The plight of Singapore' son Fandi Ahmad

[Confuseous]

Even the greatest soccer talent in our history has to concede to the penchant for foreigners and end up making a living in JB where his tremendous talent is appreciated. After contributing to Singapore soccer for decades and so many extraordinary achievements, they simply cast him aside in favor of a foreigner who is highly paid but has failed to restore the morale and glory of the Singapore team. Fandi's plight mirrors that of Singapore workers who held the title of number one workforce in the world for decades. The same workforce now has been replaced by a massive influx of foreign workers.

- http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/02/plight-of-singapores-son-fandi-ahmad.html

 

[HellAngel]

He was paid rather well but just too bad that he was not good in business and lost everything.

 

[aurvandil]

Quite heartbreaking to read how things turned out for him and his family.

Fandi is a symbol of how the Singapore dream has soured for so many Singaporeans.

 

[Charlie258]

Even the greatest soccer talent in our history has to concede to the penchant for foreigners and end up making a living in JB where his tremendous talent is appreciated. After contributing to Singapore soccer for decades and so many extraordinary achievements, they simply cast him aside in favor of a foreigner who is highly paid but has failed to restore the morale and glory of the Singapore team. Fandi's plight mirrors that of Singapore workers who held the title of number one workforce in the world for decades. The same workforce now has been replaced by a massive influx of foreign workers.

- http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/02/plight-of-singapores-son-fandi-ahmad.html

It's a Cruel World in Singapore. You must be good at making money if you want to live in Singapore. And you must not lose your money.

If you fail in your task of making big bucks, it's either Batam/Bintan, J.B., or Bangkok. Even Bangkok is not as cheap as it used to be. Like I said, cruel world!!!!!:(

 

[Rogue Trader]

After contributing to Singapore soccer for decades and so many extraordinary achievements, they simply cast him aside in favor of a foreigner who is highly paid but has failed to restore the morale and glory of the Singapore team.

Fandi was the darling of singapore when he was a player. I remember he was even the first millionaire athlete. he just can't cut it in his post player career.

No one short changed him. In fact, he made the wrong decision not to stay on in Europe.

Fandi's plight mirrors that of Singapore workers who held the title of number one workforce in the world for decades. The same workforce now has been replaced by a massive influx of foreign workers.

- http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/02/plight-of-singapores-son-fandi-ahmad.html

actually apples and oranges...

shouldn't blame the govt for making wrong career choices, not taking risks and not working hard. Fandi was the best footballer and had his 15 mins of fame. But footballers have notoriously short careers. look at george best, gascoigne, collymore and the likes.. they were better footballers than fandi and what happened to them?

 

[Fook Seng]

It's a Cruel World in Singapore. You must be good at making money if you want to live in Singapore. And you must not lose your money.(

My advice to Fandi is forget about making money in football. The industry is anaemic and will not pay him well. He should capitalize on his household name and go into sales careers like property, insurance and cars. He will definitely be able to solve his financial problems.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

My advice to Fandi is forget about making money in football. The industry is anaemic and will not pay him well. He should capitalize on his household name and go into sales careers like property, insurance and cars. He will definitely be able to solve his financial problems.

He tried cars...failed. He is too much of a nice guy....pity.
Biggest regret will always be Akax trials when he turned down a contract with them while someone named Marco Van Basten who was selected in the same trials did not.

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

Yes, he lost money in business but what broke the bank for him was his wive's medical issues. Apparently insurance coverage didn't cover her type of condition and as you all know, the local hospitals will suck your blood when you are ill.

I am actually curious why he doesn't have sufficient CPF as he was gainfully employed for a long time. I think he may actually have COV issues, a uniquely Singapore problem.

 

[Blazars]

He tried cars...failed. He is too much of a nice guy....pity.
Biggest regret will always be Akax trials when he turned down a contract with them while someone named Marco Van Basten who was selected in the same trials did not.

