose from here include Selangor and
national midfielder Ng Mun Kai in the 50s, striker N. Thanabalan, centreback
T. Nagaratnam, left back Clement Soosay and goalkeeper G. Daniel, who hogged Selangor
and national team in the 60s and defender and national skipper, late M.
Chandran, who came to the scene in the late 60s and went on to play into the
mid-70s before becoming a Selangor and national coach. In the late 70s to mid-90s saw players who had links with the Chan Ah
Thong field like international defenders K. Gunalan and K. Ramachandran, KL
striker R. Sunder, 1997 World Youth Cup team defender and captain M. Gopalan,
KL and Perlis striker Zulfikar Rajamohan and Samy brothers, strikers Hemadas,
Nathakumar and Thayalan, who all played for KL and national youth teams, make
their mark. |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Brickfields Railway Recreation Club (RRC):
RRC clubhouse was also located on the grounds, and was the home ground of private football club, Hong Chin Football Club - who once were the household name and pride of Selangor and Malaysian football in the 60s, 70s and early 80s.
The field was closed 20 years ago, when the land was sold for development but only recently work has started under YTL.
Hong Chin, officially registered in 1968, was a unique football club because it was a community football based club, run by passionate and volunteers, who had to source for funds and most of the time contributed themselves. The club was formed to provide budding youngsters of the area a chance to become good footballers by harnessing their talent.
Among the notable players who have come through Hong Chin include the likes of Lai Kok Kim, Tan Kim Meng, Khalid Ali, Reduan, Lim Hong Hock, K. Gunasegeran, Lim Then Guan, Engketesu, Peter Ambrose, Chan Chee Mun, Abdullah Ali, Yip Chee Keong, R. Subramaniam, Peter Rajah, Reduan Yunus and late Chow Chee Keong and Ong Yu Tiang. Many of them turned out for Selangor and the national team.
Hong Chin, which means ‘ever onwards’ in Chinese, was started by the late Charlie Tan and a group of friends from Scott Road, Brickfields (now known as Jalan Tun Sambanthan).
Charlie and his friends even rented a flat for their clubhouse (26A, Jalan Padang Belia – formerly Jalan Kandang Kerbau off Brickfields) facing the former Railway Recreation Club (RRC).
Michael Yei, a veteran of Hong Chin FC, recalled his association with the club and football those days: “I grew up in the Scott Road/Jalan Kandang Kerbau (now Jln Tun Sambanthan) vicinity. My early days of playing football was on the Railway Recreation Club (RRC) field, the YMCA Field and the Jalan Chan Ah Thong Field. These were the three famous football venues in the Brickfields area. During those days, crowds used to gather around these fields practically every evening to watch football games under the auspices of the Football Association of Selangor (FAS).
“Monday, Wednesday and Fridays were Commercial League games whilst Tuesdays and Thursdays were for the Open League. The popular teams then were Sharpees (mainly comprising Indians) and Hong Chin (mainly comprising Chinese).
“The RRC Field was also the “home” for Sharpees. Hong Chin were in Division One whilst Sharpees were in Division 2. I began my footballing days playing for Sharpees and subsequently, the late Charlie Tan approached me to join Hong Chin.”
Charlie was largely instrumental for opening Hong Chin to receive players from other races. Then there was the period when they had an influx of players from Victoria Institution led by Tan Kim Chuan and others like M. Indran, Dina Bandu (Datuk Dina Rizal now), Michael Yap and Yap Kian Fui.
Sentul Railway and 3rd Mile Ipoh Road Railway grounds:
A former railway
hub, Sentul, had two railway grounds, which were popular for residents around
the area, mainly children of workers of Malayan Railways.
Today both fields have
disappeared, since YTL Land had unveiled its master plan to redevelop Sentul in the
90s, a multi-billion-ringgit project which had stalled during the 1997/1998
Asian financial crisis.
The urban renewal project,
started in 2002.
In the last 12 years, Sentul has
been given a massive makeover with the projects and Sentul West stands on the
Ipoh Road ground while Sentul Boulevard (blocks of shops and offices) stand on
the Sentul ground.
“Sentul and Ipoh Road fields brings back memories of yesteryear that cannot be forgotten,” said Mark Ambrose, 71, who has been staying in Sentul since 1957.
