SHEBBY GONE TOO SOON

SHEBBY LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION

By Tony Mariadass

LATEST UPDATE: 

Shebby's body which was in the wake from yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Nirvana Memorial Centre ib Skudai, Johor, was brought this morning  to the Loke Yew crematorium. The wake at the Sukhmani Sahib at the Loke Yew crematorium will be from 2pm and followed by the cremation ceremony at 4pm.

All wishing to pay their last respects are requested to strictly adhere to all Covid-19 SOPs in place.

FORMER national football defender Serbegeth (Shebby) Singh passed away yesterday evening  suspected from suffering a heart attack while cycling in Johor Baru.

Shebby who had turned 61 on Aug 20, indeed was a household name as a player and television pundit.

News of his passing away was indeed a shock, as he was still young and a considered a very fit person.

A national player from 1982 to 1991 who hails from Kluang, Johor, made his name with Kuala Lumpur whom he played from 1984 to 1990, where he won the Malaysia Cup for a hattrick time, League Cup and FA Cup.

At a reunion luncheon for the KL team in 2001, Shebby speaking on behalf of his teammates had said: “It was the close relationship among the players and officials that made us a family, and leading to our success.

"We were very lucky in the sense that we all gathered together as a team at the right place and right time and we had a great coach (the late Dr Josef Venglos) to mould us."

His teammates with the city team included the Singapore trios – Fandi Ahmad, K. Kannan and Malek Awab – and local players - Rashid Hassan, Mohamad Noor Basri, M. Pavalamani, Razip Ismail, Tang Siew Seng, Chow Siew Yai, Kamarulzaman Yusof, See Kim Seng, Nasaruddin Mat Din, Ramlan Askolani, S. Balachandran, Subadron Aziz Hashim Marman, Mat Zan Mat Aris, Saidin Osman, Lim Teong Kim, Nazim Din and the late Mohamad Zaid Jamil.

The man responsible for bringing Shebby to the bright city lights was the late KLFA and City Mayor, Tan Sri Elyas Omar and coach late S. Subramaniam.

 I played a small part in Shebby’s arrival in KL, as I as a rookie sportswriter went with Subramaniam to Kluang in 1983 to meet Shebby and his parents to offer him to play for KL.

 I have known Shebby personally since I covered my debut Sea Games in Singapore in 1983, when the former was turning out for the national team.

 Shebby was turning out for Johor from 1978 till 1983.

It was a weekend after the Sea Games in Singapore, that I drove coach Subramaniam to Kluang from Kuala Lumpur.

Subramaniam, a day before had called me and asked if I could follow him to Kluang and if I could drive him, as he was going alone to make a surprise visit on Serbegeth.

Obviously, I obliged, and the rest was history.

We arrived in Kluang and went straight to the LLN (now TNB) office, where Shebby worked.

Shebby was not in the office, as he was on holiday visiting his girlfriend then, former national athlete Harbans Kaur, whom he went on to marry.

We met a close friend of Shebby who works with him (a Chinese boy by the name of Ah Chew), who took us to Shebby’s home to meet his parents.

The late Subramaniam who passed away about five months ago, told Shebby’s parents that he wants to offer their son a professional football contract with Kuala Lumpur and asked their permission to allow him to move to the city.

The parents objected as they did not want to see their son move to KL and leave them, but Subramaniam assured them that Shebby will be looked after by Tan Sri Elyas and he personally will be responsible for the well-being of Shebby and he will look after Shebby like his own son.

And rest was history after Shebby returned home after his holiday in Penang and came to KL to meet Tan Sri Elyas and Subramaniam to sign up for KL.

But what followed, rocked Malaysian football as Shebby was banned by Johor FA for moving to KL without their permission and fine RM500,000.

Shebby served the banned and went on to play for KL after that where he made a name for himself and even captained the KL team.

Shebby and I became close friends, and I followed his playing career from KL moving on to Pahang (1991 – 1992), back to KL (1993-1994), Negri Sembilan (1994-1995) and Perak (1995-1996).

As a player, Serbegeth was a disciplinarian who trained hard, watched his diet, slept early, a teetotaler, never smoked and loved reading on football.

On field, he got his job done, although some players complained that he would be very vociferous and got into argument with his teammates.

