He gave his life to S'pore sport

He gave his life to S'pore sport

The man who brought on the Kallang Roar at the National Stadium languished in loneliness for almost two years.

And when he took his last breath yesterday morning, he evoked in every sports fan memories over how he breathed life into local football.

Nadesan Ganesan, or "Gani" as he was popularly known, died, aged 82, at the Good Shepherd Loft, off Bukit Timah Road, at around 7.45am after breakfast yesterday.

His death did not come as a surprise to many because, after suffering a stroke in 2011, his health had been deteriorating to the point that he was in a wheelchair and his speech was affected.

On hearing the sad news, phones buzzed and messages flew around as fans mourned, remembering him as the man who raised local football from the pits to the pinnacle.

Gani, a lawyer by profession, was a thoroughbred sportsman, excelling in football, hockey and table tennis in school (Victoria and then Anglo-Chinese School) and into his early adult years when he played for clubs like the Tamil Brotherhood Association.

To me, Gani was a dear friend, a close contact, who oftentimes offered good counsel even during easy banter.

And I have always enjoyed conversations and dialogues with him on sport, whether it be football or fin swimming or cricket or croquet.

To most football fans and the legal fraternity, he was a decent human being ­- affable, down-to-earth and always engaging.

As a lawyer (also a Deputy Public Prosecutor), he was sharp, witty and sensible.

And often to friends and footballers he offered advice and even took up their legal cases on a pro bono basis.

He is best remembered as a footballing man, obviously during his reign as Football Association of Singapore (FAS) chairman, when he also handled the national team that brought crowds of about 50,000 to the National Stadium during the Malaysia Cup heyday.

During that period, the charismatic leader showed a commitment towards work, understanding for players and a reliance on his conscience in decision-making to the point of even being dictatorial for a good cause.

And the larger-than-life personality, who even slept at the Jalan Besar dormitory where his players were housed before big games, was someone who stood up for his rights and that of his players, team and fans, even if meant upsetting royalty.

Ravi Krishnan, a family friend who works in the pharmaceutical business and had visited him every week at the Bukit Timah nursing home, was in tears when he said: "I never had a dull moment with Gani, even when he was ill."

G Shanmugam, owner of Gayatri Restaurant who used to play football for Farrer Park in his teens, said: "He was a great man, a role model to many sportsmen. I admired him so much that I asked him to officially open all my food outlets."

David Kraal, a former editor of the New Nation, said: "Ganesan used to come to my home in Dorset Road from his home in Owen Road, less than 400 metres away, when I was 13 years old.

CLOSE FRIENDS

"That was 65 years ago. We have been close friends ever since.

"In our teens, we watched Wong Peng Soon play badminton at the Clerical Union Hall at Rangoon Road, walked to Jalan Besar and watched Singapore's Awang Baker score great goals.

"We played hockey almost every evening at nearby Farrer Park. Then, late in life, we golfed together.

"I will miss my old friend, a man of many sporting talents.

"I will miss the curries he cooked for those superb late, late lunches.

"I mourn his passing, as must all of Singapore. He gave so much to sports in this country."

In fact, Ganesan gave his life to Singapore sport.

Before he became FAS chairman in 1974, I used to meet him at even minor sports events like the inter-constituency games at night because he enjoyed sport.

His sacrifice for sport as an administrator was even to the detriment of his law practice, which eventually drained him financially.

In 1977, he played the biggest part in Singapore's Malaysia Cup success - after 12 years - which prompted our founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to invite the team to the Istana for the celebration.

Once, in the early '80s, at a casual meeting at his Central Square office in Havelock Road, he told me: "Sport taught me many good values, so consider whatever I've done for it as payback time."

He's gone, but one image that will forever remain etched in my memory is of the man in all-white attire jumping off the bench to celebrate a goal at the National Stadium during a Malaysia Cup match.

That's passion. That's fanaticism. And that's what sport is all about.

Goodbye Gani.


This article was first published on July 2, 2015.
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