TARA HAS LEFT A LEGACY FOR CLUB FOOTBALL IN THE COUNTRY

 MEDIA COVERAGE BY THE STAR AND NEW STRAITS TIMES LINKS;

Tara’s legacy of turning a small club into giant killers will live on https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2021/12/04/taras-legacy-of-turning-a-small-club-into-giant-killers-will-live-on#.Yaq0iays5O4.whatsapp


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 South City FC’s 50 years in existence and a grand dinner was held three years ago and Tara was honoured by their current managed led by president V. Sunderaj and secretary R. Sivakumar.

BY TONY MARIADASS

A football legend on his own rights, Tara Singh Pall Singh, who passed away on Oct 28 at the age of 74, has left behind memories of how he worked wonders with a small football club – South City FC – in Selangor, which will live forever.

 Tara was an example of what passion, dedication and sacrifices can even make a small unknown club like South City FC, become ‘giant killers’ and get noticed.

 Tara who worked with JKR Salak South since 1967, started his involvement with the ‘beautiful game’ playing for seven-a-side team – Red Devils – a ‘Village team’ where he stayed at the JKR quarters at Salak South.

 This team went to win many seven-a-side tournaments and it was in 1969 that Tara decided to change their team’s name to ‘South City FC’ and made its debut in the FA of Selangor Reserve league in 1976.

 Training at the community field at Salak South, Tara a goalkeeper, was a rare sight, as it was not common to see a Sikh boy play the goalkeeper position.

Goalkeeper Tara Singh standing second from left with South City

 He made his impact and helped his team win the Selangor Reserve league title in 1978 and earned promotion to Division 3.

 One year later South City won the Division 3 title and earned promotion to Division 2 where they played in the Division till 1981, when they won the title to move up to Division 1 in 1982 and Tara won all titles as a player with the team.

South City earned promotion to Selangor Premier League in 1982 which was the highest league at that point of time, before the Dunhill league was initiated in 1984.

Tara took a break from the game from 1982 till 1983 and return to manage South City as a manager from 1984, where South City emerged as the Premier league champion and promoted to Dunhill league in 1985, where they finish 5th from 12 team league.

It was in 1986 that South City stole the thunder and got noticed when they created history to qualify as Selangor’s representation to the FAM Cup – the national club tournament.

South City qualified for the 3rd round only to lose to RMR from Armed Forces.

Tara’s dedication to football was noticed by the football administrators of FA of Selangor and was offered a seat as a council member in FAS but he declined as wanted to focus on development of football in rural areas.

Among the players that were groomed by him include P. Somasundaram, Basil Johnny, R. Kannan, and R. Sivakumar to name a few.

Tara was a very outspoken in giving his views on football especially development of football in Selangor. Tara also easily stood out, as he spoke fluent Tamil and was hit among the Indian players at tournaments, when he used to give encouragement in Tamil.

Sadly, he did not have the means and support to implement development programmes the way he wanted.

Soon he realised that as a small club like South City, it was difficult to compete against the ‘big boys’ in the Klang Valley, where more and more banks, government agencies and corporate sectors started setting up football teams and used employment and money to lure the better players from small clubs like South City to join them.

 South City found the going tough with the drain of their top players to join bigger clubs and soon they were demoted to Selangor Premier league and kept dropping down season after season.

Today South City still exists but the current management see their team more involved in ‘social veterans’ matches and tournaments.

Three years ago, was South City FC’s 50 years in existence and a grand dinner was help and Tara was honoured by the current managed led by president V. Sunderaj and secretary R. Sivakumar.

In recent years before Tara passed away, he was regular at veteran tournaments to lend his support and his sons Kiranjit, who used to play for Public Bank, is the president of the veteran International Football Club (IFC) and Shiranjit who played KL Malay Mail in Premier II, now plays and is the convenor of the Kelab Aman Football team.

“We are going to miss him greatly. Our involvement in football is because of our father with whom we followed from his younger playing days. Later years he supported our involvement and was always there to lend his moral support,” said Kiranjit.

“Life is never going to be the same without our father. Football was his life, and it played a great part in our lives too. Him not being around is going to leave a huge vacuum in our lives,” said Shiranjit.

Tara leaves behind his wife, Manjit Kaur and another younger son, Sanjit.

 Tara may no longer be around, but his memories and legacy left behind will always be remembered and cherished.

