The Grand Old Dame

It all started when V Sundramoorthy executed the bicycle kick against Brunei in 1993. This moment in time started my love affair with football, and the Kallang National Stadium became a fixture in my life. The New Paper was conscientiously read everyday.

With mum and dad refusing to grant permission for me to watch the Malaysia Cup games in the stadium, I religiously followed the television coverage of the matches. Young and naïve at that time, I thought our broadcasting corporation did the best football coverage ever as the satellite feed from Malaysia was very bad. We “had” the best football pitch in the world, as some of the pitches that the Lions were playing on looked sunburn and without floodlights. My favourite commentators were Mark Richmond and Brian Richmond. The father and son combination was invincible. Back then, I never thought that I would get to work with Mark. He was just the voice that accompanied the Lions whenever they were on TV.

I was there when the Lions celebrated the clinching of the Double – the League and the Cup. I was a die-hard fan and even skipped classes to queue up to buy t-shirts that were about the Lions, never mind that the colours ran. I even bought the albums cut by the Lions – two years in a row, and I brought them along when I flew off to Toowoomba for studies in 1998. They certainly came in useful when I did my assignments. By then, I knew what I wanted to do – a sports producer, and to one day, direct a football match.

Though I had to live without the highs and lows of the Malaysia Cup, watching football matches in stadiums became a reality when Sleague started. I became a regular at the neighbourhood stadium. I would always imagine what it was like at the National Stadium when there was a capacity cheering. No doubt I was part of the Kallang Roar during one of the friendlies, but the electrifying atmosphere would never be the same.

I was there when the Old Dame hosted Liverpool in 2001. It was a pity that I could not be part of the Media as I missed the rare opportunity to interview Fowler, Owen, Burger and Carragher. Ah Di thoroughly enjoyed himself as he proudly donned his Liverpool jersey together with his fellow Reds’ fans. “Liverpool” had his once in a lifetime chance to get into the Reds’ changing room at the National Stadium.

I finally stepped into the ground level of the National Stadium during the filming of The Glenn and Rod Sports Show. Alvin kept making fun of me, who was already overwhelmed by the fact that I was stepping on the ground that was once the playground for Quah Kim Song, Dollah Kasim, Fandi and Sundram. Watching the Lions trained on the pitch was unreal. It felt like a dream and I hoped I would never wake up.

Soon came the 2002 Tiger Cup. We played our first game against Malaysia and I started my first collection of accreditations passes in the years to come. We were there when we played Malaysia. It was a sea of red and both the Kallang Wave and Kallang Roar came alive right before my eyes. It was one of the most memorable day of my life as I experience a series of firsts – watching live football at National Stadium, visiting the Pressbox, attending post-match conference. Alvin brought me to the press area and I was overawed by the occasion. For the first time in my life, the reporters whose stories I have been reading came alive before my eyes. Ernst, Wang Meng Meng and many more were there with at the post-match conference where they bombarded the national coach with questions. Watching how they did the coverage of the game for TV, I told myself that one day, I would want to be inside the OB Truck, covering a football match at the National Stadium.

I was part of the TV production team when we hosted the Rugby 7s in 2003 and 2004. I walked about the stadium, taking pictures, drinking in the sights of the stadium. Nostalgic was the word as I had my walkabout in the stadium. Coverage was hard work. The long hours was taxing the eyes. But the experience I gained from working with the ITV Sports production team was priceless.

My dream came true when we covered one of the international matches at the National Stadium in 2003. Chin Daddy was on panel with me, while Raphael was the Floor Manager. We all ate BK (I think) at Kallang Leisure Park for dinner before the game. Never did I dream that it would be the first and only football match I would be involved for TV coverage. I was in 7th heaven during the train ride home while Raphael fell asleep on the bus, missed his stop and had to walk home.

Before I flew off for the first SEA Games in Hanoi, I became a spectator for one football match in the National Stadium. This could be just another game for some, but for others, it would be their one special moment with this Old Dame. I watched Mark ge ge, Paul ge ge and Raphael played against former national players for the curtain raiser before the Singapore Cup final. Alvin fell flat on his face moments after he entered the field.

Then came the face-off between ex-Singapore and ex-Selangor players. Trickeries of the former Malaysia Cup heroes that I only heard and not seen unfold before my eyes. Wendy got to watch her idol took to the field once again. Salman relived his own Malaysia Cup days and Chin Daddy educated his sons on the beautiful game. While I cheered Fandi on, and got to know more about our football heritage, I was wishing that you were here with me to share this special moment with me.

I dare not watched the Lions’ quest to retained their “Tiger Cup” title when we hosted the event. I had slowly come to believed that I was their jinx. No regrets though, as the Lions did the National proud.

As the date of the closing ceremony loomed, I paid my tribute to the old dame with a Kallang episode of Our Makan Places: Lost & Found 2. Even the hawkers had fond memories of those good old days when they had trouble serving their customers due to the millions who flocked to the matches held there. It was a pity we could not do our re-enactment or links inside the stadium, Michelle and Gurmit did a one-take wonder with their links and we did a hit-and-run.
Many couples took their wedding photographs there, but this would be one wish that will always be unfulfilled for me.

Mark and Brian hosted the closing ceremony tonight at the National Stadium, and there can be no better choice as I believed they would have had fond memories of each and every corner of the pitch. Their words had once described all the moves the players executed throughout the Malaysia Cup days. And I lingered on every words heard.

As the fire doused out, and the National Stadium declared closed officially, many would be reliving their own moments with the grand, old dame. It could be the National Day parades they have performed or attended. But for me, the old game will always be associated with the beautiful game.