Tuesday 29 April 2008

My Uncle, the footballer.

Ahmad Sayuti Bin Ali with FAS in the National Youth Team representing Singapore in football tournaments.

Kampong Kapor left me with beautiful memories of my childhood life. It was the place I was born and grew up. It was also the playing ground of my aunties and uncles. Two of my youngest uncles used to bring me to the playground at Kampong Kapor Community Centre which was just across the road, opposite of Pondok Kalompang Gubuk. My uncles would leave me and my sisters at the playground while they played football in the small patch of field next to it.

The playground at Kampong Kapor Community Centre - Photo taken in the late 60s. I was the third little girl from the left. The teenage girl second from the right was my aunty. The others were my relatives.

At Kampong Kapor Community Centre - Photo taken in the late 60s. I was second from the left. My sister was the first girl on the right. Behind us was a row of living-quarters.

My two uncles grew up to be teenage footballers playing for a soccer team called the Spider. One of them, Ahmad Sayuti, made it to the Youth National Team representing Singapore. He is my mother's youngest brother. Subsequently, he was selected to play for the Singapore National Football team, playing along-side with players such as Dollah Kassim, Mohammad Noh, Hashim Hosni, Edmond Wee and many others. He was then working as a technician with Electrolux. Later on at the peak of his football career, he was offered to join Grodningen FC, a football club in Holland, along with Fandi Ahmad. However, he turned down the offer and moved on with his life without football. He concentrated on his job with Electrolux and later on he joined Guthrie.

Mom, my sisters and I at my uncle's wedding.

My cousins, Ziki and Zazar in 1991.

My uncle married to a Singaporean of Javanese descent. Aunty Nur, as we address her, is a kind hearted person with pleasant personality. She brought much joy into my uncle's life. Indeed, my uncle has a beautiful family. His two sons, Zazar and Ziki were intelligent boys who grew into young fine adults.

35 Upper Weld Road in 2008


35, Upper Weld Road is now a shop selling electrical goods. I went there about three weeks ago.



The community centre in front of it, is now a building for SINDA.


The corner shophouse is now a school.

The row of shophouses are still the same however, the activities in it are new.