August 19, 2004

At just 19, Khairul Amri is being touted as 1 of Singapore's brightest young footballers in the making comparable to Fandi & it is no exaggeration with the forward making his mark at national level with Lions coach Radojko Avramovic willing to throw him into the mix with appearance in the pre-World Cup qualifier against Oman in Muscat & in the friendly against Malaysia last month.

From being penniless and on the verge of quitting football three years ago, Khairul is now in the national team

 

By Jose Raymond
[email protected]

 

Khairul Amri is touted as one of Singapore's brightest young footballers. Exciting, talented and extremely confident, he is a new Fandi Ahmad in the making, according to several football coaches.

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At just 19, the forward has already made his mark at national level. Lions coach Radojko Avramovic threw him into the pre-World Cup qualifier against Oman in Muscat and in the friendly against Malaysia last month.

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Khairul has also been getting personal attention from national assistant coach Fandi, as he works to transform the raw gem into the finished article.

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It is an astonishing transformation for a teenager who, just three years ago, almost quit the game because of his family's precarious financial situation.

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Penniless, the player did not even own a decent pair of football boots.

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At the Jalan Besar Stadium, the unassuming forward, who has four other siblings, recounted the traumatic years of his childhood.

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"It has not been easy for me," he said. "My father has not been working over the last few years and it is hard for me to see my mother struggle to make ends meet.

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"Her small salary helps pay the bills but even then, it is never enough."

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His mother, 39-year-old Mariam Salleh, has been working in his aunt's food stall since his father lost his job.

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With his family of seven crammed into a three-room HDB apartment in Ang Mo Kio, the sofa in the living room is where Khairul sleeps usually.

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He felt so guilty that in 2001, the striker contemplated giving up football to take up a part-time job. He also decided to quit his studies at the Institute of Technical Education.

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"I did not feel good that my mother had to work, pay all the bills and still had to give me money to go to school and football training," said the Young Lions forward.

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"I was contemplating working in a fast-food restaurant to help the family."

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In 2001, after being called up to the national U-16 squad, he received a $200 allowance from the Football Association of Singapore to buy boots. Khairul gave the money to his mother instead.

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That left the player with a torn pair of boots.

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Former international and under-16 coach R Suriamurthi recalled: "There was this day when he turned up for national training, which was just a few days before he was scheduled to play in the Schools 'B' division final.

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"What I saw really broke my heart. He was taping up his boots with scotch tape just before training.

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"I asked him what happened and he explained to me his family's situation.

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"It really touched me that despite all his troubles at home, he still showed dedication and determination in training."

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Suriamurthi drove Khairul to a sports shop the following day and bought him a pair of boots. The striker repaid the coach's faith in him by scoring a hat-trick in the final.

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Khairul said: "Can you imagine if I had played with my tattered boots? I would have been humiliated if they'd come apart during the match.

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"I dedicated that win to my coach. If he didn't help me then, I think I would have just stopped playing football."

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As a member of the Young Lions squad, he currently receives a $600 monthly allowance from the Football Association of Singapore.

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Khairul, who has scored five goals this season, said the money has helped to relieve the financial burden on his family.

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He said: "I give more than half to my mum and I use the rest for my own expenses.

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"I have been told to be patient and in a few years' time, I will earn much more. I am looking forward to that.

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"But now, what's important to me is I'm earning a salary, which means I can just concentrate on playing football."

It is an astonishing transformation for a teenager who, just 3 years ago, almost quit the game because of his family's precarious financial situation.

The unassuming forward, who has 4 other siblings, recounted the traumatic years of his childhood as his father has not been working over the last few years & his mother struggle to make ends meet making it hard for him to focus on anything including football.

The player did not even own a decent pair of football boots & he felt so guilty that in 2001, the striker contemplated giving up football to take up a part-time job as he had already decided to quit his studies at the Institute of Technical Education.

He said he did not feel good that his mother had to work, pay all the bills & still give him money to go to school & football training.

However in the end he did not quit the game due to the help former international & U16 coach R Suriamurthi gave to him

In 2001, after being called up to the national U16 squad, he received a $200 allowance from the Football Association of Singapore to buy boots but Khairul gave the money to his mother instead with him continuing to keep his torn pair of boots.

Former international & U16 coach R Suriamurthi recalled saying just a few days before was scheduled to play in the Schools 'B' division final, he saw Khairul was taping up his boots with scotch tape just before training so had to ask him what is happening & Khairul explained to him his family's situation breaking his heart.

R Suriamurthi was touched that despite all Khairul troubles at home, he still showed dedication & determination in training

Then R Suriamurthi drove Khairul to a sports shop the following day & bought him a pair of boots but it was not in vain as the striker repaid the coach's faith in him by scoring a hat-trick in the final.

Khairul said he was grateful for his coach help as otherwise he would have to play in the final with tattered boots& be humiliated if the pair of boots had come apart during the match.

For that he dedicated what he has now to his coach as without his help he would have just stopped playing football altogether.

Now as a member of the Young Lions squad, he eceives a $600 monthly allowance from the Football Association of Singapore & Khairul is delighted saying the money has helped to relieve the financial burden on his family.