Former great Rosli is not forgotten

Former national cyclist Rosli Abdul Kader shows a newspaper clipping featuring him during his glory days. YAKEB visited Rosli at his home in Puchong on June 24. — Pic: AIZUDDIN SAAD

IMAGINE racing with the peloton up the slopes in Jakarta. Your legs pumping a machine, your heart racing, then you see a chance to break away from the pack.

Then when the moment comes you break and pull away but still have Koreans and Japanese riders breathing down your neck.

That was what a young Rosli Abdul Kader experienced at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. Representing what was then Malaya, the race kicked-started what would be an illustrious 11-year-career in the sport for Rosli.

Rosli, from Bunut Payong in Kota Baru, Kelantan, was aiming to make a name for himself in his very first race in the Games, and he did it by helping his team bag the bronze medal in the 100km team road race.

After having competed in the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games, Rosli, then 23, won gold in the 1963 Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur in the team grass track event at Merdeka Stadium.
Rosli went on to represent the country until 1973. Ng Joo Ngan, Ng Joo Pang, Nordin Puteh, Sharudin Jaafar and Andrew Michael were some of the big names Rosli had gone head-to-head with during his years as a professional cyclist.

Today, Rosli lives in a 3-bedroom flat with his wife and youngest son. He has eight children and 17 grandchildren. His small frame resembles that of a teenager and it's hard to believe that the man is approaching 70.

The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) visited Rosli at his home in Kampung Muhibah, Puchong on June 24.

Rosli's passion for cycling started at a very young age.

"Back then, I couldn't afford to buy a bicycle so I did the next best thing. I rented one for 30 sen an hour everyday just so I could go cycling," said Rosli, who earns a living washing cars and doing odd jobs.

He brings home about RM700 a month, a harsh reality for someone who has given so much through cycling for the nation.

"I have been washing cars for almost nine years now, it's the only way I know how to support my wife and myself."

Yakeb has set up many programmes including the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign with the support of Yakeb's patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who came up with the idea.

The majority of former athletes are not well off and unable to cope with their medical expenses and some even don't go for treatment.

Yakeb's 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign, which was launched to assist former athletes, is of immense help to Rosli.

Also present during the visit was a representative of Faiza Sdn Bhd who donated RM2,000 and a bag of rice to Rosli and his family.

Let's hope former athletes like Rosli would not be forgotten. It would be a shame to see former greats who have graced the arena in their respective sport, fade into obscurity.

Donations and sponsorship should be channeled to Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb, Account No: 564847005696 (Maybank).

For enquiries, contact, 03-89964841/4844 or visit www.yakeb.org.my.

l Don't forget to catch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm today.- NST