FOOTBALL COMRADESHIP SEES WEDNESDAY FC BLOOM

WEDNESDAYS UNITES WEDNESDAY FC

BY TONY MARIADASS

PICTURES COURTESY OF NANCY LEKS

The Covid 19 pandemic has taken a toll on all, including veteran football players, who used to play in tournaments and friendly football matches, week in and week out.

But now it is reduced to a handful of matches organised with strict SOPs observed and minus inter-state travel.

However, the love and passion for football and enjoying the comradeship has not stopped veteran team, Wednesday FC, from playing friendly matches whenever possible during this Covid 19 pandemic.

 At the last count by the Malaysian Football Veteran (MFV), initiated by N. Thashnamoorthy, the count was 75 registered veteran football clubs.

 But there are easily more than 100 veteran football teams in Malaysia, many of whom who also have their own youth football academies.

 Like many veteran clubs, Wednesday FC, have a history behind the formation of their club in 2006.

 It all started with a group of veteran players in the Klang Valley who wanted to play matches weekly, and it was decided that mid-week was the best day as fields were available more easily.

The number of players turning up for the team weekly kept increasing and they wanted to name the team.

Since they played every Wednesday, the majority suggested why not call the team “Wednesday FC” and the team was born.

Wayne Lee, the assistant secretary of the club who doubles up as the coordinator of the team is among the founder members of the team together with president of the club Jason Ng.

Wednesday FC also boost of several former State players who include Too Sen Fee, Liew Kim Tu, Yeo Swee Hock and Roy Lee Ban Tat a former national U16 and KL player.

The number of players in the team has now grown to more than 60 and each contribute RM600 annually for expenditure to book the fields, pay for match officials, and travels for friendly matches. Of course, there are well-wishers who donate or sponsor the club for some of their trips, gathering and participation in veteran tournaments.

Wednesday FC is helmed by president Jason and ably assisted by his two-vice presidents Datuk Jimmy Hoo and Tan Hong Hean.

Other key members in the committee are advisor, Hiew Fooi Leong, secretary Alex Chee, treasurer, Alan Lau, assistant treasurer Yee Wai How and committee members, Tek Kim Kwee, Stanley Ng,Ong Mok Hooi, John Chow, Eric Law, Leks Leong, Wong Swee Hoong, Sia Chong Wee and Siva Kumar Krishnan.

“This team was set up in 2003 with the aim of providing us with more than just the weekend football actions. Matches were initially played on different days of the week. As the number of players grew, we decided to have a fixed day on each week to host our friendly matches and Wednesday was chosen,” explained Wayne.

“In line with that, the club’s name KL Wednesday FC was named.  With increasing members, there came the idea to formally registered this club. In 2012 the club was formally registered with Registrar of Sports as Kelab Bola Sepak KL Wednesday.”

 

“The current number of members of this club stands at 65.  With the growing number of members, the club tries hard to ensure all members feel that their memberships are worthwhile. We have been organising weekly matches and occasionally trips for members to strengthen their bonds with each other.”

And one such trip was last Sunday to Sungei Sedu, Banting to play the local veteran team. Wednesday FC went down 1-3 to the homesters.

But this trip turned out to be a grand outing in any case, as former Kuala Lumpur’s international defender See Kim Seng, who not only arranged the friendly match, but managed to get his business partner Patrick See Feng Seng to host Wednesday FC to a seafood dinner after the game at See’s Attapka Seafood Restaurant.

Kim Seng even arranged for buskers Jimi and Elenna to entertain them for the night.

But the event had a nostalgic touch, as arrangement was made to invite former internationals which included former national skipper Datuk Soh Chin Aun and his wife, Datuk Chen Hooi Hwa and wife, Chow Siew Yai and wife and K. Gunalan, who graced the occasion.

Also present by special invitation was Datuk (Dr) Lim Teck Kiong, the president of Persekutuan Persatuan-Persatuan Cina Tawau, Sabah.

Wednesday FC president Jason Ng presenting a souvenir jersey to Datuk Soh Chin while vice president Datuk Jimmy Hoo presenting to Datuk Dr Lim Teck Kiong, flanked  by Alan Lau and Wayne Lee at the ends.

The seafood dishes prepared at the Attapka Seafood Restaurant was the talk of the night as each dished was savoured and disappeared just as soon as it was laid on the table.

The 57-year-old Kim Seng, father of five daughters, who grew up at Kampong Kelanang, Banting, who played for KL and Negri Sembilan, took to his current seafood restaurant last February when he took over youngest brother’s (Kim Huat), business, whose health was ailing.

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.

His wife, Doris Wong is always at hand to assist him and on Sunday four of his daughters were also present to help to ensure their dad’s guest were served well with the dishes all coming out in sequence and on time.

