S Nagamuthu of with an attempt at goal. The 65-year-old still plays the game he loves. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Sunday, June 24, 2012 — “You’re 65?”
That was our incredulous response when S. Nagamuthu told us how old he was after he finished his game playing for Woodgrove.
Woodgrove went down 0-1 to Admiralty in the opening game of the Community Games futsal tournament, a competition for male veterans aged 45 years and above.
It soon became slightly clearer why Nagamuthu looks like a man who is still in his 40s.
“I never eat meat. I’m a vegetarian. Every day I do yoga. I wake up at 3.30am and pray until 5am. I sleep at 9am. I work every day,” said Nagamuthu who has three children aged 21, 26, and 28 and who are all teachers.
Nagamuthu was employed at Sembawang Shipyard for 28 years and now works as a security officer. A Woodlands resident, he has played football since he was a young boy.
“I used to play badminton, table tennis. All these sports, I let go. Football, I cannot let go because it’s my hobby,” said Nagamuthu, who also represented the Singapore Indians in football.
“I play football every Sunday in the evening at Wellington Primary. I train primary school students. I enjoy football anywhere. I go full game. Seven-a-side, 11-a-side, I go. I’m the oldest in the team,” he said matter-of-factly.
The only goal of the game was scored by Admiralty’s David Toh.
“I play football three times a week. First time playing on the hard court. The ball is smaller and harder. Took awhile to get used to it!” said David Toh.
The top two teams of each cluster will go on to play in the Singapore National Games scheduled for September 1st to 9th.
Admiralty Lineup
Yeo Tiong Beng, Ba Thein Naing, Hong Chee Choy, David Toh, Daud Bin Ali, Sudiat bin Dali
Woodgrove Lineup
Omar Bin Zainuddin, Richard Tham, Salleh Bin Asmawi, Abdul Karim B Hashim, Mohamed Ismail, Mohd Amir Bin Juraimi, Muhd Aziz Sumari, S Nagamuthu
For more photos, go to the next page.
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