Farewell sir, we will miss you

KATHIRAVALE: Knew the law of the sports at his fingertips

THE young generation would have known about other countries having football and hockey legends but what they would not have known was that Malaysia had a double accredited official, S. Kathiravale, who passed away at his home in Taman Yarl in Old Klang Road yesterday.

Kathiravale, a Fifa-accredited referee and an International Hockey Federation umpire from 1968 to 1980, was 84.

Kathiravale blows his last whistle

OCM vice president Datuk Roy Rajasingham, who is also Kathiravale’s close friend, said he was loved by all in the fraternity.

“He achieved great heights in football and hockey and brought fame to the country by being the first Malaysian world-class referee and umpire,” he said.

Rajasingham said Kathiravale had contributed a lot for football and hockey as an official. He was a mentor to the younger generation of referees and umpires.

“As a close friend, Kathiravale was the most jovial person I have ever met. He always makes people laugh and made sure they were always happy with him,” he said.

Kathiravale, who is an Arsenal supporter, started out as a linesman and graduated to become an international referee during his 48 years in the sport.

He officiated at 33 matches, including Malaysia’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal, at Merdeka Stadium in 1975.

At the continental level, Kathiravale officiated the final match between Iran and South Korea in the 5th Asian Cup in Bangkok, Thailand in 1972, and the first Women’s Asian Cup final between Thailand and New Zealand in Hong Kong in 1975.

In 1978, he was a senior linesman at the 8th Asian Games football final between South Korea and North Korea in Bangkok.

Kathiravale was also the referee for the Japan-South Korea qualification match in Tokyo, Japan for the 1978 World Cup.

Former The Malay Mail sports editor Tony Mariadass said Kathiravale was an icon during his reporting days.

“He has a unique way of presenting himself. He could pass down a message from a joke ... that’s how brilliant he was,” said Mariadass.

Kathiravale, a teacher by occupation, made time for Mariadass by teaching him about the rules and regulations of football and hockey.

“He knew the law of the sports at his fingertips. Two weeks ago, I rang him up to ask about the abandoned FA Cup semifinal match between Pahang and Darul Takzim FC. He was sharp for his age,” said Mariadass.

Kathiravale served as an AFC International Referee Instructor from 1975 to 2000 (one of the first three AFC instructors) and Fifa-accredited referee Instructor from 1986 to 2000.
In hockey, he started as a ball boy before becoming Razak Cup tournament director in 2002.

INFECTIOUS PERSONALITY: Kathiravele, seen here cutting his wedding anniversary cake with his wife S. Sarasvathi, always made an impact on whoever met him

The funeral was held at Loke Yew Crematorium at 5pm yesterday.

Among those who paid their last respects were C. Paramalingam, 1975 Malaysian hockey team captain Datuk Sri Shanmuganathan, K. Balasingam, R. Pathmarajah, S. Balasingam, Stephen Van Huizen, Malaysian Hockey Confederation deputy president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad, FA of Malaysia assistant general secretary Datuk Ahmad Fuad and Olympic Council Malaysia secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

Kathiravale leaves behind wife S. Sarasvathi and three sons, K. Ananthavel, Dr K. Sivakumar and K. Sivapalan.

Farewell, Kathiravale

S. Kathiravale and his wife. FORMER double international S. Kathiravale passed away at 5am today. During his heyday, a time where double Internationals were a norm among athletes, the 84-year-old was on the other side of the spectrum officiating hockey and football matches.

Accredited by FIH and FIFA, the world’s governing body for the respective sports, Kathiravale enjoyed the spotlight never seen by referees nor umpires these days – making the headlines of newspapers across the country.

During an interview with an English daily a couple of years ago, Kathiravale recalled his golden years saying “as long as it lasted, I enjoyed everything.” “He was always passionate about his games and I think that is what took him to the top in hockey and football.

He has done great service to the country,” said his first born K. Ananthavel. Kathiravale started out a linesman in a local football tournament and graduated to an International referee during the 48 years of his involvement in the sport.

He had officiated 33 International matches in addition to Arsenal’s first visit to Malaysia in 1975, where his favourite club lost to Malaysia 2-0. When he finally called it quits in football in 2006, the Seremban-born man had served the FA of Malaysia (FAM) Referee Committee in various positions.

His service to football was recognised by Asian Football Confedearation as he was awarded the AFC Distinguished Service Awards – Gold (30 years) last month. Kathiravale also served a hockey empire for 42 years, first starting as a ball boy before becoming the Razak Cup tournament director in 2002.

In a press statement today, Selangor Hockey Association extended “its heartfelt condolences to his wife and family and mourns the loss of a sportsman, a friend and a mentor to all who has contributed so much to hockey and football not only in the state of Selangor but nationally and internationally.”

*Funeral will be held at the Loke Yew Crematorium at 5pm today.