He was just being very competitive and always wanted to give his best and win matches,

After his playing career, he made a name for himself as a football pundit and was still involved in football as coach of MyTeam, Technical Advisor of Malacca (2007), ‘Global Adviser’ for Blackburn Rovers (2012-13) and technical director of JDT.

As a pundit, his audience either loved him or hated him for his style of presentation.

But without doubt, he made his lasting impact.

Indeed gone too soon.

Condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.

Goodbye my dear friend Shebby.

 

 

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


https://www-nst-com-my.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nst.com.my/amp/sports/football/2021/12/751119/death-legend-selangor-club-football?amp_js_v=0.1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&prerenderSize=1&visibilityState=visible&paddingTop=32&p2r=0&csi=1&aoh=16385517537264&viewerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Famp%2Fs%2Fwww.nst.com.my%2Famp%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2F2021%2F12%2F751119%2Fdeath-legend-selangor-club-football&history=1&storage=1&cid=1&cap=navigateTo%2Ccid%2CfullReplaceHistory%2Cfragment%2CreplaceUrl%2CiframeScroll

 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.

 

ICONIC FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIAL, VINCENT PASSES AWAY AT 90

VINCENT A TRUE LOVER OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME OF FOOTBALL

 By Tony Mariadass

MJ Vincent, who celebrated his 90^th birthday on January 22, an iconic name in football development in the nation, passed away this afternoon (July 13).

Vincent who started his football love with Selangor, where he played the game, was an official with the FA of Selangor, team manager of the Selangor Burnley Cup team (now Razak Cup) and referee, was among the founder members of Federal Territory Football Association (now Kuala Lumpur FA) in 1974 with others like Datuk K. Rasalingam, Datuk Goh Ah Chai, Hamzah Muhamad, Shariff Mustafa, Jeswant Singh and T. Manickarajah.

I have known Vincent from the time I started writing in 1977 and my first trip to London was with him, when I was invited by the KLFA President, late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, to join and report to the KL 1974 victorious Razak Cup team during their one-week training stint in Birmingham City, under coach Patrick Wright.

I last spoke to him on his 90^th birthday and even sent a video message which his daughter Jenny, had prepared for her dad and had requested me to say a few words.

Vincent watching the video message I sent to him on his 90th birthday of Jan 22

Indeed, a gentleman to the core and was involved in the game till extremely late in his age – actively being involved with the Ex-Internationals Association.

Few may now this, but Vincent has been credited for giving the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari his career path in the game.

Much is said about the late Mokhtar Dahari and that no player like him has come through since.

But do the very people who talk about ‘Super Mokh’ know that he was not discovered by design but by chance — because of a club coach who felt Mokhtar had the talent and recommended him?

In my interview with Vincent seven  years ago for the New Straits Times, the Selangor team manager of the Burnley Cup (now Razak Cup) team, said Mokhtar was introduced by a coach of a club team by the name of Wan.

“Wan told me there was this player whom he thought was an excellent player.

“I told him to bring him for trials and the rest is history,” said the then 83-year-old Vincent.

“Without doubt, if not for this coach, Mokhtar would have been discovered later or never. This coach, who acted as a talent scout indeed played a key role,” added Vincent when talking about talent scouting in the interview.

Mokhtar himself in an exclusive interview to Suresh Kumar and Shanmuganathan for the Seladang magazine (Victoria Institution school magazine) in 1982, had acknowledged Vincent, when he asked if he was, he was popular in school:

“No, no not exactly. Well, that came only after I left school. It was during a trial to play with the Selangor Junior Squad at the Piala Razak tournament. Later, my manager, Mr M J Vincent, recommended that I join the senior squad and from then everything started coming my way.”

MJ Vincent the team manager being hoisted by Selangor team members after their Burnley Cup victory in 1974

There were many other youngsters whom Vincent had put them on their football path and among them was Datuk Yap Nyim Keong, the former FA of Malaysia general-secretary and current secretary of Mini Football Malaysia (MiFoM).

This is what Yap had to say:

“He was also my manager when I captained the victorious Selangor Burnley Cup team in 1970. He was the one who approached me to come for training with the Selangor team. I was disillusioned because I was dropped in the last minute from the team the year before. An older player was preferred on top of me, although I was in the starting 11 in all the friendly matches. My name was also in the souvenir programme.

