BY S GULAM
Dec 4, 1998

THE S-League's most successful manager has quit. And he's not coming back.

"Enough is enough. I've had enough of football. It's all over for me," said Abol Fazl after submitting his letter of resignation to Tanjong Pagar United this morning.

He led Geylang to a clean sweep of the League, the S-League Cup and the FA Cup in 1996.

This year, he led the Jaguars to two Cup victories and a runner-up placing in the S-League.

Abol refused to reveal the exact reasons for his decision. But close friends said one of the main reasons was his failure to win the Manager of the Year award.

"He's extremely disappointed at not winning it," said one.

When asked, Abol said: "Let me say this, I expected it (not winning the award). Why? Because I knew they just won't give it to me."

"Many reasons. But I don't want to talk about them. Let me ask you. Don't you think I should have been the Manager of the Year?"

"There are many people like you who think I should have won..

"What have I done wrong? I should have been the winner in 1996. I won everything with Geylang. But they gave it to someone else.

"I did it again with Tanjong Pagar this season. But they chose Alan Wong. I've nothing against Alan. He's a good man and a good friend of mine.

"But Manager of the Year? It's too much...he's a salaried manager. He's paid to do the job. I'm a volunteer. Where is the logic?

"If I didn't deserve the award, it should have gone to Ltc Kok Wai Leong. Or K T Velu. Or Kesavan Soon. Or even R Vengadasalam."

"What's there to be angry? They may not recognise me. But they cannot change history. History shows that I'm the most successful manager. I've appeared in a Cup final every year. I've won five titles with two clubs. Can anyone match this? "I've brought in top-class players from Iran (World Cup stars Mohamed Khakpour and Hamidreza Estili). I also brought in a top coach (Jalal Talebi, who coached Iran at France '98).

"I've lost a lot of money in business (he runs a carpet business) as a result of football.

PASSION

"But it didn't bother me as I came into football not for money. I came in because of my passion."

"Who said so? I have many friends, both in the clubs and in the media," he said.

His reply: "Well, you may be right. But you know why? It's because I don't go out with them for dinner or drinks.

"I'm a businessman. I have time for only three things. It's football, business and family, though not in that order.

"In the day time, I'm involved in my business. In the evenings, I'm down at the Queenstown Stadium to be with my team. After training, I go home straight.

"But if any reporter or official calls me, I always return their call. And if reporters want, I give them controversial quotes.

"Yes, I sound boastful. But if I don't give such daring quotes, then I'll sound boring. Does any reporter want a nice-nice quote? Like "I hope to do my best', 'we'll try our best' and so on? Surely not, right? I speak my mind."

"I've been here for almost 15 years now? I've been a permanent resident for more than 10 years and a Singapore citizen for almost a year. My heart, soul, wife, children, property, business...everything is here. How can anyone consider me a foreigner?"

"You mean to say you have to have filmstar looks to win the Manager of the Year award?"

Can someone in the S-League give this man an answer?

I chose football over my wife...

On the night of the Singapore Cup final my wife was in hospital to deliver our fourth child?

She wanted me to be with her. But how could I abandon my players? I rushed off to the hospital immediately after the final whistle.

Tears rolled down her cheek when she saw me. She asked me: "Couldn't you be with me even on this occasion?'.

I couldn't answer. I just kept quiet. I just couldn't face my wife.

Why all this? Because I love the game. Because I wanted to contribute to Singapore football.

But what have I got in return? Only pain and sorrow. All I wanted was some recognition. Is that asking too much?