“Many of the railwaymen's children and others staying around Sentul have graced the field with love affection and pride,” said Mark, whose father was a clerk with the Railways.
“I for
one will never forget the beautiful days when after school and work, these fields
were our second home,” said Ambrose who played for MCIS in the Selangor League.
The Ambrose family also saw Ronnie play for the Asian Youth and Selangor, Peter played for Selangor and Clement who played at Selangor League level and became a national referee.
Other players who excelled to play for Selangor and national from Sentul include from centreback Joe Soosay (Malaya 1957)- national goalkeepers China Karuppan and G. Daniel- national goalkeeper, late Chow Chee Keong and striker Yip Chee Keong - national and professional football in Hongkong, midfielder Kassim Abdullah and Guna Retnam – Selangor and national - and N. Raju – national coach.
3rd
Mile JKR Fields:
These two fields were not just community fields for
residents and clubs in the area, but was also training grounds for the
Selangor, national team and visiting teams to the Merdeka tournament in the
70s.
The field has made way for development in 2005 and today
the massive Convention Centre Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)
stands in place.
“We were told that a piece of land would be located at the
CIBD and a field will be there. The piece of land is there but no field,” said
M. Pavalamani, former national and Kuala Lumpur and Sabah custodian.
“These two fields have been our playing ground for years,
especially for the children of City Hall staff whose quarters were close by. We
had players coming from nearby areas like Peel Road, Cochrane Road, Sungei Besi
and Pudu,” said the 56-year-old Pavalamani.
Speedy winger K.Kanagarajah, who was among the pioneers to
put Cheras on the football map said he eats, breath and sleeps football and it
was the JKR fields which saw fall in love with football.
“We grew up in this
fields, but today we had to move to Sri Johor which is a far cry in terms of
quality, where I still conduct coaching clinics for youngsters ages from all
races,” said the 63-year-old Kanagarajah, who last played for Selangor in 1987
after making his debut in1978.
He also played in the Asian Youth championship in 1977 and at
national level, he played for the National B team and has four international
caps with the senior team.
Kana as he is affectionately known, has won five Malaysia
Cup winners and two runners up medals, and 1984 was a very memorable year for
him, as Selangor were treble champions - Charity Shield, League and Malaysia
Cup
Two players before him who came from Cheras, include
goalkeeper Lim Fung Kee and Mokhtar Ahmad.
Others players who have donned Selangor, KL or national colours, include S.
Thanaskodi, the late K. Ravindran, A. Jayakanthan, Azman Adnan, S. Tamilarasan,
late V. Gunalan, S. Mathen, Mohd Satar Aziz, K. Murugapillai, K. Kanagasabai,
K. Dandorangan, Ho Tuck Keong and Wong Fook Keong to name a few.
Coaches who coached here include late Jeswant Singh, PC
Dorai, Chow Kwai Lam, Chinna Karupan and Kanagarajah.
These players turned out for teams form this grounds –
Pemuda Cheras FC, Cheras United FC, JKR FC, Sukaramai FC, Harimau KL, Malay,
Indian, Chinese and Others (MICO) FC and FT Hindian FC.
Selangor
Chinese Recreation Club ground, Pudu:
The club and ground was breeding ground for Chinese
players, administrative officials, referees and coaches which was had to move
out in the late 80s in the name of development – Plaza Rakyat.
The project is only half completed, as the actual ground
where SCRC stood, the project has been abandoned for years now.
The most illustrious player who rose from SCRC is the late
international midfield maestro Wong Choon Wah.
Choon Wah was the first player to venture into professional
football in Hong Kong with South China Athletics Association from 1972 to 1974
before the likes of Lim Fung Kee, Chow Chee Keong and Yip Chee Keong followed
suit.
Other players who came through from SCRC include Ho Hon
Seong, Chow Siew Yai, Ho Tuck Keong, Wong Fook Choon, Chan Choong Yoon Ong Chee
Keong and See Kim Seng.
The late Goh Ah Chai,
the club’s treasurer went on to State level with Selangor, Kuala Lumpur FA and
national, the late Koh Guan Kiat emerged as a FIFA referee from SCRC, while
late firebrand coach, Chow Kwai Lam was also from SCRC.
The club is now relocated at Jalan Damai, in Ampang, at a
bungalow without any playing field.
Ends..
No comments:
Post a Comment