Raffles Insitution Soccer U14 1981

For two years this group of boys stayed together but was unfortunate that they did not proceed further than the National tournament rounds.
After that, many of these boys went over and played rugby for the school. Robert Ong, the goalkeeper achieved the distinction of playing for Singapore in rugby later in his life. Only a near fatal neck injury prevented him from further representation.

Raffles Institution Soccer U14 1980

This is the first group of U14 players which I was in charge. I remembered the games played away, esp at the Farrer Park fields. Unfortunately, we did not proceed far in the inter-school tournament.
















Standing : Andrew, Abdul Malik, Mustafa Kamal, Fuad, S Ganesan, Pek Kong Wah, Norhisham, Sofian Sukman, Robert Ong
Squating : Nabil, Fazlur, Uda Thith, Maritz, Razif, Ibrahim, Izan Sidek, Rafik, Chan Tat Hon

Raffles Institution Soccer 1980

In 1981, the U18 won the title at Jln Besar Stadium on 17 July 1981 beating CJC 3-0. This team was essentially the U16 team of 1980.

The team was coached by Suhaimi Ali, an old boy. Sadly he had left the world but his legacy would not be forgotten.

Standing : Boey Yin Cheong, Othman Osman, Woon Hin Keng, Ng Eng Cheong, Leong Fai Yew, Swanapala, Teo Liang Huat, Richard Pereira, Suhaimi, Chan Kok Fatt, Koh Chwee Koh, Wong Chin Koon

Squating : Khaider, Ravi Chandran, Md Muhubbiah, Chee Leong Wah, Shaharrudin, Leong Chee Weng, R Khanesan, Ang Pooh Eng

Suhaimi lifted shoulder high by the boys after the win 17 July 1981 Jln Besar Stadium

Raffles Institution Soccer 1979

After the euphoria of 1978, the fortunes of RI soccer remained bright but just could reached that height again. The 1979 team comprised some squad members of the winning '78 team but were cruelly knocked out in the latter stage of the tournament.


Standing : Azhar Omar, Emran Yusoff, Lim Chin, M Azni, Fang Kim Soon, ... William See, Billy Ng, Tan Eng Teng, Pavan Kumar





Sitting : Mustafa Sidek, Shah Alam, Lim Eng Lee, Wee Way Kiat, Chiew Shung Hon, Zahari Mohd, Chew Wai Cheong, Thong Kok Hung, Chew Sin Cheong, Koh Wei Howe















The U16 squad also did not do well but the unmistakable RI spirit was with them all the time. Teo Liang Huat made it into the Singapore youth team.

Standing : Leong Thim Chee, S. B> Swarnapala, Teo Liang Huat, Ravi, Chua Chwee Koh, Zaini, Chua Chye Teck, Png Pang Tian, Herman Safari, Lui Kok Kwang, Faridon
Squating : Chee Leong Wah, Ng Chong Eng, Samat Saimon. Ang Pooh Eng, Juraimi Ali, Abdul Razak, Chan Kok Fatt, Andrew Cheong, Szi Chi Sian

Raffles Institution Soccer 1978

As I start my 31st year in the teaching profession, I cannot help but reminiscent on the past events in the schools that I have taught in.

The first day of my teaching career was on 3rd Jan 1978 when I reported to Raffles Institution at Grange Road, after completing my NS in June 1977. The school had its PreU classes then. The first ECA I was assigned to was soccer. Mr Puhendran, the sports head then, told me that I would be working with Mr Alfred Chen, a stout guy who was with RI since the Bras Brasah days.

The first year was a wonderful year. I did not know what to expect. I was told to be with the boys while they were training and these trainings were very regular and long. The Pre U boys were captained and trained by Auyeong Pak Kuan who was already playing for the Singapore youth team. I remembered the holiday camp in school. Every detail was taken care by the boys. As teacher, we just followed and encouraged them along the way. Besides the training in school, they also went for runs at East Coast Park.

The single mindedness that they went about the training and spirit of the team shone through during the year's tournament. Everyone wanted to play and it was unavoidable that someone had to be on the bench.

That season, the boys won the national title. On the day of the final, I remembered that some teachers were giving odds on us winning big. The boys did not disappoint when they trashed Geylang Serai VI 5-1 at the National Stadium.

To this day, some of the boys still meet together regularly to play the game. Annually, for the past four years, the Ortega Cup series against SJI was also revived.

Newspaper report on the Final 10 May 1978

Straits Times Report 11th May 1978
The RI team : Ong Wee Chye (Goalkeeper); Fred martins, Kalidas Karuppiah (Azlan Shahrir), Emran Yusof, Chang Yeh Hong, Au-yeong Pak Kuan (Captain), Marc Tan Eng Teng, Tan Kin Keong, Yuan Chee Onn, Hayer Annuar, Clifton Foo
Beat Geylang Serai VI by 5-1 (Scorers : Clifton Foo (45th) Au-yeong (46th, 50th & 55th), Emran Yusoff (63rd)

Most memorable moment at National Stadium

10th May 1978, nearly 30 years ago, that was the most memorable moment that Raffles Institution’s soccer team had ever experienced. It was lean 6 years for RI in the soccer arena until 1978 when its post secondary team reach the pinnacle of school soccer by beating Geylang Serai Vocational Institute 5-1 and this was one of the few finals that was played at the vast National Stadium. Of course, after that, captain Au-yeong Pak Kuan (standing 3rd from right) continued to grace the National Stadium pitch as he captained the National team as an outstanding defender. Emran Yusoff (standing 6th from right) had some successes in playing for clubs. Fred Martins (standing 8th from right) represented Singapore in hockey and cricket. Marc Tan (back standing 2nd from left) turned out to a successful Horse racing tipster for New Paper.

