November 15, 2004
Ex-Stags coach Malaysian Chow Kwai Lam is returning to be coach of S-League newcomers Paya Lebar Kovan
next season.
The feisty 61-year-old Malaysian had left
the S-league after
quitting the Stags owing to differences with the Stags management.
Originally Paya
Lebar Kovan had targeted R Suriamurthi for the job but the former national U16 coach
turned down the offer to concentrate on running his transportation business
Paya Lebar's technical
adviser, Ho Kwang Hock, confirmed the appointment of
the former Malaysian national coach who won the coveted Malaysia Cup four times
as well as the 2002 Singapore Cup.
Ho said Chow is a strong
disciplinarian who has a lot to offer for a new team like them. He is like the
late "Uncle' Choo Seng
Quee.
Ho, 48, was a disciple of
"Uncle" Choo, who led
Adding to that Ho said, during our time,
it was amazing how "Uncle' Choo could make
players believe so much in themselves. He taught players like Kim Song how to
use his asset, which is his speed, against Selangor
defender Santokh Singh, who was bigger and a head
taller than him.
When contacted in Selangor,
Chow said he known Ho Kwang Hock for a long time &
they had a long chat last week about the matter. Ho had revealed to him he can
help them a lot as they are a totally new side so he took up the job.
Chow added he will give opportunities
to little-known players who have no proven record as he hoped to blood new players
who have not played much in the S-League for the future of
Last month, Chow was invited by Tampines chairman Teo Hock Seng to witness Tampines Rovers historic
S-League and
This lead to the question
if he had any point to prove?
To that, Chow said when one is unhappy
working, then it is best to leave. It was nice of Teo Hock Seng to invite him to
watch their cup final win last month but he does not think
he have anything to prove to anyone for his record speaks for itself.