Football regardless of race, language or religion
February 1st, 2010 | 
Author: Football should be for everybody, rich or poor because it is a bond that ties Singaporeans of all races, religion or status together. It is something that this Tiong Bahru boy turned PSC scholar and doctor shares with the neighbourhood hawker assistants to the extent of joining their football club. It is a passion I share with my chauffeur on my ride to and from work daily. It is a uniting force in a world increasingly torn by racial and religious intolerance and a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
When I was in school, soccer was free on TV and all the school fields were open all the time. There were always all sorts of people playing and anyone could join in. Now my two young sons will grow up in a Singapore where the non-rich do not get to watch football. Their school (ACS ) does not have a football field anymore and we are sadly padlocked out of our neighbourhood school fields. There the grass is very green, there are no bare patches from overplaying, and the lines are clearly drawn, but it is very quiet. The warming sights and sounds of children playing is not there any more.
What is at issue in the world cup broadcast rights is not a question of numbers, but of our values as a nation and of not taking away from non-rich Singaporeans a unifying passion. It is time the matter is taken out of the hands of companies whose primary consideration is profit and administered by those who believe in Singapore.
Its time to open the gates of school and other soccer fields everywhere in Singapore to children whose busy parents have no time, money or energy to send them to a soccer clas five miles away three times a week.
Yours Sincerely
Dr Khoo Boo Kian
Posted in Letters
5 Responses to “Football regardless of race, language or religion”
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My dear Dr.,
Don’t you know what is going on ?
This plan of ” ridding ” football of its ordinary fans in favour of corporate yuppie fags is not an accident but a world wide ideology.
Haven’t you noticed what is going on in UK ?
If the majority of owners, players and coaches are not from the country of origin then what binds it to its locale ?
what is there to prevent MU from taking off and 10 years down the line will no longer be MU but a ” global brand ” with venues in all the major cities in the world.
They won’t need their home fans anymore relying evermore on the pondans subscribers of sky and star.
Then English football as we know will cease to exists, maybe its a good thing.
And Singapore being the Asean darling whore of western conporations will be swallowing this lock stock and barrel or should that be C, C and barrel ?
in football, you don’t need football fields to play, though that will be ideal. that’s why the poor like brazilian slum dwellers can rise up to the top.
malays dominate singapore football scene and there’s a reason for it.
“It is time the matter is taken out of the hands of companies whose primary consideration is profit and administered by those who believe in Singapore.”
I think this also applies to government, utilities, housing, public transport, banks, schools, etc.
I have absolutely no interest in football, and while I agree that fans should be able to watch their favourite matches at a reasonable price, this guy’s ranting is pretty stupid. All this stuff about football tying Singaporeans together (huh?) despite widening income gaps (lol?). I mean, seriously?
It just sounds more like an excuse to flaunt his credentials. He could certainly have achieved his (rather inane) point without having to mention PSC scholar/doctor/chauffeur. Reminds me on Tan Yong Soon, actually.
http://www.voguesale.com
Fantastic place,go there and have a try,
Football lovers,you must love it!!!