Thanasekodi leaves a lasting impression for Cheras

 

By Tony Mariadass

As fast as many football hotbeds that launched stars are disappearing in the city of Kuala Lumpur, so are many of the players who rose from these fields.

This morning another player who rose from the JKR Cheras field in the 70s, Thanasekodi Selvaraj, 64, passed away.

Thanasekodi was among the pioneer players who rose from the Cheras JKR fields together with likes goalkeeper Lim Fung Kee, Mokhtar Ahmad and K. Kanagarajah.

While Fung Kee and Mokhtar were the first products from Cheras, Thanasekodi and Kanagarajah rose to ranks playing with Cheras United in the Selangor league after that.

The two JKR 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

Thansekodi, who married late and had no children, moved on to play for Majlis Belia Selangor (MBS) before starting his career with MCIS before moving to a banking career with United Asia Bank.

He retired three years ago from CIMB and continued to work with private companies.

Thanasekodi, who was rated as a very skilful player played for Selangor in the Razak Cup (then Burnley Cup) in 1975 in Kelantan and 1976 (Johor) and went to play for Selangor B.

Thanasekodi also known as Thanesh was born in 1957 at Kampung Semarang (the present site of MARA building).  His parents were deceased Selvaraj and Ponnalagu.  Father was a DBKL staff while his mother was an enterprising businesswoman, operating a stall selling kacang-putih, garlands and flowers.

The couple had four children.  Thanasekodi was the eldest, followed by his sisters Alagammal, Pakiam and Meena. 

Thanasekodi started his primary education at the Kampung Kuantan School in Titiwangsa area.  When the family shifted to DBKL quarters in mid-1960s, Thanasekodi studied at St. Gabriel's Primary School from Standards 4 to 6.  He used to be a brilliant student and was the top student of his batch in Standard 6.  His secondary education was at Sekolah Menengah Cheras and was a science stream student.  He represented the school in football and long-distance running. 

Football was Thanesh's favourite game since his young days.  During his teenage days Thanesh used to organise 6-a-side football tournaments and his team's name was Santos.  Later, he joined Selangor's Premier League club Cheras United and played in the mid-field position.  He used to be good in ball control and dribbling the ball, and earned the nickname ‘Gentello’ (derived from Bahasa Malaysia word 'gentel' (dribble). 

 Thanesh was also playing alongside with the MCIS team for a short while, playing with legends like late Wong Choon Wah. 

 After retiring from active football Thanesh switched to long distance running.  He used to participate in marathons in Malaysia. 

 Thanesh was a devout Hindu and was the treasurer of Sri Thohaiyadi Vinayagar Temple, 2 1/2 miles Cheras since 1995 until 2020.  He did not seek election for 2021.  During his tenure the Temple did a major consecration six years ago.  It was a very successful event for the temple. 

 Thanesh was recently diagnosed to have three blockages in his heart and was required to undergo a surgery.  Though the surgery was successfully done he died two days later.

 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 JKR grounds were “second home”, just as it was to Thaneskodi, as went on to gain recognition at state and national level 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.

Some of the other players who rose from the JKR fields in Cheras to don Selangor, Kuala Lumpur or national colours,  include M Pavalamani, K Murugapillai, K Kanagasabai, A Jayakanthan, late K. Ravindran S. Tamilarasan, late V. Gunalan, S. Mathen, Mohd Satar Aziz, K. Dandorangan, Ho Tuck Keong and Wong Fook Keong to name a few.

They turned out for teams in Cheras 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, late Chow Kwai Lam and Chinna Karupan began their football journey here too.

Now the JKLR Cheras grounds have made way for development in 2005 and today the imposing Convention Centre of the Construction Industry Development Board stands tall.

Rest in peace Thaneskodi. You have done Cheras proud.

Attapka fast becoming a ‘Foodie Bikers’ Haven

 

By Tony Mariadass

‘Foodie Bikers’ Haven

BANTING: ‘Attapka Seafood Restaurant’ owned by former international footballer from Kuala Lumpur, See Kim Seng, has seen a new group of clients of late – Bikers – and it fast growing in numbers.

After experiencing  bad times during this Covid-19 pandemic since last year when Movement Control Order (MCO) saw his restaurant bring down its curtains, and later only able to receive ‘take away’ orders, Kim Seng sighed relived when first dine-in was allowed and inter-district allowed recently, and now inter-state travel too allowed.

“My customers used to be locals, friends and sometime outstation clients,” said the 57-year-old father of five daughters.

“But of late, when inter-district travel was allowed, I was pleasantly surprised to get group of bikers coming to my restaurant.

“It was by word of mouth that these bikers who add food outlets to their bike riding expeditions, that saw these groups patronise my outlet.

"And now not a weekend or public holiday passes by with a least one or two bikers groups coming to my restaurant to feast.

“Their presence certainly adds colour to my outlet and a delight to my other customers to view these big bikes up close and personal.

“And with the bikers themselves pleased with the food we serve here and passing the word to their other biker friends, I am getting more biker groups coming to my outlet.”

