The 1950 Malaya Cup Victory: The Revival of Singapore's Dominance
| 1950 Malaya Cup Winners - Singapore |
Without slight exaggeration, my eyeballs were literally popped out when I saw a black-and-white picture that came after a text message from a friend.
"Bro, you might be keen on this iconic picture from 1950" texted my friend, who attached a post-match shot of the Singapore team who just won the Malaya Cup that year.
I replied:"Goodness me, it was the first Malaya Cup win for us after the War.", after taking note of the handwritten description on the reverse side of the picture.
"1950 Malaya Cup Final ... Singapore beat Penang 2-0" were part of the description hand written on the reverse side of the picture, which I believe was detached from an old photo album based on the visible black mark on the top right corner of it.
| The first XI of the 1950 Malaya Cup winning team |
As mentioned, the 1950 victory was the first triumph for the then British crown colony following the resuming of this popular competition after the World War II.
Prior to that war, Singapore prided herself as the domainant force of tournament by featured in all finals since 1921 till 1941, winning 12 and twice sharing the honour with Selangor (in 1928 and 1929) in the 21 finals they contested.
That impressive record ended in 1947 with Negri Sembilan emerged as the first winning team, after the war, by beating Selangor 2-1.
FIRST WIN AFTER WWII
Singapore made their return to the final three years later at the turn of the decade when they took on Penang at Rifle Range Road's Malaya District Ground in Kuala Lumpur, a repeat of the 1941 final - the last to be held before the Japanese Occupation.
In his report for The Straits Times, legendary journalist Norman Siebel noted down the proceedings in his trademark lyrical style.
"A large crowd, variously estimated between ten and fifteen thousand, saw superbly fit and able teams join in a tense, titanic struggle played at a tremendous pace for 60 minutes**." wrote the Ceylon-born Siebel who formed and served as the founding president of Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) in 1969, two months before his demise.
He added:"At the end of it both the victors and vanquished had not had a kick left in their boots."
(** It is to note that before 1961, when the "90-minute" game was mandated by SAFA [Singapore Amateur Football Association, precursor of Football Association of Singapore (FAS)], football matches in Singapore and Malaya were a "60-minute" game; it was not sure if the Football Association of Malaya followed suit during the same time)
"Twinkletoes" Chia Boon Leong may have produced a screamer from 25 yards out off a Sharif Madon corner in the 23rd minute, but it was Awang Bakar's goal in the second half that became part of local football folklore for its sheer moment of magic.
| Rifle Range Road's Malaya District Ground in KL - the venue of the final (NLB archive) |
"A large crowd, variously estimated between ten and fifteen thousand, saw superbly fit and able teams join in a tense, titanic struggle played at a tremendous pace for 60 minutes**." wrote the Ceylon-born Siebel who formed and served as the founding president of Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) in 1969, two months before his demise.
He added:"At the end of it both the victors and vanquished had not had a kick left in their boots."
(** It is to note that before 1961, when the "90-minute" game was mandated by SAFA [Singapore Amateur Football Association, precursor of Football Association of Singapore (FAS)], football matches in Singapore and Malaya were a "60-minute" game; it was not sure if the Football Association of Malaya followed suit during the same time)
SINGAPORE TOOK THEIR CHANCES WELL
It was a battle that saw the Singaporeans take their chances well, scoring two goals to claim their 13th cup triumph."Twinkletoes" Chia Boon Leong may have produced a screamer from 25 yards out off a Sharif Madon corner in the 23rd minute, but it was Awang Bakar's goal in the second half that became part of local football folklore for its sheer moment of magic.
| "The Cup is Back" (NLB archive) |
Standing 40 yards away from Penang's 'keeper Tan Swee Hock, who had just launched a goal kick up front, the ace striker found himself at the receiving end of that kick.
With "perfect assurance and accuracy," Awang struck the ball back and over the head of the hapless custodian to the back of the net.
SPREAD OUT TO THE WINGS
RBI Pates, the Singapore honorary coach, attributed the success to the new tactics devised for the game.Speaking to The Singapore Free Press, Pates said the "bone-dry condition of a very uneven ground" made ball control a difficult task, so he instructed the players to spread out the attacks on the wings instead from "along the centre (sic)".
The man, who later went on to serve as FAS chairman, was pleased with the team's overall performance and paid tribute to both Chia and Awang and lauded, "their goals were the best I've seen for a long, long time."
By the end of the 1950s, Singapore re-established themselves as a powerhouse of Malayan football with eight appearances out of ten finals of that decade, winning on three other occasions in 1951, 1952, and 1955 besides the aforementioned.
NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PHOTO
2) "Pop" Lim Yong Liang served the local football fraternity in various capacities, as a player, coach, and administrator, and was awarded the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his service to the game in 1959.
And how many are aware that it was "Pop" who first discovered "Uncle" Choo Seng Quee at a park at Bras Basah?
3) Ivan Vass was widely credited as one of the finest to have put on a captain armband to lead a Singapore team out of the tunnel.
4) Goalkeeper Chu Chee Seng and (7) Chia Boon Leong were the only Singaporeans footballers to have taken part in the Olympics when they represented Republic of China for the London Games in 1948.
5) Foo Hee Jong was once shortlisted for an opportunity to play professional football in England, alongside another player named Leong Hoi Meng.
6) Awang Bakar was probably the best Singapore striker to have emerged during the post-war era who unfortunately passed away at an early age in 1964 during a match in RAF Changi.
8) Awang Gabos was one of the seven players recruited by media magnate Aw Hoe for a short stint with Hong Kong club Kitchee SC later that year; those included from this squad were Awang Bakar, Chu Chee Seng, and Foo Hee Jong.
9) Harith Omar was the captain of this winning squad who later went on to become the head coach and guided the Singapore team to win the Cup in 1965 weeks before the separation.
4) Goalkeeper Chu Chee Seng and (7) Chia Boon Leong were the only Singaporeans footballers to have taken part in the Olympics when they represented Republic of China for the London Games in 1948.
5) Foo Hee Jong was once shortlisted for an opportunity to play professional football in England, alongside another player named Leong Hoi Meng.
6) Awang Bakar was probably the best Singapore striker to have emerged during the post-war era who unfortunately passed away at an early age in 1964 during a match in RAF Changi.
8) Awang Gabos was one of the seven players recruited by media magnate Aw Hoe for a short stint with Hong Kong club Kitchee SC later that year; those included from this squad were Awang Bakar, Chu Chee Seng, and Foo Hee Jong.
9) Harith Omar was the captain of this winning squad who later went on to become the head coach and guided the Singapore team to win the Cup in 1965 weeks before the separation.
(P.S 1: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited, should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible and I will remove them upon request.)
(P.S 2: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)
(P.S 3: If you have information on other individuals (i.e.: other players) depicted in the main picture, please feel free to email me, thanks)