He assured me then that this time was different and made me the captain despite the presence of other senior players who represented Malaysia in the Asian Youth competition. We remained good friends throughout and I have great respect for Mr Vincent, the gentleman. It is incredibly sad that I did not get to meet him because of the pandemic. May his Soul RIP.

Another player from Kuala Lumpur. T. Gopinath Naidu had this to say:

“Good man and manager. Sad to see him go. Thanks for everything sir. My manager for many youth tournaments from 1988-1992. We love you sir.”

Vincent second from right with the KL youth team

Probably his daughter Jenny best sums up Vincent’s life when she wrote this message for her dad on his 90^th birthday:

“Dearest Dad. I have so many things to say to you as you turn 90 today. You have been such an inspiration to many young and old. You have been a father figure to many young football players, inspiring them to be their best. You have brought your football managerial ways to our round-table family meetings too. Football runs through your veins and the passion you have for it has kept you going all this time. A heart attack in Bangkok while refereeing a game in 1969 did not set you back but you continued with football. 

Mum always and still complains that you were never home while we were growing up, but you know what, I get it now! When you have that passion, it truly drives you. I recall going to many football matches with you. From Merdeka Tournaments to Malaysia Cup matches. You have been on the team organising the Merdeka football tournaments when teams stayed at the Federal Hotel. 

MJ Vincent standing fourth from left with the FA of Selangor Council members with the Malaysia Cup

The football life continued even after your retirement from the government service. Going to the Kuala Lumpur Football Association was a thrill for me when you worked there. Being a football player from a young age you have kept up with staying fit. I remember those days when I waited in the car for you as you did the long Taichi sessions at the Selangor Chinese Recreation Club. After moving to Taman Desa, both mum and you have always kept fit by walking to the nearby park. Pottering in the garden being a favourite past time for many years. Even a bypass in 1997 never stopped you from being involved in the Ex-International Malaysian Football Association together with Uncle Clement Soosay.

MJ Vincent standing far left with ex-internationals including the likes of late Mokhtar Dahari in an undated photograph

Through all of this you lead a very colourful life with many loved ones who bring so much joy to you. Happy 90th birthday D, may God Almighty continue to bless you in abundance and I thank the Lord for every day that I can be with you. 

Dad @ M.J. Vincent you are a legend, a treasure to the football growth in Malaysia, so special to all your family and friends. Loving you always, Jenny.”

 

REST IN PEACE VINCENT. MAY THE LORD GRANT YOU ETERNAL REST.

YOU MAY BE GONE, BUT FOND MEMORIES AND YOUR WORK FOR FOOTBALL WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED.

DR NATHAN HAILS SHALIN

By Tony Mariadass

Datuk Dr P. S. Nathan, former national bowler, and president of Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) has the distinction of having bowled the sports into world recognition.

The consultant dermatologist by profession, Nathan who turned 87 on Nov 3^rd, is a product of St Paul's and Victoria Institution, who hails from Seremban, is known as the ‘Doc for all seasons.’

He is among the rare breed of sports personalities who has excelled as a dermatologist, sportsman and administrator.

 It will be an under statement to say that he is the ‘Father for Malaysian Bowling’ for he turned the sports from a parlour game to a national sport, played by young, old and all races, and turned the sports into a medal winning pot in the international bowling arena.

As a player he was the first National Masters champion in 1974. It
was also the year he founded the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC).
As a player, his fulfilling moments were winning the national finals
three times in a row in 1975-77. (His wife – Malathy - won the ladies event the same three years, thus creating a record of sorts) to represent Malaysia in the AMF World Cup.

The singles gold at the SEAP Games in 75 (the first gold for Malaysia
in bowling in the SEA Games) and then the Asian Games team gold in 1978
(again the first gold for Malaysia in the Asian Games in bowling) were
memorable moments. The singles gold was a record that stood for more than
20 years.

He hung up his bowling shoes in 1981 after winning the national finals to
represent Malaysia in the first World Games. That was particularly
memorable for him, as once again, his wife won the ladies finals with him.
As an official, he was the president of the Asian Bowling Federation
from 1984-1987. Then from 1987-2003 he was the president of the WTBA for
three terms of four years each. He was the first Malaysian and the first
Asian to be the president of a world governing body of a sport.