Former Malaysia right-half Johari passes away

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s hockey fraternity lost another member, Johari Chua, who passed away due to blood cancer on Monday.
Johari, born as Chua Eng Wah, was 76. He came from a family of hockey players. Two of his brothers – defender Eng Cheng and forward Eng Kim – played for Malaysia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He also had another brother Eng Chye, who played for Malaya against Pakistan and India in the mid 1950s.

Johari, a right-half, was best remembered for helping Malaysia win the bronze medal for the first time in the 1962 Asian Games. He later went on to coach the Malaysian women’s team. Under him, Malaysia won the SEA Games gold medal in Jakarta in 1987 and in Kuala Lumpur in 1989.

Former international Datuk R. Yogeswaran said he was sad to learn of Johari’s demise.

“I played alongside him in the Asian Games in 1962 and he was close to his team-mates. He always took care of his team-mates,” recalled Yogeswaran, a former national coach and team manager.
Yogeswaran also revealed that Johari became a grandfather on Monday but passed away later in the day.

Lau Sau Foong, a former skipper of the national women’s team, also paid tribute to Johari.
“He coached the national women’s team from 1987-89. He was soft spoken but strict. And we used to call him coach Jo. To him, fitness was vital in sports and we were successful at the SEA Games,” said Sau Foong.

Biography of a badminton great

FOUR-TIME All-England singles champion Datuk Eddy Choong celebrated his 80th birthday last Sunday in style by launching his biography Ex-Badminton Player: Dato Eddy Choong — Talk About History.

Choong was attired in a black samfu with red motifs while his wife Datin Maggie Thean was dressed in a lovely cheongsam at the event held at the Jade Palace seafood restaurant on Aboo Siti Lane in George Town at 7pm.

Joining the celebrations were his four sons, their wives and three grandchildren.

Proud: Choong showing a copy of his book launched at his birthday party.

 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew plus several state executive councillors were also present.

The octogenarian was All-England champion in 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1957.

The 110-page book was written in Chinese by Sin Chew Daily senior reporter Kiu Boon Huat. It has also been translated into English by a Universiti Sains Malaysia student.

Choong said proceeds from the sale of 100 books at the function would be matched ringgit to ringgit by him.

“I will give half of the amount to a charity to be announced later and the other half I will give to my wife to be given to the charity of her choice,” he said.

In his speech after cutting the birthday cake, Choong said he was leading a happy and fulfilling life with his wife who had given him unconditional love and friends who had kept him in good spirits over the years.

“I have friends from World War Two days. My family has been in Malaysia for 200 years.
“My great-great grandfather came to Malaysia in 1820. Some of those who are here at this event today were my father’s friends and I have learnt a lot from them,” he said.

Choong also joked that for 80 years, heaven had allowed him to be on earth to continue living until he became a good person.

“Only when I succeed in becoming a good person, will the almighty God take me because the good die young,” he said to laughter and cheers from guests.

Lim, in his speech, said he was impressed after reading Choong’s book.

He said Choong emphasised that a person’s character was more important than the colour of his skin.
“Eddy also held on to the old Scouts motto — Be Prepared — and that’s why he was the undisputed badminton world champion.

“I also admire Choong’s public spiritedness,” he said.

Guests were kept entertained through the night by Sweet Melody.

Alleycats singer David Arumugam shares fond memory of badminton legend Eddy Choong

Bidding farewell: David and Sabrina paying their last respects to Choong at his residence in Bell Road.

 

GEORGE TOWN: The late Datuk Eddy Choong used to train in an alley here as a young man.
This was revealed by Alleycats vocalist Datuk David Arumugam, who said he used to sit for hours watching the badminton legend train in a makeshift badminton court at the alley off Argyll Road at night.

“Datuk Eddy and the other players, all of whom were already well established at that time, used the alley as their training ground.

“My neighbourhood friends and I watched them play for hours. There were no high technology gadgets in those days and watching them play was entertainment for us,” said David, who was then a primary school student.

He said Choong and the other players were a motivation to the neighbourhood children and adults.
“They were all already top badminton players in Penang and it was amazing to see them train one night in our humble housing area and then see them compete in major international tournaments such as the All-England.

“When I was little, I remember listening closely to the radio when there were announcements of Datuk Eddy's victory and I felt so proud,” he said.

Choong, 82, died of intestinal bleeding on Monday at a private hospital here where he was admitted two days earlier due to a bout of vomiting.

He will be cremated at the Batu Gantung crematorium at 2pm on Friday.
David, now 63, recalled that when he started venturing into his music career, Choong took the time to attend Alleycats' performances.

“He was a very busy man but he still came. I could tell that he loved music a lot,” David added.
He and his wife Datin Sabrina Clyde, 57, were among those who paid their last respects to Choong at his residence in Bell Road here yesterday.