Kim Seng with wife Doris Wong (third and fourth from left) and guests

Kim Seng with Moses Wan and Leks Leong from Wednesday FC

Kim Seng with Wednesday FC vice-president Datuk Jimmy Hoo

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 monthly 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.

Indeed, it was a grand affair for Wednesday FC and guests, both on and off the field and all returned home with fond memories till they met at their next outing and their weekly matches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KL MALAY MAIL FC REUNION BLAST

By Tony Mariadass

 

IT was nostalgic reunion of the KL Malay Mail FC as players and officials from as early as late 70s to present, were present to share memories of the good old golden days and meeting up each other after all these years.

The event held  on March 27, started with a friendly football match among the players who played for NST, The Malay Mail FC and current XMail FC, at the Kelab Aman ground.

The evening proceeded with the ‘Reunion Dinner’ at the Oakwood Hotel Residence TrEat Restaurant, observing strict SOPs because of the Covid Pandemic.

A total of 86 players signed up to turn up for the event but on the day a 70 showed up.

The VIPs for the dinner was newly elected deputy president of FA of Malaysia Datuk Siva Sundram while former team manager and editor of Malay Mail, Datuk Ahirudin Attan, KLMMFC team doctor, Datuk Dr SS Cheema, Datin Effan Rizan (wife of late Datuk Dahlan Zainuudin who played and coached the New Straits Times football team in the late 70s and early 80s) and guest former UKRC president Andrew Gopal, graced the occasion.

The atmosphere was electrifying, food was excellent, great entertainment by Jimi and Ellena, lots of lucky draw prizes, appreciation mementos given to officials, every player got a commemorative medal, souvenir T-shirt and a CD of memorable pictures from over the years and above all the comradeship and bonding was priceless.

The team that won the friendly match (4-0) were presented with a trophy and winners medals for al the players.

It was a great night with fond memories rekindled 

The Malay Mail paper did more than just reporting sport; it then managed a football team in the local league, with help from Kuala Lumpur FA.

Malay Mail FC’s history dates to 1987, but before that the team played under the parent company’s name – New Straits Times Press (NSTP) – from the 70s.

Then, the football team was more involved in the Inter-Company Games competing against Straits Times Singapore. They also competed in the Inter-Media quadrangular Games with newspaper teams from Straits Times, Bangkok Post and South China Morning Post.

It was in 1987 that saw the birth of Malay Mail football – changed its name to Malay Mail for branding purposes – when it crossed over from Selangor to play in the KL Dunhill League (the premier division in the city league).

The players comprised of employees of NSTP group – NST, Malay Mail and Berita Harian and Harian Metro. The NST was also competing in the Petaling Jaya District FA before moving to FA of Selangor Business House League in the early 80s.

Over the years, the team has evolved from a company team to club team and finally a semi-professional team playing in M-League.

Malay Mail players besides employees of the NSTP group, also gave opportunity to young players to join the team who were offered employment.

It did not take long for the team to win honours - after finishing runners-up in the KL Dunhill league in 1989 - in 1990, against all odds Malay Mail, who were known as Sharp Malay Mail, defeated hot-favourites City Hall FC by a solitary goal scored by a unknown teenager, Daniel Sinnappa against national goalkeeper Rashid Hassan.

City Hall SC were virtually the KL Malaysia Cup team with the likes of Tang Siew Seng, Razip Ismail, Chow Siew Yai, Mat Zan Mat Aris, Saidin Osman and Subadron Aziz to name a few.

However, Malay Mail through the vision of former KLFA president and City Mayor, lateTan Sri Elyas Omar, had three players loaned to them from the KL team – goalkeeper M. Pavalamani, defender See Kim Seng and striker K. Kannan – to turn out for the newspaper team to give a more even competition in the League.

That victory, saw the Malay Mail team go international!

Through the assistance of the late Datuk Paul Mony Samuel, the then FA of Malaysia secretary-general, Malay Mail got an invite from the Philippines FA to compete in their inaugural Philippines Cup in 1991 in Iloilo City and Bacolod City.

Playing against national teams of the Philippines, Cambodian, Brunei and Taiwan and Singapore’s youth team, Malay Mail finished runner-up to Taiwan. It participated in two more tournaments and played numerous friendly matches with the Philippine national team, both in Manila and Kuala Lumpur to forge a permanent relation.

The team that went for the inaugural tournament in Philippines in 1991, had guest services of KL Semi-pro squad players Nazim Din, late Tommy Chong Kok Min, Badrul Isham Jalil, late R. Ramachandran and Badrulsham Ahmad for the tournament.

In the final, Malay Mail held Taiwan to a scoreless draw for 120 minutes but bowed out on a penalty shootout in front of a 20,000 crowd at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, MM went to win more honours locally emerging Dunhill League runners-up on two more occasions – 1993 and 1996 – and emerging KLFA FA Cup champions once in 1992.