It was indeed a surprise when none of the print or electronic media spoke to him when Shalin Zulkilfi retired after her illustrious 28-year-old career, a fortnight ago.

If there was anyone who knew Shalin well, spotted her and saw her grow into an international bowling Icon, besides her parents, it must be Dr Nathan.

Below in an exclusive interview, Dr Nathan shares his thoughts on Shalin’s retirement and future…….

 

Dr Nathan with Shalin when she was 14

“Known Shalin since she was about six or seven.  This was when she was at the bowling centre at Kent Bowl, where she would be doing her school homework while here parents would be bowling. Then she will take to lanes under the instructions of her father who was a good bowler himself.

Soon she became a good bowler. I then took her under the MTBC bowling coaching programme under Sid Allen, who was the one who blossomed her into bowler she is today.

Sid is a great coach in planning for national development of the sport, and for coaching bowlers individually especially the psychological aspect.

As most of us in the bowling fraternity know, 62 percent is mental, and 38 percent is physical.

What can I say about Shalin……. she is highly intelligent, exceptionally talented and all the time in the learning process. She tends to look out of the book, listens to professional bowlers, visits bowling ball manufacturing centres from where she would learn the intricacies of what each ball does. Such thoughts and knowledge are pivotal for the advancement of any bowler to world class level.

Her retirement from active competitive bowling is a loss to Malaysia, MTBC and to herself as well. But as she realises and as we all know, there comes a time in the evolution of mankind that everything is cyclical.  That at some point our faculties and abilities begin to wane.  The clever lot among the top athletes would retire at their peak, which that is what she is doing.

I am told she is proceeding to the US to compete in the Ladies Professional Bowling Tour, which is certainly one of toughest Ladies bowling tournaments in the world but not the ultimate. The reason being many of the Korean bowlers do not compete here and they are by all recognition among the best ladies in the world, by far.

 No doubt she will learn much, as I said earlier, on the science of the manufacturing and data on balls, and the mindset of the male pro bowlers, as I believe she will be attached to one of the bowling companies.

She is already sports a science degree holder, so pursuing an academic career on sports science is not going to be financially beneficial but more of an investment.

If she goes to the level of doing a PhD, then she could be a lecturer in sports science department in any of the local universities. If the universities who employ would allow her to do private coaching, it would be a real boost to her morale and finances.

Overall, I must say she has been one of our best bowlers and undoubtedly the best team leader.

I wish her well and wish her the best. And I know she will be the best.”

SID’S TAKE ON SHALIN

By Tony Mariadass 

Canadian Sid Allen, Malaysian bowling coach for a decade (1990-2000), who has been accredited to Malaysia’s rise as a powerhouse in the world arena of the sports, knows Shalin Zulkifli better than anyone.

Allen, who was handpicked by Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress president, Datuk Dr P. S, Nathan (a former national bowler himself), was responsible for designing and implementation of an eight-year-old development programme and a four-year advancement programme besides being involved with the national adult and youth teams over the decade.

Allen, who turned 73 on December 12, is a highly respected bowling coach in the world bowling fraternity, and was indeed a loss to Malaysia when he had to severe ties with Malaysia in the most unpleasant circumstances. 

A good number of the very same Malaysian bowlers whom he had nursed and groomed over a decade to make a name for themselves in the international bowling scene, revolted against him and wanted him out.

Suddenly, they all left that he was not good enough to “take them to the next level.”

Naturally hurt, Sid parted ways, though amicably with MTBC, especially Dr Nathan.

But Malaysia’s loss was the gain of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia in this region, while others who benefited include Latvia, England, and Catalonia besides the world of bowling itself as the World Tenpin Bowling Association roving coach.

Presently, Allen is based in Singapore for the last 15 years as a consultant but has been appointed Technical Director, for the last three years.

I have known Allen since he came to Malaysia and have kept in touch all this while.

Contacted him in Singapore to give his thoughts on Shalin Zulkifli’s announcement of a retirement after her 28-year career last week and to speak of her.

Below in an exclusive interview where Allen speaks his mind…..