Kim Seng said one bikers group in particular led by Danny Zuko has been promoting his outlet to other biker groups.

 Kim Seng, is proof that there is life after football, if one plans well, works hard, willing to face challenges, be prudent and keep one’s feet firm on the ground always.

The burly Kim Seng who grew up at Kampong Kelanang, Banting, has come a long way to establish himself as a successful businessman, since he last played for Negri Sembilan in 1994.

He has managed a heavy machinery business successfully from 1995 to 2013, before recession saw him fold the business, then set up his own heavy machinery company for a few years, and after his last job during the building of KLIA 2, decided to go into managing a golf driving range at the Desa Driving Range at Shah Alam – his second, after the first in Bandar Baru Kelang in 2015, where his contract of the range was not renewed after three years - and now runs a seafood restaurant – Attapka – since February last year.

Kim Seng who took up golfing after football and was a single handicapper, also runs a coaching clinic for children at his range, but now has asked his friend to run it, because he must concentrate on his seafood restaurant.

“I come from a family of seven and was the fifth. As a 12-year-old I used to follow my late father (See Thiam Sem) who ran a fruit shop, to buy coconuts and fruits, from plantations by bicycle first, before he got a motorcycle.

“Coming from a small town and kampong, I knew what hardship was all about and was always prudent and saved whatever I could for a rainy day.

“It is not how much you earn, but how much you can safe. A father can give his son 1 million ringgit, but it will all come to naught if the son does not know how to utilise the money well.”

Kim Seng started playing football as a striker, as a kampong boy with estate players near his home.

Chinese educated at his primary school SRJK Simpan Morib and later at SM Sg Manggis till Form Three and in SMK Telok Datuk, he first played for his school teams, before turning out for the Kuala Langat District team in the Selangor premier league.

It was with the district team that Kim Seng was spotted by the late international midfield maestro Wong Choon Wah, was who playing for Selangor Chinese Recreation Club (SCRC), when playing in the league match in Banting.

Kim Seng went on to play for Selangor schools in the Rahman Cup and Razak Cup and donned national colours in the Asean Schools football championship for two years – 1981 in Jakarta and 1982 in Bangkok where he captained the team.

It was in 1984, that he was selected to the Selangor team and with a star-studded team with the likes of the late Mokhtar Dahari, K. Rajagobal, Norbit Shah and other notable names, he warmed the bench and only played one match against Armed Forces.

Next year, frustrated, he returned to just play in the Selangor league for SCRC. It was here that late Chow Kwai Lam spotted him and took him to play for Kuala Lumpur in late 1986.

 

See  Kim Seng (right) in KL colours in defence with teammate Chow Siew Yai

It was Dr Josef Veglos who took charge of the KL team in 1987, that converted Kim Seng from a striker to a defender. He played for KL till 1992 (wining the Malaysia Cup for a record three times – 1987-1989), before moving to Negri Sembilan for two years before he called it quits.

Kim Seng standing back row far right with KL Malaysia Cup team with their trophies  1988 treble champions Malaysia Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield

As a national player he has a winner’s medal from the 1989 Sea Games under English coach Trevor Hartley and a 1993 Merdeka tournament medal under Australian coach late Ken Worden who passed away recently, besides playing in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers and King’s Cup in Thailand where he captained the team.

“I am also glad that besides having done well in business, I have also educated my children well and also got them involved in sports,” said Kim Seng proudly, whose wife, Wong Show Mei was a Tanggak district volleyball player.

Kim Seng with standing from left  daughters See Min, See Mon, See Man and See Won  and seated from left wife Doris Wong Show Mei and youngest daughter See Wye

While Kim Seng admitted that he spends most of his time now at his seafood restaurant, starting as early as 7am to buy the seafood from the fishing village and open his shop from 11am to midnight.

His wife now manages the driving range besides her own business of cleaning services.

While Kim Seng does not do the cooking and has hired experienced cooks, he is still busy at the restaurant taking orders, managing the cash register and making sure the food is served fast besides being the public relation man talking to his customers.

 

Kim Seng taking order at his restaurant

Kim Seng keeps his prices very affordable because most of his customers are from Banting and not all of them are doing well.

He also sponsors one or two tables each other for poor families around the area working with the Community Service centres.

And despite his newfound clientele of bikers and more coming from outside Banting, Kim Seng keeps his price very affordable to all, not compromising on his portions or standards which he works hard to keep on improving.

Among his specialities and favourites among his customers are Pari Fish Curry, Fried sotong, Dried chilli chicken and Chilli Crab. He also has any array of other delicious dishes and also serves 'toddy' in one litre bottles sourced from the nearby coconut plantations.

Indeed a place worth the visit which is about one hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and if you avoid the highway passing through Klang, the drive through the kampung passing through Dengkil is a sight to behold.

Check out Attapka Seafood Restaurant. No regets, only joy and a full stomach.

 

Nestled in a shed of trees, the hut-styled seating for privacy or for bigger groups at the main restaurant, it is Located at Lot 325, Jalan Pulau Banting, 42700, Banting, and open from 11.30am to 11.00pm.