Never Too Old: The 72-year-old who has given most of his life to Singapore football

SINGAPORE: Ask 72-year-old Ramasamy Krishnan what keeps him going five decades after his footballing career began and the answer is simple.

“I love the job.”

This is a man who has given much of his life to the game.

You see it on his face when he interacts with others at work, you see it in the twinkle in his eye when he regales tales of years past, you see it in the medals and trophies proudly displayed in his Shunfu flat.

The logistics manager at Singapore Premier League club Albirex Niigata (S), Mr Krishnan, or Roy as he is widely known, is considered a legend in local footballing circles.

A former Singapore international, Mr Krishnan was one of the best left-wingers to play for Singapore. But injuries ended one chapter and opened another.

While he enjoyed kickabouts in primary and secondary school, Mr Krishnan’s footballing journey started in earnest at the football fields of Farrer Park.

“One of the pakcik (uncles) working at Jurong Telecom where my parents worked told them: ‘Ask your son to go to Farrer Park’,” recalled Mr Krishnan.

At Farrer Park, one of his childhood friends introduced Mr Krishnan to Choo Seng Quee.

Choo is regarded as one of the greatest coaches to lead the Lions, but it was at Farrer Park where he nurtured and developed some of Singapore’s finest young talents. 

Before he was selected for the national team, Mr Krishnan played for amateur sides such as Burnley United, where he was coached by Choo for a few months.

“I would just take my bag and take a bus to Farrer Park. (My parents were) okay (with it),” said Mr Krishnan, whose first appearance for Singapore was at a U-20 youth tournament in Manila, Philippines.

He had long hoped to play for the senior team and it was a dream come true when he made his