KL Malay Mail also qualified for the FAM Cup (national competition for clubs) in 1997 and after three attempts to qualify for the M-League, finally did it to play in 2000 M-League Division Two together with their FAM Cup finalists Kelantan JKR, as FAM Cup runners-up losing finalist (4-2).

For the record, The Malay Mail FC was the first club team from the Klang Valley to play in the M-League Second Division.

Malay Mail FC played in the Second Division for three seasons before going back to FAM Cup competition and closing the team at the end of the 2004 – after 15 years of existence.

The team was forced to disband at the end of 2004 because it could not find a sponsor to continue its campaign. It has survived for almost 15 years on a shoestring budget, putting many top teams in Malaysia to shame. What kept it going was the passion of the officials and players for the “beautiful game”.

Indeed, Malay Mail showed many clubs and even State FAs that with passion and sound management, despite low funds it can compete among the best.

It also showed that satisfaction is not only winning trophies, but being a platform for player to move up to higher level of football an a nursery for budding talents.

More than 200 players have passed through MMFC in the 15 years during its existence and many had gone through the ranks in MMFC to secure contracts with better teams, while it has also produced national and national youth material.

One name which comes to mind is midfielder Imran Ahmad who was picked up by Malay Mail from Cheras, gave him employment and after his exposure with the Malay Mail team went to play for the KL team and the national team.

Some of the other notable players who played with Malay Mail to make it a balanced team, include R. Subramaniam, Chow Siew Yai, S. Silvarajoo, Lim Teong Kim, Ramlan Askolani, S.Balachandran, Raj Kumar, P. Saravanan, N. Suresh, Fareez Prem Raj, T. Gopinathan, K. Hemadass, V. Suresh, Mohamad Sham, Faridzul Kassim, A.N Chandrasegar, S. Mathen and S. Tamilarasan to name a few.

The team also had calibre and renowned coaches helping which include police officer late Jeswant Singh, S. Sugumaran, late Chow Kwai Lam, S. Gunasegaran, Lucas Kallang and Azlan Johar.

The legacy of the Malay Mail still lives on as in 2009, past players of Malay Mail decided to form the X-Mail FC veteran team and returned to Philippines where they organised a veteran’s tournament in Bacolod City for two consecutive years.

The veteran team continues to play in veteran tournaments from time to time which include competing in the IFC annual football 9s, Club Aman veteran tournament, IRC veteran tournament and several others. The veteran team is coached by former Malay Mail captain, Hasnul Khairuddin, a very dedicated and passionate supporter of the team.

The players may be older, but the fond memories brought through the Malay Mail FC is still cherished and they continue to relive it through the veteran team.

The legacy of the Malay Mail still lives on and the Reunion Nite certainly underlined it.

RECORD:

1989: Finished runners-up in the KL Dunhill league in 1989

In 1990, against all odds Malay Mail, who were known as Sharp Malay Mail, defeated hot-favourites City Hall FC by a solitary

1991 inaugural Philippines Cup in Iloilo City and Bacolod City. Held Taiwan to a scoreless draw for 120 minutes but bowed out on a penalty shootout in front of a 20,000 crowd at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

1992: emerged KLFA FA Cup champions once in 1992.

1993 and 1996 - emerged Dunhill League runners-up on two more occasions

KL Malay Mail also qualified for the FAM Cup (national competition for clubs) in 1997 and after three attempts to qualify for the M-League finally in 2000 M-League Division Two together with their FAM Cup finalists Kelantan JKR, as FAM Cup runners-up losing finalist (4-2) (1999)

SCOTT'S STORY

By Tony Mariadass

 

Scott William Ollerenshaw as a footballer has always believed that in life, what is meant to will be.

The 52-year-old former Australian national striker who has played for Sabah, lives in Kota Kinabalu since 1994, married former national karate exponent, Michelle Koh, has two children Jordan (22) and Alicia (14), was last week appointed by Sabah FC as their Technical Director (TD).

From left: Jimmy Koh and Belinda Koh (Michelle's parents), Alicia, Scott, Jordan, 

Michele and Aggie (Jordan's girlfriend)

His son Jordan played football earlier but decided to do other things and now helps his mother in their fitness centre business.

“I am footballer and not politician. I do not play politics but football. I let what happens based on ability,” said Ollerenshaw who besides playing for Sabah from 1994 to 1997, played one season for Negri Sembilan in 1998.

“It may have been a longtime since I last played for Sabah in 1997, but I am happy to be back to be involved in the game in Sabah again as a TD. I have always wanted to give back to the game in Sabah and finally I have the opportunity.

“I am only glad that I have been given an opportunity to work with Sabah football after all these years. I do not hold any grudge or angry because I was not given an opportunity earlier.”

Ollerenshaw said he had to thank former Sabah’s and national iconic striker, James Wong, for recommending him to the new management team of Sabah FC.