Was Fandi at the trail with Marco Van Basten? I didnt know that. What a waste? I always wonder what would happened if Fandi had stayed. Maybe more singaporean youngstest would have trail with european clubs.

Another point... I thought is not Ajax but Groningen??

 

[Rogue Trader]

some might say fandi is a victim of the under developed professional football scene. But how deep was he in the kelong scene during the 80s and 90s? Was he an accessory to corruption? Did he do anything to step the rot?

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

He tried cars...failed. He is too much of a nice guy....pity.
Biggest regret will always be Akax trials when he turned down a contract with them while someone named Marco Van Basten who was selected in the same trials did not.

This is Marco Van Basten

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0Da2ADkkEGs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Agoraphobic]

Who was his manager?

 

[Fook Seng]

He tried cars...failed. He is too much of a nice guy....pity.
Biggest regret will always be Akax trials when he turned down a contract with them while someone named Marco Van Basten who was selected in the same trials did not.

He should just be a normal salesman. Don't get into any investment with partners who might be out to cheat him and he would be OK.

 

[zeddy]

Was Fandi at the trail with Marco Van Basten? I didnt know that. What a waste? I always wonder what would happened if Fandi had stayed. Maybe more singaporean youngstest would have trail with european clubs.

Another point... I thought is not Ajax but Groningen??

His first foray into Dutch football was with Ajax where he had a successful trial and was duly offered a contract with them... He rejected the offer but instead accept an offer from an Indonesian club.. After his Indon stint he then returned to Holland to play for Groningen...

True Son of Spore.. Not FT.. Truly Made In Singapore.. Fandi is the Pride of Sinkapore..

 

[Fook Seng]

Was Fandi at the trail with Marco Van Basten? I didnt know that. What a waste? I always wonder what would happened if Fandi had stayed. Maybe more singaporean youngstest would have trail with european clubs.

Another point... I thought is not Ajax but Groningen??

His religious obligations got in the way of his career I understand. The need to fast etc.

 

[Rogue Trader]

His religious obligations got in the way of his career I understand. The need to fast etc.

which is a bit suspect. holland is one of the most open societies in europe. There are many early muslim immigrants from Indon.

 

[Fook Seng]

which is a bit suspect. holland is one of the most open societies in europe. There are many early muslim immigrants from Indon.

It is not that they stopped him from doing what he wanted to do but his physical condition suffered as a result. Others who succeeded opted not to observe religious obligations.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

In a nutshell it was short sightedness...
All for the instant 10k per month salary that indo club could pay.
The trainee contract with Ajax of course din pay that much...
That few years in indo stagnated his development at the most important period of his growth....who knows what he could have been.....and even when he went back to Holland the 2nd time he already missed his best years of potential.

When he was playing in the Malaysian clubs he was head and shoulders above all but alas only the best in SEA at most when he could have been much more.

His first foray into Dutch football was with Ajax where he had a successful trial and was duly offered a contract with them... He rejected the offer but instead accept an offer from an Indonesian club.. After his Indon stint he then returned to Holland to play for Groningen...

True Son of Spore.. Not FT.. Truly Made In Singapore.. Fandi is the Pride of Sinkapore..

 

[zeddy]

In a nutshell it was short sightedness...
All for the instant 10k per month salary that indo club could pay.
The trainee contract with Ajax of course din pay that much...
That few years in indo stagnated his development at the most important period of his growth....who knows what he could have been.....and even when he went back to Holland the 2nd time he already missed his best years of potential.

When he was playing in the Malaysian clubs he was head and shoulders above all but alas only the best in SEA at most when he could have been much more.

He's too much of a nice guy... His late Uncle was his manager during the early days of his career.. Remembered him having a close relationship with the Pahang Crown Prince back then when he played for them during the 90s.. I'm not suprised if one day he decides to chuck aside his Spore IC for good and cross the Causeway..

 

[palden]

Sports don't pay in Sinkapore la.