As to the venue, it was most probably in an out-of-town
match at the Coronation Park padang in Ipoh -the current Taman Dr Seenivasagam.
Standing - left to
right: Sei-ngang-chai, Bat Zee, Ah Fai, For-che-tau, Ku-li (eldest), Fei-lou Zhong
(the 2nd brother), Ah-Boot (the
3rd brother), Fei-lou Keong, Ah Ket (cousin of Ah Fei) , Lau Zhong, Samy
Squatting – left to
right :Dai-gor Seng, Ah Chow, Hon-da-sport, Dai-nan Choy (younger brother of
Dai-gor-Seng), Ah Hoi, Yee Chai, Ah Bai.
In the 1960’s and 70’s, the padang in Menglembu, adjacent to
the Wan Hua Primary School, would be a
hive of activities in the early evening from 5 pm. Youngsters from around town, the re-grouping area and as far away as Bukit Merah would gather there for evening of soccer.
Among this cohort, there were three brothers, namely Ku Li, Fei Lou Zhong, Ah Boot. The eldest Ku-li was 20 years old, the 2nd brother Fei-lou
Zhong was 18 and the 3rd, Ah-Boot was 16 years old then. The soccer kaki's would visit the home of the brothers and they were good buddies.
Ku-Li and Ah-Boot went on to play for the Perak team. Both
of them were in the Perak team that won the FAM cup in 1970, beating Kelantan
2-0.
Ah-Boot made it to the national team. In 1969, he played for the Malaysian team in
the Asian Youth Football Tournament in Bangkok. The AYFT was the beginning of the many travels
that his football career would bring him to.
It was Tokyo in 1970 and Manila in 1971.
In 1972 he was a member of the Malaysian football team to the
Munich Olympic. On his return from the
Olympics, he proceeded to Hong Kong and started his professional soccer, first with
the Caroline Hill Football Club .
Fast forward, 2015 –
The afternoon heat has mellowed. The padang is as verdant.
The single story assembly hall is still there in the same location at the far
end of the padang beside the road.
Many of the garden houses 菜园屋 , next
to the padang, ( wooden house with zinc roof surrounded with a small garden )
are still there. They have stood there
for 60 years and more, witnessing many a generation of youngsters playing
soccer.
The goal posts are no longer around. Where have all the youngsters gone?