Among the others who came were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state exco member Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Barisan Nasional Youth chief Oh Tong Keong, Penang MCA Youth chief Tan Hing Teik, Penang MIC Youth chief J. Dhinagaran and Khoo Kongsi president Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew and his wife Datin Seri Daisy Yeow.

Oh urged the state government to name a road or badminton hall after Choong in recognition of his contribution to sports.

Datuk Finn Choong, 53, said his father was an avid music fan who loved all music genres on top of his hobby in gardening and collecting antiques.

“There is also a discussion in progress by the Penang state museum on exhibiting some of my father's achievements there but we'll see how it goes,” he said.

PKNS FC Mahu Bangkit Bersama Inspirasi Super Mokh

SHAH ALAM, 29 Jan (Bernama) -- Pasukan PKNS FC mahu kembali menjadi kelab gergasi bola sepak tanah air dengan mengembalikan legasi penyerang legenda negara tahun 70-an, Mokhtar Dahari atau "SuperMokh".

Kelab itu Selasa menandatangani memorandum persefahaman dengan syarikat pemasaran sukan, Total Sports Sdn Bhd untuk menjenamakan semula pasukan itu selain merencanakan perlawanan persahabatan antarabangsa, program-program sosial dan kebajikan (CSR) dan membangunkan televisyen web Selangor FC.

PKNS FC dalam kenyataan akhbar hari ini berkata langkah itu akan membantu PKNS FC menjenamakan semula kelab itu menerusi penerapan semangat Allahyarham Mokhtar dalam diri setiap pemain.

Pada majlis menandatangani memorandum itu, PKNS FC diwakili Presidennya Noor Hisham Mohd Ghouth, manakala Total Sports diwakili Ketua Pegawai Undang-undang Total Sports Asia, Puan Paramjit Dhillon dengan disaksikan Pengurus Besar PKNS, Othman Omar dan Timbalan Presiden Total Sports Mohd Rafee Md Aris.

"Kita semua tahu Allahyarham Mokhtar pernah berbakti di PKNS suatu ketika dahulu. Oleh yang demikian, saya berharap dengan adanya pendekatan yang diambil ini, pemain-pemain di bawah naungan PKNS FC dapat mengambil inspirasi dari kehebatan legenda Super Mokh dan seterusnya mengharumkan nama kelab dan negara, kata Noor Hisham.

Eddy Choong Wira Badmintion Sejati

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Jan (Bernama) -- Walaupun berbadan kecil, ketangkasan dan kelincahan legenda badminton negara Datuk Eddy Choong, menumpaskan lawan yang mempunyai fizikal yang lebih besar dan tinggi masih segar dalam fikiran peminat badminton tanah air.

Dengan hanya ketinggian lima kaki empat inci, juara empat kali berturut-turut edisi 1953, 1954, 1956 dan 1957 Kejohanan Badmintion All-England mampu mengegarkan gelanggang badmintion, Empress Hall, Kota London pada era-1950 yang sebelum ini dikuasai pemain dari negara benua Eropah.

Kini Malaysia kehilangan wira badminton apabila Choong, 83, meninggal dunia di pusat pakar Loh Guan Lye di Pulau Pinang Isnin akibat sakit tua.

Mendiang meninggalkan isteri Datin Maggie Thean Sun Lin, 79, dan empat orang anak lelaki Finn Choong, 53, Lionel Choong, 51, Jorgen Choong, 46, dan Antonio Choong, 37.

Selain berjaya mengekalkan rekod tanpa kalah bagi acara perseorangan lelaki Kejohanan All-England, anak jati Pulau Pinang itu juga menyandang gelaran juara bagi acara beregu selama tiga tahun berturut pada tahun 1951, 1952, dan 1953 bersama adiknya David Choong.

Mendiang juga adalah anggota pasukan Piala Thomas Malaya, pada tahun 1955 beliau dan pasukannya berjaya mempertahankan gelaran berpasukan dunia itu selepas mengalahkan Denmark 8-1 di Singapura.

Namun pasukan gagal mempertahankan gelaran tersebut pada edisi 1958 setelah tumpas 3-6 ke atas Indonesia di Singapura dan Choong bersara dari skuad kebangsaan dua tahun kemudian iaitu pada pertengahan tahun 1960.

Mendiang pernah menerima penghormatan tertinggi sebagai penerima anugerah 'Player of the Year' daripada Persekutuan Badminton Antarabangsa (IBF) pada tahun 1983 atas kecemerlanganya dalam arena sukan badmintion dunia.

Walaupun telah meninggal dunia, nama mendiang setiasa segar dalam sukan badminton negara kerana sumbangan yang dicurahkan beliau dalam arena sukan negara terlalu bernilai buat negara.

Semasa hidup, mendiang pernah berkata Malaysia masih mampu menjadi kuasa badminton dunia selagi ada pemain yang berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk maju satu langkah di hadapan lawan mereka.