 

‘Shalin‌ ‌legitimised‌ ‌young‌ ‌people‌ ‌to‌ ‌come‌ ‌and‌ ‌train‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌bowling‌ ‌centres,‌ ‌especially‌ ‌the‌ ‌Malays.‌

Prior‌ ‌to that,‌ ‌bowling’s‌ ‌name‌ ‌was‌ ‌associated‌ ‌with‌ ‌gambling‌ ‌and‌ ‌was‌ ‌therefore‌ ‌not‌ ‌considered‌ ‌an‌ ‌appropriate‌ ‌venue‌ ‌for‌ ‌young‌ ‌people.‌ ‌ ‌

When‌ ‌I‌ ‌first‌ ‌saw‌ ‌started‌ ‌coaching‌ ‌Shalin,‌ ‌she‌ ‌had‌ ‌no‌ ‌ball‌ ‌speed.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌member‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌youth‌ ‌team‌ ‌that‌ ‌went‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌World‌ ‌Youth‌ ‌in‌ Caracas, ‌Venezuela in 1992,‌ ‌her‌ ‌lack‌ ‌of‌ ‌ball‌ ‌speed‌ ‌was‌ ‌exposed‌ ‌on‌ ‌their‌ ‌dry‌ ‌lane‌ ‌condition.

Upon‌ ‌returning‌ ‌she‌ ‌worked‌ ‌extremely‌ ‌hard‌ ‌on‌ ‌improving‌ ‌this‌ ‌skill‌ ‌set,‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌point‌ ‌where‌ ‌it‌ ‌became‌ ‌her‌ ‌biggest‌ ‌asset.‌

‌When‌ ‌most‌ ‌people‌ ‌think‌ ‌of‌ ‌Shalin’s‌ ‌game,‌ ‌they‌ ‌think‌ ‌of‌ ‌her‌ ‌incredible‌ ‌ball‌ ‌speed.‌ ‌

My‌ ‌fondest‌ ‌memory‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌was‌ ‌coaching‌ ‌her‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ 1997 AMF ‌World‌ ‌Cup‌ ‌Finals‌ ‌during‌ ‌an‌ ‌outside‌ ‌step‌ ‌ladder‌ ‌final‌ ‌in‌ ‌front‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌pyramids‌ ‌in‌ Cairo, ‌Egypt.‌ ‌Bowling‌ ‌on‌ ‌a‌ ‌elevated‌ ‌platform‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌middle‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌mid-day‌ ‌sun‌ ‌was‌ ‌an‌ ‌unforgettable‌ ‌experience.‌ ‌Photos‌ ‌of‌ ‌that‌ ‌event‌ ‌went‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌and‌ ‌onto‌ ‌un‌ ‌familiar‌ ‌newspaper‌ ‌pages,‌ ‌of‌ ‌which‌ ‌the‌ ‌greatest‌ ‌was‌ ‌a‌ ‌full‌ ‌colour‌ ‌shot‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌front‌ ‌page‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌New‌ ‌York‌ ‌Times.‌ ‌ ‌

Her‌ ‌last‌ ‌major‌ ‌games‌ ‌success‌ ‌was‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌opinion‌ ‌her‌ ‌greatest.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌ 2017 ‌SEA‌ ‌Games‌ ‌in‌ ‌Malaysia.

Immediately after‌ ‌her‌ ‌step‌ ‌ladder‌ ‌win‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Masters,‌ ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌told‌ ‌her‌:‌ “I‌ ‌have‌ ‌seen‌ ‌most‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌best‌ ‌performances,‌ ‌but‌ ‌I‌ ‌think‌ ‌this‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌your‌ ‌best”.

‌Her‌ ‌response‌ ‌was:‌ ‌ “I‌ ‌think‌ ‌so‌ ‌too”.‌ ‌

I‌ ‌did‌ ‌a‌ ‌one‌ ‌weeklong‌ ‌clinic‌ ‌in‌ ‌Malaysia‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌years‌ ‌ago‌ ‌for‌ ‌around‌ ‌100‌ ‌coaches‌ ‌and‌ ‌players‌ ‌organised‌ ‌by‌ ‌ MTBC.‌ ‌At‌ ‌the‌ ‌end‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌clinic‌ ‌as‌ ‌we‌ ‌were‌ ‌cleaning‌ ‌up,‌ ‌Shalin‌ ‌made‌ ‌the‌ ‌effort‌ ‌to‌ ‌put‌ ‌right‌ ‌what‌ ‌happened‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌end‌ ‌of‌ ‌my‌ ‌time‌ ‌in‌ ‌Malaysia.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌ ‌a‌ ‌moment‌ ‌that‌ ‌meant‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot‌ ‌to‌ ‌both‌ ‌of‌ ‌us.‌ ‌ ‌