The atmosphere at the National Stadium was undescribably surreal. Busloads of RI pupils turned up and their white (with many green skirts as there were Pre U girls) filled the stadium with their lusty RI cheers (they still exists today) which rose to its peak when RI scored the first goal at the start of the second half and then crescendoed up when the team received the Rodrigues Trophy (what happened to it?). The team then was very confident as they have beaten GSVI in the preliminary rounds and have had gone through a week’s in-camp intensive training during the March holidays. I was very fortunate enough to be there, on the team’s bench as a rookie assistant teacher in charge of RI soccer. To this day, when the players meet annually for the revived Ortega Cup against SJI, this final is one which all of them cannot forget. Of course, for me, it was a once in a lifetime experience and I have to thank the boys for making it happened.

Christmas 2007 in Singapore

Top : The hanging lights along the whole stretch of Orchard Road

Middle : Along the strolling sideways

Below : Inside the shopping centre

When you visit Singapore and go down to Orchard Road specifically, you may be mistaken to think that Christmas in Singapore is all about lights, people and shopping. You will be dazzled by those lights which were put up one week before Christmas. Frenzy buying starts and continued till the eve of Christmas. Hordes of shoppers and non-shoppers thronged the streets and shopping centres and one will not fail to feel the spirit of holiday.
However, is this what Christmas is all about? One should not forget that this day is a day of celebration as Jesus is born and thus is a significant day for all of us believers. The lights and shopping and gifts are all external trivials.

Anah Rais (Bidayuh) Longhouse

The visit to Anah Rais Longhouse of the Bidayuh people took place on the 12 December. The welcoming drink of rice wine tasted sweet and light. The place is the ancestral home of the Bidayuh people for 200 years. One could not fail to notice the absence of youths in the village. Most of them went to the city for work. Thus only the old people and children were left in the village.

One unforgetable sight was the children swimming along the flow of the river water without any care in the world. This type of childhood experience could never be replicated in the city.

Santubong River Cruise

River Cruise along Santubong Wildlife Reserve on 13 December 2007

At last the weather held after waiting for two days. The waters around the reserve was choppy when we arrived in Kuching on 11 December.
It was certainly worth the wait if you are the adventurous and outdoor type as the 3-4 hours motorboat ride screamed for activities unless you enjoy it. Jaya. our guide was particularly eager to show us around and his interest in wildlife showed.

Mt Santubong itself is not very high but has that mysterous look about it. Along the way. we were in the lookout for the irrawaddy river dolphins but failed to see any one of them, just hard luck as the weather itself was beautiful. Even waiting around the fishermen drew no results as they are supposed to feed on the throw-overs from the fishermen when the latter draw up their nets.

Within a few minutes of taking off from the jetty, we saw the first estaurine crocodile on the bank, sunning itself. On closer approach it scrambled into the water. We saw another 4 wildlife crocodiles along the river bank of the wetland but they were smaller critters compared to the first.

There are other birds and creatures along the banks and forested areas of the wetland and mangrove swamps but we could not see much of them, not least the proboscis monkeys which inhabited the forest area.
Overall, it was a worthwhile trip to one of Sarawak's mangrove wetlands.

Semonggoh Wildlife Centre

Semi-wild Orang Utans

We visited Semenggoh Wildlge Centre, Kuching on the 12 December. It was a disappointment though we were able to see about 8 to 10 semi-wild orang utans who appeared during feeding time. There was nothing else to see after that.

Kuching Sarawak

Cats cats everywhere

We visited Kuching Sarawak from 11 to 14 December. The weather was kind to us during our stay though thunderstorms were forecast.

We stayed at Kingswood inn, a 3-star hotel. It is basic, nothing great about it and it is only about 15 minutes walk to the main commercial area of Jln Carpenter and Main Bazaar (Waterfront). It is quite easy to navigate around the town if one can get the direction right among the numerous small lanes. The town is like any slightly larger typical Malaysian town, similar to Ipoh in many many ways.

The food is so-so. The famous kolo mee was also passable, nothing great. The version we had in Singapore was souped up to our taste. There was no visible use of sambal belachan or chilly. However, the people are generally courteous when approached.

Kuching Sarawak

Kuching Sarawak
Here we are again at T2 awaiting flight MH638 to Kuching. It is delayed for an hour and we are given free lunch at PALMs while awiting till 1440 hours. At least the weather outside looks promising with some sunshine today.

Phnom Penh

4 & 5 December 2007

Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia is a 6-hour ride from Siem Reap. The roads are smooth and ride uneventful. It is a larger version of Siem Reap, just as dusty, crowded and roads choatic. The only difference is that there are more modern buildings.

The countryside along the way is dotted by quaint villages and large ponds.

The Central and Russian markets are busy places where any and every things are sold. Very hard bargaining is needed, at least 1/2 of the opening price. An adidas shirt costs US$4.5 at the only air-con shopping centre wherelse hard bargaining could only bring the price down to US$5 from US$12.