Kampong Boy with the Golden Feet

Three decade ago, a scrawny, scruffy kampong boy along with his bosom pals, trooped off to a stadium to watch the soccer finals of the Sultan Gold Cup where Singapore met Kelantan. While his friends shouted boisterously from the stands, his mind was racing with questions like, "what would it take to don the national colours" and "how would it feel to play for the country?" Unknown to him at that time, he was to be Singapore's favourite soccer son and a warrior most feared by his opponents for his unmatched deadly tactics. He, who became synonymous with jersey number 17 and that unmistakable presence on the pitch. He was Fandi Ahmad.

Fandi's remarkable achievements in the sport and significant contributions to Singapore soccer has led to the gifted player being touted by many as a national soccer legend and a role model to many young soccer enthusiasts. The Rotary - ITE Alumni Achievement in Sports Award is yet another recognition of his unstinting commitment in the soccer arena.

"Soccer has always been in my blood. My father, Ahmad Wartam, a former national goalie of the sixties, was my source of inspiration," recalled Fandi, now 38 and a father of three beautiful kids, as memories of him thrashing the ball with his father at practice sessions rushed to his mind.s

No word could ever describe the passion Fandi had for soccer. Not even when he was a young primary schoolboy. Continued Fandi: "I had my first chance of playing for the school when I was in Primary 4. It was exciting! The feeling of winning for the school was simply euphoric. At every stage of my education, I played for the institutions I studied in." And the Singapore Vocational Institute (now ITE Balestier) where he enrolled in 1977 for a Mechanical Servicing course, was no exception.

The former Serangoon Garden Secondary School student added: ITE gave me an opportunity to earn technical skills. But at the same time, it also gave me ample room to display my soccer skills in the many tournaments. I still remember Mr Ismail, my former coach and training staff, for the useful advice he dispensed."

The former national skipper now runs a tight daily schedule, shuttling between the sports stadium where he coaches the team from Singapore Armed Forces Football Club and Anugerah Kencana Auto, a car dealer company where he is a partner. He enthused: "I accept this Award with happiness and pride. For a big part of my life, I have carved a career in soccer. But nevertheless, I am glad that the skills I learnt in ITE such as the maintenance of car fittings, have proven to be very useful now."