GEORGE TOWN: WHEN he was a boy 62 years ago, Singodayan Sillappan was full of energy, jumping around and diving – the good traits of a football goalkeeper.
As a Year Four pupil of SJKT Ladang Geddes in Bahau, he started playing as a goalkeeper in 1952. He went on to become Negri Sembilan’s first choice custodian in the Malaysia Cup competition. From 1963 to 1969, he was the state’s No 1, playing alongside Ponnudurai, Raghavan, Sundarajoo, Chow Kwai Lam and Peter van Huizen.
Recalling his childhood, the sprightly 72-year-old Singodayan said: “I love football because I enjoyed performing acrobatic skills such as diving and jumping. ”
Arumugam Pillan, the Negri rightback from 1982 to 1984, said: ” I remember that in Station Padang back in 1963 when Negri played Malacca, Negri won 1-0 because Singodayan was good in stopping high balls. He would position the defenders to cover the scoring angles of his opponents.
“Singodayan played one year in 1963 together with me in the Gandhiji team in the NS league, where we played against teams such as the Town Council, General Hospital, Police, Army, Postal, NEB, Telecomms, Malay Club, Pasma Teachers Club, NSCRC and Chin Woo.”
But Singodayan admitted he is disappointed with Negri’s current poor form in the M-League.
“For the past two years, I feel sad that Negri is no longer top in Malaysian football but I hope they will rise again with dedicated coaches.”
Last year was the worst season for Negri who finished 12th in the Super League and were relegated to the Premier League. They failed to win promotion this season.
As a secondary school student of Seremban English School, Singodayan was part of the state’s combined schools team in 1960. From 1962 to 1969, he worked in Labu Estate as a supervisor, from 1970 to 1983 in Bertam Estate in Alor Gajah, and from 1984 to 1998 in Yong Peng Estate in Johor where he retired.
In September 1969, Singodayan, who was born in Ladang Geddes on April 19, 1942, had to stop playing football because his mother was sick in Madras.
His father Sillappan was an estate supervisor who migrated from South India. His mother Pawayi Palaniappan, who came from South India, was a housewife caring for three children, where Singodayan was the youngest child.
Singodayan is married to Sarasu Ponnan of Labu, Seremban and they are the parents of five boys and two girls. Following in his footsteps are his sons Ramesh, 46, and Shangar, 42.
Ramesh played for Negri in the Bardhan Cup in 2006 and 2007. Shangar is a ‘B’ licensed FAM coach who in 2009 and in 2010, guided the Negri Under-15 and Under-18 school teams.
Singodayan coached Shangar when he was playing as a striker for the SK Yong Peng Under-12 team in Johor in 1984 and when his son was part of the 1989 MSSD Batu Pahat champion Under-18 team.
“My dream is for my grandson Kishor, 9, a Year 3 pupil of SJKT Lorong Jawa to be selected as a MSSNS player one day,” said Singodayan.
“Young aspiring players must have discipline, be more focused and have keen interest to excel in football at national level.”
Singodayan’s current pastime is watching sports events especially the English Premier League and M-League matches on Astro as well as reading the newspapers.