 

SUBADRON A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR EX-FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO EMULATE

BY TONY MARIADASS

SUBADRON Abdul Aziz is probably one singular footballer who has given back to the game which had given him so much, the most.

The former Kuala Lumpur and national striker who turned 56 on Oct 4, could have used the money earned through managing his late father’s waste truck and his own real estate business, to become a wealthy entrepreneur, but his heart and soul are wrapped around football which made him what he is today.

“If not for football, I will not be what I am today. And I have to thank the late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, who was KLFA president and KL mayor then, for looking after me as a player,” said Subadron, who was a member of the historical city team who won the Malaysia Cup a record three times from 1987 to 1989.

Subadron was also a member of the victorious national team under coach Trevor Hartley at the 1989 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“I had several offers during the height of my footballing career to play for other States, but I stayed loyal to KL because of Tan Sri. He was like a father to be.”

Subadron, who married to singer Salwa Abdul Rahman, still remains his modest self and it was his wife’s unwavering determination to give back to the game that saw him set up Subadron Football Club and Subadron Football Academy in 2012.

The father of Puteri Sulaikha (22) and Putera Sufrie Niza (19), has set up his academy which puts to shame most State FAs who do not even have an elaborate youth programme or facilities close to what Subadron has managed.

Subadron's family with Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (patron Subadron Football Academy)

Finance to set up this academy and manage it was from his hard earned money through his business.

His Football Club is registered with Sports Commission, while the FA of Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur FA have given their blessings to set up the Academy and the Academy also has a tie-up with his former KL coach, Dr Josef Venglos’ Academy in Bratislava, Slovakia.

 Sadly, Subadron who had briefly coached KL’s women team in 2007 and was then named assistant team manager of the KL Premier League team in 2008, has not been utilised by KLFA since then.

Even more disappointing was that when KLFA expelled nine affiliates last year in the run-up to their congress, which included Subadron’s club.

The nine affiliates were expelled after a power struggle which led to the postponement of KLFA’s elections in December, 2018.

The nine affected affiliates are Sime Darby, VI Institution, Bukit Bandaraya, Bank Rakyat, KB Putrajaya, Petaling Putra, Felcra, UniKL and Subadron Academy.

Subadron had sought financial assistance to set up his academy from the national, KL and even FA of Selangor, but while giving their blessings, were unable to help financially.

“I had to seek private sponsors and Proton through then deputy chief executive, Datuk Lukman Ibrahim, was the first to support us where we were allowed to use their fields and several other private companies like Coffee Omega who sponsored jerseys and footballs and Prima Synergy. We also have Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, (deputy speaker of the House of Representatives) as our patron who assists us.

 “But since then, we have had to help ourselves and after a few years with the change of management at Proton, we had to move out and look for public fields.”

The Subadron Academy now has two centres – one in Shah Alam where they use the Section 26 field and another for Kuala Lumpur at Taman Ibu Kota.

It was then that he decided to set up a permanent centre with office, dormitory and gymnasium facilities in Sungei Buloh, when he built two semi-detached buildings on a land he purchased and named it Wisma Subdraon and Wisma Salwa to site his Academy which cost close to RM 4 million.

The Academy even has their own transportation vehicles (three).

Subadron who is the director of his Academy, is personally in charge of his coaching programme and is down on the field at their two training sessions each week together with his fellow coaches’ former national player Sarawak’s Jalil Ramli, former KL player Zulkifli Sameon, Rahmat Sameon, Zamri Mazleh, Khairul Ishak, Salim Ismail, Mohd Izam Harun and trainer Iman Emmanuel.

The Academy currently has about 80 players ranging from ages 8 to 20.

Subadron received a well-earned boost when his effort to work at grassroots development gained recognition at the 2016 National Football Awards when the Subadron Academy received one of the two awards given in recognition of development at grassroots level.

 “That prompted me to build another academy at Seri Gombak, equipped with a medical room, gymnasium, swimming pool, dormitory, indoor badminton court and his house too, dedicated to his wife for all her support.

 “It is work in progress for the last four years but is now near completion. It will cost me RM 1 million and it is designed by me and I am personally involved in the construction,” said Subadron who hails from Kampong Baru before moving to Gombak.

Subadron has one final dream – to erect a mini stadium with two fields on a 4-acre piece of land he has purchased at Seri Gombak.

“I have approached the Sports Ministers in the past and FA of Selangor to assist to help build the mini stadium but nothing has come out of it yet. We can do a joint-venture deal for a said period, where I will manage it and share profit. After the said period the stadium is handed over to me as the land is mine,” said the former Setapak High School student.