Although‌ ‌Shalin‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌remembered‌ ‌for‌ ‌many‌ ‌generations‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌queen‌ ‌of‌ ‌Malaysian‌ ‌bowling,‌ ‌it‌ ‌would‌ ‌be‌ ‌wrong‌ ‌to‌ ‌not‌ ‌understand‌ ‌her‌ ‌influence‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌world.‌ ‌Her‌ ‌inspiration‌ ‌emotional‌ ‌body‌ ‌language‌ ‌is‌ ‌legendary,‌ ‌inspiring‌ ‌players‌ ‌worldwide‌ ‌to‌ ‌express‌ ‌their‌ ‌emotions‌ ‌and‌ ‌passion.‌

What‌ ‌makes‌ ‌her‌ ‌responses‌ ‌so‌ ‌inspirational‌ ‌is‌ ‌that‌ ‌its‌ ‌real,‌ ‌it‌ ‌comes‌ ‌from‌ ‌deep‌ ‌inside‌ ‌of‌ ‌her.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌coach‌ ‌I‌ ‌have‌ ‌asked‌ ‌all‌ ‌teams‌ ‌I‌ ‌coach‌ ‌to‌ ‌release‌ ‌as‌ ‌much‌ ‌emotion‌ ‌and noise‌ ‌as‌ ‌possible.

‌‌I‌ ‌believe‌ ‌it‌ ‌reduces‌ ‌the‌ ‌build‌ ‌up‌ ‌of‌ ‌stress‌ ‌within‌ ‌the‌ ‌athlete,‌ ‌which‌ ‌allows‌ ‌the‌ ‌body‌ ‌to‌ ‌perform‌ ‌at‌ ‌an‌ ‌elite‌ ‌level.‌ ‌She‌ ‌is‌ ‌by‌ ‌far‌ ‌the‌ ‌greatest‌ ‌example‌ ‌of‌ ‌wearing‌ ‌your‌ ‌heart‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌sleeve.‌ ‌

Sid Allen with then captain Lisa Kwan (left), Sharon Low and Shalin Zulkifli

Shalin,‌ ‌leading‌ ‌the‌ ‌contingent‌ ‌at‌ ‌major‌ ‌games‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌Commonwealth‌ ‌Games‌ ‌has‌ ‌made‌ ‌bowlers‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌proud‌ ‌for‌ ‌30‌ ‌years.‌ ‌

Additionally,‌ ‌winning‌ ‌the‌ ‌World‌ ‌Bowler‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year‌ ‌Award‌ ‌at‌ ‌16‌ ‌years‌ ‌old‌ ‌is‌ ‌used‌ ‌by‌ ‌coaches‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌as‌ ‌an‌ ‌example‌ ‌of‌ ‌age‌ ‌not‌ ‌being‌ ‌a‌ ‌barrier‌ ‌to‌ ‌selection,‌ ‌which‌ ‌has‌ ‌given‌ ‌many‌ ‌young‌ ‌players‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌to‌ ‌perform‌ ‌on‌ ‌National‌ ‌Teams‌ ‌at‌ ‌an‌ ‌early‌ ‌age.‌ 

The‌ ‌Malaysian‌ ‌Women’s‌ ‌Team‌ ‌will‌ ‌now‌ ‌be‌ ‌required‌ ‌to‌ ‌re-establish‌ ‌their‌ ‌brand‌ ‌now‌ ‌that‌ ‌Shalin‌ ‌has‌ ‌retired.‌

‌It‌ ‌will‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌the‌ ‌same,‌ ‌she‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌sorely‌ ‌missed‌ ‌by‌ ‌teammates‌ ‌and‌ ‌opponents‌ ‌alike.‌ 

1999 Brunei Sea Games Bowling contingent with Sid Allen standing back row second from left