Iqbal, 51, in action for Ang Mo Kio-Hougang CSC. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, Sunday, June 24, 2012 — “I’ve been playing football since 18. I’m now 51,” said Mohd Iqbal, who certainly did not look his age as he cooled down after his game.
His team, Ang Mo Kio-Hougang CSC, had just beaten Jalan Kayu CSC 1-0 in the Community Games Futsal tournament. The five-a-side veteran’s tournament is for men 45 years and above.
“Football is my game and I enjoy meeting new people. It’s good to have the Community Games because we meet people from other constituencies. I’ve played for more than 10 years before I got married. I represented Kolam Ayer, Braddell Heights, Hougang,” said Iqbal.
“I click together with the other races,” said Iqbal, when asked about the experience as a minority playing sport. “I don’t worry about Singapore. Even though there are other races, we are together.”
“When I tackle a Chinese player, their Malay teammates defend them. The team is like a family. That’s why I like to play football. Sports is a common language. I’ve been enjoying football because of this.”
Iqbal recalled an incident in the 1980s when he went up to Malaysia with a group of Singaporeans to play a football friendly.
“When the Malaysians tackled my Chinese teammate roughly, we Singaporeans defended them. A Malaysian Indian guy came up to me to ask me why we [Indian Singaporeans] defend the Chinese player. This made me proud to be Singaporean.”
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