 “But I am not giving up and will continue to pursue my ambition to make my dream complete in giving back to the game.”

Subradron said he has attained quotes for the mini-stadium with two artificial pitches and container cabins for changing rooms, toilet facilities and a small management office. It would cost about RM2 million.

His son, Sufrie Niza, assists him in the management of the business and his Academy.

Sufrie also trained at the Academy but decided to get involved in E-Sports (football) and is now ranked number 3 in Malaysia and goes by the nickname ‘Killer’.

 His daughter helps Subradon when she has time off her modelling and work with beauty product (L’Oréal) marketing team.

Salwa, who still sings at functions, remains the backbone behind Subadron’s vision and dreams to leave a legacy in football development.

“It is my hope through the Academy to give an opportunity to those who aspire to be footballers to train in a good environment and be guided by coaches.

“We have already had players from the Academy who have represented the KL youth team and two of notably ones are Muhammad Afzal and Muhammad Nazhan in 2016.

“I hope in future we will be able to supply players to the national youth teams, state teams and eventually one or two national players emerge from our Academy.”

Subadron Academy is in the process of registering themselves with Football Association of Malaysia’s Suparimau Charter – a move by FAM to register Football Academies and Schools and provide them guidance in all facets of development.

The primary aim of the Suparimau Academy is to have credible academies and to achieve excellence in teaching the game to juniors.

Included in the advantages of being in the Charter are accreditation, the SupaRimau League and player training compensation when a junior move on to a big stage.

Subadron Academy should have no problems to be registered among the three levels (Gold, Silver and Bronze) of classification based on leadership, planning, facilities, junior competitions and education.

To date, 210 of the estimated 500 academies in the country have enlisted with FAM.

 Indeed, Subadron deserves more recognition and assistance and is a shining example of a player who never forgot his roots and devoted himself to give back to the game that made him.

Despite being married to a popular singer, that Subadron has his feet firmly on the ground and remains humble and simple with his wife and children, who are so respectful and down to earth, speaks volumes of his upbringing.

Kudos Subadron!

21 TEAMS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED FC PRIVATISATION

Statement from:

Mohd Firdaus Mohamed

Chairman of the FAM Professional Football Task Force

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is pleased to verify that all 21 teams had successfully completed the privatisation of their respective football clubs (FC) which includes the separation process from football association (FA) to FC).

This includes the remaining nine teams that were not mentioned in the previous media release dated 23 September 2020, just one week before the completion date on 30 September 2020.  These teams are Selangor FA, Kelantan FA, Pahang FA, Pulau Pinang FA, Kedah FA, UiTM FC, PDRM FA, Felda United FC and UKM FC.

With the completion of the privatisation process, FAM would like to congratulate all 21 teams for their hardwork and commitment to complete all the necessary documentation and submitted them to FAM within the deadline.

Kindly be reminded that the process requires the views from FAM Club Licensing First Instance Body (FIB) for the approval of the Malaysian League participation license in 2021 and all teams has successfully to submit their documentation before the deadline, although two teams, Felda United FC and UKM FC were required to go through a thorough documentation review process for current situation and financial status.

The privatisation process including the separation from FA to FC is required to be done by all CIMB Liga Super 2021 teams and Liga Premier 2021 so they would be able to participate in the AFC competitions, either the AFC Champions League 2021 or the AFC Cup 2021, if eligible.

The FA to FC privatisation project has been postponed since 2013 and on the 9th of August 2017, AFC has instructed FAM to carry out the separation process and to fulfil the AFC requirements for Season 2021.

Upon the establishment approval of the FAM Professional Football Task Force by the FAM Executive Committee on 29 March 2019, the committee held its first meeting on 19 April 2019 followed by 4 more meeting until 14 August 2019.

On 23 November 2019, the FAM Executive Committee approved the implementation of FC privatisation in which on 17 January 2020, it was presented during the General Secretary’s Workshop followed by a circular letter dated 21 February 2020 to complete the separation of FA to FC and the privatisation process.

Amongst all the 7 steps for the privatisation that were identified and were required to be completed by all of the teams (inclusive clubs) are to acquire:

1. Pre-approval (a no-objection and support letter) from the FA

2. Registration of company under SSM

3. Registration of name & club logo under MYIPO

4. PJS License Registration (no longer required)

5. The signing of assignment contract between FA and FC

6. To acquire written confirmation and approval from the FA

7. To acquire the approval letter from FAM and AFC

After several reminders that were given to the teams, they have all managed to complete the process within the allotted time.

