“Is that you, Coach Neo?”

Senja-Cashew Community Club, Sunday, April 15, 2012 — “Hey, isn’t that Slingers head coach Neo Beng Siang?” I said to my crew mate, Junwei, pleasantly surprised.

And so it was.

There he was, all suited up in the colours of Cashew CC against Ulu Pandan CSC in their opening game of the Community Games basketball tournament.

Having seen coach Neo many times on the sidelines at Singapore Slingers games, this was the first time I got to see him in action.

This time, instead of calling plays with a clipboard on the sidelines during timeouts, he was giving instructions on court and giving his legs a workout.

“I still do weights in the gym and I try to play games when I can,” said coach Neo after the game as he sat court side undoing his ankle tap.

If he is not conducting training for the Slingers, his time is spent watching game tapes, leaving him little time to play the game he obviously loves.

Yet, despite being the oldest man on the team at 45 years of age, coach Neo, an ex-commando, still kept up with his teammates who are in their 20s and 30s.

“My teammates are boys that I coached when they were younger in my club, Hornets, school teams, or the national team. They still play together socially and I join in when I can,” he added.

You could tell the players still had respect for him. One teammate came by to ask him about something and started his question with the acknowledgement, “Coach”.

“Since we can sign up 15 players I told the boys to sign me up and I will play when I can. I can run with the ball but off the ball running, very hard for my legs!” said coach Neo, breaking out in a smile.

So are you the coach? I asked him.

“Everyone is the coach!” was his instant reply.

His team, Cashew CSC, obviously knew what they are doing. They beat Ulu Pandan CSC 58-35 to record their first win of the Community Games basketball tournament.

The best two teams from each cluster will go on to play in the Singapore National Games scheduled for September 1st to 9th.

Who knows? You may get to see Neo Beng Siang on the court at the Singapore Indoor Stadium rather than just prowling the sidelines come September.

Community Games official website: www.pacsc.org.sg
Community Games official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/communitysportsclub

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