N. Ganesan
Nadesan Ganesan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 October 1932 |
| Died | 1 July 2015 (aged 82) |
| Title | FAS chairman |
| Term | 1976–1982 |
| Predecessor | R.B.I. Pates |
| Successor | Teo Chong Tee |
Nadesan Ganesan, PBM (31 October 1932 – 1 July 2015) was a chairman of the Football Association of Singapore. He served as FAS vice-chairman for two years before he was appointed chairman on 31 March 1976,[1] and was a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation. He stepped down as FAS chairman in 1982. He was a criminal lawyer by trade.[2]
Ganesan was born in Tank Road to Ceylonese Tamil parents, the youngest of five children. After the war, he studied at Victoria School and later at Anglo-Chinese School. He had been a table-tennis and hockey player, a track athlete and a footballer.
He was responsible for changing the Malaysia Cup venue from the Jalan Besar Stadium to the 55,000 capacity National Stadium.[3] He also revamped the local leagues and their 118 teams into the 30-team National Football League.
Ganesan was a staunch supporter of coach Choo Seng Quee, whom he brought in as national coach after his election. Choo led Singapore to a Malaysia Cup title in 1977, twelve years after the team last won the competition.
He fought for the Pre-World Cup tournament to be held in Singapore's National Stadium in 1977.[4] Singapore finished second in the group but lost to Hong Kong in the play-off final.
The Lion City Cup was founded by Ganesan in 1977 as the first Under-16 tournament in the world. The tournament would serve as inspiration for FIFA to introduce the FIFA U-16 World Championship in 1985.
Ganesan was awarded the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat medal in 1978 for his services to Singapore football.[5]
He suffered a stroke in 2011 and moved to a nursing home where he has stayed since. He later died on 1 July 2015 in the morning, aged 82. [6] [7]
References
- ^ "Ganesan now chairman". The Straits Times. 1 April 1976. p. 39.
- ^ Robert, Godfrey (28 December 2012). "He's the man who made Kallang roar". The New Paper.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (8 November 1989). "Basking in the glorious days of Ganesan". The Straits Times. p. 33.
- ^ "Singapore get okay to host pre- Games". The Straits Times. 20 December 1978. p. 34.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (9 August 1978). "Spore honours Ganesan, Choo". The Straits Times. p. 25.
- ^ Wang, Meng Meng (18 April 2013). "FAS and S-League to raise funds for former FAS chairman N. Ganesan". The Straits Times.
- ^ "Football icon N. Ganesan, creator of 'Kallang Roar', dies aged 82". The Straits Times. 1 July 2015.
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