However, FAM would like to remind all of teams that the process of privatisation documentation and separation from FA to FC is only the first phase in the FC privatization.

All teams are requested to submit both management organisation charts for their respective FA and FC, along with the curriculum vitae (CV) of each individual involved by 30 November 2020 at the latest for the second phase of the process.

This is to ensure that management separation can be fully implemented where their FA and FC management lines need to be filled by different individuals.

It is still a long journey for the FC privatization with many more steps or processes that each teams will need to go through to ensure that the national football industry is fully privatised.

The FAM Professional Football Task Force will take on a new role to monitor the performance and in the empowerment of all FCs.

With that being said, the FAM secretariat has prepared plans to hold several programmes that will begin in early 2021 to further strengthening the privatisation of each FC.

Among them are the CEO's Workshop, Club Operations Workshop, Technical Director's Summit, Legal Workshop, Club Marketing Workshop, Security Workshop and Infrastructure & Stadium Workshop.

 Ends.

KAMPUNG BOY KIM SENG SHOWS THERE IS LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL

Tony Mariadass

Taking every challenge with a positive approach see’s Kim Seng rise to conquer

BANTING: Former international defender, See 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 56-year-old father of five daughters, 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.

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 has to concentrate on his seafood restaurant.

“I was lucky that I had people who were willing to assist me and my name as a footballer helped. But in the end, I had to prove myself and work hard to make the business successful,” said Kim Seng who had a tough life growing up.

“For instance, it was friend and my football fan, who asked to set up the heavy machinery business. The current golf range owner - David Lee Cheng Chew – has given me a good rental price as his business was down and wanted to turn it around. The seafood business belonged to my youngest brother (Kim Huat), who asked me to take over as his health was ailing.

“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 nought if the son does not know how to utilise the money well.

“I was very careful not to be distracted by the bright city lights when I played football. I did not earn much as compared to players these days, but I managed to safe and did not spend unnecessarily or spoil myself.”

Kim Seng said life was no different in his football career where he had to work hard and make sacrifices.

“Nothing came was on a silver platter,” said Kim Seng

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.

“Choon Wah and the team officials offered me a job and asked to come to the city and play for them. When I told them I was only 16 and still in school, they were surprised,” said See laughing aloud who said he was well built then itself from all the hard work he had to undergo.

“They then asked me to play for them on match days and I would travel to KL taking a bus on game day in the afternoon and return home about 10pm. My older brother (Ah Hock) would wait at the bus stand in Banting and bring me home on his motorcycle.”

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 colurs 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 Ken Worden besides playing in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers and King’s Cup in Thailand where he captained the team.

“I am glad that I have managed my life well after football and in something totally unrelated to football. My advice to young footballers is not just look at jobs related to football after the playing days. Venture out and take whatever opportunities are available and work hard it to make it a success.

“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.

His youngest daughter, See Wye, who turns 13 on Aug 29, is his apple of the eye and competes in the SportsExcel Junior Golf Circuit and has represented SportExcel at the New Delhi Junior Open championship last year.

See Wye a student of SMK Bukit Jelutong, also excels rhythmic gymnastics having had podium finishes in several events, including the Vitrigo International Championship, Pesta Gimnastik (champion, group exercise) and the Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSS) competition.

Kim Seng said he is equally proud of his other siblings, See Min, 26, (former Bukit Jalil Sports School and wushu junior national champion and now nutritionist at National Sports Institute), See Man, 23, (third year law student at Multimedia University, See Moon, 22 (graduate in Language from Universiti Malaya specialising in Italian) and See Won, 21 (waiting for entry to University). Both See Moon and See Won, also represented Selangor schools in rhythmic gymnastics.

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

 “I tried to get my other daughters involved in golf but they complained it was too hot. See Wye was different. She didn’t complain about the heat at all and from the way she swings the club and I saw natural talent” said Kim Seng of See Wye whom he introduced to the game when she was eight.

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, he was not going to neglect to see See Wye become a top women golfer.

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

Former veteran international. a member of the 1972 Munich Oympics qualifying tournament in Seoul, V. Kalimutu, drops by at Attapa Seafood to support Kim Seng

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.

Among his specialities and favourites among his customers are Pari Fish Curry, Fried sotong, Dried chilli chicken and Chilli Crab.

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.

ENDS