“I was then contacted by Sabah FC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Firdaus Akbar Khan (below), and after the meeting, I was offered the TD’s job. I was delighted and accepted it.”

Ollerenshaw’s journey into Malaysian football in 1994 was not on a silver platter.

His good friend, former Pahang skipper Allan Davidson, arranged for a trial with the Elephants, but did not get the nod because Pahang’s coach Yunus Alif had already signed on their final foreign player quota – besides Davidson, Thailand’s Attaphol Buspakom were signed on.

Then, former athletics coach Leslie Armstrong, arranged for Ollerenshaw to attend trial with Kuala Lumpur. But again, then KL coach, the late Ken Shellito, was looking for a defender and signed on Scott 0’Donnell.

Ollerenshaw returned to Australia but got a call from Armstrong for a trial in Sabah under coach Kelly Tham and the rest is history, and went on to get married and settled down in Sabah.

With Sabah besides having scored 110 goals in the 106 matches he played during his four-year tenure, he had the honour of winning the FA Cup in 1995, emerging Premier League champions in 1996, Golden Boot Winner 1995 (22 goals) and 1996 (18 goals) and Most Valuable Player in 1996.

In 1996, he played as a guest player for Selangor under coach Ken Worden against visiting Manchester United and had scored the only goal in their 1-4 defeat.

“I believe Sabah is a ‘Sleeping Giant’ because there is abundance of talent waiting to be tapped and groomed,” said Scott who played 12 international matches for the Australian Youth team and capped 18 times for the Senior team including playing for Australia in the Seoul Olympics reaching the quarterfinals.

“I am really looking forward to working at the grassroot to tap the talent and create a big pond of players for Sabah.

“There are youth programmes currently with age-group teams (state junior teams, NFDP and Football Schools of Excellence), but we need to have more programmes throughout Sabah for more children from the grassroot to join structured programmes and to be coached from a young age.

“This where we also need a big pool of qualified coaches for these programmmes and I intend to work closely with national technical director Datuk Ong Kim Swee (who incidetally was his teammate in Sabah), to have more coaches from Sabah certified or upgrade themselves through their coaching courses.”

Ollerenshaw said his involvement with the Sabah senior team will be minimal because he will not interfere with the work of coach Indonesian Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto who has returned as head coach of Sabah FC for their Malaysian League 2021 campaign.

Kurniawan was signed under the previous Safa management and guided Sabah to Super League safely in the Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season but his one-year deal ended last November was not extended.

“My involvement with the senior team will be with the foreign players in mentoring them to assist them understand the Sabah culture, their role expected as foreign players and basically help them settle in better with the team and play a key role. I will not get involved in their playing role in the team or team tactics.”

Ollerenshaw said he has done so many things since he last played for Sabah but getting back to help Sabah football was something he always wanted to do.

“In fact, I am tired of the things I have been doing as my true love is to be on the field and be involved with football directly,” said Ollerenshaw.

Among the things he has done include being a shareholder of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (2001-2003), managing director of Borneo Sports & Adventure Holidays S/B (2004 – 2012) – where his wife was the owner where their core business was football facilitator, player agent and tour organiser.

He had also initiated and fully sponsored the KK Junior Football Leagues (2008 – 2013) and as Player Manager he had introduced mixed heritage players to the M-League, scouted, researched, and initiated passports for 12 Mixed heritage players including the like of Brendan Gan, Mathew Davies and Carbin Ong who all have gone to play for the national team.

As a player agent, he has worked with over 70 players (both local and foreign) signed for Malaysian clubs over the last 10 years.

He has also worked exclusively with JDT and HRH Tengku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) for mixes heritage players signed by them.

Scott, Alan Davidson and Alistair Edwards

Another area he was involved was initiating the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup – a junior development tournament held yearly in Kota Kinabalu. The tournament would attract over 60 foreign teams from Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Philippines, and West Malaysia. All Sabah teams participating in the Borneo Cup were given free entry.

He had also organised playing tours all over Asia for National Associations from Malaysia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, and India.

Ollrenshaw’s parting words were: “I hope to wake up Sabah as the ‘Sleeping Giant’ in the coming years and see more players from Sabah make the national team.

“Players in Sabah are a different breed – they are physically and mentally strong, hard workers and passionate about the game. They only need to be spotted, placed in proper programmes, guided, and moulded into great players.

“Just look at the players from the past from Sabah – late Peter Rajah, James Ong, Hassan Sani, Matlan Marjan, Bobby Chua, Jelius Ating, Bobby Gonzales and Ronny Harun to name a few.”

Ollerenshaw is on a mission for Sabah football, but it is important that he is given the time and support to achieve it for them.

Nothing happens over night or by a wave of the magic wand!

Scott's handwritten Bio which he wrote for scribe in 1995 on board a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur for the FA Cup final.

 

 

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