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

Ro Bin hood of wushu

By Tony Mariadass

tonym@mmail.com.my

Pictures by Azneal Ishak

 

Former World champion wushu exponent, Ho Ro Bin is on a mission possible - to crave a career path for his students.

In wanting to more than just to promote the sport, he wants them to be of good personality, built on character and finesse.

The 41-year Ro Bin since he retired in 2005 after winning the World championship title for the second time (first time in 1999) had set up his training centre - Ho Ro Bin Wushu Training Centre - in Subang Jaya 2007.

The academy which started with about 15 students has grown in popularity and Ro Bin now has about 300 students in four centres and three schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Klang.

“Wushu is my passion and my life,” said Ro Bin who works 24/7 in developing, promoting and making it vocation for his students.

“For me wushu is not just martial arts or sport, it is an education for youngsters to have the right mind setting and putting them on the right path in life, building their character and providing opportunities to make living out of wushu.

Ro Bin’s trope have been performing at several places as a run-up to Chinese New Year which included performance at the KLCC.

Kimberly Goh performs during a show at KLCC. She is one of Ro Bin;s proteges

Ro Bin has a word with hs students before their performance at KLCC last week as part of Chinese New Year's run-up at the mall.

“I am glad that I have been able to assist many in becoming coaches, performing at functions besides excelling in the sports to win honours,” said the Selangor coach who holds the 7^th Dan (green tiger).

The Ho Ro Bin Wushu Training Centre also conducts yearly wushu camps - MILO Wushu Exposure Camps - in collaboration with Nestle as the main sponsor. The camps had been held with great success since 2007.

“The main objective of this camp is to nurture the younger generations not only as future athletes but also to instill a healthier lifestyle with strong moral ethics and discipline,” said Robin who has also acted in a couple movies and dramas demonstrating his wushu skills.

Ro Bin is also planning to organise a trip to Shaolin in September for members of his training centre to compete in competitions besides visiting the home of martial arts.

“I am thinking of taking 50 to 80 of my students and are in the midst of raising funds while the students will be charged some minimal sum. It will be an experience of their life. I have been there and it is amazing.”

Ro Bin first came in touch with wushu at 12 years old and made his national debut as a 22-year-old and was with the national team for eleven years.

In his eleven years competing in the Nanquan, Nandoa and Nangun combined, he has won gold medals in competitions like the World Wushu Championship, Asia Wushu Championship, South East Asian Wushu Championship, Asian Games, South East Asian Games, and other invitational championships.

The gold medal at the world championship went down in the Malaysian Books of Records for being the first person in Malaysia to win gold medal in the NanDao event during the 1999 World Wushu Championship which was held in Hong Kong.

In addition, he won the Olympian of the Year 2002 before being inducted to the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ro Bin owed his rise to his sifu (master) – Cheang Ah Chow – who nurtured him from a 12-year-old.

“My master passed away in 2004 when I was training in Shanghai and it was the same day my first daughter (Gwyneth Ho Rexuan) was born. I could not come back for the funeral or for my daughter’s birth because after the training in Shanghai, we went for a competition in Mynamar. It was only 12 days after my birth of my daughter that I returned and saw her for the first time.

“That is the kind of dedication I had for the sport and I thank my wife – Yong Sook Ching – for her understanding and support. Even today when I spend more time with wushu than at home, she supports me,” said Ro Bin who has another daughter – six-year-old Gladys Ho Kerni.

The Penangite said that while his centre charges a minimal amount for classes, he also give free lessons who cannot afford it.

“I have had many students come up to me and say that they are interested to learn wushu but come from poor families. I take them on board but they must be serious and committed.

“I have also had many who have come to me as problem teenagers who was to make good in life and turn a new leaf. And I am glad that I have through wushu shape the life’s of a few too.”

Ro Bin is currently on the yearly recruitment drive and hopes that more will take up wushu.

His main training centre is at SJKC Tun Tan Cheng Loke in USJ.

Ro Bin can be contacted at 012-377 0012 or visit his website: www.robinwushu.com

Aiman's love or wushu

By Tony Mariadass

tonym@mmail.com.my

Pictures by Azneal Ishak

Wushu both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial art.

It is, however no longer communal sports as youngster Wan Nur Aiman Norazri will attest to.

The 13-year-old who took up the sport as a seven-year-old will be representing Terengganu and making his debut at the coming Malaysia Games.

The Selangor born lad will be representing the East Coast team as the Selangor team is full and his coach Ho Ro Bin not wanting to waste a good talent and to allow him to gain exposure has decided that he be ‘loaned’ to Terengganu.

Aiman’s love for the sport grew watching Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies from video tapes which his mother, Sharifah Hanom, brought home.

“I grew up watching Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies and fell in love with the art. I asked my parents if I could learn wushu and they readily agreed to my surprise,” said the youngest of four siblings.

Aiman has been with the Ho Ro Bin Traning Centre since he was seven.

A St John’s primary school student decided to change school to SMK USJ 12 for his secondary education just to be close to the training centre in Subang Jaya.

“Training is tough and every day. It has become been more intense as I grew older. I have the ambition to become the first Malay boy to excel for the nation and if I can emulate my master, Ro Bin, it will be my dream come true,” said Aiman who also excels in football and athletics.

“I represented Kuala Lumpur Under-12 team and was the Datuk Keramat district 100m champion and finished third in long jump and also ran the 100m hurdles.

“While I play football on weekends for the fun of it, it is strictly wushu for me now,” said Aiman who plays leftback in the football team.

His father, Norazri Abd Rashid, who follows Aiman to his training and performances said it was a fulltime job for him to help his son realise his dream.

“When I saw he was so committed to the sport, I decided I will assist him realise his dream. I take him to trainings and performance and stay with him and take him home,” said Norazri who took an early retirement from his banking job to be with his son.

Aiman said wushu has helped him to be a better person.

“Wushu is a highly disciplined sport and one has to be mentally and physically very strong. One has to work very hard and there is no shortcut. The art has certainly made build my character and confidence,” said Aiman despite his hectic schedule still managed to attain 4 As and B for his UPSR.

“It is the discipline that has seen me manage my time effectively. I am up by 6am in the morning for my morning training sessions before I go for my afternoon school session. After school it is training again at night. I still manage to do my homework,” said Aiman when met at a Chinese New Year performance by his training centre students at KLCC recently.

Aiman specialises in three arts – Nan Quan, Nan Dao and Nan Gun.

Ro Bin said that Aiman is a very disciplined and committed student who has talent.

“He works hard and never complains even when he gets scolding,’ said Ro Bin.

Aiman when asked how he mixes with the majority Chinese students, he simply said: “I have no problems. They treat me as their brother. I have even learnt to understand Chinese and is only a matter of time before I speak.”

Aiman is not the only Malay student in the training centre.

There are others like eight-year-old Qurratu Aini Munirah and her ten-year brother Muhd Arif Aiman and 17-year-old Nurasyikin Rosli, while Qurratu and Arif’s mother Monaliza Zainol who brings them for training also joins in the session.

Indeed wushu is truly Malaysian now.